Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira said it’s ‘difficult to accept’ the 2-1 defeat to Chelsea on Saturday afternoon. Odsonne Eduoard gave the home side the lead, only for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to equalise seven minutes before the break. Former loan star Conor Gallagher returned to Selhurst Park for the first time since his time at the club and scored a last-minute winner after coming off the bench. Vieira did not comment on the controversial decision to not send off Thiago Silva for a blatant handball when last man, instead focusing on the manner and circumstances of the loss, and what they can take going forward.
Patrick Vieira said: “Losing the game 2-1 means a lot of frustration. Obviously I think if the game finishes 1-1 both teams would be happy with that. Conceding the late goal is difficult to accept, but we just have to learn about keeping results and focusing more in this kind of period, and trying to win football matches.”
Vieira added that Gallagher should not have been in the position to find the back of the net given how many bodies back Palace had and pointed out the importance of focusing until the final minute.
Patrick Vieira said: “Until the last minute it is always important to concentrate and work well as a team, and not to give them those kinds of opportunities. In the second-half they didn’t create very much. It took a fantastic goal from Conor for them to win the game. When you look at the situation, we are eight bodies against six – he never should be in that position to take a chance. We didn’t defend well enough in that situation. We had the people around. This is something we have to look at.”
