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EPL: Chelsea earn first league win in six games with 2-0 victory over Bournemouth


Kai Havertz and Mason Mount scored in first half for the hosts but Reece James was injured on his return after more than two months out; Chelsea up to eighth, Bournemouth 14th on Premier League Table.
EPL: Chelsea earn first league win in six games with 2-0 victory over Bournemouth
Image: Chelsea’s English midfielder Mason Mount (2nd L) celebrates with teammates after scoring his team’s second goal during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge in London on December 27, 2022. (Photo by Ian Kington / AFP)


Chelsea earned their first Premier League win since October 16 as Kai Havertz and Mason Mount's goals secured a 2-0 home win over Bournemouth, but the hosts' day was soured when Reece James' return was ended by injury.

James was named in the starting XI by Graham Potter as he returned from more than two months out with a knee injury and excelled for nearly an hour before going down in front of the head coach and having to be replaced. The right-back later left Stamford Bridge wearing a brace on his right knee.

James' exit seemed to rock Chelsea, who loosened their grip on the game and allowed Bournemouth back into the contest, but the visitors lacked the quality to trouble the Blues, who had lost their last three games without scoring a goal.



But strikes from Havertz (16) and Mount (24) before James' injury had put Chelsea in a commanding position and they were able to see out the win to relieve the pressure on Potter and close the gap on fourth-placed Tottenham to six points, with a game in hand.

Player ratings

Chelsea: Kepa (7), James (8), Koulibaly (7), Silva (6), Cucurella (7), Zakaria (6), Jorginho (7), Mount (8), Pulisic (7), Havertz (8), Sterling (7).

Subs: Azpilicueta (6), Aubameyang (n/a), Gallagher (n/a), Chalobah (n/a).

Bournemouth: Travers (6), Stacey (5), Smith (5), Senesi (6), Kelly (5), Zemura (5), Cook (6), Lerma (6), Billing (6), Solanke (6), Moore (5).

Subs: Anthony (6), Christie (6), Dembele (n/a).


Man of the match: Kai Havertz


Chelsea end losing run against Bournemouth

Neither Chelsea nor Bournemouth went into their clash at Stamford Bridge with much to shout about, given the Blues had not won in five Premier League games and the Cherries had just one victory from their last seven matches in the competition.

Chelsea still went into the game as strong favourites and had gone a long way to wrapping up the result before the 30-minute mark thanks to Havertz and Mount, who provided the end product to some vastly improved attacking play by the previously profligate Blues.

Team news

Reece James returned for Chelsea following the knee injury that had kept him out since October 11, while Kepa Arrizabalaga was back in goal and Denis Zakaria earned his first Premier League start in midfield

Captain Lloyd Kelly returned for Bournemouth after being sidelined since September with an ankle injury, while Kieffer Moore and former Chelsea striker Dominic Solanke started up front

Havertz's goal came from an excellent right-wing cross by Raheem Sterling that the German forward simply had to slide past Mark Travers, and their second came when Mount bent the ball past the Bournemouth goalkeeper from the edge of the area.

Chelsea's improved performance came after Potter opted to deploy a 4-3-3 formation, having previously preferred a three-man defence, and the extra attacking player appeared to benefit his side.

The Blues' play became a little sloppy towards the end of the first half, with Thiago Silva almost playing his side into trouble with a couple of ill-advised passes across his own area.

James' injury encouraged Bournemouth further and Kepa Arrizabalaga was forced to save from Ryan Christie, while Dominic Solanke headed wide against his former club in stoppage time, but the visitors' lack of cutting edge in the final third ensured Chelsea were able to see out a relatively comfortable win.

Chelsea head coach Graham Potter admitted he is worried after England defender Reece James was brought off injured against Bournemouth

Potter admitted he was concerned by James' setback, adding that any team would miss the quality provided by the England right-back.

The head coach - who revealed he was planning to substitute James an hour into the match - said it was "too soon" to assess the extent of the 23-year-old's injury, but added: "Obviously it's the same area so we're concerned.

"We'll have to see how the next 24 to 48 hours go. It was a sort of chopping action and then he felt something. We'll keep our fingers crossed. He's disappointed. We're just hoping it isn't as bad.

"Reece is a world-class player. You see it from the outside but it's not until you work with him that you understand how good he is. He's an incredible player. He would fit into any team in the world so any team would miss him."

James looked like he'd never been away.

Injured since October 11 with a knee issue that required surgery, James made an impressive return to competitive action only for it to end after 53 minutes.

James had been key to Chelsea's 2-0 lead, tormenting Bournemouth down their left side and linking up flawlessly with Sterling. The right-back was even denied a goal by Travers late in the first half.

But soon he was trudging down the tunnel after suffering an issue in "the same area" as the problem he'd only just overcome.

Chelsea stuttered after James went off. Cesar Azpilicueta - James' replacement - was unable to provide the same attacking threat on the right.

Fortunately for Potter's side they already held a commanding lead, but they will have a bigger problem should James be set for another long spell on the sidelines.
David Richardson

Opta stats:

Bournemouth's Mark Travers has conceded a goal every 30 minutes on average in the Premier League (34 in 1,035 minutes); the worst ratio of any goalkeeper with 10+ appearances in the competition.

After going unbeaten in their first six Premier League games under Gary O'Neil (W2 D4), Bournemouth have since lost five of their last six in the competition (W1). The Cherries are also winless in their last five away league games (D2 L3), after having won their first one under O'Neil (3-2 vs Nottingham Forest in September).

Chelsea have only lost one of their last 11 Premier League games at Stamford Bridge (W6 D4), with that lone defeat coming against the current leaders Arsenal in November (0-1).

This was the first time Chelsea had scored more than once in the first half of a Premier League game since April (vs Arsenal), with their two goals against Bournemouth as many as they had netted in their previous seven first halves in the competition combined (2).

What's next?

Chelsea's next fixture is away to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Sunday.



 


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