Michy Batshuayi, substitutes ready to join Chelsea’s starting XI

Chelsea’s substitutes once again provided the winning margin, with Michy Batshuayi scoring and Cesc Fabregas nabbing an assist in Chelsea’s 2-1 win over Watford. Are Chelsea’s subs late-on impact players, or should Antonio Conte add them to the starting XI?

Chelsea’s first half against Watford was a nothingburger. 45 minutes devoid of football despite the 22 brightly-attired men on a grass pitch north of London.

Chelsea did not bring a sense of urgency, pace and – dare we say it – #passion to the match until after the 70th minute. Perhaps responding to the outcries of Blues fans on Twitter, Antonio Conte finally relented and introduced his first substitute in the 71st minute.

Chelsea’s subs proved key for the second match in a row. Michy Batshuayi debuted for Chelsea in the 85th minute against West Ham last Monday. Five minutes later, he was on the scoresheet with an assist on Diego Costa’s winning goal. Yesterday, Batshuayi came on the 73rd minute against Watford. Seven minutes later, he opened his account by poaching Chelsea’s equalizer off a spill by Watford’s goalkeeper.

Cesc Fabregas needed slightly longer to make his impact at Vicarage Road. Conte sent Fabregas on in the 78th minute. Nine minutes later, Fabregas made a quintessentially Fabregas pass to Diego Costa, who went five-hole on Heuerelho Gomes for the winner.

Chelsea’s players are all competing for their spot in Antonio Conte’s lineup and starting XI, particularly in the final 10 days of the transfer window. Substitutes are doubly motivated: they want to earn their way up into the starting XI and ensure they do not get dropped out of the game-day squad.

Chelsea’s reliance on substitute goals is permitted in part by the relatively weak opposition provided by West Ham and Watford. Stronger opponents would have seized on Chelsea’s sluggishness and inability to finish early on, precluding any late drama.

Antonio Conte knows that Chelsea needs to open their scoring earlier. “[Diego Costa] has scored two goals but I would prefer him to have scored before the end!” he said at the post-match press conference.

If substitutes are the key to Diego Costa’s – and Chelsea’s – scoring, and Conte wants earlier goals, well you do the math.

Chelsea’s substitutes over the first two matches had the game-changing impact that substitutes should have. But this does not mean these players are or should be limited to the final 20 minutes to have their say.

Some of Chelsea’s substitutes could shake up the game from the opening whistle. They also have the stamina to maintain that disruption (and the lead) until it is time to park the bus and seal the win. Rather than coming on to save the day, Antonio Conte’s substitutes should be those players who preserve the victory earned early on.

Michy Batshuayi does not show any signs of apprehension about playing in the Premier League. He is creative, comfortable and potent in attack. Victor Moses has not yet opened his account, but he cuts a strong presence in the later stages of the game. While Branislav Ivanovic had a strong opener against West Ham, Ola Aina would have been a welcome replacement against Watford. Sooner or later Diego Costa will earn a red card. Nathaniel Chalobah should not make his 2016/17 debut under those forced circumstances.

Chelsea commences their EFL Trophy at home against Bristol Rovers on Tuesday. Antonio Conte must decide between giving his top-line starting XI more in-game experience and offering those opportunities his younger players.

Antonio Conte can overlap his Premier League and cup tournament lineups more than he could if Chelsea was in the Champions League. He can use these early-round cup tournament fixtures to refine his Premier League starting lineup. In later rounds, then, he will better differentiate his cup roster and his Premier League roster.

Chelsea’s starting XI was ineffective through the the first hour of the match against Watford. Conte was puzzlingly reluctant to enact change. His willingness to substitute aggressively and pragmatically will speak to his commitment to youth development, flexibility and winning.

Next: Cesc Fabregas and N'Golo Kante: Chelsea's tale of two midfielders

Michy Batshuayi has dominated as a substitute, but Chelsea did not buy him to play 20 minutes each weekend. Antonio Conte has only one way to find out if Batshuayi can have a similar dynamic impact over a full 90 minutes.