Chelsea's club record signing Alvaro Morata was an instant hit at Stamford Bridge but the 25-year-old striker has struggled for form since December.January signing Olivier Giroud was preferred up front for Saturday evening's 2-1 win over relegation threatened Crystal Palace.Morata has failed to find the back of the net since Boxing Day 2017 and Antonio Conte appears to be losing patience in the former Real Madrid man.“Morata has had his ups and downs,” Danny Murphy recently told the Evening Standard. “He is an outstanding No.9 — technically excellent, good in the air, a strong finisher — but lacks the mean streak that made Costa so effective for Chelsea.“Sometimes I would watch Costa and think ‘you are not fit’ but he was always determined to be on the pitch and he knew how to be decisive for his team even when he was not at his best.“I don’t know Morata and I wouldn’t want to question his injuries but perhaps he needs to change his mindset.“It doesn’t look, at this stage, as though he has Costa’s raw toughness, that hardcore desire to be out there at all costs.”

Chelsea fans react to Morata's antics in 92nd minute

Morata replaced Giroud midway through the second-half and received his tenth yellow card of the season in the 86th minute.

He then sarcastically applauded the referee for booking him - arguably another booking offence.

Just minutes later, the out-of-sorts Spanish striker was incredibly fortunate not be shown a second yellow for dissent.

Morata, irritated at Palace being given a goal-kick in the 92nd minute, quite clearly knocked the flag out of the hands of the linesman.

Morata, who showed no remorse, was a very lucky boy to get away with this.

It was incredibly stupid behaviour - and Chelsea fans on social media were not very sympathetic towards him.

Chelsea face Barcelona in the Camp Nou on Wednesday night and Morata did very little to convince Conte to start him.