Image source, AP

Premier League leaders Chelsea maintained their unbeaten start to the season but were made to battle for victory against Crystal Palace.

A brilliant Oscar free-kick and an equally impressive Cesc Fabregas strike ensured Jose Mourinho's men move five points clear of second-placed Manchester City.

Fraizer Campbell scored late on to give the hosts a deserved reward for their spirited performance against a team which dominated possession and territory throughout.

Both teams were forced to play the second half with 10 men as Chelsea's Cesar Azpilicueta and Palace's Damien Delaney were dismissed in two separate incidents.

Azpilicueta was the first to see red, the defender punished for a late two-footed challenge on Mile Jedinak in the 40th minute. Three minutes later, Delaney received his second yellow card for a clumsy challenge on Loic Remy.

Palace boss Neil Warnock remonstrated with referee Craig Pawson at half-time as the pair walked towards the tunnel and the Yorkshireman's ire had not quelled at the final whistle.

Chelsea coped the better with reduced personnel, masterfully retaining possession as Fabregas and Oscar dictated play. At times, the second half resembled a training ground exercise.

In the first half, Campbell's pace had posed the Chelsea defence problems, but the hosts' threat diminished after Delaney's dismissal and hopes of recording a second successive league victory over the Blues receded once Fabregas doubled Chelsea's advantage.

It was a 1-0 defeat at Palace in March which derailed Chelsea's title challenge last season, but Jose Mourinho has said he has since learned his lesson and the statistics back up his argument.

The Blues have won nine and drawn two of their last 11 league matches and even without Diego Costa - the Premier League leading scorer was injured while on international duty - they posed enough of a threat to see off Palace.

Image source, BBC Sport

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho:

"My team had a fantastic performance. From minute one we did what we want to do, have the ball, use the ball and control the game. After that comes the red cards. And 10 against 10 with the qualities we have was even easier for us.

"The second goal was a scandal. It is unbelievably good!

"Against Palace it is never finished until the last seconds. They scored and the situation becomes dangerous for us.

"I have no complaints for the red card. It was very far from me and my focus was not on if it was a red, it was on how to reorganise my team."

Image source, Reuters

Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas: "We played a great second half especially for 10 against 10. Oscar's fantastic goal helped us and after the break it was a completely different game. It was a solid performance.

"Palace were man marking me in the first half so it was difficult for me to get into space but 80% of the game was ours. I play deeper now so it will not be a party every game for me. I will go five or six games without a goal or an assist at times and I am more proud about our discipline.

"Do we feel invincible? This is a joke. Arsenal went unbeaten in 2003-4, that will never happen again."

Former Leicester striker Steve Claridge at Selhurst Park, BBC Radio 5 live

"There was lots of fight and character from Palace. They work extremely hard and are organised and will be fine this season. And Chelsea? Well, they just roll on don't they."

Neil Warnock waves his players away from the referee. The Crystal Palace manager looks like he is about to combust. Referee Craig Pawson, flanked by his assistants, is waiting for the Palace boss to disappear down the tunnel before leaving the pitch.

Mohamed Salah skips toward the left touchline... Chelsea keeping possession... the full-time whistle blows.

Neil Warnock bellowing instructions from the sidelines but Chelsea have the ball... A free-kick inside their own half.

We're into injury time and Palace fans are urging their team forward.

Former Leicester striker Steve Claridge at Selhurst Park, BBC Radio 5 live

"That's a good finish. Campbell got behind the Chelsea backline and just knocks in a wonderful ball. It really picked him out, and the ball was put into an empty net. And there's some time still to go..."

A simple tap-in for Fraizer Campbell as he connects with Wilfried's Zaha cross from the right. Palace couldn't, could they?

Loic Remy with a shot from distance. The Frenchman has not been as lethal as Diego Costa, but he has not had any chance of note.

Eden Hazard's day is done as Mohamed Salah is introduced. Palace fans still in full song even though the match is fizzling out to an unspectacular end.

A spirited five minutes from Palace. The hosts patiently make their way into the Chelsea half but a poor ball from Mile Jedinak ruins the move.

Palace causing Chelsea problems, but a perfectly-timed tackle from Gary Cahill in the box sniffs out the danger.

Quick footwork from Wilfried Zaha as he cleverly gets out of a cul de sac with two Chelsea defenders breathing down on him. But there winger's adrenalized cross goes out for a throw-in in the opposite touchline.

Nothing much to report. Cesc Fabregas cleanly wins the ball in a sliding tackle. It could have been a second yellow for the former Barcelona man had he got it wrong. But he didn't so we move on.

Former Leicester striker Steve Claridge at Selhurst Park, BBC Radio 5 live

"The sendings off have had more of a negative effect on Palace than Chelsea. Chelsea are so well drilled that they just know how to move into various systems and adapt the way they play. Being down to 10 men has had no discernable dramatic impact on them."

Applause from the home fans for Adlene Guedioura as he brings Wilfried Zaha into the match. But Yannick Bolasie messes up Palace's most promising move of the match.

Oscar dancing toward the box and forces Julian Speroni to dive low to his left. The Brazilian would have been celebrating his second of the match had the goalkeeper not been alert in the face of enemy fire.

Image source, PA

Mile Jedinak takes a swipe at Oscar's heels, which gives the visitors a chance to regroup and mount another attack. To the left they go, where Eden Hazard is lurking. The Belgian cuts in and is a fraction wide from finding the far post.