Blues are desperate to find consistent quality performances

BY PAUL LAGAN
paul@slpmedia.co.uk

Chelsea face neighbours Fulham on Saturday in the Premier League, desperate to find a quality performance to satisfy the fans after another dismal display in midweek against Middlesbrough.
They lost the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final 1-0 despite creating a host of goal-scoring opportunities, but missed them all.
They are just 90 minutes away from Wembley if they can turn it around on the return leg at the Bridge on January 23.
Fed on a diet of top quality silverware in the past couple of decades, the fans have been incredibly understanding of the trials and tribulations besetting their club at present.
However underpinning all of this, which cannot be ignored is an almost billion pound investment on playing staff, not to mention a raft of behind the scenes changes in personnel.
The focus of winning matches, which head coach Mauricio Pochettino trots out like a mantra that looks out of sync with the current situation needs to be backed up with winning matches.
Victories over Luton Town, Sheffield United, Crystal Palace and Preston North End should be the norm and treated as such. Fans should not be anxious about facing Championship opposition, they way they were on Tuesday.
But the club seems intent on patting themselves on the back at those recent wins, suggesting a great on-field advancement with titles just around the corner.
The Blues missed many chances, some gilt-edged ones from the player of the season so far, Cole Palmer.
Armando Broja will return to the front line after being dropped at the Riverside Stadium. Pochettino is sure that the Albanian international cannot play three games in seven days.
He’s still working his way back to elite match fitness after a long layoff.
Ian Maatsen has completed a loan to Borussia Dortmund until the end of the season.
Pochettino will be hoping that left back Ben Chilwell will return to the squad this weekend to compensate for the loss of the Dutchman.
Chelsea women return to action on Sunday when they face West Ham in the FA Cup.
They will be without star striker Sam Kerr for the rest of the season after she sustained an ACL injury during their training mission in Morocco.
The Blues have signed centre-back/midfielder Natalie Bjorn from Everton, who is expected to replace injured Millie Bright.
She said: “Fans can expect that I fight 100 per cent. “I want to win every duel and every game.”
Chelsea’s young goalkeeper Eddie Beach has gone on loan to National League side Gateshead for the rest of the season.

Pictured top: Chelsea’s Cole Palmer (left) shoots over the bar during the Carabao Cup semi final first leg match at the Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough Picture: PA