Ward’s role was to stop Alonso and he achieved this aim.
Vieira name checked him as having a good game.
The problem was that he didn’t contribute going forward (not his strength) so we looked pretty toothless down our right side.
Kouyate also did a good job at the back , but we missed both his energy and tenacity in midfield together with Gallagher’s industry.
In the absence of those two in midfield Schlupp played a more disciplined role, rarely breaking forward.
All of the above contributed to the lack of support and service for Mateta and Zaha.
The tactics largely worked defensively but at the same time curtailed our effectiveness going forward.

It seems obvious to me that next season we have to find a midfield general in the style of a Barry Bannon.

Against Chelsea PV set up a system that, apparently, we had practiced all week but we did not have the right players to make it effective against a far better and skilled team.

As others have said it was a 'Hodgson line-up' and was doomed to failure as we had few chances because we did not have a 'general' to provide. I was dismayed as soon as the line up was announced. Clyne should have played and the usefulness of Schlupp, Ayew and Ward is dubious. Mateta works hard but had no chances and it is a toss-up between him and Edouard who is the better. Bringing on Olise (belatedly) was good but Benteke ???

We will lose Gallagher and need a creator. We could do far worse than lure Eriksen to bring calmness and accurate passing.

If there is not a revival against Newcastle I fear we might sink lower and struggle to match Hodgson's points targets.

Man and boy Palace since my first game in 1948 sitting on my dad's shoulders

So 8 points in 7 games and we'll amass a points total bettering 3/4 of Hodgson's results, in PV's first season, with a squad comprising primarily of those just in and those on their way out. Not three bad I'd say, not even mentioning the style of football and a trip to Wembley (despite result).

Now Zaha's got a bit of green grass ahead of him here... and finds Ambrose... not a bad effort!!!!

Im not so sure it was a 'Hodgson Line-up', Ayew and Benteke would have started if it was.
Also, I take umbrage with comments expecting Us to automatically get more points than Hodgson just because we are now playing 'better football'. It's the first season Since he departed FFS leaving a largely aging squad, and a lot of deadwood. A rebuilding job has been undertaken, and quite frankly think it's amazing that we're anywhere near his points success. I Was expecting being much closer to relegation at this point of the season. The difference is we now have the potential to get a lot more.

"It was a Team effort, I guess it took all players working together to lose this one"

It doesn't seem more than a couple of weeks ago that there were several posts on here saying how good it was to see Eze back to his best! Not great on Sunday though.

I think Clyne was very poor for one of the Leicester goals, that may be part of the reason he was dropped. Agree with the comments about the top six f*cking off to the super league so the rest of us can do real football again - they are a bore.