Noni Madueke won and scored the winning penalty as Chelsea beat Crystal Palace 2-1 at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night.  

It was Mykhailo Mudryk who gave Chelsea the lead with a well-worked goal after some excellent build-up play from French right back Malo Gusto. 

But the Blues were pegged back just before half-time when some poor defending enabled Michael Olise to take the ball down with ease and volley past Djorde Petrovic. 

Mail Sport’s AADAM PATEL takes a look at some of things you may have missed from Stamford Bridge. 

Noni Madueke celebrates his winner with Axel Disasi, Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo

Madueke won a penalty after he was fouled by Palace winger Eberechi Eze inside the area 

Michael Olise converted Palace’s biggest chance when he was gifted too much space 

Straight out of Cobham 

The two teams were captained by Cobham graduates in Marc Guehi and Conor Gallagher. 

Both are childhood friends going from the Chelsea academy ranks to Swansea and then Crystal Palace, with Gallagher returning from his loan spell to Chelsea last year. 

And there was a wonderful interview with the Chelsea skipper in the matchday programme discussing how hectic the festive period is in the Gallagher family, with all four brothers involved in football. 

Raynes Park Vale – managed by Josh Gallagher with another brother Jake in the playing squad drew 0-0 against Sutton Common Rovers in the Isthmian League South Central Division on Boxing Day. 

While Dan Gallagher’s side, Dorking Wanderers, lost to Oxford City in the National League.

At least – with the result on Wednesday night – one Gallagher ended up on the winning side over the festive period!

Conor Gallagher put in yet another strong and industrious performance as captain of Chelsea

No time for festivities 

Mauricio Pochettino was not too pleased with his side having to play on Christmas Eve at Wolves. 

Chelsea’s game meant that Pochettino was forced to miss his 31st wedding anniversary on the 23rd as his team travelled to Wolverhampton the night before and in Argentinian custom, Christmas celebrations begin on the night on December 24. 

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But after their eighth league defeat of the season on Sunday, Pochettino was perhaps not in the mood to celebrate at all. 

Chelsea subsequently trained on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, while Roy Hodgson opted to give the Palace players the full day off on Christmas – not a surprise given that they had three more days than Chelsea to prepare for this clash.

Youthful Chelsea 

This was Chelsea’s youngest-ever Premier League starting eleven, averaging an age of 23 years and 21 days. 

It was also the youngest eleven named by a Premier League team since Manchester United against Crystal Palace in May 2017 (22y 284d). 

On the bench was 18-year-old Leo Castledine, son of former Wimbledon striker Stewart Castledine and there are high expectations for the teenage midfielder. Castledine Jr has played for England at every age group from U15s to U18s.

Christopher Nkunku impressed with another creative performance for the Blues going forward

Going into this game, Chelsea had won just 10 of their 41 league games in 2023 with Roy Hodgson’s Palace the only team out of all the non-promoted and relegated sides to win fewer. 

For much of the first-half, Chelsea were the dominant side with Christopher Nkunku showing plenty of promise on his first Premier League start. 

He was influential for the opening goal. But yet again Chelsea were made to pay for their wastefulness when Michael Olise equalised in first-half added time. 

Remarkably, five of Olise’s seven Premier League goals have come in either first-half or second-half stoppage time.

Referee’s red-faced mistake

There was a brilliant moment in the second half when referee Michael Salisbury accidentally sent Crystal Palace’s Mike Richards off.

Richards fouled Madueke as Chelsea looked to counter and as Salisbury put his hand in his top pocket, he took the red card out instead.

It was only when he lifted the card up to show Richards that he realised his error before going into his back pocket to pull out his yellow card.

It’s fair to say that Salisbury was left a little red-faced!