Chelsea's title credentials took an almighty tumble as they went down to a humbling defeat at the hands of Crystal Palace this afternoon at Selhurst Park.
An own goal by skipper John Terry six minutes into the second half sealed the fate of the league leaders while providing a giant fillip to The Eagles quest to remain in the Premier League.
In truth this was a terrible Chelsea performance with Palace showing on the count-attack what they are capable of.
The blistering start that typified the match against arsenal failed to materialise for the Blues at this afternoon.
A wayward David Luiz shot on five minutes the closest Chelsea, playing in all white came to threatening Julien Speroni's goal for Crystal Palace.
There was a very good chance by Torres from a Bransliav Ivanovic throw-in on 11 minutes. Unfortunately for the striker his chest down and right-foot volley was deflected off the back of Scott Dann.
Yannick Bolasie entered Lee Mason's book for a late challenge on David Luiz.
Andre Schurrle then, on 18 minutes, had a marvellous chance to take advantage of a counter-attack on the left that saw Cesar Azpilicueta send in the perfect across the six-yard box ball. The German stuck his toe out at the far post but could not direct the ball into the empty net, instead, it inched just wide of Speroni's left upright.
Jason Puncheon was next in the ref's book for a late, shin-sliding challenge on Azpilicueta.
Bolasie, easily the best outlet for the Eagles outpaced Gary Cahill on 27 minutes, but his right-footed effort form just outside the Chelsea penalty area came to nothing, it was a scuffed effort that lacked pace and went wide of Petr Cech's goal.
This signalled a good piece of action from the home side which saw Bolasie fail to take advantage of space at the far post, and when Puncheon crossed he instead rattled Cech's side-netting.
Palace had an appeal for a penalty turned down when striker Cameron Jerome fell to the ground under a challenge from John Terry after Scott Mariappa did well with a byline cross on 31 minutes.
A brilliant late challenge by Cahill thwarted Bolasie a minute later as the home side piled on the pressure.
Terry was handed a yellow card by Mason for hand ball just outside his penalty area on 33 minutes.
A clever bit of misdirection by a couple of Palace players left Mile Jedinak to shoot on goal, but Cech was its equal.
Torres, then Puncheon had half chances as the game headed to the break with neither side showing the necessary class to steal the lead.
The half ended as it began with another wayward Luiz shot, high and wide of Speroni's goal.
Jose Mourinho decided to shake-up his midfield at half-time, replacing Brazilian David Luiz for another Brazilian, Oscar.
Fernando Torres had the honour of the first strike towards goal after the start. But the Spain striker was wide of the mark.
Bolasie continued to threaten on the left and five minutes in he sent in great left byline cross that Jerome only got a glancing header to.
Sixty seconds later and Joel Ward set up by Bolasie crossed from the left. Joe Ledley and John Terry went for the near post ball but the ball glanced off the head of Terry and past Cech to put the Eagles one up on 51 minutes.
Eden Hazard, a peripheral player so far, almost equalised on 53 minutes but his low, right-footed curling volley was tipped away by Speroni, diving to his left to thwart the Belgium midfielder.
Mourinho introduced Mohamed Salah for ineffectual Lampard on 55 minutes.
A brilliant breakaway on 61 minutes almost doubled the home side's lead, but Puncheon's left footer just missed Cech's left post by inches.
Terry almost made amends for his own goal but his powerful header from an Oscar free kick a minute after Puncheon's effort went over the crossbar.
Eagles boss Tony Pulis replaced Bolasie with 20 minutes to go, bringing on Stuart O'Keefe.
Julien Speroni then produced a sensational save, tipping away a Hazard strike with 18 minutes to go. With the Blues pushing forward in a desperate attempt to salvage their title credentials, they were always open to the counter and so it proved within a minute of Speroni's save, Jerome smacked Cech's right post. Thankfully for the away side, the ball went safe.
In truth the home side looked the most likely to score with O'Keefe forcing Cech to tip his long-range effort over the bar.
Joe Ledley was next up to attack and his effort also just went wide of Cech goal with seven minutes remaining.
The clock finally ran down on Chelsea and has most likely also run down on their title change. Liverpool and Manchester City both look likely to overtake the west Londoners at the top of the table In due course.
Teams: Chelsea: Čech; Ivanović, Terry, Cahill, Azpilicueta; Matić, Luiz; Schürrle, Lampard, Hazard; Torres
Subs, Hilario, Kalas, Mikel, Oscar, Willian, Salah, Ba.
Crystal Palace: Speroni, Mariappa, Dann, Delaney, Ward, Dikgacoi, Jedinak, Puncheon, Ledley, Bolasie, Jerome
Subs, Hennessey, Parr, McCarthy, O'Keefe, Bannan, Ince, Murray.
Ref, Lee Mason