Matchday #15
Chelsea vs Bournemouth
Glenn Murray’s Bournemouth goal in the 81st minute plummeted Chelsea’s season to a new low. Even after the tumultuous start that the Blues have suffered thus far, an upturn in performances which included three consecutive clean sheets gave reassurances that a win Saturday evening would be an easy task. Though nothing comes easy to this Chelsea team. They are determined to make things incredibly hard for themselves, the manager and the fans. With the bulk of possession and countless chances missed, Chelsea invited newly-promoted side Bournemouth into a game that they had no right to be in. Up against it for the majority of the game, The Cherries withheld the pressure to snatch victory in the last ten minutes with a Glenn Murray header.
The game’s start was met with a usual bright start by Chelsea. Eden Hazard, once agin preferred in the striker role ahead of Diego Costa was proving a nuisance to the Bournemouth back four. Mourinho, impressed with the Belgian’s performance last week against Tottenham, deployed him once against as a false 9. Though his and Chelsea’s good start was encouraging, the initial pressure faded and the lack of a recognised striker, was starting to show its effect. The goalless draw away to Spurs had shown that this formation, though creative and with purpose, is toothless upfront. Hazard is no striker. He constantly drifted out wide, which made life easier for Bournemouth’s central defenders. Chances occurred for both sides, with shots from Hazard and Pedro testing Artur Boruc, while Thibaut Courtois made saves from Joshua King and Junior Stanislas. However at half-time, it was no less than disappointing. Chelsea looked uncomfortable and you would never guess that we were playing at home. What was once a place of formidability, Stamford Bridge has now become a glass house, fragile and susceptible from any knock in confidence.
The second half saw the introduction of Diego Costa in the place of Oscar to finally give Chelsea a spearhead in attack. The Brazilian should of had something to prove after his display of petulance last weekend. And although his presence in the game was felt it ultimately proved ineffective as Chelsea still struggled to find the breakthrough. It is a painful reality for Chelsea this year. Our inability to score is the real reason why we have struggled so emphatically. An unfortunate effort by Matic saw the ball whizz over the bar after a cross from Willian was slightly guided onto the head of the Serb. With no time to direct the ball, it went flying over despite only being three yards out. A penalty shout was dismissed when the trailing arm of Simon Francis stopped a shot from Costa. Chelsea appealed, but claims were waved away. It definitely made contact with the Bournemouth defender’s arm but it would have been extremely harsh to award the decision our way. His arm was not in an unusual position and could not be definitely said to be intentional.
Time was running out and Chelsea were beginning to accept that this was going to be another bad day at the office. However Eddie Howe’s side, after hanging on and staying in the fight, began to smell blood. The seaside club started to trouble Chelsea and grabbed an unlikely winner in the 81st minute. A poorly punched clearance from Thibaut Courtois, bought straight back into the side following his knee injury, allowed the ball to be floated back towards his far post and headed in. There was a case for offside, as only Gary Cahill was behind the ball as it was delivered to Glenn Murray. But the goal stood, and Chelsea suffered what could be described as the worst result of this bad period.
It should have been an easy outing for the London club especially with recent performances starting to suggest things were to change. However this result and worryingly the attacking performance, will provide Mourinho with more headaches. At the final whistle, discontent was widely felt and slightly voiced around Stamford Bridge. After the outpouring of support for Mourinho only a month ago, it is clear who it was directed at; the team. Chelsea fans don’t necessarily want a change in manager, what they want is a change in attitude and performance. The players look just as confused as anyone else as to why this form is lingering on so long. What is even more worrying is that they seem to have accepted every bad result as just one more to add to the pile. Defeat is no longer feared and unwelcome by this team, it is a suspected possibility in every game accepted all too easily. The crucial European game midweek will see another defeat knock us out of the Champions League. It is a situation, Mourinho will be desperate to avoid, as that could be the decisive moment as to whether Abramovich sticks or twists with his manager. Progress into the knock-out stages of the competition will mask this defeat as just another poor result in a disappointing domestic campaign. Defeat against Porto will see Chelsea’s implosion continue in a spiralling and frightful manner with our free fall into despair seemingly unending. Come on Chels, turn this around! KTBFFH
The Blue Daze 