Costa nets as Chelsea win again

Diego Costa netted his 13th Premier League goal of the season, as Chelsea beat Crystal Palace 1-0 at Selhurst Park to extend their lead at the top of the table.

Chelsea now lead the Premier League by nine points, ahead of Manchester City's meeting with Arsenal at the Etihad on Sunday and Monday's Merseyside derby, after chalking up their 11th successive victory in the league.

The Spain international netted his 50th goal for Chelsea, in just his 97th appearance for the club, with his first chance of the game.

Cesar Azpilicueta whipped in a superb cross ball into the box from the right flank, and the former Atletico Madrid striker outmuscled Eagles' defender Scott Dann to head the ball past Wayne Hennessey.

But Chelsea will have to do without Costa for the St Stephen's Day clash with Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge after he picked up his fifth yellow card of the season.

The 28-year-old has been walking a disciplinary tightrope since his fourth yellow card 11 matches ago, against Arsenal on 24 September.

And he finally went into the referee's book in his 11th match since the 3-0 defeat at the Emirates, when needlessly tackle Joe Ledley from behind in the 21st minute.

Palace had a golden chance to take the lead midway through the first half, but Jason Puncheon scuffed his shot from in front of goal from Martin Kelly's drilled cross from the right.

Chelsea could have extended their lead on 67 minutes, but Marcos Alonso flashed his shot wide after Dann could only half-clear Victor Moses' deep cross towards Costa.

Palace, visibly tiring in the final 20 minutes, were indebted to Hennessey for two sharp saves in two minutes to deny N'Golo Kante and Alonso.

The Spaniard, a £23m summer signing from Fiorentina, was then denied by the crossbar with an 84th-minuted free-kick, awarded for a Damien Delaney foul on Eden Hazard.

Conte's Chelsea face back-to-back home fixtures against Bournemouth and Stoke over the festive period, while Palace travel Watford on St Stephen's Day and the Emirates to face Arsenal on New Year's Day.

By Nick Royle

Photo (Getty Images/Dan Mullan)

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