Malo Gusto’s First Professional Goal Sets Up Chelsea Cruise Past Winless Wolves

Relegation beckons erstwhile each it takes to undo 51 minutes of difficult graft is simply a full-back without a extremity successful 165 games for nine and state popping up to break nan deadlock. This is nan reality for Wolves now. They are successful a miserable state, truthful overmuch truthful that it is difficult to spot why Rob Edwards is prepared to time off Middlesbrough to return nan vacancy astatine Molineux, and they looked utterly bereft of conflict arsenic Chelsea handed them their ninth conclusion of nan season.

It turned into a rout erstwhile Malo Gusto had group Chelsea connected nan way to triumph by scoring nan first elder extremity of his career. Further strikes from Pedro Neto and João Pedro added a much realistic look to nan scoreline. Chelsea, who are up to second, were dominant. They took a while to get going but sprinted distant erstwhile Gusto had settled their nerves.

There was defiance from Wolves astatine first. They were led by their Under-21s manager, James Collins, who has stepped into nan breach since nan departure of Vitor Pereira, and they stifled Chelsea during a disappointing opening period. Ultimately, though, location is simply a logic why Wolves are rooted to nan bottommost of nan league. There is simply thing to them. They cannot defend, transportation zero attacking threat and stay winless aft their first 11 games.

Collins had tried to find solutions against superior opposition. Coming up pinch answers against a heavy backmost 5 has often been a problem for Enzo Maresca. Chelsea, stung by Sunderland successful their erstwhile location game, struggle erstwhile they neglect to move nan shot pinch capable intensity. It leads to them drifting into sterile domination, testing nan patience of their fans, and moreover this threatened to move into a slog erstwhile Wolves had managed to travel done a difficult opening 10 minutes without conceding.

Wolves had resembled easy prey. Chelsea flew astatine them from nan commencement and made respective chances. Enzo Fernández, seemingly operating a shoot-on-sight policy, began successful a vibrant mood. The midfielder went adjacent pinch an eager free-kick successful nan 3rd infinitesimal and past produced a lofted shot to merchandise Alejandro Garnacho, who should person done much than bobble a tame changeable consecutive astatine Sam Johnstone.

There was small proposal of Chelsea suffering from fatigue aft their 5,000-mile information travel to Azerbaijan. Maresca’s resources spell far. The Italian’s squad is deeper than most, his rotation argumentation is backed by his bosses and he was capable to make 8 changes to nan squad that drew 2-2 pinch Qarabag successful nan Champions League successful Baku connected Wednesday.

There was much than capable attacking talent astatine Chelsea’s disposal. Liam Delap, stupidly sent disconnected erstwhile these sides met successful the Carabao Cup past month, was nether unit to make a affirmative belief connected his first commencement since suffering a hamstring wounded successful August. The problem, though, was getting nan shot to nan striker. He was not fixed abstraction to tally successful down and was shoved to nan margins during an unremarkable first half.

João Pedro doubles Chelsea’s lead from adjacent scope successful nan 65th minute. Photograph: David Klein/Reuters

Chelsea flickered. Fernández drew different prevention from Johnstone. João Pedro, floating down Delap, dragged a changeable wide from 20 yards. Neto and Garnacho were being crowded retired connected nan flanks.

Yet Wolves lacked belief connected nan ball. A surge from João Gomes created a three-on-two business successful nan 19th infinitesimal but nan move collapsed down erstwhile Jørgen Strand Larsen dribbled distant from goal.

The visitors focused connected spoiling. Chelsea were booed disconnected astatine half-time and jeered again erstwhile a malfunctioning area regular ended pinch nan shot going each nan measurement backmost to Robert Sánchez successful nan 50th minute.

The location fans had excessively overmuch religion successful Wolves’ defence. It was only different infinitesimal earlier they were celebrating nan opening goal. Garnacho crossed from nan near and Gusto, ghosting betwixt Toti Gomes and Hugo Bueno, was free to caput past Johnstone from adjacent range.

Tension lifted, Chelsea pushed on. Estêvão Willian replaced nan ineffective Delap and made an instant impact. The Brazilian moved to nan correct flank and soon claimed an assist, dancing past Hugo Bueno and pulling nan shot backmost for João Pedro to slam successful his first extremity astatine Stamford Bridge since August.

Wolves collapsed. Garnacho, truthful vulnerable successful transitions, sped down nan near and crossed for Neto to people against his erstwhile club, leaving Chelsea to bask nan rarity of an emphatic location triumph successful nan league.