Chelsea given sobering reality-check by Sunderland just days after Ajax demolition

But what was in store on the pitch?... : Picture by @YTJourno

Premier League

Chelsea (1) 1 Garnacho 4

Sunderland (1) 2 Isidor 22, Talbi 90+3

No District Line in operation and no guile from their side either for Chelsea fans. Here was an afternoon for them to forget - with a defeat to pour a heavy dollop of cold water over their expectations.

Chelsea's bid to keep recent momentum going after four straight wins was given the perfect fillip after just four minutes when Alejandro Garnacho crashed a low shot past keeper Robin Roefs for his first goal for the club.

But Sunderland mounted a spirited response to draw level when a long throw-in from the right caused chaos in the Blues' defence and Wilson Isidor was on hand to poke in from close range after Bertrand Traore's initial blocked effort fell his way.

The Blues did have chances to regain the lead before the break, with Garnacho popping up at the far post to test the keeper at a corner, and Trevoh Chalobah's shot from 25 yards causing Roefs to push over the bar. But by and large, the visitors looked comfortable.

Enzo Maresca swapped Estevao for Garnacho and withdrew a quiet Marc Guiu to allow Joao Pedro to play through the middle, but Chelsea's abundant possession would not translate into chances as the away side's belief - and that of their noisy supporters - became increasingly pronounced.

One of the best chances in fact fell to Granit Xhaka in a counter attack - the former Arsenal midfielder just dithering after bursting into the danger zone with Chemsdine Talbi in support and begging for a pass.

But if that looked like being the big chance passed up by the Wearsiders, there would yet be another big and decisive moment for them deep into injury time.

Chelsea were careless in possession and frantic in their attacks as they struggled to find the subtlety needed to defeat Sunderland's low block. It was all very different from the naive defending of Ajax that they enjoyed exploiting in midweek.

The game got the finish it had half-threatened when a launched ball saw sub Brian Brobbey check back and roll a pass back for fellow sub Talbi to calmly stroke into the bottom corner.

Ecstasy followed in the away end, which the players understandably lapped up after the final whistle. This was a huge win for them and a blow to Chelsea's ambitions.

They must now pick themselves up for three away game in a row in three different competitions - Wolves away in the Carabao, Spurs in the Prem and Qarabag in Europe.

Blues:(4-2-3-1) Sanchez - James, Acheampong (Tosin 76), Chalobah, Cucurella - Caicedo, Fernandez - Pedro Neto (Andrey Santos 85), Joao Pedro (George 85), Garnacho (Estevao 58) - Guiu (Gittens 76)

Black Cats: (5-4-1) Roefs - Mukiele, Ballard, Geertruide, Mandava, Hume - Traore, Sadiki, Xhaka, Lee Fee (Rigg 75) - Isidor (Brobbey 75)