Cole, calm STAND-OUT PALMER GIVES POC & collected H A BIT OF BREATHING SPACE
THIS result did Mauricio Pochettino a power of good in the Chelsea hot seat.
Well, ‘power’ might be overstating it following a scrappy victory over basement boys Sheffield United. But at least it spared the under-fire Blues boss from being frazzled before Christmas. Let’s be honest. After comparing the Stamford Bridge job to the barbaric electric chair 24 hours earlier, a setback to Chris Wilder’s strugglers would surely have left Pochettino utterly fried. He also predicted that, while people may call him “crazy”, the fallen South West Londoners will become a force under his watch. Just not anytime soon.
And on the evidence of an atbest, mundane first win in three league outings, secured by secondhalf strikes from dependable young star Cole Palmer and Senegalese forward Nicolas Jackson (left), the South American is probably spot-on.
Whether he survives long enough to achieve his aim remains to be seen but Poch has earned a stay of execution... for a couple of days. All eyes now turn towards Tuesday’s Carabao Cup quarterfinal here against Newcastle.
But what was a home banker a few weeks ago – before Wilder reappeared and before Chelsea’s sudden two-defeat blip – suddenly looked fraught with potential catastrophe for the troubled hosts.
With 15 home league losses already in 2023, Blues fans were unlikely to accept another – against the worst team in the league.
It took until the 14th minute before Conor Gallagher forced the first save, his looping effort held by
Blades stopper We Thereafter it was puff than real thre – as emphasised by Mykhailo Mudr 20-yarder flying ya
Seconds later Ca piledriver was defl target, much to th Petrovic on his ho Chelsea goal.
It was no differ minute when Ma flew across Petrovi
If a quiet Bridg immediate impro back of the Argenti talk, it did not exa
Foderingham. more huff and t from Chelsea £80million dud yk’s comical ds wide. meron Archer’s cted inches off relief of Dorde e debut in the
nt in the 28th x Lowe’s cross c’s six-yard box. e expected an ement on the ne coach’s team tly materialise.
Not until Palmer, the one bright spark again in the Chelsea ranks, had an effort blocked leading to a flurry of pressure.
And in the 54th minute, the breakthrough finally arrived. Raheem Sterling was the architect, flying to the byline before crossing for 21-year-old Palmer to crash in his ninth goal this campaign.
Seven minutes later the England winger turned creator, finding Jackson for a simple finish.
There was still time for Blues sub Armando Borja to miss an open goal from two yards – and for inspirational Palmer to receive a deserved standing ovation.