CAME ALONSO Defender’s double saves Blues as Lamps’ strikers have off day
long-term injury but at the same time I can’t tell you he will be ready for Tuesday or Sunday.”
Chelsea started slowly and could easily have fallen behind inside the opening 10 minutes. After finding their feet, Alonso found the net with that trusted left foot just after the half-hour.
Olivier Giroud’s near-post header crashed into the crossbar and the defender produced another lovely strike to hand the visitors an advantage.
Within 30 seconds of the second-half getting under way, Giroud should have added a second but sidefooted the ball against his own ankle. It was costly. A second then would surely
been too much for the hosts to drag back.
However, Bournemouth slowly got to grips with the job at hand, Jefferson Lerma towered above the visitors’ defence, powering home Ryan Fraser’s right-wing corner.
And then the left side of Chelsea’s defence went AWOL, Jack Stacey moving forward with menace, taking a pass from Philip Billing in his stride and producing a low centre missed by Callum Wilson. Josh King was on hand to roll into an empty net.
Chelsea then pressed relentlessly, camping in the Cherries’ half of the field. Subhave stitute Michy Batshuayi saw a strike wiped out for offside and Pedro put a chance wide.
Five minutes from time, the goal Chelsea had threatened, duly arrived. Cesar Azpilicueta’s ball into the box allowed Pedro to control and fire forwards only for Alonso to pick off the rebound, heading home his third in two games.
Cherries’ chief Eddie Howe ( far left) said: “I’ve got mixed emotions. I’m happy with the point because we have to make sure that if we are not going to win games that we at least draw them.
“So, in that respect, I’m pleased – but you are craving three points. We’re desperate for them.
“But we’re in a better place now than we were a few weeks ago. Our last five performances have been stronger.
“We’ve started to create chances and score goals from open play which we weren’t doing a few weeks ago.
“We’ve had players return from injury and that’s made a huge difference, not just on the pitch but also to the psychology of the players.
“We’re not where we want to be.
“It’s very tight. But certainly I’m seeing signs that the team is in a much better place for the battle ahead.”
RAFAEL CABRAL showed why boss Mark Bowen believes Reading have the best goalkeeper in the Championship.
The Brazillian pulled off two astonishing saves to deny Cauley Woodrow within a couple of seconds.
The Tykes had won three games on the bounce to give themselves hope of avoiding the drop, but they lacked punch despite dominating possession.
In the end, goals from Yakou Meite and George Puscas proved enough for a Royals win.
But it might have been a different story if Woodrow had equalised on the stroke of half-time, but his first shot was saved by the commanding Cabral who then leapt to his feet to tip away the follow-up.
Bowen – whose own side were in danger of sliding into a relegation scrap – said: “Rafa pulled off a great save just before half-time.
“For me he’s one of the best, if not the best keeper in this league. He’s got a rich pedigree behind him, having played for Brazil and he keeps us in games at vital times.”
Meite (above, celebrating) managed to score on his backside when Barnsley failed to clear a freekick in the 17th minute and then Puscas gave Michael Sollbauer the runaround before slotting the ball past Brad Collins to make it 2-0.
Barnsley manager Gerhard Struber admitted the efforts exerted in a golden 10 days that brought victories over Fulham, Middlesbrough and Hull had taken its toll.
“Today, the battery was low,” he said. “We were not ready for a big fight.”
READING BARNSLEY 4 ........ Shots on Target ......... 6 3 ........ Shots off Target ....... 12 2 ................ Corners ................. 5 11 .................. Fouls .................. 15 3 ............... Offsides .................. 1 65.8 . Passing Success ... 74.2 333 ....... Total Passes ........ 538 38.1 ......... Possession ......... 61.9 42.7.. Territorial Adv%... 57.3