toptop
Bournemouth
stunned champions Chelsea with a 3-0 win at Stamford Bridge to extend their
unbeaten run in the Premier League to six games.
Eddie Howe's men had an 11-day break between games and their freshness showed in
west London as Chelsea failed to find the net on the day they signed striker
Olivier Giroud from Arsenal.
After a goalless first half, there was a 16-minute blitz from the visitors as
Callum Wilson (51) swept home the opener before Junior Stanislas (64) poked home
the second. Not long after, former Chelsea defender Nathan Ake (67) tapped home
to seal the three points for Bournemouth.
It moves the Cherries into the top half of the table, while Chelsea slip down
into fourth place on goal difference with Liverpool leapfrogging them into
third.
Player ratings
Chelsea: Courtois (5), Alonso (6), Zappacosta (6), Cahill (6),
Christensen (6), Azpilicueta (6), Bakayoko (5), Kante (6), Barkley (5), Hazard
(7), Pedro (6).
Subs used: Rudiger (6), Fabregas (6), Hudson-Odoi (6).
Bournemouth: Begovic (7), Francis (7), S Cook (7), Ake (7),
Gosling (6), Daniels (6), L Cook (6), Fraser (7), Stanislas (7), Ibe (7), Wilson
(8).
Subs used: King (6), Pugh (n/a), Mousset (n/a).
Man of the match: Callum Wilson.
The opening exchanges of the first half did not see a plethora of chances, and
Jordon Ibe was the first to really test either goalkeeper in the 25th minute. He
swerved into space by the top left corner of the box before going for goal, but
it was straight into the arms of Thibaut Courtois.
Gary Cahill could have put Chelsea ahead six minutes later as he directed a
corner towards goal in the six-yard box, but his header whistled over the top of
the crossbar. Not long after Marcos Alonso lofted a fine cross into the box from
the left flank, but Eden Hazard could not connect with his head as the ball was
cleared behind by the Bournemouth defence.
In the 39th minute Davide Zappacosta whipped in a delivery from the right corner
of the box, finding Alonso in the middle but he could only direct his header
wide of the post.
It took just six minutes of the second half for Bournemouth to open the scoring.
After a poor giveaway from Tiemoue Bakayoko, the ball fell to Wilson who played
a lovely give and go with Ibe before striding into the box. He then swept home
past the oncoming Courtois to put the visitors ahead.
Wilson was involved again as Stanislas netted the second for Bournemouth in the
64th minute. The former flicked the ball into path of his team-mate, who got
away down the left of the box before toe-poking the ball through the legs of
Courtois.
Three minutes later, and Bournemouth put themselves out of sight through a
familiar Stamford Bridge face. After a corner, Wilson kept the ball alive on the
left of the box before playing it to Stanislas at the top of the area. He tried
to hammer home, but his effort was deflected into the path of Ake at the back
post and the former Blues defender tapped home before wheeling off to celebrate.
But Chelsea should have been awarded a penalty in the 73rd minute after Ake
controlled a Pedro header with his arm inside the six-yard box, but referee Lee
Probert waved away the claims as Bournemouth took all three points back to the
south coast.
Opta stats
The Blues suffered their joint-heaviest home defeat in Premier League history,
with this their seventh defeat by a three-goal margin at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea have lost five games in the Premier League this term; as many as they
did in the entirety of the 2017/18 campaign.
Eddie Howe's side have equalled their longest unbeaten run in the Premier
League, last going six unbeaten in the competition in December 2015.
Only Sergio Aguero (five) has scored more Premier League goals than Callum
Wilson (three) in 2018.
Man of the match - Callum Wilson
A great performance from the Bournemouth striker, who was a constant menace for
the away side and gave Andreas Christensen a real run for his money in the first
half before the goals started flowing.
Wilson of course scored the opener, but also had a hand in the two further goals
with an assist to his name for the second, not to mention the numerous positive
runs he made for his side during the game at Stamford Bridge.
What's next?
Chelsea are next in action on Monday Night Football when they travel to Watford
live on Sky Sports while Bournemouth will play again on Saturday as they welcome
Stoke in the Premier League.
Click Here For Official Team Sheet
Teams
Chelsea Courtois, Azpilicueta, Christensen (Rudiger 28), Cahill
(c), Zappacosta (Hudson-Odoi 65), Kante, Bakayoko, Alonso, Barkley (Fabregas
54), Hazard, Pedro
Subs Not Used Caballero, Moses Drinkwater, Ampadu
Booked Fabregas
Goals
AFC Bournemouth Begovic, Francis, S. Cook, Ake, Gosling,
Daniels, L. Cook, Fraser, Stanislas (King 71), Ibe (Pugh 83), Wilson (Mousset
90)
Subs Not Used Boruc, Simpson, Surman, Arter
Booked
Goals Wilson 51, Stanislas 64, Ake 67
Attendance 41,464
Referee Lee Probert