Chelsea: Trevoh Chalobah call justified as Enzo Maresca's patience pays off with Blues dominant
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All managers have to believe that consistently dominant performances will deliver results eventually. That thesis had surely been testing the patience of Enzo Maresca of late. This time, their avalanche of shots was not in vain. 36 days after their last Premier League win, Chelsea made good on a level of control over Wolves akin to that which they have had over other times in their five-game unbeaten league run. The difference was a clinical edge in front of goal.
Tosin Adarabioyo in the first half and then Marc Cucurella and Noni Madueke after the interval were on hand to apply the finishing touch for Chelsea, who took 18 shots over the course of the game, having shot 26 here against Bournemouth on Tuesday night and still managed to drop points.
A return to winning ways though this 3-1 win was, it was not without the usual self-inflicted jeopardy. Robert Sanchez inexplicably dropped Matheus Cunha’s corner into the path of Matt Doherty to shunt home an equaliser in first-half stoppage time. Sanchez now trails only Ipswich goalkeeper Arijanet Muric for players who have made the most errors directly leading to goals in the Premier League this season. A situation in need of addressing eventually. Chelsea will win precious little if they do not upgrade.
After a string of sorry results that has halted momentum, Maresca was looking for anything other than continuity at Stamford Bridge. He set about trying to produce a first league win in six games with some heavy surgery to his team, making five changes, though some were enforced by injuries picked up against Bournemouth to Levi Colwill, Enzo Fernandez and Romeo Lavia. Cole Palmer had a knock too, but of course he was passed fit.
