Chelsea took on a high-flying Bournemouth side on the hunt for their highest-ever top-flight finish away at the Vitality Stadium as the Blues looked to bounce back from their latest setback against Arsenal. Having started well, with Conor Gallagher finding the back of the net just nine minutes into the game, CFC soon descended into their usual mess and allowed Matias Vina to equalise just 12 minutes later. It was looking to be “one of those bad days at the office” again until Lampard’s late substitutes inspired his side to a 3-1 away win, the away team’s first since the 11th of March. Here are the player ratings.
Kepa Arrizabalaga – 7
The Chelsea shot-stopper did not put a foot wrong all game, with the goal by Vina the very definition of ‘unsavable’. Apart from that, there were some great attempts at coming out for difficult crosses and a couple of decent saves to round off a good performance.
Benoit Badiashile – 7.5
Chelsea’s match-winner with a brilliantly taken goal in the 82nd minute of the game, Badiashile’s inclusion in the side may have been down to Wesley Fofana sustaining an unfortunate injury that ruled him out of the game. However, the 22-year-old’s excellent performance at the heart of the defence was anything but a fluke and served as a timely reminder of the form he was in before Potter’s sacking.
Trevor Chalobah – 5.5
Incredibly frustrating for large parts of the first half with his constant back passes, Chalobah nonetheless managed to put in a decent second half in a position that certainly does not come naturally to him.
Thiago Silva – 6
Silva can consider himself incredibly fortunate to have avoided giving away a penalty when he slid in rashly to bring Dominic Solanke down in the box. The replays made clear that the Brazilian did not get any of the ball, and it is still puzzling as to why the correct decision was not arrived at retrospectively with the aid of VAR. Moreover, the 38-year-old was also beaten too easily for Bournemouth’s equaliser and Saturday’s outing certainly cannot be said to be a vintage one for the veteran centre-half.
Ben Chilwell – 6
While he was defensively solid against Bournemouth, Chilwell was, however, unable to contribute much going forward. Usually a threat when allowed time and space in the opposition half, the Englishman’s final ball in the attacking third was lacking in quality today. Unfortunate to have sustained what looks to be another hamstring injury, Saturday’s victory over Bournemouth is likely to be the Englishman’s last of the season.
Conor Gallagher – 7.5 MOTM
The Blues’ hardest-working player and the scorer of his team’s opening goal on the day, Gallagher offered much-needed tenacity and grit in the middle of the park. While his technical ability has been questioned by the fans from time to time, his effort has never been in doubt, and today’s performance is evidence of what he can nonetheless offer to the team.
N’golo Kante – 6
Perhaps a little low considering that it was his inch-perfect cross that allowed Gallagher to guide the ball home for the opener, Kante was nonetheless nowhere near his best against the home side. A little careless with possession and a little clumsy with his challenges, the Frenchman is evidently not yet back to full fitness.
Enzo Fernandez – 6
Wasted in a much deeper role since Lampard took over, Fernandez was unable to influence the game through his unique passing ability.
Noni Madueke – 6.5
So clever with his feet and yet incredibly frustrating with his decision-making in the final third, Madueke was simultaneously Chelsea’s most exciting and annoying player to watch on the day. Having worked hard to get himself into various useful crossing positions, the Englishman frequently chose to pull the trigger when the better and easier option was to simply find a teammate in a better shooting position than he was. At 21, Madueke is certainly far from being the finished article. Yet, performances like that go far to get fans excited at the prospect of what is to come.
Kai Havertz – 3
Chelsea’s worst player on the pitch, Havertz genuinely looked lost as to his role in this Chelsea side. This could very much be down to the manager, but the German is certainly not helping himself with his loose touches and poor passes that frequently result in attacking moves breaking down. That Joao Felix scored, having been on the pitch for less than five minutes, is an indictment of just how ineffective Havertz was and more time on the bench is likely to follow.
Mykhailo Mudryk – 5
Much like Madueke on the right of the Blues’ attack, Mudryk has all the raw talent necessary to succeed in the Premier League. However, the Ukrainian was completely ineffective against Bournemouth and rarely threatened despite the kind of pace that Chelsea fans know he possesses. It is clear that Mudryk needs more time to adapt to the physicality of the league, and perhaps a better coach to work with if he is to fulfil the potential that the club saw when deciding to splash out £62m to secure his services.
Substitutes:
Raheem Sterling – 7
Dangerous when given the chance to run at the Bournemouth defence, Sterling impacted the game positively upon his introduction and even managed an assist for Felix after a slaloming run down the right side of the Cherries’ defence.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek – 6
Showed some positive touches, but did not have enough time to properly impose himself in the middle of the pitch.
Hakim Ziyech – NA
Introduced with just 15 minutes of the game to go, it was the Moroccan’s brilliant delivery from a wide free-kick that allowed Badiashile to tap the ball home at the far post to gift the Blues all three points.
Cesar Azpilicueta – NA
Brought on in place of the injured Chilwell, the club captain did not have enough time to impose himself on the game beyond a scuffed shot that went high up into the Bournemouth stands.
Joao Felix – NA
Scorer of CFC’s third having been on the pitch for no more than 2 minutes, Felix’s first-time finish is a reminder of the quality that he possesses as well as the wealth of talent that can be found on the Chels‘ bench.