Chelsea 2 Burnley 2
Fans continue to flock to Stamford Bridge, hoping to see the rebirth of their team under Mauricio Pochettino. With Burnley the visitors to West London, The Blues were looking to kickstart their push for the European places above them.
Vincent Kompany’s side are desperate for points as they try and pull off a great escape and secure their safety and with it, another season in the top-flight. The Clarets knew that it would be a tough ask to come away with all three points in this one.
The hosts started well and Enzo Fernandez got a shot off at goal but it took a massive deflection and needed an athletic save from Muric to claw it out of the top corner, with the help of the woodwork. It got the home fans on their feet, hoping to see their side put in a real shift at The Bridge.
This was not going to be one-way traffic though as the visitors had other ideas. Odobert cut in from the left and checked onto his right foot before trying to bend one in the far corner. Only a fingertip save from Petrovic could deny The Clarets.
Credit: @ChelseaFC
Mudryk started causing problems for Burnley with his pace and skill. As he ghosted past Assignon, the full back pulled him to ground and received a yellow card for his troubles. Palmer then played in Jackson but only an outstretched leg from the keeper could deny the striker.
From the resulting corner, Mudryk put a teasing low cross into the far post and Disasi bundled it over the line to give Chelsea the lead. The celebrations were short-lived as VAR ruled it out, deciding that it had struck the defender’s arm.
Mudryk used his pace to get past the defender into the box, before being bundled to the ground. The referee immediately pointed to the spot and showed Assignon a second yellow card that meant an early bath for the Burnley man. Things had become a whole lot harder for the visitors.
VAR checked it and agreed with the official. Kompany was also sent off for his remonstrations about the decision. Palmer stepped up to take the spot-kick and cheekily dinked it down the middle of the goal to give the hosts the lead.
Whatever was said in the Burnley dressing room at half-time seemed to work. Just after the interval, Brownhill and Cullen combined with the midfielder striking a shot with the outside of his boot into the bottom corner to give the visitors an unlikely equaliser.
Cullen was involved again as he sent a teasing ball into the box which Foster headed towards goal. Petrovic made a good save to deny him with the striker having a second bite of the cherry but his effort with the rebound was well blocked by the defender. Warning shots had been fired by the visitors.
Credit: @premierleague
The Blues started to play some neat one-touch passing which saw Sterling backheel the ball into the path of Palmer. He took one touch to steady himself before tucking it into the bottom corner to restore the lead for Pochettino’s side.
Despite a very disappointing season so far, Cole Palmer has been the stand-out player for Chelsea and seems to be the one glimmer of light in the club’s questionable transfer dealings. However, a defender he is not as he gave away a free kick to The Clarets in a dangerous position.
Just as it seemed Chelsea may be heading for a win, the comedy roadshow stepped up to the plate once again. Burnley swung in a corner, met at the near post by O’Shea, which Petrovic let straight through his hands into the back of the net.
Just what the keeper was trying to do will be one of the modern day wonders. It almost seemed like he threw it into the net at the end. Tickets to watch The Blues this season should come with some sort of government health warning.
As Chelsea tried to find a winner, a sublime ball by Palmer into the box found Sterling completely unmarked. How the former Man City attacker headed it wide left the home fans in disbelief. He really should have restored his side’s lead.
In the dying moments of the game a Burnley corner found Rodriguez in the box. His header rattled against the crossbar before he put the rebound acrobatically over. It was a huge chance for the visitors to take all three points in West London.
The teams shared the points but Burnley will take far more from this game than Chelsea will. Questions will still be asked whether Pochettino is the right man for the job, not just by the fans, it must be crossing the minds of the owners now too.
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