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Chelsea lose - that’s six points from last eight league games - things are looking down not up

Writer's picture: By Paul Lagan at Stamford BridgeBy Paul Lagan at Stamford Bridge

By Paul Lagan at Stamford Bridge


Chelsea 0 v Man City 1


It was the night the Three Kings came bearing gifts and Chelsea duly delivered the ultimate gift, three points to the king of the Premier League Pep Guardiola and his charges.

A tap in by substitute Riyad Mahrez was the difference between the sides in terms of goals, but the gulf in class between the west Londoners and City for much of the game was evident.

City remain on the coat tails of leaders Arsenal, while Chelsea languish in 10th position, looking at who is below them rather than targeting the teams above.

A failure to create serious goal chances has plagued the Blues in recent times - six points in the last eight league games is simply relegation form.

A host of injuries has not helped head coach Graham Potter’s plight, and he fails to use it as an excuse, while not denying its effect on the squad’s performance.

Chelsea were dealt a blow within a couple of minutes of the start when ex-City winger Raheem Sterling limped off the pitch injured.

He was replaced by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

City, as expected dominated the opening exchanges with the home side struggling to keep hold of the ball.

But Chelsea eventually put together a pass or three and Christian Pulisic almost opened the score on 16 minutes, but the in-running American’s shot was brilliantly blocked by John Stones.

Sterling was soon joined in the treatment room by Pulisic who also limped off injured, this time on 20 minutes.

On came youngster Carney Chukwuemeka.

He had a half-chance when Ziyech cut the ball back to him, just inside the City area. But that too was blocked.

City almost nabbed a fine goal on 38 minutes when a through ball found Erling Haaland. The beast of a striker outpaced Kalidou Koulibaly and toe-poked a venomous left-footer, that just zipped past Kepa’s left post.

The game exploded into life two minutes from the break when Chukwuemeka, let fly from the edge of the penalty area. The ball took a slight deflection which zipped past Ederson but rebounded off the post. The ball went straight up the other end and Kevin De Bryune saw a low, left footer well saved by Kepa.

Potter made no changes at half-time.

City totally dominated play after the resumption and ex-Chelsea star Nathan Ake was unlucky to see his header rattle the post on 51 minutes.

De Bryune tested Kepa soon after with a low drive as the visitors started to turn the screw.

The game developed into attack versus defence with the home side proving that their recent second half capitulations were a thing of the past.

Nevertheless, trying to break quickly while not leaving the defence open, is difficult and tricky and it proved insurmountable for the west Londoners on 64 minutes.

A break on the left saw substitute Jack Grealish free to send the ball low to the far post where another substitute Riyad Mahrez slipped behind Marc Cucurella and the winger slotted home into an empty net.

Potter’s solution? He brought on Conor Gallagher, Omari Hutchinson and Lewis Hall - off came Curcurella, Ziyech and a furious looking Aubameyang.

Haarland was inches away in tucking home number two on 73 minutes, but his slide to the ball was a tad late and the chance was gone but the result was not.

Chelsea found the energy to put together a semblence of pressure, but the City defence was never seriously in danger.

The sides meet against in Sunday, at the Etihad Stadium in the FA Cup third round.


Teams: Chelsea, Kepa, Azpilicueta, Silva, Kovacic, Pulisic, Sterling, Zakaria, Ziyech, Koulibaly, Havertz, Cucurella.

Subs; Bettinelli, Jorginho, Aubameyang, Chalobah, Gallagher, Chukwuemeka, Humphreys, Hutchinson, Hall


Man City, Ederson, Walker, Stones, Ake, Cancelo, Gundogan, Haaland, Rodri, De Bruyne, Silva, Foden

Subs, Ortega, Phillips, Grealish, Alvarez, Gomez, Akanji, Mahrez, Palmer, Lewis

Referee: Paul Tierney


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