Chelsea edge Crystal Palace to get back to winning ways

Soccer Football - Premier League - Chelsea vs Crystal Palace - Stamford Bridge, London, Britain - March 10, 2018 Chelsea's Willian celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Toby Melville

CHELSEA 2 CRYSTAL PALACE 1

March 10 (Reuters) - Chelsea survived a late scare to secure a 2-1 Premier League win over struggling Crystal Palace on Saturday, with a Willian strike and an own goal earning them three points after successive defeats in Manchester.

Brazilian forward Willian picked up the ball on the left, cut inside and fired it along the ground, taking a deflection on the way past a diving Wayne Hennessey and in off the post in the 25th minute.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Chelsea vs Crystal Palace - Stamford Bridge, London, Britain - March 10, 2018 Chelsea's Willian celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Toby Melville

Six minutes later, a mix up between defender Martin Kelly and Hennessey earned the champions their second when a shot from Davide Zappacosta ricocheted off both Palace players into the goal, with Kelly getting the final touch. Chelsea, fifth in the standings, were in control.

Palace, however, looked livelier in the second half after Wilfried Zaha replaced Christian Benteke and Alexander Sorloth hit the post. They halved the deficit late on through former Chelsea player Patrick van Aanholt to make it a nervy finish at Stamford Bridge.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Chelsea vs Crystal Palace - Stamford Bridge, London, Britain - March 10, 2018 Chelsea’s Davide Zappacosta celebrates after Crystal Palace's Martin Kelly scores an own goal and the second for Chelsea REUTERS/Toby Melville

(Reporting by Clare Lovell; Editing by Christian Radnedge)

Soccer Football - Premier League - Chelsea vs Crystal Palace - Stamford Bridge, London, Britain - March 10, 2018 Crystal Palace's Patrick van Aanholt celebrates scoring their first goal Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley

Soccer Football - Premier League - Chelsea vs Crystal Palace - Stamford Bridge, London, Britain - March 10, 2018 Chelsea’s Alvaro Morata is shown a yellow card by referee Anthony Taylor Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley

Soccer Football - Premier League - Chelsea vs Crystal Palace - Stamford Bridge, London, Britain - March 10, 2018 Chelsea's Gary Cahill applauds fans after the match REUTERS/Toby Melville

Soccer Football - Premier League - Chelsea vs Crystal Palace - Stamford Bridge, London, Britain - March 10, 2018 Chelsea's Gary Cahill in action with Crystal Palace's James McArthur REUTERS/Toby Melville

Soccer Football - Premier League - Chelsea vs Crystal Palace - Stamford Bridge, London, Britain - March 10, 2018 Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson shakes hands with Chelsea manager Antonio Conte after the match REUTERS/Toby Melville

Soccer Football - Premier League - Chelsea vs Crystal Palace - Stamford Bridge, London, Britain - March 10, 2018 Crystal Palace's James Tomkins clashes with Chelsea’s Alvaro Morata Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley