Having beaten Southampton against the odds, Tottenham’s draw with Brighton on Tuesday gave Chelsea a glimmer of hope in the race for fourth spot in the Premier League.
Antonio Conte rotated his squad considerably. Making six changes from the team that started against the Saints. Most notably, Olivier Giroud and Alvaro Morata were in the Blues front three. Tiemoue Bakayoko also featured alongside N’golo Kante and Emerson made his first Premier League start. Gary Cahill captained the side.
There was a lot riding on the game for Burnley too. They had an opportunity to overtake Arsenal in sixth spot, potentially grabbing a Europa League place in the process. A Thursday night Premier League match is unusual, but Thursday night football may be something these two sides have to look forward to next season.
Chelsea started the game well, there was always going to be some doubt as to which Chelsea would turn up at what was a balmy Turf Moor. For once it was a positive, composed looking Chelsea side on display. Maybe, Conte’s words about doing it for the badge and fans had finally hit the spot.
It was good to see a side that has never played a competitive game together, so in tune with each other. Chelsea took the lead mid-way through the half, when Gary Cahill played precision ball over the top onto Victor Moses big toe. His cross was sliced into the goal by Kevin Long with Morata lying in wait.
It was a deserved lead. Burnley were in the unusual position of being favourites for the game, if you looked at the form book. It was a standpoint they struggled with all game. Teams such as Burnley love to play the underdog card.
Half Time: Burnley 0-1 Chelsea
The fear was, this may turn into one of those games of two halves. Had Chelsea had their good half? Fortunately, the answer was a resounding no. They carried on where they had left off in the first half. Cahill was having a good game, as was Moses, working hard up and down the flank. Emerson too, was looking good. It did beg the question, why it has taken so long to see him play.
Burnley too, were on the offensive as they looked to find the equaliser. That gave Chelsea opportunities to play on the break. Kante played Morata in for a run on goal and a one-on-one with Nick Pope. Morata tried to curl the ball round the keeper, but Pope had his angle’s right and the ball skimmed the outside of the post.
Burnley did get an equaliser though. It was a tad fortuitous. Ashley Barnes deflected Johann Berg Gudmundsson’s shot which Thibaut Courtois had comfortably covered. The accidental flick sent the ball to the opposite side of the goal leaving the Belgian stranded.
Burnley were now in strange territory. Did they push for the winner of protect the draw. They chose the former. Chelsea were back in front five minutes later. Olivier Giroud’s failed attempt at a half scorpion flick, from Emerson’s cross, ended in failure. The ball fell nicely for Victor Moses though, and after a quick two-step, fired the ball low and hard past Pope at his near post.
On 70 minutes, Eden Hazard replaced a disappointed and frustrated Alvaro Morata. The Spaniard is clearly still lacking confidence. He needs to get through this season and go again next time round. Hazard though, looked sublime at times. Burnley had to double up, sometimes treble up on the Belgian to keep him under control.
With 7 minutes left, Davide Zappacosta replaced the promising Emerson. Chelsea were able to see out the game and grab the three points that will have Tottenham having a serious look over their shoulders. With the FA Cup semi-finals coming up this weekend, Chelsea will travel to Swansea on 28th April, 2 days before Spurs face Watford.
If the gods are aligned, Chelsea just could be just two points behind the north Londoners before they play in the league again. If Chelsea can get their game head on for the remaining four games, four wins will heap pressure on Tottenham. Just over a week ago, the deficit was 10 points, it’s now half that. Interesting times.
Full time: Burnley 1-2 Chelsea