BY AYODELE ODUMADE AT SELHURST PARK

The Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri was pleased with their narrow victory against Crystal Palace, which kept up their hopes of a top four finish in the Premier League. However he wished they had finished off Palace. He

said: “I think we played against a dangerous side. We were in control for 85 minutes. I did not like the fact that we were unable to kill the game. In the second half we moved the ball better.”

N’golo Kante got the only goal in the 51^st minute after he controlled a long punt from David Luiz and slotted it past the Palace keeper Vicente Guaita. The Chelsea manager was happy with Kante. He said: “I think Kante is improving without the ball. The movement is good and he had the right timing. His movement without the ball is important. He is a great player with the ball.

Olivier Giroud injured his  ankle. “I think we have to wait till tomorrow. In the last two days I think we have been unlucky with Fabregas, Pedro, Hudson-Odoi, Loftus-Cheek and now Giroud” said Sarri.

Crystal Palace who have  had a renaissance recently were somewhat flat today and did not pose much of a threat to Chelsea. Roy Hodgson said: “Chelsea was very good. Our first half was very disciplined and focused. I thought we did quite well. They were keeping the ball well. You can open yourself up and see them exploit the spaces or do what we did and then try and take your chances. They were good on the ball and organised.  It was going to be a tight game.”

On Steve Parish’s comments about bringing Dominic Solanke on loan he said: “ We have to try and get him here. He is someone with the profile of what we are looking for and which we were sadly lacking today. At the time he went to Liverpool I thought he was a good signing but he has been kept out by some good players. I don’t think it is a criticism of him.”

We are not playing with less freedom. We have had far more possession and more chances but we are not converting them.”