Chelsea 1-0 Crystal Palace

Chelsea got over the line three matches before the end to claim their fifth top-flight League title against supporting cast Crystal Palace.

This was no blockbuster - but it didn’t need to be.

Once Eden Hazard netted the game’s only goal just before the break, it was who amongst the majority of the crowd could come up with the most celebratory songs.

Palace always looked there or thereabouts, but Blues only needed third gear if truth be told to leave the chasers playing for the minor parts.

Chelsea's Eden Hazard is brought down in the area by Crystal Palace's James McArthur resulting in a penalty to Chelsea

Spare a thought for Frank Lampard warming up across London at Tottenham. The former Chelsea legend can now only hope for second best with Manchester City, but he's had a few days in the Stamford Bridge son.

Now it’s the turn of the new breed led by a belting Belgian.

Hazard’s successful spot-kick needed two bits of luck.

Crystal Palace's Jordon Mutch clashes with Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic as Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho looks on

The award in the first place as he made the most of an outstretched leg from James McArthur, and then a second bite after Julian Speroni half-stopped the kick.

The forward then showed why he is player of the year in just about any poll. He adjusted in a millisecond to head into the opposite corner and put Blues ahead after an indifferent first half.

Speroni dropped a dipping free-kick from Cesc Fabregas before John Terry could react. The Blues captain was booked in a card count that was 2-2 by the break: Mariappa and Dann for Palace, and Branislav Ivanovic joining Terry in Kevin Friend’s notebook to make sure the referee kept busy.

Crystal Palace's Jordon Mutch in action with Chelsea's Willian

Blues fans were busier singing in the second half as both sides went through their paces, but the real show came on the final whistle.

Blues, Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Cuadrado (Mikel 45), Matic; Willian (Zouma 85), Fabregas, Hazard (Filipe Luis 90); Drogba; subs not used: Cech, Loftus-Cheek, Remy

Ref: Kevin Friend

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