Chelsea dropped two more points at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, drawing 2-2 with newly-promoted Hull City in Matchweek 4. Morgan Rogers supplied a typically incisive opener in seven minutes, but Mohamed Belloumi got two before the interval to turn the complexion of the contest on its head. Joao Pedro scored for the hosts in the 66th minute with a confident left-footed finish, but Xabi Alonso’s side could not find a winner against a resolute and brave visiting rearguard.
The afternoon proved that there were no problems with the attacking intent, just with the structure. Chelsea comfortably dominated possession and created seven shots on target, but conceded from a transition error and a set-piece scramble. It is 20 league matches now without a clean sheet, a stat that is starting to tell us far more about this Chelsea team than the free-scoring front line. Here are our individual ratings from a deflating afternoon in West London.
Emiliano Martinez: 5/10
Belloumi’s opening strike had real venom from close range, and the Argentine had little chance of intervening. Even more difficult to defend was his mistimed effort to punch the ball during the corner before Hull’s second goal. Martinez at least redeemed himself with a firm late intervention to turn away Mohamed-Ali Cho’s effort, saving a point Chelsea barely deserved to keep.
Malo Gusto: 5/10
The Frenchman was playing in an advanced right-sided position and was given plenty of licence to get into the final third. Several promising crossing opportunities were wasted through poor execution rather than poor positioning. He was rarely called upon to defend, although the disorganisation that led to Hull’s opener was a collective failure of the back line.
Wesley Fofana: 5/10
Fofana was in a defensive unit that seemed remarkably unsure without the newly signed Maxence Lacroix by his side. Hull’s directness and aerial intent kept unsettling the Chelsea centre-backs throughout an uncomfortable first period. He improved slightly after the interval, but never convincingly settled the physical battle with Oli McBurnie.
Levi Colwill: 5/10
The England defender did little right and little wrong. He is still performing well below the levels he set in previous campaigns. Alonso will, of course, look at what might restore Colwill’s composure and positional authority.
Jorrel Hato: 4/10
The Dutchman never looked comfortable in the least. Belloumi’s chance to turn the game came when he got it all wrong with a bouncing delivery from Ryan Giles. Alonso took him off at half-time, an implicit admission of a selection misjudgment.
Reece James: 5/10
The captain is still visibly less comfortable in central midfield than at full-back where he made his name. His best contribution came in the second half when he forced Tzolakis into a smart save with a good effort. James had to fight to dictate the play against a Hull midfield content to clog up the middle.
Romeo Lavia: 6/10
Lavia worked hard in defence, winning the ball back time and again and trying to speed up Chelsea’s circulation to the final third. His distribution had a purpose, even when the movement ahead of him wasn’t there to take advantage. Another change before the 90th minute, though, underlining the continuing questions over his physical durability.
Pedro Neto: 6/10
The Portuguese was out on the wing – not as a wing-back – offering width and directness, but nothing decisive. His shot in the first half needed saving from Tzolakis, but the final ball was often lacking the required accuracy. In the days after pledging his future to the club, Neto would have had a considerably more satisfying afternoon on his mind.
Cole Palmer: 8/10
There was no doubt that Palmer was the key man in a Chelsea shirt all afternoon. He started the move that led to Rogers’ opener and then assisted the equaliser with a surging run and perfectly weighted pass. When Chelsea needed someone to unlock Hull’s low block, it was almost always upon his shoulders to do it.
Morgan Rogers: 7/10
Rogers extended his fine individual start to the season with a clinical left-footed opener inside seven minutes. He was a constant menace to Hull’s defensive set-up as he moved between the lines in the opening exchanges. Tzolakis denied him a second late on, and his frustration at full time was entirely understandable.
João Pedro: 7/10
The Brazilian showed great intelligence in building the opening goal before finishing the equaliser with real conviction. His third goal of the campaign was under a lot of physical duress in a crowded penalty box. Hull’s centre-backs were involved in attritional duels with him for much of his afternoon, which limited his combination play.
The Substitutes
Pep Chavarria looked far more comfortable at left-back than Hato and must be firmly in the reckoning for a first league start. Valentin Barco’s typically feisty challenges saw him booked shortly after coming on for Lavia. Estevao Willian, Danny Welbeck, and Maxence Lacroix were all introduced too late to make a meaningful impact on the match.