SIX successive league victories for Frank Lampard’s Chelsea have left supporters feeling positive about the potential of this squad of players.

Second-half goals from Tammy Abraham and Christian Pulisic, two of the young stars of this fast-improving Chelsea team, saw off Roy Hodgson’s side in what was the veteran manager’s 300th Premier League match. 

However, Chelsea’s biggest test of the season so far comes in their next match, when they travel to Manchester City on November 23 following the international break.

“Every game in the Premier League is hard, particularly against a team as organised as Palace,” said Lampard following his first London derby as manager.

“We’ve had teams come here and be difficult to break down, it’s a test of not only how you unlock the door, whether you can switch on to make sure you don’t get hit by the sucker punch.

“I am proud of the squad we have here. But we know that this league will punish you if you drop off.”

Defeats early in the season, to Manchester United and Liverpool, remain the only blemishes on Chelsea’s record in the league.

After a first half in which Chelsea dominated their opponents but were unable to find their way behind a stubborn Palace back-line, the breakthrough came on 52 minutes from Abraham.

The goal owed much to the ingenuity of Willian, whose clever first-time flick from a pass from Mateo Kovacic opened the visitors’ defensive line. 

The Brazilian winger’s assist was accurate and, with the ball at his feet, Abraham calmly placed his effort beyond goalkeeper Vicente Guaita.

It was 10th goal of the season for the impressive Abraham and reward for a positive display from Lampard’s men. Up until then, Palace’s players looked up for the fight, but lacked strength in the final third of the pitch.

Coming days after Chelsea’s thrilling 4-4 draw again Ajax, Hodgson’s men must have thought that they could exploit some of those weaknesses in Chelsea’s defence.

However, it was an off-day all round, and players such as Wilfried Zaha looked out-of-sorts and like his teammates, endured a frustrating afternoon.

“We didn’t give up and kept playing right to the end,” said Hodgson. “It’s an unfortunate spell we find ourselves in, but I can’t say I’m disappointed with our performance.”

As the first half wore on, Chelsea remained firmly in control, and by the time they scored their second goal, on 79 minutes, Palace’s resolve had been crushed.

It was Pulisic, busy and full of ideas throughout, who added the second when he put the ball in from close range after substitute Michy Batshuayi’s shot had deflected into his path. It was Pulisic’s fifth goal in three matches.