They’re Crystal Palace, and they score when they want.
After suffering seven successive losses, all without scoring, Selhurst Park’s supporters seized their opportunity to sing a song they had all but forgotten.
Not only did Roy Hodgson’s striker-less side get their first goal of the season, they got two – against the champions in Antonio Conte’s Chelsea. No longer goalless, no longer pointless.
Crystal Palace found the net for the first time this season as Cesar Azplicueta’s own goal put them into a shock lead
But they weren’t able to hold onto their lead for long as Chelsea midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko equalised
Palace heads didn’t drop though and they were back in front before the half-time whistle thanks to Wilfried Zaha
The Palace fans could barely believe it as their players celebrated in front of them after taking the lead once again
They are officially off the mark, five months to the day since they last scored and inflicted a defeat in the Premier League. Maybe they aren’t dead, after all.
For Antonio Conte and Chelsea, they felt this was Sod’s law. They had to be ones to be beaten by the team that could not win. They had to concede twice against the side that could not score.
They were without Alvaro Morata and N’Golo Kante for this trip across the River Thames but that should not have resulted in such a lacklustre fight as this. Palace went into this having been thumped 5-0 and 4-0 by their title rivals in Manchester City and Manchester United respectively. Chelsea have lost ground.
Conte will not be happy with either of the goals his side conceded.
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte surveys the scene prior to his side’s contest against Crystal Palace
Prior to kick-off at Selhurst Park the Kayle the Eagle, who has appeared on a Kings of Leon album cover, took flight
Cabaye gave Palace the lead as he forced the ball towards goal, hitting Cesar Azpilicueta before hitting the back of the net
The Crystal Palace celebrate in front of their fans after scoring their first goal in the Premier League this season
But their lead was short-lived as midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko climbed highest to equalise for Conte’s visitors
French midfielder Bakayoko charges away with Gary Cahill to celebrate his side’s equalising goal on Saturday
The first will not grace the contender’s list for goal of the season after a Yohan Cobaye shot scrappily hit off Cesar Azpilicueta and went in.
Palace’s chairman, Steve Parish, had called on the footballing gods to give them the rub of the green in his pre-match programme notes. They got it then and there.
The second was down to the brilliance of Wilfried Zaha, appearing for the first time since August 12. He beat Azpilicueta and Davide Zappacosta, then produced the type of finish that Palace have been missing all season.
It gave them the lead on the stroke of half time after Tiemoue Bakayoko had levelled. How Palace have missed Zaha and his X Factor.
To their credit, you would not think this was a support that have had to witness seven straight defeats. The noise they created was deafening at times. None more so than when they scored the first time, regardless of whether it came courtesy of Azpilicueta.
It was a familiar feeling for a Palace side who have endured a nightmare start to the Premier League season
Wilfried Zaha shoots at goal under pressure from Marcos Alonso and Gary Cahill but can’t find the back of the Chelsea net
Palace boss Hodgson and his side entered the game without either a point or a goal so far this season
Chelsea captain Cahill battles away with James McArthur in the corner, with both sides locked at 1-1 at Selhurst Park
The white shirts of Chelsea were on the back foot from the off. After 630 minutes of not scoring this season, Palace came close to righting that wrong through Zaha almost immediately.
Andros Townsend scampered up the left wing after wrong-footing David Luiz and crossed to find Zaha. With Gary Cahill on his back, he found space to shoot, but Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois kept it 0-0.
The Premier League champions were all over the place, and Conte was furious.
Then, Palace got what they deserved from their opening play – a goal.
Jeffrey Schlupp played in Townsend, who cut the ball back for Cabaye. He chested it down and fumbled the ball beyond Courtois via a wicked deflection from Azpilicueta. It was far from pretty. Did Hodgson care? Not one bit.
Then, less than 10 minutes later, a kick to the teeth. From their first chance, Chelsea levelled.
Zaha superbly fired the ball past Courtois to put his side back into the lead again just before half time
The Palace players run over to celebrate with Zaha as the Palace fans celebrate taking an unlikely lead again
A corner by Cesc Fabregas was floated in, Bakayoko lost his marker in Patrick van Aanholt, and headed beyond Julian Speroni. The defending was dire.
Chelsea started to grow into the game, but it was the team at the bottom of the table who went closest next.
After former Palace winger Victor Moses was forced off through injury, Chelsea were temporarily left with 10 men while substitute Zappacosta was prepared. During that time, Townsend unleashed a shot from 25 yards that went a whisker wide.
It was heading for half time when Zaha decided to celebrate his comeback with a brilliantly-taken goal to give Palace the lead.
Mamadou Sakho slid the ball through before Zaha weaved between Zappacosta and Azpilicueta to slide the ball beyond Courtois. It was Palace 2, Chelsea 1 at the break.
Zaha’s strike sent Hodgson wild in the dugout. Finally, his team had scored not once, but twice. What’s that saying about buses again?
Eden Hazard is left flat out on his back as he appeals for a foul by Crystal Palace midfielder Luka Milivojevic
The omens weren’t good for Chelsea. They had lost six of the seven previous Premier League games when trailing at half-time under Conte.
They had the crossbar shaking soon after the start of the second half when Fabregas unleashed a shot from 30 yards.
You could sense the nervousness in the crowd. Palace were sitting back, trying to park the bus. It felt risky, with them relying on counter-attacks to get out of their own half.
As a last throw of the dice, Conte chucked on Charly Musonda, the 20-year-old who had ranted on social media about a lack of opportunities. He had his chance to make a mark.
It wasn’t to be. Finally, in their search for a Premier League point or goal, Palace had succeeded at the eighth time of asking. The Eagles have landed.