THE BRIDGE OF HIGHS
Ziyech turning Blues into a major four-ce
LOCKDOWN TWO is well under way, but try keeping rampaging Chelsea quiet right now.
Frank Lampard’s men have been blitzing the opposition with goals galore of late – and yesterday it was Premier League basement boys Sheffield United on the end of a hiding.
Their victory lifts the Londoners into third place – just a point adrift of shock leaders Southampton.
The only blot on the evening was they failed to keep a sixth straight clean sheet, but Lampard was delighted at how his side responded to falling behind early on.
And he singled out Moroccan star Hakim Ziyech for special praise after the ex-Ajax man played a part in Chelsea’s opening three goals.
The Stamford Bridge boss beamed: “He’s a topclass player and a great personality.
“He hadn’t played much football since last season but he’s hit the ground running here and he was a huge plus for us – and will continue to be so.
“We’re third – even if we might not be by the end of the weekend – and the signs are encouraging. The season is very long and I’m the first to keep my feet on the ground.
“Every game is a challenge – as this one was.
“I wasn’t happy with the goal and we had to respond. We did.
“All the players really delivered vered and we ere r e amazing. I enjoyed d watching it t but it’s only y one per - formance. . We mu st s t continue like ke this.”
By contrast, ast, the Blades are stuck tuck in a worrying rut whi ch began towards the end of last season and is now gathering momentum in this one.
It is now one point from a possible 24 for Chris Wilder’s side as they prop up the rest of the division.
Wilder (above) moaned: “They were poor goals from us to concede. It’s very disappointing. You can’t allow world-class players that much space.”
Wilder’s men are a pale imitation of the side that took the Premier League by storm last year.
United collected four points off Chelsea in 2019-20, including beating them 3-0 at Bramall Lane in July – the last time they tasted a victory.
The odds on anything but a home banker, though, were stacked agai against the Yorkshire Yorkshiremen, who appe appear to be suff suffering more th than most w without t their noisy s support r roaring th them on.
Not that yo you would have guessed that during a l ively ively, bright opening from the visitors.
Chelsea had not conceded in seven-and-a-half hours and new keeper Edouard Mendy was bi d d ing to become only the fourth in Premier League history to keep clean sheets in his first four appearances.
Until the ninth minute, that is, when Oliver Norwood and George Baldock combined brilliantly to set up Sander Berge.
His effort was well struck but it was the lightning reflexes of David McGoldrick that proved decisive as his f irst- time flick f lew underneath the Frenchman. It was almost as if the hosts had been caught off-guard by United’s positive approach. Only when they drew level midway through the half, rather luckily, did they take a grip of the contest.
Recalled midfielder Mateo Kovacic’s cut- back, after Ziyech’s wonderful pass, was perfect for Tammy Abraham and, while his bouncing effort lacked power, it still beat Aaron Ramsdale at the far post.
Five minutes later Timo Werner smacked the crossbar before Chelsea seized control with their second of the evening.
Whether Ramsdale should have done better with Abraham’s goal was open to debate, but the former Bournemouth man was very much at fault in the 34th minute.
Ziyech’s cross should have been his yet he hesitated, fatally, and in nipped Ben Chilwell, past dozy Max Lowe, for his second Chelsea goal, off his knee.
The second half was oneway traffic yet for a while Chelsea could not find a killer third.
That changed, though, when Ziyech’s free-kick was headed in by Brazilian veteran Thiago Silva.
And Werner completed another free-scoring rout as he pounced to smash home 10 minutes from the end.
They were poor goal s to concede. It’s disappointing. You can’t allow worldclass players like they have that much space