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Enzo Maresca has been talking up his relationship with Chelsea’s supporters but the love was not returned during this 2-2 draw with Bournemouth. There was open dissent from the Stamford Bridge crowd when Cole Palmer, who is still feeling his way back from a groin injury, went off midway through the second half and there was more grumbling when a wild game was over.
This was another bad night for Chelsea. Maresca’s erratic side defended poorly, have one win in their past seven top-flight games and remain incapable of capitalising on dominant spells. They have now dropped 13 points from winning positions at home – more than any other side in the Premier League – after being held by Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth, who ended grateful to Antoine Semenyo giving his all in what might be his final appearance for the club before a likely move to Manchester City.
Perhaps an evening of chaos was inevitable. Inconsistency has plagued these sides – Chelsea because of their dizzying losses of control when in dominant positions, Bournemouth because of their defensive struggles since losing Milos Kerkez, Illia Zabarnyi and Dean Huijsen last summer – and it was in full evidence throughout a bonkers first half.
The tone was set by Moisés Caicedo ruling himself out of Chelsea’s trip to City on Sunday when he earned a yellow card with a trip on a surging Adrien Truffert. Control was elusive. Chelsea made five changes after their defeat to Aston Villa and, with Reece James rested and Malo Gusto standing in for the hamstrung Marc Cucurella at left-back, it did not take much to disturb their equilibrium during the early stages.
Bournemouth had done their homework. Semenyo’s long throws are presumably not why Pep Guardiola wants the winger but they were a devastating weapon against Chelsea’s brittle defence. They cowered under the aerial bombardment and were behind when James Hill’s flick from a Semenyo delivery in the sixth minute found David Brooks, who darted in unchallenged before bundling the ball past Robert Sánchez from close range.
There was no hiding Chelsea’s kryptonite. Semenyo was at it again in the 27th minute, this time hurling in a missile from the left, Hill again allowed to make first contact. Chelsea, who had just taken a 2-1 lead through Enzo Fernández, were all over the place. Trevoh Chalobah lost the challenge at the near post and Alejandro Garnacho was dozing at the far, allowing Justin Kluivert to steal in for the equaliser.
Yet the defending was shambolic at both ends. While Chelsea have let in four goals from throw-ins this season, leaving them with the worst record in the league, they had little trouble exposing Bournemouth’s frailties. It was 1-1 when Cole Palmer converted a contentious penalty, awarded after Sam Barrott was sent to the pitchside monitor and deemed Semenyo’s brief tangle of legs with Estêvão Willian enough for a foul, and the hosts led when Garnacho teed up Fernández to whip a wonderful effort beyond Djordje Petrovic.
It was a baffling, intoxicating half. Bournemouth, who had hoped that bringing Hill in for Bafodé Diakité would restore order at the back, seemed to decide there was no point sitting back. They flew at Chelsea at every opportunity and saw Sánchez make fine saves from Evanilson and Brooks before half-time.
Maresca, having seen enough, brought James on for Josh Acheampong at right-back and punished Garnacho for his part in Kluivert’s goal by replacing him with Pedro Neto. Fourteen shots from Bournemouth, after all, was the most mustered in a first half at Stamford Bridge by any visiting side in the Premier League since records began in 2003.
It was senseless fun. Bournemouth appealed in vain for a penalty when Gusto handled a cross at the start of the second half. Few decisions were going their way. Fernández, a niggly presence in midfield, went unpunished despite a lot of sneaky work off the ball. There was a sense of Chelsea asserting their authority as the hour approached. Liam Delap, making his first start since injuring a shoulder against Bournemouth earlier this month, sent a header over. Estêvão went on a winding run before testing Petrovic from 20 yards.
However there were jeers from the home fans when Palmer was substituted for the second consecutive home game. It was hardly encouraging when Maresca’s decision to introduce João Pedro was met with chants of “You don’t know what you’re doing”.
Chelsea had to ignore the negativity. In fact, their level rose. Estêvão, such a virtuoso talent, had moved to the left and began to torment Alejandro Jiménez. Bournemouth sank deeper. Petrovic kept out a header from Chalobah.
The pressure was rising as the dying stages approached. Fernández should have scored, only to blaze over. Bournemouth hung on and almost earned their first win in 10 when Enes Unal headed over in added time.
