Sheff Utd 2 Chelsea 2
Chris Wilder’s side welcomed Chelsea to Bramall Lane with the chances of survival dwindling game by each game. Mauricio Pochettino’s side got a dramatic late win against Man Utd at Stamford Bridge in the week and were planning to build on that.
The visitors looked to attack from the off and Madueke forced a save from Grbic as he cut in from the wing. As the subsequent corner came in, Thiago Silva met it on the volley to steer the ball into the bottom corner of the goal to give The Blues the lead.
It was the perfect start to the game for Mauricio Pochettino’s side as they looked to put some sort of a run together for the first time this season. The manager was expected to turn things around in West London and questions are starting to be asked.
Sheff Utd came forward and as Thiago Silva won the ball back in the corner, he looked to pass it back to his keeper. The under-hit pass was cut out by McBurnie, who laid it back to Brereton Diaz but his shot at goal was deflected wide.
Credit: @premierleague
The chance gave The Blades the shot in the arm they needed to try and get back into the game. As they started to put pressure on the visitors, Hamer shot from just outside the box but his effort was well saved by Petrovic in the bottom corner of the goal.
Hamer then played a great ball in behind the Chelsea defence for Bogle to run onto. His cross come shot caught out the keeper as he scored from an incredibly tight angle. Either way the hosts were level and Bramall Lane was bouncing.
Wilder’s side almost added a second as Hamer tried his luck with the outside of his boot but could only find the side-netting. Soon after, Robinson was booked for a heavy challenge on Palmer which left the forward in a heap on the floor.
The game had now turned into an end to end affair. As The Blues came forward, Madueke cut inside onto his left foot and thundered it past Grbic into the back of the net. Wilder will be disappointed by how easily his side were opened up.
Cole Palmer was the next to test the Sheff Utd keeper as he tried his luck from distance. The Chelsea playmaker struck it well but it was tipped over the bar by Grbic. At this stage of the game, you felt like the next goal was going to be key to the outcome.
Chelsea seemed to feel like they needed another goal in order to hold onto the three points. As the game headed into added time, Sheff Utd almost sensed the nerves in the opposition. As a result they seized the opportunity to pile the pressure on Pochettino’s side.
Credit: @premierleague
Their lofted balls into the box had caused the visitors problems all game. One such ball was flicked on by Archer, into the path of McBurnie. The striker took his chance and poked the ball past Petrovic to get the hosts a last-gasp equaliser. Bramall Lane erupted.
While both players and manager will be pleased with the fight they showed to twice come back into the game, the point does not help their cause. If they have any hope of pulling off the unthinkable, they need to be winning games and not drawing them.
For Chelsea, the promise of a new dawn has been faltering all season. They cannot find any consistency, put a run of wins together or even look like a side capable of being what they once were. The only question now is how much patience the hierarchy will show with the manager.
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