Sunday 18 December 2016 08:22, UK
Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew insists his side have deserved more for their recent performances following their 1-0 defeat at home to Chelsea.
Diego Costa scored the only goal of the game to open Chelsea's lead at the top of the Premier League to nine points and extend their winning run to a club equalling 11 games.
Palace also lost a tight game in midweek to Manchester United and Pardew, who has lead his side to just six league wins in 2016, praised his side's performance against the league leaders, but accepted Chelsea deserved all three points.
"We've shown in the last two games what we've shown in the last year really," he told Sky Sports.
"We're committed and it was a strong performance today, but they didn't give us anything. They are the first team we've not scored against for a while but they defended superbly well.
"As a fellow coach I have to say that was as good a defensive display as you'll see. We couldn't find a way through, even on set plays which we're strong at."
"It made it very difficult once we conceded that first goal," he added. "It was a shame because we had a couple of big chances in the first-half.
"This team is not getting what it deserves in my opinion and I think that will correct itself."
Part of Pardew's plan to tackle Chelsea was to isolate Gary Cahill against Wilfried Zaha.
However, Palace struggled to get Zaha on the ball enough to hurt Chelsea with the Palace manager insisting it was the toughest game of the season for his attackers.
"We couldn't get him [Gary Cahill] isolated really," Pardew said.
"Our transition was quite good and we kept the ball well which we talked about.
"We passed it well but our final pass was very difficult because they block the passes to your side players. It was tough to get the ball to him [Zaha].
"For our offensive players it was the toughest game they've had. "
Following their latest defeat Palace are just three points above the relegation zone and Pardew has admitted his side need points quickly, starting against Watford on Boxing Day..
"It's points now [that we need]," he said. "I said that in the dressing room.
"The difference for us now is that we're coming into a run of games against teams in and around us. We've got to get points.
"But we can take great heart from these two performances against two of the in-form teams in the division.
"We had a real close run and deserved something this week but it wasn't to be."
