Chelsea boss Lampard: “Our game-management wasn't great” against Crystal Palace.

The Blues boss Lampard says they were lucky to run away with at Selhurst Park

Frank Lampard admitted that there where moments Chelsea’s “game management wasn’t great” in their 3-2 win against Crystal Palace.

The Blues boss says they were lucky to run away with three points against the Eagles at Selhurst Park Stadium on Tuesday evening.

Chelsea’s victory means they’ve moved above Leicester City into the third spot in the Premier League table, five points above Manchester United.

Palace defender Gary Cahill was unlucky as he sustained a match-ending injury that helped Willian to charge into the penalty box before setting up Olivier Giroud to score the opener.

The Blues later increased their lead through a beautiful strike from Christian Pulisic in the 27th minute as it looked like the visitors were about to put the tie to bed, but Wilfried Zaha responded for the south London side seven minutes later with a superb finish.

Striker Tammy Abraham then got on the scoresheet with a neat finish with 19 minutes to go to put Lampard’s side 3-1 up.

Benteke’s close-range tap in (his first goal at Selhurst Park since April 2018) made it 3-2 but Roy Hodgson's Eagles didn’t have enough for a comeback, although, they came within a whisker of snatching a point when Scott Dann's back-post header struck the post late on in the game.

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Speaking to BBC Sport following the triumph, ex-Derby County coach Lampard said: "Not good for your nerves. Palace are a good team. There were moments in the game where our game-management wasn't great. At 2-0 we can dominate that game and finish it. When we went 3-2 up we had chances to finish the game and were sloppy.

“We got a bit of luck, but I welcome that because we've had games this season where it has gone against us. At this point, three points is the critical thing.

"For the chances we create we don't score enough goals. It changes the face of a game when you have chances and don't take them and nerves kick in.

"And you can't feel secure in football matches if you keep giving goals away. You go 3-2 and if you can navigate the next five minutes the game should be more comfortable. Straight away we switch off and make two or three mistakes in the build up to a goal. Not good enough."

On the first goal, he said: "I am gutted for Gary Cahill. Willian got in behind and we still need to finish it. A touch of luck but it was good play by us as well."

On securing a Champions League spot, the 42-year-old said: "That is going to be our battle game on game now. They are all going to be tough. Kepa makes a good save at the end, Kurt Zouma makes a great tackle. We still have to learn from moments in our game and be better."

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