6 hours ago
12
Chelsea got what they deserved here. They had been coasting to fourth courtesy of an early João Pedro goal, but the second-half dismissal of Wesley Fofana gave a glimmer to a Burnley team previously clinging on. Liam Rosenior’s side desperately tried to run down the clock, only to allow an unmarked Zian Flemming to nod home a James Ward-Prowse corner in added time. It might have been worse, as Jacob Bruun Larsen nodded an identical Ward-Prowse corner over the bar.
Rust the culprit? Chelsea’s players had enjoyed four days off given to them by Rosenior, Cole Palmer heading a winter sun delegation to Dubai in a rare midweek without competitive action. Estêvão was an absentee after a hamstring problem picked up on his return to training. Roméo Lavia, missing since November, on the bench was a point of intrigue, after the news he had spent his convalescence fine-tuning his decision making with the help of virtual reality.
Talking of reality, Burnley still stare down the barrel of relegation. Scott Parker had selected the same team that staged a comeback at Crystal Palace 10 days previously, with only two survivors from the starting lineup that lost at Mansfield in the FA Cup. That embarrassment undid much of the goodwill sent Parker’s way after Selhurst but this battling point will help.
Burnley were a goal down within three minutes and far too easily. Moisés Caicedo’s pass from deep found Pedro Neto, and the winger’s cross was met by a sliding João Pedro.
On the touchline, despite such a bright start, Rosenior was dissatisfied, prowling and clapping in the style of a thoroughly modern manager. His Chelsea team play with far greater freedom than the often mechanical, by-rote style under Enzo Maresca. Palmer, rested at Hull with muscular problems being nursed, looked in the mood in the early stages, given licence to roam.
The cost of greater liberty is a lack of control and from midway through the first half Burnley made threatening inroads as the home support’s attention began to drift towards angst. Burnley’s lack of firepower meant no blow was landed, with Marcus Edwards’s free-kick from a promising position a huge disappointment. Instead, the best chance fell to Palmer, after Kyle Walker’s error allowed a clear run on Martin Dubravka, who saved well.
Walker was removed at half-time and Parker’s defensive reshuffle soon paid off when Bashir Humphreys, the Cobham graduate shifted to central defence, executed a last-man challenge on Palmer. Humphreys next made a timely block on João Pedro, as Chelsea pushed on, if unconvincingly.
Ward-Prowse was brought on in the hope of dead-ball opportunities. His last free-kick goal came against Chelsea, for Southampton three years ago this week, a long wait to equal David Beckham’s all-time Premier League record. For that to happen, Burnley required a command of territory that eventually fell their way.
The Parker plan had long been apparent: hold a Maginot line until the latter stages and then advance. That was put into further practice by Fofana being handed a second yellow card for his crunching tackle on Ward-Prowse. That had followed a first-half booking for chopping down Hannibal Mejbri. Palmer, who had been limping, was withdrawn for Tosin Adarabioyo as Rosenior sent on height to avert the barrage. It failed to pay off.
A half-chance fell to Josh Laurent, who miscued, and Edwards twinkled to the fore. On came Ashley Barnes, memorable for a Stamford Bridge tussle with Nemanja Matic fully 11 years ago that led to a red card. Back then, Burnley found an equaliser, and they did so again here, Chelsea helpless against Ward-Prowse’s delivery.
