Blues can only draw 2-2 against relegation-haunted 10-man Burnley at the Bridge

By Paul Lagan at Stamford Bridge

Chelsea 2 v Burnley 2

Boos from the home crowd greeted the final whistle as Chelsea dropped two points against a non-threatening Burnley who even played the second-half with 10-men.

Chelsea who head coach reckons should be fourth in the Premier League twice took the lead before being pegged back and the visitors could have nicked it but a header from Jay Rodriguez smacked off the Chelsea crossbar.

Once again it will be interesting to hear what Pochettino made of the performance where there were numerous chances for the Blues but they have to be taken and this team in not doing it.

#When they do score, they have to learn how to defend and this outfit are still struggling to come to terms with an opposition that has the cheek

It was an easy start for the visitors, who, seeing little in attacking threat from the home side took confidence in their own attacking prowess.

But as the Blues have become a more counter-attacking side , it was no surprise that theirs attack of note fell their way on 10 minutes – Enzo’s left-footer took a deflection on it’s way and Arijanet Muric managed to tip the ball away for a corner.

A few more shots went wide as Chelsea got to grips with the situation – Cole Palmer the culprit.

Djordje Petrovic produced a wonderful diving save from Wilson Odobert on 14 minutes – his right-footed curler seemed destined for the back of the net but Petrovic, tipped it away for a corner,

Nicolas Jackson should have put the Blues a head o 19 minutes – but the stuck-out left boot of Muric, deflected the ball over the crossbar.

The pressure finally reaped dividends a minute later when a fine ball by Mykhailo Mudryk saw the ball bounce once in the six-yard box and Axel Disasi nodded home from close range.

But VAR intervened took look at a possible handball by Disasi and it was rightly disallowed.

It was Mudryk’s turn to produce a tame shot on goal on 34 minutes.

Bizarrely Chelsea were given a penalty for a shoulder charge with a second yellow and then red card brandished to Vitinho for his challenge on Mudryk.

VAR then intervened again decided that the referee did not make a mistake and the penalty was given.

Burnley boss Vincent Kompany was then given a red card by referee Darren England for his protest at the decision.

When the match resumed Palmer, to rub the salt in to the wounds produced a Panenka to open the score a minute before the break.

Chelsea made no changes at half-time.

Burnley then shocked the home side by scoring a terrific goal two minutes in to the second half.

A straight-forward attack saw no real intent by the home side to close the visitors down, and Josh Cullen thumped an end of the area right-footer that arrowed into the right-hand corner of Petrovic’s net

Lyle Foster almost put Burnley 2-1 up on 56 minutes, but Petrovic reacted quicker than any of his defenders and Foster’s goal-bound header was parried away by the stopper.

To try and freshen things up and get the home side back on top, Pochettino brought on Noni for skipper Conor Gallagher on 62 minutes.

At this point the west Londoners were virtually camped outside the Burnley penalty area,

Raheem Sterling entered the fray on 72 minutes, off went Moises Caicedo.

Muric was having an excellent game for the relegation-haunted visitors, he thwarted a daisy-cutter from Palmer on 75 minutes, diving well to his right and snaffling the effort.
Palmer redeemed himself and the Bus finally broke through on 78 minutes when the wide man picked up a back heel from Sterling a, took on touch before slotting the ball home from 10 yards out.

But Chelsea conceded two goals for the fifth game in the row with 10 minutes left on the clock.

A regulation corner was met by the head of unchallenged Dara O’Shea, Petrovic did not cover himself in glory with the goal-bound effort and could only help it into the back of the net.
Sterling then missed a sitter on 85 minutes when he beat the of0side trap and latched onto a wonderful clip by Palmer. The former England winger headed wide with only the keeper to beat.

Alfie Gilchrist then replaced injured Gusto.

Another set piece from Burnley almost won it for them substitute Jay Rodriguez smacked the Chelsea crossbar from a corner, then could not keep down the rebound, sending the ball over the goal – much to the relief of the Chelsea fans, players and no doubt senior management.

Teams: Chelsea: Petrovic, Disasi, Cucurella, Badiashile, Enzo, Mudryk, Jackson, Palmer, Gallagher, Caicedo, Gusto

Subs Bettinelli, Silva, Sterling, Noni, Casadei, Deivid, Gilchrist, Tauriaiinen, Acheampong:

Burnley: Muric, O’Shea, Berge, Foster, Assignon, Vitinho, Cullen, Amdouni, Esteve, Larsen, Odobert

Subs: Trafford, Taylor, Cork, Gudmundsson, Brownhill, Rodriguez, Manuel, Ekdal, Tresor

Referee: