Chelsea 2-2 Bournemouth: Reece James spares Blues' blushes as skipper nets stoppage time free-kick to salvage point - but poor run of form continues
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With Chelsea losing 2-1 and a 25-yard free-kick in the fifth minute of stoppage time, we all thought Cole Palmer would take it. But then, up stepped Reece James, club captain and saviour, as the substitute now free from injury struck the ball into the far corner and beyond Mark Travers to salvage a draw out of defeat.
Though Chelsea relied on this late leveller from their skipper, they left somewhat displeased. This was yet another game in which they created a silly number of chances and took none, Nicolas Jackson yet again a culprit. Tempting though it is to dissect the Blues’ failings further, with Stamford Bridge’s expectant fans showing their frustrations before James had a blast, this was actually an evening for praising Andoni Iraola's Bournemouth.
They are turning into this season’s other surprise package, after Nottingham Forest, of course. Nine games unbeaten in the Premier League represents a club record, and they could yet secure European football for the first time ever. It was a penalty equaliser from Justin Kluivert and a 68th-minute strike from Antoine Semenyo which saw them come so close to victory.
Chelsea have been linked with almost all of Bournemouth’s back line, not least their central defenders Dean Huijsen, 19, and Illia Zabarnyi, 22. They do like a talented youngster, the Blues, and this was certainly a youthful team that arrived with Iraola.
Their substitutes’ bench told a story as injuries and other issues saw it littered with kids, including Daniel Adu-Adjei and Dominic Sadi, two youngsters who were playing for League Two Carlisle United until last week. It was on Friday when Bournemouth announced they were recalling the duo from their season-long loans to help with their shortage.
