Graham Potter admitted he understood Patrick Vieira’s frustration after watching Thiago Silva escape a red card for handball in Saturday’s victory over Crystal Palace.
The new Chelsea manager was able to celebrate his first win in charge after Conor Gallagher’s late winner against the team with whom he spent last season on loan.
It had looked likely to be another frustrating day for Potter after he watched his side concede the opening goal of the game after only eight minutes when Odsonne Edouard scored from close range.
The main incident of the game occurred just after the half hour mark when Thiago slipped under pressure from Jordan Ayew and, in an attempt to prevent the Palace forward from advancing on goal, palmed the ball away from danger.
Referee Chris Kavanagh opted to give a yellow card and with the VAR under the impression that no clear and obvious error had been committed decided not to intervene.
And Palace’s frustration was compounded moments later when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang equalised through a Thiago assist.
‘I thought it was touch and go,’ confessed Potter. ‘The fact he was quite far from the goal saved him and it could’ve gone the other way ‘It’s a close one, I can understand Patrick’s [Vieira] frustration. It’s a 50-50 one.’
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On the significance of the win, the Chelsea boss added: ‘We’re delighted with the result. It’s a tough place to come. I thought we started quite well but conceded from the first action into the box.
‘Credit to the boys, they recovered well and did not let their heads go down. It was nice to get an equaliser and get back in the game.
‘We had to survive moments as they are a good side with dangerous players. To be a goal down and come away with three points is fantastic so credit to the players.
‘There’s character, that’s for sure. They could’ve felt sorry for themselves after conceding the goal but the players stood up all the way through.
‘There was a collective spirit among the players. We are delighted with the three points.’
