Crystal Palace manager Tony Pulis hailed his side's sustained efforts after falling to a narrow 2-1 defeat at Stamford Bridge.
Palace have now won two of Tony Pulis' four matches in charge to return to the pack after appearing likely to be cast adrift.
Pulis said: "To be in the game for 94 minutes is testament to the commitment and the effort.
"The important thing is that the lads keep believing that we have got a chance and that we keep playing with that spirit and commitment."
The former Stoke boss reserved special praise for the Palace goalscorer.
"I thought when we got it to Chamakh we played some good stuff," Pulis added.
"Chamakh slows it down for us, gets a pass off and gives us time to get runners up the pitch.
"Bolasie came on and was a threat, Puncheon was a threat and Cameron Jerome was smashing. There's a threat there."
Contrary to outside perceptions, Chamakh has applied himself well under Pulis.
The Welshman added: "The lads have bought into what we're trying to do. The most important thing is to galvanise a spirit within a football club.
"Marouane has bought into that. You've seen the quality, he's a top player. Wenger doesn't buy players who can't play. The kid can play.
"It's helped, I think, that he's been given the responsibility to play just off the striker, where he's got more room and space and he hasn't got his back to play all the time."
