CRYSTAL Palace assistant manager Dave Kemp was delighted with the "magnificent effort" of his players after a superb performance earned the Eagles a 1-0 victory at Selhurst Park over league leaders Chelsea.
A 52nd minute John Terry own goal condemned Chelsea to defeat, but Blues' boss Jose Mourinho was gracious in defeat.
And Palace's assistant boss praised the Special One, saying: "He was brilliant, he came and congratulated our players and they were rightly rewarded; for him to come and recognise that effort was very good."
Palace were excellent all game and Kemp was delighted for his squad.
He continued: "I'm just pleased for the players, they've put in such a shift today but they've put in a shift since we been here so it's not a surprise. But the important thing, as I say, is getting the result to go with their hard work."
Kemp also revealed Palace's game plan was to try to stop Chelsea from playing their natural game, and it worked superbly as the Eagles matched the Blues in every department.
He said: "In any game we play we have to try and stop the opposition the best we can, to stop their strengths; and we had to have players that were prepared to run beyond their back four and run at them to stretch the game when it was our turn.
"I thought we did that very well; obviously finishing didn't match rest of the play but today one was enough.
"I'm very pleased with our performance all the way around, [but if we could] stick the ball in the back of the net to back it up it could have been a bit more comfortable."
Kemp said he hoped the victory would increase the belief within the squad that Palace have what it takes to stay in the top division.
He said: "It's big for the players, big for the club but I think it's big for the players. When you come up into the Premiership - we've got nine wins know which is very credible for a promoted team out of the play- offs.
"When you beat a top team like we have done today, it gives the players that little bit more confidence and credibility. It gives them that belief to go on, and that would be very important for this group of players and the club."
