Chelsea’s poor start to the season continued as they lost 2-1 at home to Crystal Palace.
Jose Mourinho’s 100th Premier League home match as Chelsea boss saw a second loss as Crystal Palace claimed their first win at Stamford Bridge in 33 years.
Chelsea secured the title with a 1-0 defeat of Palace on May 3 but the Eagles were triumphant on this occasion, stunning the hosts just when they thought Radamel Falcao had got them back into the game with his first goal for the Blues.
Joel Ward popped up to restore the lead, after Bakary Sako’s opener, as Palace earned a 2-1 win – their first at Stamford Bridge since 1982.
Palace have now won eight of their 10 away matches in the league under Pardew, who has three victories against Mourinho in the last two seasons.
Mourinho played down the significance of statistics ahead of his 200th Premier League contest and 100th at Stamford Bridge, insisting three points was all that mattered.
But the Blues were unable to add to his record of 76 wins in the previous 99 home games as Palace emulated Sunderland’s April 2014 success.
Mourinho may have complained of the nature of the Black Cats’ success – his resentment at the officiating still lingering – but Palace were deserved winners to move second behind Manchester City.
Chelsea are eight points adrift after four points from four games.
Mourinho had said there was no “drama” after Chelsea’s start, but it is clear there is plenty of work to do.
Mourinho’s men have not kept a clean sheet in eight matches since winning the league against Palace and appeared porous at the back once more, with the suspended John Terry replaced by Gary Cahill.