Enzo Maresca felt the full force of the Stamford Bridge boo boys as his Chelsea side were held to a chaotic 2-2 draw by Bournemouth on Tuesday night. The Blues boss sparked fury by subbing off Cole Palmer, with the home support making their feelings brutally clear.
All four goals came in a mad 27 minute spell. David Brooks silenced the Bridge early for the Cherries, but Bournemouth’s notorious travel sickness struck again. Palmer slammed home a penalty to level, before Enzo Fernandez was given the freedom of west London to curl a beauty into the top corner. But Chelsea’s defending was a shambles from a long throw again as Justin Kluivert poked in at the back post.
The real flashpoint came just after the hour. Maresca’s decision to hook Palmer for Joao Pedro was met with a loud chorus of jeers and boos from the stands. “The crowd weren’t happy, obviously,” said Maresca afterwards. “But we needed fresh legs, we’ve got a big game Sunday. You make the call and live with it.” It nearly backfired spectacularly, mind. Bournemouth’s Enes Unal missed a sitter in stoppage time that would’ve nicked all three points.
Stats don’t lie, and Chelsea’s are grim reading. That’s just one league win in seven now. They’re languishing in the bottom half, miles off the European places they crave. Bournemouth, to their credit, ended a five game losing streak but will still be kicking themselves after Unal’s late howler.
Elsewhere, Newcastle finally got an away win under their belt, seeing off Burnley 3-1. They were two up inside seven minutes through Joelinton and Yoane Wissa, but made hard work of it after Josh Laurent pulled one back. Burnley hit the woodwork twice late on before Bruno Guimaraes sealed it. Everton, despite a injury crisis, climbed into the top half with a 2-0 win at Nottingham Forest, their second over Sean Dyche’s side this month.
For Chelsea, the pressure’s squarely back on Maresca. This was meant to be a routine home win against a struggling side. Instead, it’s another disjointed performance, more fan anger, and serious questions about where this project is headed. They face a massive test against Villa next, another performance like this and the noise will only get louder.
