Chelsea lost back to back matches away from home and fell behind in the title race. First, they lost to Everton 1-0 on Saturday and now on Tuesday against Wolves by 2-1.
A late counter-attack from Wolverhampton Wanderers, finished by Pedro Neto earned them all-important three points in the league. Wolves beat Chelsea for the first time since their promotion in the 18/19 season.
Chelsea manager Frank Lampard started the match with a 4-1-4-1 formation. Mason Mount and Kai Havertz started in the midfield with N’Golo Kante was the Central defensive midfielder. Christian Pulisic started the game after a hamstring injury with Timo Werner and Oliver Giroud the other forward players started alongside him.
After the experiment of back four failed for Wolverhampton manager Nuno Espirito Santo. He went back to his preferred back three formation. Wolves started the match with a 3-4-1-2 formation. Two young Portuguese players Pedro Neto and Fabio Silva were on the starting Xl.
Wolves’ player ratings vs Chelsea:
Rui Patricio(GK) – (5.5/10): Should have saved the Chelsea goals, It went through his armpit. Otherwise few routine saves. Chelsea didn’t manage to trouble him that much, even though he was busier of the two goalkeepers in the first half.
Willy Boly(CB) – (6/10): Returned to the starting Xl since the Liverpool match and did well but caught napping for the Chelsea goal.
Conor Coady(CB) – (7/10): A very solid display from him. Coped very well against Giroud and organised the defence well.
Romain Saiss(CB) – (7/10): Played excellently in defence, calm on the ball and solid in the air as well as on the ground. Chelsea didn’t have any joy from his side.
Nelson Semedo(RB) – (5/10): Chelsea exploited his side too often in the first half and Semedo could not deal with Pulisic and Ben Chilwell. He did not provide much going forward either.
Fernando Marcal(LB) – (6.5/10): Sent some inviting passes in behind Reece James and Chelsea backline for Neto. He was solid enough defensively.
Leander Dendoncker(CM) – (6/10): He had a very quiet game and could not influence the game quite enough and eventually substituted at the half time.
Ruben Neves(CM) – (6/10): Played an uninfluential match and he had an opportunity of his trademark long-range shot but didn’t hit it well enough and a comfortable save for Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.
Daniel Podence(CAM) – (7.5/10): Scored the equaliser for Wolves by sending opponent defenders on to the ground and a great shot beat the Chelsea keeper on the near post. Otherwise quite on the first half but did the most important thing for Wolves.
Pedro Neto(CF) – (8/10): Worked very hard throughout the game and in the end get his reward on the 95th-minute mark from a great counter-attack. Went pass Kurt Zouma easily and fired the ball into the far post.
Fabio Silva(CF) – (5/10): He was very quiet throughout the match but scored a goal, in the end, it was disallowed for offside. At the 60 minute mark, he was substituted for Adama Traore.
Used Substitutions:
Owen Otasowie(CM) – (7/10): The American teenager made a promising debut. Came in for Dendoncker at half time and assisted the first goal for Podence.
Adama Traore(RW) – (5/10): Tried his best out of position but didn’t show his class and his struggle in this season continues.
Vitinha(CM) – (6/10): Didn’t get enough time to influence the game but assisted the important second goal for his team.
Chelsea’s Player Ratings vs Wolverhampton:
Edouard Mendy(GK) – (5/10): Made a good save on the first half but beaten at his near post for Podence’s equaliser, although the deflection didn’t help, he will feel he could have done better.
Reece James(RB) – (6/10): Allowed Podence time and space before the equaliser. His heart would have been in his mouth after referee Stuart Attwell awarded a penalty, but after a VAR check the correct decision was made.
Thiago Silva(CB) – (6/10): Played few missed-placed passes in the danger zone and it was his poor clearing header that allowed Podence the chance to shoot.
Kurt Zouma(CB) – (5/10): He was solid in defence during the first half and almost scored his fifth goal with a thundering header but his header strike the underside of the bar and came out. But he gave too much time to Neto to run and pick his spot for the second goal.
Ben Chilwell(LB) – (6/10): He played well, the constant threat from the left side, and crossed the ball for Oliver Giroud on the first goal.
Mason Mount(CM) – (6/10): Looked good but didn’t create much for Chelsea to trouble the Wolves backline.
Kai Havertz(CM) – (4/10): Completely inactive in the middle of the park and didn’t work hard off the ball either. Withdrawn on the 71st-minute mark for Mateo Kovacic and Lampard’s search to find his best position continues.
Christian Pulisic(LW) – (6.5/10): Chelsea’s best player in the first half. Put Semedo in all sorts of trouble but couldn’t find the final ball.
Oliver Giroud(CF) – (7/10): Scored the crucial goal from a great volley. But missed a great rebound opportunity from Zouma header.
Timo Werner(RW) – (5/10): Didn’t play well enough maybe one of the bad performances in the Chelsea shirt. Loose with the ball and missed a glorious chance.
Used Substitutions:
Mateo Kovacic(CM) – (6/10): Replaced uninfluential Havertz but could not make an impact on the match.
Tammy Abraham(CF) – (6/10): Tried desperately to impress but couldn’t manage it well.
Man of the match:
The Portuguese young star Pedro Neto is our man of the match, he scored the important goal at the 95th-minute mark to earn his team crucial three points. It seems that they found the perfect replacement for Diego Jota.
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