CHELSEA 3-0 WOLVES: The Premier League's bottom side offered some resistance at Stamford Bridge but it always looked a matter of time before Enzo Maresca's men claimed victory and so it proved
Malo Gusto of Chelsea celebrates with teammate Joao Pedro after scoring his team's first goal
Malo Gusto of Chelsea celebrates with teammate Joao Pedro after scoring his team's first goal
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Chelsea supporters booed their side off at half-time but were celebrating a comfortable win and second place in the Premier League table as they put woeful Wolves to the sword in the second half at Stamford Bridge.
Despite dominating the first half, Chelsea went in goalless at the break - much to the displeasure of their supporters - having missed a number of big chances, most notably through Alejandro Garnacho.
The Blues had the unlikeliest of scorers to thank for giving them an early second half lead, Garnacho's dinked cross headed home by Malo Gusto for his first senior goal.
Joao Pedro thrashed home a second shortly after the hour mark after more brilliance from Brazilian wonderboy Estevao, off the bench and at his devilish best, before former Wolves winger Pedro Neto lashed in Garnacho's low ball for the third.
Marc Guiu missed good chances after coming off the bench, while Johnstone made a number of other good saves and woodwork was struck, as Wolves wilted and it could, and probably should, have been more for a Chelsea side who closed the gap on league leaders Arsenal to six points.
For incoming Wolves boss Rob Edwards - whose move from Middlesbrough is expected to be ratified in the coming 48 hours - it was a night that will only have confirmed just how dire the situation he's walking into is.
Here are Mirror Football's five talking points...
1. First-half frustrations
Boos rung around Stamford Bridge at half time from the home support. In truth, there wasn't much to dislike about Chelsea's opening 45' given how they'd completely dominated proceedings, while not allowing a single shot. Enzo Fernandez had been the game's best player.
But in the final third, they were wasteful, an all too familiar story. Johnstone made saves, but nothing really you wouldn't have expected him to make; even Garnacho's early chance was effectively straight at him.
Throughout, Maresca was a manager increasingly finding it difficult not to show his frustrations on the touchline as the half progressed, his disappointments ranging from shots being dragged to passes not being played quick enough and corners ending up all the way back at Robert Sanchez.
But, it never looked likely to end goalless...
2. An unlikely scorer
There almost certainly won't be a more unlikely goalscorer in the Premier League this season than Chelsea's No.27 (well, unless Joe Gomez notches at some point).
The 22-year-old French international had never before scored a goal in senior football, having never struck for Lyon nor Chelsea previously. It's a statistic that surprises, given Gusto is a full-back who enjoys getting forwards.
He took the opener here with real conviction too, continuing his run into the box, finding space as Wolves players failed to track him and then coolly nodding in from close range.
First of many?
Malo Gusto of Chelsea celebrates with team-mates
Malo Gusto of Chelsea celebrates with team-mates(Image: 2025 Getty Images)
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3. That's why they're bottom
Completely lacking threat at one end, always looking on the verge of conceding at the other. For any football team, it's the unhealthiest of combinations.
Wolves never looked like springing a surprise here. It's easy to say with hindsight, and certainly caretaker bosses James Collins and Richard Walker will argue that at 0-0 they were always in the game and in with a chance, but they looked every inch a team just waiting to be beaten.
There was no lack of work ethic nor endeavour from the side put out, but it just is so lacking in quality and confidence that it was always - despite those half-time boos - a matter of when rather than if Chelsea would find a way through. They did so three times in 20 minutes as Wolves lost shape and arguments crept in among team-mates with regard who should be picking up who.
With only three shots at the other end - two from outside the box, all off target and totalling only 0.17 xG - it was another sobering night for the team in old gold.
Joao Gomes of Wolverhampton Wanderers looks dejected
Joao Gomes of Wolverhampton Wanderers looks dejected (Image: 2025 James Gill - Danehouse)
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4. Delap's struggles
Liam Delap's decision to join Chelsea was a big win for the Blues, and you have to believe a player seen in some quarters as the heir apparent to Harry Kane will come good and eventually flourish.
But after time out with injury, this was Delap's first start - having already been sent off against Wolves in the Carabao Cup for two yellow cards when returning as a sub 10 days ago - and he looked rusty. Half a yard off the pace on occasion, being overly keen and arriving too early at others, his timing was off throughout.
Clearly, if he's to get back to his buccaneering best, he needs more minutes on the pitch and more time to shake off some of the rustiness. The international break should be good to help him get up to speed, but when domestic action resumes, he'll need to show more.
Chelsea's Liam Delap reacts to a missed chance against Wolves
Liam Delap reacts to a missed chance(Image: 2025 Getty Images)
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5. "We want Fosun out"
You can't knock Wolves fans for their willingness to travel in their numbers. An 8pm kickoff in west London to witness their managerless side was no different.
But while they're continuing to back their side, to sing of former players and past glories, the message to the club's owners, the Chinese conglomerate Fosun, is far from positive.
Patience has run thin with the chairman, Jeff Shi, and the ownership group, who have overseen a steady decline since Nuno Espirito Santo's tenure - described as "lucky" by Shi - came to an end. Self-sustainability combined with poor recruitment has led them to a position where relegation this season is looking a nigh-on inevitability.
Incoming boss Rob Edwards has it all to do if he's to keep Wolves - a club divided - in the top flight come May.
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