Chelsea let a positive run slip by losing to Sunderland at Stamford Bridge after a late goal.
Even in their recent run of wins, the Blues had been starting slowly, and it was the same story today. A brave and well organised Sunderland team dominated the early stages, and the Blues’ opening goal was against the run of play.
Alejandro Garnacho streaked clear and finished nicely across goal after Enzo Fernandez had nicked the ball in midfield and Pedro Neto powered forward in the transition.
From then, Enzo Maresca’s team were perfectly set up. They were in the lead at home, with a strong and relatively fresh team on the pitch. Everything played into their hands – but they somehow bungled it.
Sunderland levelled from a long throw – something we knew was going to be one of their main weapons. It was poor defending – but there was 70 minutes left to retake the lead.
Instead, Maresca’s team fell back into the same stultifying, slow play we’ve seen time and again. Not only did their sideways passing allow the opposition to get back into shape, it often allowed them to almost stand still and regain their breath. Attackers were anonymous and there was so little energy or invention.
The goal that won it for the Black Cats was against the run of play – but the result was fully deserved given how poor in attack Chelsea were. The away side punted a long ball up the pitch, and somehow two Chelsea defenders and a goalkeeper couldn’t win the ball of Brian Brobbey, allowing him to play in Chemsdine Talbi to win the game.
MOTM – Josh Acheampong
Analysis
Marc Cucurella in action against Sunderland.
Marc Cucurella in action against Sunderland. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
There’s not much to say we haven’t said before. This team starts slowly, attacks slowly, and often defends slowly. They should be tearing teams apart at home and scaring them with their quality, instead they allow them to build confidence.
One thing is for sure – the idea that playing Marc Guiu up front was going to unleash Joao Pedro did not play out. They were both poor, and JP actually looked better later on when he was pushed up top and Guiu came off.
We want to see progress, no matter how slow, and right now we’re left thinking that we looked better this time a year ago.
Teams
Chelsea
Robert Sanchez
Reece James
Trevoh Chalobah
Josh Acheampong
Marc Cucurella
Moises Caicedo
Enzo Fernandez
Pedro Neto
Joao Pedro
Alejandro Garnacho
Marc Guiu
Substitutes
Filip Jorgensen
Tosin Adarabioyo (s 76′)
Jamie Gittens (s 76′)
Andrey Santos (s 85′)
Jorrel Hato
Wesley Fofana
Tyrique George (s 85′)
Estevao (s 58′)
Romeo Lavia
Sunderland
Robin Roefs
Trai Hume
Nordi Mukiele
Daniel Ballard
Lutsharel Geertruida
Reinildo Mandava
Bertrand Traore
Noah Sadiki
Granit Xhaka
Enzo Le Fee
Wilson Isidor
Substitutes
Anthony Patterson
Dan Neil
Chemsdine Talbi (s 65′)
Brian Brobbey (s 75′)
Chris Rigg (s 75′)
Eliezer Mayenda
Luke O’Nien
Arthur Masuaku
Harrison Jones
Stats
Ball Possession
69% Chelsea – 31% Sunderland
Expected Goals (xG)
1.16 – 0.97
Total Shots
16 – 10
Shots on Target
7 – 4
Big Chances
2 – 2
Big Chances Missed
1 – 1
Accurate Passes
563 (90%) – 220 (78%)
Fouls Committed
15 – 13
Corners
9 – 1
Quote of the game
“‘I think we were not good enough, we lacked creativity, we didn’t create a lot, apart from the goal probably, and we struggled.” – Enzo Maresca post-game.