Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea side once again showed their vulnerability at the back on Tuesday night, dropping more points at home in a pulsating encounter with Bournemouth.
The visitors took a shock early lead when David Brooks reacted quickest to a loose ball inside the penalty area, silencing the Stamford Bridge crowd.
Chelsea responded relatively quickly, with the ever-reliable Cole Palmer converting from the penalty spot in the 15th minute after a VAR review confirmed that Antoine Semenyo had fouled Estevao.
The equalizer seemed to settle the hosts, who dominated possession for the remainder of the first half without managing to take the lead.
The game became a frantic affair in the second period as both sides searched for a decisive goal.
Chelsea’s defensive fragility was exposed once more as Bournemouth looked dangerous on every counter-attack.
While the Blues managed to find the net again, they were unable to secure the three points, leaving Maresca to lament his team's inability to see out games.
With only one win in their last seven league outings, Chelsea are drifting away from the Champions League qualification spots.
The draw leaves them level on points with Manchester United but the lack of defensive solidity is a major concern for the board.
For Bournemouth, the result continues their upward trajectory under Andoni Iraola, as they continue to punch above their weight against the league’s traditional heavyweights.
The performance of Semenyo was particularly noteworthy given the intense transfer speculation surrounding his future, with Manchester City reportedly closing in on a significant move for the forward.
