Conor Gallagher’s last-minute strike gives Chelsea win at Crystal Palace

Chelsea claimed their first victory under Graham Potter after Conor Gallagher came off the bench to shatter Crystal Palace with a superb last-minute winner.

The wait was worth it as far as Potter was concerned. Chelsea fell behind to an early goal from Odsonne Édouard and were fortunate not to lose Thiago Silva to a red card during the first half. Yet Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang equalised with his first goal for his new side and Potter won his first league game in charge after Gallagher, who excelled on loan for Palace last season, bent in a magnificent shot from 20 yards.

The sense is that Potter is ready to try things out. Given plenty of time to think since opening his tenure with a low-key draw with Red Bull Salzburg, he could not be accused of a lack of boldness. The emphasis on attack was clear, the variety of Chelsea’s movement catching the eye, the fluidity of their 4-2-2-2 system confusing Palace, and for all the imperfections there were times when it was possible to be encouraged by what may be possible if Potter is given room to let his ideas breathe.

Potter could even claim to be pleased with his team’s start. Raheem Sterling, nominally positioned in the middle but always causing problems by drifting out to the right to occupy Tyrick Mitchell, had a chance. The elusive Kai Havertz took up some dangerous positions. Mateo Kovacic and Jorginho recycled the ball efficiently.

Equally it did not take much to break Chelsea’s equilibrium. Seven minutes were on the clock when Palace went ahead, trouble brewing from the moment Wesley Fofana left his side in trouble with a slack pass out from the back.

Fofana’s carelessness was startling. If the initial error from the £70m defender was bad, even worse was how he reacted