MATCH FACTS CAME ALONSO
Defender’s double saves Blues as Lamps’ strikers have off day
■ Bournemouth have scored 2+ goals in each of their last three home league games, having netted more than once in just three of their previous 17 at home. 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
■ Chelsea are winless in four Premier League away games (D3 L1), their longest such run since a run of seven between September-december 2015.
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
■ There were just 176 seconds between Jefferson Lerma equalising for Bournemouth, and Josh King giving the Cherries the lead. 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.”