Chelsea started the game well and should’ve had a penalty inside of two minutes, when Cole Palmer got fouled from behind in the area. But Palmer’s in the doghouse of the football gods these days, and no call was coming from either the referee or VAR.
Chelsea kept control of proceedings, creating a few potentially dangerous opportunities without truly threatening the goal … until Jadon Sancho got fouled in the area and this time we did get the call.
Unfortunately, Palmer’s luck is simply not just bad, it’s absolutely nonexistent these days, and his effort was well saved by the goalkeeper.
Chelsea kept control of proceedings the rest of the half, but still without forcing anything spectacular from the defense or the goalkeeper.
The second half began much the same way the first ended, including another penalty going uncalled, this time as Pedro Neto got tripped in the area.
Our breakthrough would come right on the hour mark, and as it’s often case, it was nothing fancy: Marc Cucurella running onto a square ball and rifling it low and hard into the bottom far corner from 20 yards out.
Chelsea kept looking for a second, but despite generating better chances than at any point prior in the game, we would not find it. A handball in the area by Leicester went uncalled, just to add to our frustrations.
It was a fairly nervy last 5-10 minutes, as usual with a one-goal lead, but for once, we would hang on.
Carefree.
- Just two changes to the lineup from the last Premier League game (the 4-0 v Southampton): Fofana in for the injured Gusto and Sánchez back in goal for Jörgensen
- Fofana with 70 minutes of work on his return
- Chelsea with a back-five for the final few minutes, with Acheampong on at right back
- A clean sheet!
- Chelsea back in fourth, two points behind Nottingham Forest in third, and two points ahead of Manchester City in fifth
- KTBFFH
