Match Report: Chelsea survive crazy second half to beat Wolves 4-3 | OneFootball

Chelsea have beaten Wolves – just about – to qualify for the next round of the EFL Cup after a 4-3 win at Molineux.

Things started so well for Chelsea. Just like at the weekend against Sunderland they scored within five minutes. Jamie Gittens started the game on fire, and his little lay off to Andrey Santos on the edge of the box after the team pressed well to win the ball back high up gave the midfielder the space to fire the ball home.

Gittens’ next contribution was even better. He surged down the flank and cut the ball back for Tyrique George, who just had to tap the ball over the line. Soon it was three – more good high pressure saw the ball fall to Estevao Willian, and the Brazilian pulled off a lovely chip over Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa before half time.

At that point, we were bemoaning the lack of youngsters on the bench to blood in the second half. In fact, it went totally the other way. Wolves got one back after some more slow, hesitant defending from the central defenders. Then a long throw brought the home team their second.

Then things got crazy. Chelsea brought on Liam Delap, who picked up two brainless yellow cards in the space of 7 minutes and was sent off. Then Chelsea scored through Gittens. Then Wolves scored a scrappy goal in the 91st minute.

What had looked like a dead second half in prospect turned into a very eventful one.

MOTM – Jamie Gittens

Analysis

Chelsea defend another set piece poorly. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

It’s hard to know what to analyse from a game which saw ten changes made before kick off and then a pretty wild game. The team’s inability to manage a game, even at 3-0 up, is incredibly worrying however, no matter who is on the pitch.

The players continue to look naive and skittish, a far cry from the cool, level-headed professionalism you need to be able to win the biggest trophies. They can’t defend, at that just means they’re constantly on the edge of a negative spiral like the one we saw today.

As for the red card – we’re glad Enzo Maresca has actually decided to call out his players this time.

Teams

Wolves Jose Sa Matt Doherty Yerson Mosquera Toti Gomes David Wolfe Emmanuel Agbadou Jackson Tchatchoua Fernando Lopez Joao Gomes Hee-Chan Hwang Toluwalase Arokodare

Substitutes Daniel Bentley Hugo Bueno Marshall Munetsi (s 46′) Jorgen Larsen (s 68′) Rodrigo Gomes (s 19′) Tawanda Chirewa Jean Ricner Bellegarde (s 81′) Mateus Mane Ladislav Krejci (s 46′)

Chelsea Filip Jorgensen Malo Gusto Josh Acheampong Tosin Adarabioyo Jorrel Hato Romeo Lavia Andrey Santos Estevao Facundo Buonanotte Jamie Gittens Tyrique George

Substitutes Robert Sanchez Wesley Fofana Marc Cucurella (s 60′) Reece James Moises Caicedo (s 85′) Enzo Fernandez (s 61′) Pedro Neto (s 76′) de Jesus Joao Pedro Liam Delap (s 61′)

Stats

Possession Wolves 40% – 60% Chelsea

Expected goals (xG) 1.23 – 2.41

Total shots 15 – 11

Shots on target 4 – 4

Big chances 4 – 3

Big chances missed 2 – 1

Accurate passes 275 (76%) – 462 (84%)

Fouls committed 13 – 12

Corners 4 – 1

Quote of the game

“It’s embarrassing” – Enzo Maresca on his team’s red card.