Chelsea were held to a 0-0 draw with Bournemouth, failing to score in a game for the first time since August and dropping further points in the Premier League.
It was the first time since the opening day against Palace that Enzo Maresca’s side failed to find the back of the net, but they were probably lucky to pick up a point and return to west London as they were frustrated by the Cherries.
Antoine Semenyo’s goal was ruled out by VAR for a very strict offside decision three minutes earlier, but Evan Wilson’s shot missed from close range three minutes earlier was a chance that was rated 0.85 in expected goals.
Liam Delap left the field in the 30th minute, still using his shirt as a makeshift sling, after grappling with Marcos Senesi in a corner and appearing to land hard on his shoulder. Marc Giu was unexpectedly chosen to replace João Pedro.
Early in the second half, Pedro Neto produced a save from Djordje Petrovic with a low shot at the near post, and Alejandro Garnacho headed Neto’s deep cross onto the post.
Giu smashed the loose ball home from six yards out and the ball crashed into the roof of the stands behind Petrovic’s goal.
Cole Palmer made a full return from injury and made his first start since September, but had little impact on the game and was substituted after 57 minutes.
Since drawing with Premier League leaders Arsenal, Chelsea have lost to Leeds, and the draw came in the blank.
Chelsea remain in fourth place, but are behind Man City and Aston Villa above them.
Bournemouth are currently without a win in six Premier League games, which could feel like a step forward after a poor showing in midweek.
Analysis: Chelsea’s striker problems
Sky Sports’ Lewis Jones said:
This impasse with Bournemouth has firmly planted the idea that Enzo Maresca has problems at centre-forward and can now be ignored.
Chelsea created plenty of areas, pressure and enough moments to suggest big moments were coming, but once again there was no decisive action inside the box.
The spotlight will inevitably be on Chelsea’s starting striker, but the numbers are grim. Chelsea’s starting centre-forward has scored just one goal in 14 Premier League games. It’s becoming a harmful trend and could soon put Maresca in an awkward situation.
And now Liam Delap’s shoulder injury has removed one internal option that offers a stylistic alternative: more direct running, more physicality and a willingness to attack into space. Chelsea’s lack of attacking power is holding them back.
Analysis: Bournemouth back on track
Sky Sports’ Lewis Jones said:
Just one win from six games is not a good record for Bournemouth and Andoni Iraola, but their performance against Chelsea was more than enough to suggest that this bad run will soon be over.
This felt much more like the Bournemouth we have come to associate with Iraora. The full-throttle intensity, aggressive pressing triggers and collective belief when not in possession had dulled a bit in recent weeks, especially in the soft 1-0 home defeat to Everton in midweek.
The hosts looked much more coordinated in possession than they did during this mini-slump, clearly closing down passing lanes and forcing Chelsea into a barren possession that rarely led to high-value chances.
Iraola’s team won the expected goals race 1.36 to 0.8, the shot count 13 to 11 and the corner race 5 to 0.
They were brave, countering in numbers and always finding ways to advance the ball into dangerous areas. As with recent themes, the final action was missing, but the fundamental process is firmly back on track.
Maresca: Unfortunately Delap injured his shoulder
Liam Delap suffers serious shoulder injury
Delap was engaged in a running battle with Cherries defender Marco Senesi, but the situation worsened when the centre-back hit Delap in a Bournemouth corner.
He quickly left the pitch, wrapped his arm in an improvised shirt sling and headed straight down the tunnel.
“Unfortunately, he has already been out for two months and will have to be out again. We don’t know how long he will be out, but the condition of his shoulder seems to be quite bad,” Maresca said.
“He’s unlucky. He’s already been out for two months and now he has to be out again. And we need a number nine like that, so it’s a little bit unlucky.”
