But a superb 3-0 win for the Foxes Saturday at Swansea City, combined with a 1-0 win for promoted Bournemouth at Chelsea in the late kick off, a stunning upset, has left the table with an air of unreality. “But there is no time to be crying – in three days’ time we have an important game in the Champions League [against Porto]”.
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He also supplied a cross that Simon Francis stuck out an arm while falling in the 62nd minute. And then, on 82 minutes, sub Glenn Murray headed home after Courtois had failed to clear from a corner.
Costa’s arrival in place of the ineffective Oscar meant Hazard could operate wherever he wanted, usually down the left.
After a strong finish to the first half and a bright start to the second, the hosts’ threat diminished in the closing stages. “They do not go on the statistics of the game because they were not shots on target but these ones you have to score”.
When Cook made contact for the cross, there was a question as to whether Murray was offside with only Gary Cahill and potentially Rahman goalside of him.
The Spain striker returned to offer his usual muscle and mayhem but it did not change Chelsea’s luck. A deflected cross whipped in from the right by Willian reached Nemanja Matic before he could adjust properly to head it and he succeeded only in directing it over the bar from close range.
Costa stretched to toe-poke Cesc Fabregas’ ball over the top, but Boruc saved. “We broke well and counter-attacked well a couple of times and gave them problems and we defended well”.
– No reigning Premier League champion has won fewer (4) or lost more (8) after 15 games than Chelsea this season. Chelsea threw everything at the Cherries, but ultimately couldn’t find a goal, leaving them to suffer an eighth league defeat of the season. Bournemouth were without Sylvain Distin due to illness, so Smith came in and goalkeeper Boruc was back.
“In this game we are playing with the same players (as) in the last three games”.
Mourinho has denied that his side, only three points clear of the bottom three, are in the relegation battle.
“We didn’t deserve this result”, said Mourinho.
“In the first half we were passive and didn’t press enough – were not intense enough”.
“We started this season with this squad and the players have to do better”.
I was concerned before this game because I am not happy about our position.
“When you get good momentum and good consecutive results, it’s because you have stability in performances”. Chelsea will never be fighting for relegation – no chance.
Chelsea’s Thibaut Courtois and Gary Cahill look dejected after Bournemouth’s first goal during the Chelsea v AFC Bournemouth Barclays Premier League match at Stamford Bridge. That’s not the problem.
“I think it is at the very top”, said Howe, who must now prepare for next weekend’s visit of Manchester United.
Howe, in contrast, was understandably delighted.
“We have to finish better than we did today”, Van Gaal told MUTV.
“I was concerned before and I’m concerned now”.
But it could have been even worse, with Winston Reid hitting the post with a header for West Ham and Mauro Zarate shooting wastefully wide from Andy Carroll’s lay-off early in the second half.
“I think we are”. Our keeper played a big part in that.
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Asked about his plans to turn Chelsea’s fortunes around, Mourinho said: “I only know one way to fix it, which is to work and give my maximum every day and every match”.
