BLUES MUST LEARN TO BE EASY RIDERS
Winning is tougher than it should be, says Tomori
THIS was the story of Chelsea’s season told in 90 minutes and it was not lost on eventual match-winner Fikayo Tomori.
Long periods of dominance, followed by a grim late struggle thanks to wastefulness in front of goal. This time, their two strikes were enough to send Hull out, just.
But in a season-defining month that sees Frank Lampard’s youngsters play Leicester, Manchester United, Tottenham and Bayern Munich, they will have to be better than they were against Championship opposition.
‘We made it a lot tougher than we should have done,’ admitted Tomori. ‘In the first half we probably should have had the game won.’
Tomori, 22, stole in at the far post to nod in Ross Barkley’s cross and extend an early lead provided by a scruffy Michy Batshuayi opener. But a deflected free-kick from substitute Kamil Grosicki set up a nervy finale.
Safely in the hat, Chelsea can now switch their attention to that fixture list. First is a trip to Brendan Rodgers’ Foxes on Saturday. ‘We know they have a lot of threats, and if we play like we did here we can get punished,’ said Tomori.
‘If we have chances we have to take them. We have to defend better. If we have the chance to kill the game next week then we should. It is easier said than done but this week we are going to work out how we can stop them and bring our game out as well.’
Before then comes the closure of the transfer window. Work is ongoing to strengthen and while additions would be welcomed by Lampard, it would be a shame if it is to be to the detriment of the youth movement.
‘We young players have a lot of personalities and we just want to show what we can do,’ Tomori added. The impression is that he will get more opportunities.
‘He has come a long way since the first day he turned up at Derby,’ said Lampard, who signed the youngster on loan during his stint at Pride Park.
‘There were things he needed to improve, even personality-wise. He was quite quiet and now you see a change in his personality and you see the player he has turned into. I am delighted with his progress.’
With perhaps an eye on that tricky February, Lampard made eight changes from the team that played Arsenal.
‘It is very cliched to take each game as it comes,’ said Lampard. ‘You have a very busy patch, you have to consider what the draw is and when the next round comes along but I am not going to be changing for the sake of it. The position we are in, we need to be pushing on in all levels and we just have to try to play to win whatever competition we are in.’
Hull, meanwhile, have one priority — getting out of the Championship.
You sense it will be beyond Grant McCann’s side. They are well outside the play-off places and will need a lateseason surge — and to keep hold of star striker Jarrod Bowen.
They could also do with the vast majority of the 24,109 in attendance coming back tomorrow night when they take on Huddersfield.
‘Promotion is the target for us,’ said
McCann. ‘ We are seven points behind the play- offs now. If we can take six points from the next two home games, that puts us in a good position.’
If Bowen, 23, who has been linked with Newcastle, Aston Villa and Leeds, does leave, it will not be an acrimonious departure. ‘He has been unbelievable,’ said McCann. ‘ He knows good things will happen to him. Hopefully with us, but if not, then good luck to him.’