LONDON -- Demonstrating their efficient transformation under Antonio Conte, Chelseas players reeled off an 11th successive victory in a Premier League season for the first time Saturday.Diego Costas header secured a 1-0 win at struggling Crystal Palace, sending the leaders nine points clear of Liverpool and Arsenal.It came on the first anniversary of Jose Mourinho being fired with the west London club a point above the relegation zone. Apparent harmony in the dressing room has replaced the palpable discord with the players which triggered Mourinhos exit.Although the wins are racking up, Chelsea might soon pay for its inability to kill off games with the Palace success completing a hat trick of 1-0 victories.The defense, though, is watertight under Conte, keeping nine clean sheets in the winning run that started after a 3-0 humbling at Arsenal and the switch to a three-man defense.The manager must be a tailor and try and find the right fit for the team, said Conte, the former Italy and Juventus coach. For sure, for me, it wasnt easy to arrive and understand very quickly the characteristics of my players. I needed a bit of time.I tried a different solution before changing the formation, but I think the most important thing is the mentality, our strong mentality. Also hard work during the week -- tactical work, physical work, analysis.With mist descending on the Selhurst Park field, the only goal in the lunchtime kickoff came from Chelseas first attempt on target in the 43rd minute.Costa rose above Scott Dann to meet Cesar Azpilicuetas cross and net his 13th goal of the season. The Spain forward has eclipsed last seasons haul for Chelsea before the halfway point has been reached.If wed arrived here today without the right concentration and focus, the will to fight and go into battle with your opponents, wed have lost this game for sure, Conte said. Instead, we have great quality but the players are putting that quality into the team.Chelsea, though, will have to cope without Costa at home to Bournemouth on Dec. 26. Chelseas top-scorer picked up a fifth booking of the season for a tackle on Joe Ledley before scoring.Midfielder NGolo Kante, who also accumulated five yellow cards with his second-half caution, also has two weeks off before the New Years Eve game against Stoke.Palace manager Alan Pardew might also have an enforced break -- unless results improve. Chelsea condemned Palace to an eighth loss in 10 games to leave the south London club three points above the relegation zone.Chelsea are very sound defensively and didnt really give us any chance to get at them as much as wed have liked, Pardew said. They were confident in their defending, (with) good shape and discipline to their actions, and did enough offensively to edge it.Chelsea equaled the 2009 teams 11-match winning run set across two seasons in 2009.Arsenals 14-match winning run in 2002 remains a Premier League record -- for now. Nike Zoom For Sale . 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England scrum coach Neal Hatley insists Mako Vunipolas rapid set-piece improvement has transformed him into the complete player.Alex Corbisiero, a distinguished predecessor in the Red Rose number one jersey, has acclaimed Vunipola as the best loosehead in world rugby on the strength of a rampaging start to the season at Saracens.While the impact in open play of Englands form player has never been doubt, his scrummaging was considered a potential weakness until the recent progress brought about by a technical adjustment.Mako has been absolutely outstanding for Saracens in the first half of the season, Hatley said. There arent many props in world rugby that can do what he does with the ball in hand.His set piece has come on immeasurably. Sometimes people get pigeon-holed as a carrying prop or a scrummaging prop and I think he crosses that divide.Hes been very sound from a set-piece point of view. Weve made a few little technical changes to his bind and thats had a real positive effect.There are a lot of good players around, but hes definitely getting there in terms of being the best loosehead in the world. If Corbs said that, its a pretty good endorsement.South Africa open the autumn series at Twickenham onn Saturday while experiencing their worst run of results for a decade, including a record home defeat to New Zealand, but Hatley insists their threat must not be underestimated.ddddddddddddThey will probably go with a big pack and a big back five in the way theyve tried to do for most of the year. It will be a good side, Hatley said.They have been a state of flux, but when theyve played well they have been very impressive. The Lions did well in Super Rugby. Were expecting a good side to turn up.They have a very good scrum and will probably load up on that back five. There will be big bulk there so it will be a testing day from a scrum point of view.England name their starting XV on Thurs