Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew felt Chelsea were thoroughly deserved winners on Sunday.

The Blues returned to top form with a convincing 3-0 victory over the Eagles at Selhurst Park and despite Wilfried Zaha missing a gilt-edged chance to make it 1-0 in the first half, Pardew had no qualms with the result.

"I don't think it was a tight game, Chelsea were good today, very good," he told Sky Sports.

"The first goal was probably as vital for us as it was for their confidence today. We had so many key players missing today that we probably needed a break or a chance to go in.

"Having said that the game could have been different at 1-0 when Wilf [Zaha] had a chance.

"But hats off to Chelsea today, they were very good and a lot of their star players turned up and delivered. (Cesc) Fabregas ran the show in the second half."

Goals from Oscar, Willian and Diego Costa saw off the challenge of Pardew's Palace in South London.