The Blues led through a Lewis Baker free-kick but the advantage lasted just five minutes before the visitors equalised through Scott Banks. The third and winning goal came moments before the half-time break as Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, older brother of our first-year scholar Sam, dispatched from close range.

The defeat leaves Andy Myers's men in the bottom two heading into the final international break of the calendar year. Next up is a trip to Leeds United on Friday 19 November.

Team selection

Andy Myers made one change from the team that started against Everton as he brought Jayden Wareham into the side for Xavier Simons, who was not in the squad. This meant Wareham would play up top with Bryan Fiabema in an otherwise unchanged line-up.

Fast start

The game began with an immediate opportunity for the Eagles as Eberechi Eze, after some neat skill, played in left-back Adetayo Adamarola who delivered a nice ball for Malachi Boateng, though the defender could only divert his shot straight at the keeper. Again, it was Palace who threatened as tricky winger Rak-Sakyi beat Alfie Gilchrist with a nice piece of skill but a slight deflection took his effort wide.

Our development squad were struggling to contain the energetic start from the visitors and another shot only just cleared the goal of Teddy Sharman-Lowe. We did manage our first opening of the game as good pressure from Silko Thomas forced a mistake which he capitalised on, laying the ball off for Harvey Vale who fired agonisingly wide from just outside the 18-yard box.

That effort from Vale brought some energy to our side and we began to bring the fight to the contest. The opening 15 minutes was an end-to-end affair as in the space of a minute a last-ditch tackle which prevented Fiabema from scoring led to a counter-attack. Eze's shot fortunately deflected kindly for Sharman-Lowe. The breakthrough came in the 19th minute of the game as the experienced Baker from a dead ball sent his free-kick into the bottom left corner of the goal.

Momentum lost

However, our young Blues did not hold onto the lead for long as Banks picked up the ball from deep and, after some nice skill, drove towards goal before curling a fine right-footed shot into the net. Straight from kick-off, pressure from the away team led to the ball breaking to Rak-Sakyi who cut in and his left-footed effort was destined for the goal if not for an excellent header from Xavier Mbuyamba.

Such was the back and forth nature of the first half, another dead-ball opportunity was taken by Baker whose effort deflected off the wall and dropped inches past the post. Palace had an opportunity from a free-kick of their own and it was goalscorer Banks again who struck a left-footed effort just over the bar.

After spells of possession from both sides, it was Palace who capitalised with a few minutes of the half left. A ball drilled into the box was not fully cleared by Mbuyamba and Rak-Sakyi capitalised on the mishap by prodding home from five yards out.

Half-chances

The second half started with the same intensity as the first, both sides trying to assert their dominance on the game. Following a frantic first 10 minutes, Palace edged proceedings, gaining a territorial advantage. A snapshot almost fell to the feet of one of the Palace attackers who would have had a simple tap-in at the back post.

Our play in the final third was sloppy and was evidenced by Palace beginning most of their attacks from intercepted passes in the final third. Myers responded by making a change and substitue Tariq Uwakwe was immediately involved as he combined with George McEachran, who in turn played in Joe Haigh. After the midfield man dribbled past his opponent, his left-footed strike struck the post. Fiabema responded quickest but his shot was cleared off the line.

Palace then went up the other end and created a big chance as Rak-Sakyi again was found in the middle of the box and he fired high and wide despite being 10 yards out. After a head clash between Eze and Josh Brooking, the Blues defender had to be subbed off for concussion.

Chelsea struggled to carve out clear opportunities following the lengthy stoppage to treat Brooking. Jude Soonsup-Bell was played through but before he could pull the trigger, a last-ditch block prevented any threat. Moments later, a free header in the box for Palace would have surely been a goal but for Sharman-Lowe's smart positioning.

With the game petering out, Vale burst down the left after beating two men to put in a delightful cross. The onrushing McEachran had a free header to give us a point but his effort fell wide.

It meant a disappointing loss for the young Blues, our fifth of the season in Premier League 2.

Chelsea (3-4-2-1) Ted Sharman-Lowe; Josh Brooking (Brodi Hughes 73), Alfie Gilchrist, Xavier Mbuyamba; Dion Rankine, Lewis Baker (c), George McEachran, Silko Thomas (Tariq Uwakwe 60); Harvey Vale, Jayden Wareham (Joe Haigh 43); Bryan Fiabema (Jude Soonsup-Bell 67)Unused sub Ethan WadyBooked Mbuyamba 33; Haigh 47; Baker 78Scorer Baker 19

Crystal Palace (4-3-3) Joe Whitworth; Sean Robertson, Omotayo Adaramola, Jay Rich-Baghuelou, Jake O'Brien (c); Malachi Boateng, Scott Banks (David Omilabu 85), Jack Wells-Morrison; Rob Street (John Kymani Gordon 73), Eberechi Eze (Nya Kirby 90), Jesurun Rak-SakyiUnused subs Oliver Webber, David BoatengBooked Baghuelou 29; Wells-Morrison 45; O'Brien 60; Boateng 82Scorers Banks 24; Rak-Sakyi 42