The lowdown on Chelsea 3 Wolves 1 – Blues get back to winning ways in the league

Chelsea grabbed the three points they badly needed to end a run of five without victory in the Premier League. They are back up into the fourth Champions League spot as a result – two points better off than Newcastle and Man City – who they meet on Saturday at the Etihad.

Here is the lowdown on the match.

THE LINE-UPS

Chelsea: Sanchez, James (Disasi 76), Tosin, Chalobah, Cucurella, Caicedo, Dewsbury-Hall (Gusto 76), Madueke (George 84), Palmer (Felix 84), Pedro Neto (Sancho 61), Jackson. Subs not used: Jorgensen, Acheampong, Guiu, Nkunku.

Wolves: Jose Sa, Doherty, Bueno, Agbadou, Nelson Semedo, Andre (Bellegarde 74), Joao Gomes, Ait-Nouri (Rodrigo Gomes 74), Sarabia (Guedes 74), Cunha, Strand Larsen. Subs not used: Johnstone, Hee-Chan, Dawson, Doyle, Forbes, Lima.

SNAPSHOT OF THE GAME

Tosin Adarabioyo scored his first Premier League goal since his switch to Chelsea on 25 minutes – A VAR check showing he was just onside as he made the most of Reece James’ shot being half-blocked into his pocket of space.

Matt Doherty levelled for Wolves in the fifth minute of first-half injury time, prodding home after Robert Sanchez had flapped at an inswinging corner from Matheus Cunha.

But two quick goals put the Blues back in charge in a game where Wolves flattered to deceive.

On  the hour, Marc Cucurella stole into the six-yard box to stab home a Noni Madueke cross that had been flicked on by the headed of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.

Five minutes later and the points were as good as sealed when Madueke nodded over the line from a yard after Trevoh Chalobah had headed a Cole Palmer corner back across goal.

TACTICAL APPROACH

The line-up, if not the approach, was dictated to by the absence through injury of Enzo Fernandez, Romeo Lavia and Levi Colwill. A recalled Chalobah and Dewsbury-Hall were back – two of five changes from the team that drew 2-2 with Bournemouth in the last home game.

Palmer, a pre-match doubt, was deemed fit enough to play. He got the ball much more after the break and sprayed pass after pass out to Madueke in what always looked like the best avenue of attack, with Pedro Neto subdued against his old club on his less-favoured left flank.

STAR MAN

Noni Madueke. He was irresistible in the opening quarter, causing Rayan Ait-Nouri so much grief down the Blues’ right flank that Nelson Semedo had to switch over to that side to contain the England winger.

He looked in the mood to repeat the treble he scored in the 6-2 win at Molineux earlier this season and was always a threat.

Chalobah had an eye-catching reunion with his west London team-mates, hardly putting a foot wrong and won the SKY TV vote.

BEST MOMENT

Two great moments from the popular Chalobah – a beautifully timed first-half tackle on Jorgen Strand Larsen and an assist for the third goal. The fans seemed to relish seeing him back in the fold and sang his name to let him know it. Tyrique George, at 18 getting his first taste of league football, had a moment he will surely never forget.

MOAN OF THE MATCH

For the luckless Sanchez, it will probably be: Why can’t we have a top-class keeper? Many Blues fans were already minded to believe their team is being hamstrung by having a stopper who doesn’t seem at the really top level like keepers working between the sticks among the elite clubs.

That nagging suspicion was given more fuel when he made a hash of a corner – albeit under pressure – and allowed it to spill from his grasp for the equaliser.

All the money they have spent and it still feels they are taking a wild punt on a modest ex-Brighton keeper might hold them back when it comes to the crunch fixtures.

TALKING POINTS DOWN THE PUB

The Chelsea fans’ stream of consciousness will say: That was comfortable. We should have more games like that for all the talent we have. How great to see Trev again. Wasn’t it great to win without Cole hogging all the headlines for once. Cuc is now our secret attacking weapon. No-one can stop him. Do we need a new keeper? Pity Man City have started winning again but reckon we can take them at the weekend.

WHAT THE BOSS HAD TO SAY

“Trevoh Chalobah was very good. I said already the reason why he’s back is because we are sure he’s going to help us. and tonight he showed exactly what he is capable of doing. He is a strong defender. He is quick, he is aggressive, but we already knew.

“Noni [Madueke] can improve in the last third. But probably after the goal, he stopped to play and that needs to be something we need to improve. You must never be happy if you score one or two but have to go for more. After the goal, probably he was a little bit tired, I don’t know, but it’s the moment when we need to go for more.

“It was very important to win always but especially tonight after five without a win. I think in the five games we didn’t win, the performance was always there. I said already before many times, the problem was in the box where we could be a little bit more clinical.

“When we conceded we lost a bit of confidence but second half we controlled the game and scored twice and could have scored more.”

Pictured top: Marc Cucurella scores to make it 2-1 (Picture: Paul Terry/Sportimage Credit: Sportimage Ltd/Alamy Live News)