Chelsea v Bournemouth Match Report: Cherries Stifled at Stamford Bridge

Bournemouth remain winless in the Premier league this season, as Chelsea ran riot at Stamford Bridge with a 5-1 win this afternoon.

An astonishingly early double put the Blues in the driving seat from the off, with Xabi Alonso’s team scoring a further three in the second half to cement a perhaps slightly unfair scoreline.

Marco Rose was left to select a starting eleven from an injury riddled squad, with key starters Alex Scott, Junior Kroupi, and Justin Kluivert all unavailable.

Chelsea reaped the rewards of a blistering start in no less than the second minute, as Cole Palmer was given too much space, managing to turn and lay the ball off to Jordan Henderson who shot from just outside the box.

The Englishman’s strike curved away from a diving Djorde Petrovic and into the back of the net.

Before Bournemouth even had a chance to compose themselves, it was 2-0.

Ryan Christie’s unfortunate dispossession on the edge of the 18-yard box resulted in Morgan Rogers collecting the ball, taking a couple of touches, and finishing beautifully into the top right-hand corner.

Three minutes in, and Bournemouth were two down.

The Cherries then began to grow into the game, as Rayan blazed over the bar after six minutes. A quick goal and this game might have looked very different.

Emi Martinez twice denied Bournemouth a goal in the 36th minute, first making and excellent save from Rayan, and then collecting the rebounded effort from Christie.

After an unfortunate start, a settled 42 minutes of football gave the fans hope going into the second half.

That was very quickly squashed.

In the 46th minute, Pedro Neto got the better of Antonio Silva on the goaline, laying the ball back to Joao Pedro, who fired in from close range.

A poorly dealt with corner gave the Seasiders hope in the 51st minute, as Chelsea failed to clear their lines and Evanilson was able to capitalise on a goal mouth scramble.

But second-rate defending allowed Chelsea to get their fourth, as Joao Pedro found himself in space from a Pep Chavarría cross to tap in from close range for his second.

Sadly, for Bournemouth the afternoon festivities were not over, as Henderson produced a stunning freekick in the 70th minute, over the wall and into the top righthand corner.

The result leaves Bournemouth in 17th, still looking for their first win of the season and increasingly frustrated over a lack of clinical finishing.

Chelsea now rise to fifth place, with ten points.