Chelsea 2-2 Bournemouth: Blues’ poor run continues

Chelsea‘s winless run in the Premier Leaguee was stretched to three games as they were held to a 2-2 draw at home by Bournemouth.

The Blues welcomed the Cherries to West London having followed up a 2-2 draw at Newcastle United with a 2-1 home defeat to Aston Villa.

Having surrendered a lead in the latter game, Chelsea looked set to complete a turnaround of their own after Cole Palmer’s penalty and a stunning Enzo Fernandez strike put them 2-1 to the good after David Brooks had given Bournemouth an early advantage.

Yet Chelsea’s defensive frailties reared their head again in the 27th minute, Justin Kluivert converting from point-blank range to restore parity that was preserved thereafter despite chances for a winner at both ends.

Chelsea have now won just one of their last seven league games, while it is no win in 10 for Bournemouth, who appear poised to lose star man Antoine Semenyo, with the forward reportedly destined to join Manchester City when the January transfer window opens.

The Blues are two points outside the top four, a gap that could grow when Liverpool host Wolves on New Year’s Day. Bournemouth are nine points above the bottom three.

Chelsea fightback after Brooks opener

Brooks had Stamford Bridge stunned as he showed sharp reactions to nod home at the second attempt after his initial effort was repelled by Robert Sanchez following a long throw.

Yet Bournemouth’s joy was fleeting and, after a VAR check, the seemingly departing Semenyo was deemed to have fouled Estevao on the right side of the penalty area, and Palmer made no mistake with a composed spot-kick into the bottom-left corner.

The Cherries were undeterred and found encouragement from an accommodating Chelsea defence, with a fierce Brooks drive kept out by Sanchez.

But the visitors were punished for not taking that chance, as Fernandez took his opportunity in style, collecting on the edge of the box from Alejandro Garnacho’s lay-off and curling an outstanding strike into the top-right corner.

Blues survive late scare

Four minutes later, though, Bournemouth were level. The long throw proved their undoing again, as Trevor Chalobah inadvertently flicked the ball on for Kluivert, who gratefully converted the simplest of chances.

Álex Jiménez blazed over the bar as he wasted a gilt-edged chance to make it 3-2, but it was Chelsea who dominated thereafter, with the excellent Estevao to the fore.

Largely frustrated in the first half, the Brazilian was twice denied by Djordje Petrovic in the second, while the Bournemouth goalkeeper was also required to prevent Wesley Fofana turning home a corner at the near post.

Fernandez fired over as he spurned a chance for his second, but the best opening to settle the contest was presented to Bournemouth substitute Enes Unal, and only the inaccuracy of his volley from Adrien Truffert’s cross prevented it from being an even more damaging night for Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca.