Chelsea 3-0 Wolves: The Premier League’s bottom side put up some resistance at Stamford Bridge, but it looked like it was only a matter of time before Enzo Maresca’s side won, and the result proved.
Chelsea supporters booed their team at half-time, but they were celebrating a comfortable victory and second place in the Premier League against Wolves, who were beaten badly in the second half at Stamford Bridge.
Despite dominating in the first half, Chelsea ended the first half goalless, much to the displeasure of their supporters, and missed a number of big chances, most notably from Alejandro Garnacho.
The Blues had the least scorer to thank for giving them the lead early in the second half. Maro Gusto headed Garnacho’s dimpled cross to score his first goal as a senior.
Joao Pedro did his devilishly best off the bench to score the second goal soon after the game, with more brilliance from Brazilian wonderboy Estevao, before former Wolves winger Pedro Neto tapped in Garnacho’s low ball to score the third.
Marc Giu came off the bench and missed an opportunity, but Johnston made a string of other good saves and it could have and should have been better for Chelsea, who were hit in the woodwork as Wolves cowered and closed the gap to league leaders Arsenal to six points.
For incoming Wolves manager Rob Edwards, whose move from Middlesbrough is expected to be approved within the next 48 hours, it was a night that confirmed just how dire the situation he finds himself in.
Here are Mirror Football’s five talking points…
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1. Disappointment in the first half
At half-time at Stamford Bridge, boos rang out from the home supporters. In truth, there wasn’t much to dislike about Chelsea’s opening 45 minutes, considering they were in complete control of the game, not conceding a single shot. Enzo Fernandes was the best player in the match.
But in the final third, they were for naught. This is a common story. Johnston made the save, but there was nothing I didn’t expect him to save. Even Garnacho’s early chances were effectively heading towards him.
Throughout, Maresca found it increasingly difficult to air his frustrations on the touchline as the first half wore on, with his disappointments ranging from shots dragging, passes not coming quick enough and corners going right back to Roberto Sanchez.
However, the chances of it ending goalless were never high…
2. Unlikely scorer
There will almost certainly be no player more likely to score than Chelsea’s number 27 in the Premier League this season (well, unless Joe Gomez scores at some point).
The 22-year-old France international had never scored for Lyon or Chelsea before, and had never scored in senior football. This is a surprising statistic considering Gusto is a full-back who likes to get forward.
He again scored the opening goal with conviction, continuing his run into the box, finding space when the Wolves players were unable to track him, and calmly nodding in from close range.
The first of many?
3. That’s why they’re at the bottom.
On the one hand they lack any threat at all, and on the other they are constantly in danger of conceding goals. This is the most unhealthy combination for any football team.
The Urs didn’t look like they were going to cause any surprises here. It’s easy to say with hindsight, and certainly caretaker managers James Collins and Richard Walker would argue that at 0-0 they looked like a side that was always in the game, had chances, but was just waiting to lose.
It wasn’t that the team lacked work ethic or effort, but the quality and confidence were so lacking that, despite the boos at half-time, it was always a question of when Chelsea would win rather than if they would find a breakthrough. They did it three times in 20 minutes as Wolves were out of sorts and arguments crept in between teammates over who should pick up who.
It was another solemn night for a good old-fashioned team, with only three shots on goal (two from outside the box, all on target, a total of just 0.17xG).
4. Delap’s struggles
Liam Delap’s arrival at Chelsea is a huge win for the Blues and you have to believe that the player seen by some as Harry Kane’s successor will thrive and eventually blossom.
But this was Delap’s first start after being timed out with an injury – he had already been sent off for two yellow cards in the Carabao Cup game against Wolves when he returned as a substitute 10 days earlier – and he looked rusty. His timing was generally off, sometimes being half a yard off the pace, sometimes getting too eager, sometimes getting to other players too early.
Obviously, he needs more time on the pitch and more time to shake off some rust to get back to being the best football player he can be. The break abroad should be good for him to improve his form, but he will need to step up once domestic action resumes.
5. “We want Fosun to leave.”
There’s no denying the willingness of Wolves fans to travel in droves. The 8pm kick-off in west London was no different, as the team was without a manager.
But while they continue to support their team and sing about former players and past glories, the message to the club’s owner, the Chinese conglomerate Fosun, is far from positive.
Since the end of Nuno Espirito Santo’s term, which Mr See described as “lucky,” the patience of Chairman Jeff See and the ownership group has been stretched thin and the company has been in steady decline. Relegation is almost inevitable this season due to self-reliance and poor recruitment.
Incoming manager Rob Edwards will have to do everything he can to keep Wolves top of the table in May, despite the divisions within the club.
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