Three things we learned from Chelsea win as Liam Rosenior delivers statement to away fans | OneFootball

New head coach continues to impress in early days of his reign

This 3-1 win away to Crystal Palace felt a big moment early in Liam Rosenior’s tenure and came courtesy of goals by the irrepressible Estevao, Joao Pedro, and a penalty by Enzo Fernandez.

Adam Wharton was sent off for a second booking late on, but it was only after that moment that Chris Richards scored a late consolation. Clean sheet or not, the Chelsea players and staff were delighted at the final whistle.

Huge win for Rosenior

Rosenior’s reign has started well, with four wins from his first five games, but this felt a pretty seismic win in his efforts to get fans onside and build a rapport with them.

Chelsea have drawn all of their last three meetings with Palace — all under Enzo Maresca — but this was a well-deserved win and with daylight between the teams in the scoreline.

Rapport building: Liam Rosenior

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Robert Sanchez was fuming with his defenders when Chris Richards scored late on from a corner to deny him a clean sheet, yet netting three times at Selhurst Park in Rosenior’s first away game against top-flight opposition as Chelsea head coach was a positive sign and only grows their momentum.

The Englishman was all smiles at full-time as he congratulated his players before a big week, as they head to Naples next in their bid to reach the Champions League round of 16 without the need for a play-off round.

Estevao's sensational impact

Since his stunning drive high into the roof of the net against Barcelona in November, which felt the moment that announced him at the very summit of the world game, Chelsea fans have had to wait patiently for Estevao’s next moment of decisive brilliance in a Chelsea shirt.

It duly arrived at Selhurst Park. Jaydee Canvot’s awful back-pass set Estevao away, and off he went, bursting through open turf, holding off the challenge of Tyrick Mitchell all the way, and firing through Dean Henderson to give Chelsea the lead.

‘Stunning’: Estevao

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Soon enough, he was breaking away again and shooting from the tight angle, with the shot flying wide.

His compatriot Joao Pedro was frustrated Estevao had not played him in, but the teenager made up for it with a stellar assist early in the second half, a ball over the top into open space, from which Joao Pedro cut in and fired in to double the lead.

Estevao could even have had another, forcing a Henderson save on an afternoon when, at 18 years and 276 days, he became the second-youngest player to score and assist in a Premier League game for the Blues.

Coping well without Palmer

Chelsea are managing Cole Palmer’s minutes so very carefully this season, and despite the fact he had trained both days leading into the game, the match was said to have come just a day early following his minor thigh strain, and he was not involved.

Rosenior made the alterations expected, keeping Reece James at right-back, moving Andrey Santos into midfield, and pushing Enzo Fernandez into Palmer’s playmaker role.

It worked a treat and Palmer’s absence was not felt at Selhurst.

Joao Pedro combined well with Fernandez and won almost every flick-on he contested, Estevao was electric, and all three of them got on the scoresheet on a pleasing afternoon all round.