Chelsea continued its 100 per cent record in the Premier League under Maurizio Sarri with a 2-0 win over Bournemouth on Saturday. Second-half strikes from substitute Pedro and Eden Hazard settled a tight contest at Stamford Bridge and made it four victories from four games in 2018-19.
Bournemouth had defended stoutly throughout and could easily have scored itself before Pedro's shot deflected into the net 18 minutes from time.
Chelsea assumed early control with close to 85 per cent of the possession in the first 20 minutes, but a half-chance for Alvaro Morata that was blocked by Asmir Begovic was the best it could muster.
Bournemouth should have gone ahead half an hour in when Callum Wilson sent the ball over the bar after being picked out in space by debutant Diego Rico, but it rode its luck on the stroke of half-time when Marcos Alonso's mishit effort with his right foot struck the base of the left-hand post.
Former Chelsea man Nathan Ake spurned a glorious chance to break the deadlock early in the second half, failing to connect properly with the ball from barely a yard out, as Bournemouth continued to frustrate the Blues.
It proved to be a costly miss, though. After linking up with fellow substitute Olivier Giroud, Pedro turned past Ake and fired the ball beyond Begovic from the edge of the area, with the deflection off Steve Cook taking it beyond the goalkeeper's reach. Hazard combined with Alonso to drill home a second five minutes from time and lift Chelsea level with Liverpool on 12 points from a possible 12, while Bournemouth is sixth after its first defeat of the season.
What does it mean: Chelsea becoming resolute under Sarri
For all its dominance of the ball — it averaged over 70 per cent of the possession — Chelsea often looked to be running out of ideas against a Bournemouth side not renowned for defending.
Morata was largely starved of service, Hazard impressed mostly in flashes and Begovic made only three saves before Pedro's goal. It could also have fallen behind, had Wilson and Ake been more clinical.
However, there was never any sign of panic from the players or Sarri in his technical area. Chelsea stayed loyal to its coach's system and, eventually, found a way through the visiting rearguard for a deserved win. This was hardly a sparkling performance, but showing this kind of resolve to get the points while still adjusting to Sarri's methods will doubtless please its head coach.
Pat on the back: Rico plaudits richly deserved
Stamford Bridge is not exactly a forgiving place to make your Premier League debut, but Rico looked right at home down the Bournemouth left. He doubled up with Ake to keep Willian quiet and was a menace going forward, creating three chances — one of which should have ended in a goal from Wilson in the first half.
Boot up the backside: Morata goes missing
The service to Morata was largely poor throughout his hour on the pitch, but this was nonetheless an anonymous display. The Spain striker won fewer than half his 16 duels and touched the ball only 11 times before being taken off for Giroud, who played a role in helping Pedro score Chelsea's first.
Key Opta facts
- Chelsea has won its first four games to a Premier League season for the sixth time, and first since 2014-15 under Jose Mourinho.
- Maurizio Sarri has become the sixth manager/head coach to win his first four Premier League games in charge, after Mourinho, Guus Hiddink, Carlo Ancelotti, Pep Guardiola and Craig Shakespeare.
- No player has been involved in more Premier League goals this season than Chelsea's Eden Hazard (four – two goals, two assists).
- Hazard has scored in all five of Chelsea's Premier League victories against Bournemouth.
What's next?
After the two-week international break, Chelsea is at home once again, with Cardiff City the visitor on September 15. Bournemouth, meanwhile, will host Leicester City on the same day.
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