Chelsea 2 Wolves 4
After a midweek humbling at Anfield, Mauricio Pochettino knew his side needed to bounce back with a win as they welcomed Wolves to Stamford Bridge. Life had really not settled for The Blues under their new manager, things needed to change and soon.
Gary O’Neil was hoping to see his side become more solid defensively after they lost their game against Man Utd deep into added time after coming back to level the game at three-all. They were looking to complete a league double against The Blues for the first time since 1975.
The visitors had the first chance of the game as a sloppy pass allowed Neto to run clear and get a shot in which Petrovic saved. As they tried to play out, Caicedo gave Wolves the ball back in a dangerous area and the keeper was called into action once again as Cunha shot.
Massively against the run of play, Caicedo then found one of his own players with a pass and Palmer slotted home with a first-time shot. Pochettino’s side had not looked like scoring at all but their fans hoped this would be somewhat of a wake-up call.
Credit: @ChelseaFC
Chelsea’s £115m signing then gave the ball away again and as Wolves broke forward, Cunha’s shot took a massive deflection off Thiago Silva to wrongfoot the keeper and go in. The most baffling thing is this goal being given to the Wolves player.
Neto then got down the right flank for O’Neil’s side and his cross was met by Ait-Nouri, whose shot deflected off Disasi and went into the opposite corner that Petrovic had gone. The away end erupted just before the half-time whistle.
As the second half started, Palmer clipped a brilliant pass over the visitors’ defence to find Chilwell in space in the box. He laid it off to an unmarked Sterling, who dragged his shot wide of the post. It is ironic that a team that cost over £1bn to put together could make Chelsea look so poor.
Neto then made a mockery of Chilwell and Thiago’s defensive capabilities once again and squared the ball to Cunha, who smashed in his second goal of the game. Even the most loyal of Chelsea fans were struggling to stay positive at this point.
Gusto put a teasing cross into the box, which found Nicolas Jackson at the far post. He headed wide of the goal to further prove that he is Senegal’s worst export since blood diamonds. Where is David Fofana when you need him?
Cunha then went surging into the box before he was hacked down by Gusto. The referee pointed to the spot and a VAR review did not save the hosts. The Brazilian picked himself up and slotted the ball home to secure himself a very questionable hat-trick. Part of that match ball should go to Thiago Silva.
Credit: @Wolves
As a Chelsea corner was flicked on by Silva late on, Wolves failed to clear it as the ball went into the far corner. At least the centre back made up for his goal at the wrong end of the pitch earlier in the game. He was still playing the last time Wolves won at Stamford Bridge.
Gary O’Neil’s side deservedly took all three points for a first win in West London against Chelsea since 1979. Meanwhile Mauricio Pochettino was about as popular in certain parts of America as scrapping the second amendment.
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