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WE ALL KNOW that Diego Costa can start a fight in an empty phone box.
Trouble is, he needs something to get fired up about.
This punchless Wolves side are not right now giving the old rottweiler much to get his teeth into. Chelsea eased past them to register Graham Potter’s third win in a row since taking over.
And in truth, once Kai Havertz’ opener went in, there was never much doubt about the outcome.
The sooner Wolves get their prime managerial target, former Spain coach Julen Lopetegui, over the line the better. Because time, it is evident, is not on their side.
Costa, who won two league titles at Stamford Bridge and became a cult hero with his take-noprisoners style, netted 52 goals in 89 games for Chelsea between 2014 and 2017.
But he is now 34, and more than a bit rusty after eight months without any football before joining Wolves last month.
The old fire is still there, as he growled at referee Simon Hooper and left Chelsea keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga on the floor at one point, but most of this game passed the old fighter by.
As it did Wolves, for much of a torrid 90 minutes. It is now one win in nine games and, despite a more spirited second half, they are going to need something – or someone – special to lift them out of this rut.
For a much-changed Chelsea there were signs, as they showed patience in breaking Wolves down, that Potter’s calm, methodical approach is beginning to take effect – and Mason Mount is beginning to rediscover his form.
His team pummelled Wolves right from the start yesterday, creating and missing a hatful of chances.
Conor Gallagher scuffed his shot wide when he should have scored in the first minute, Mount turned but fired over and then Jorginho saw his shot well saved by overworked Wolves keeper Jose Sa
Mount then jinked through but shot wide and Christian Pulisic also missed as the one-way traffic poured towards the Wolves goal.
Managerless Wolves rarely got out of their own half, Danie Podence nodding wide early on – but they went close when after fine run by Matheus Nunes Goncalo Guedes was fouled on the edge of the box. Joao Moutinho curled his free-kick round the wal but Kepa pulled off a fine save.
The chances kept coming at the other end as Mount and Ruben Loftus-cheek both missed and Pulisic headed over.
But it was the American who
then almost broke the deadlock when he cut in, Sa brilliantly tipping his shot over.
Nunes then gave Chelsea a scare when he nodded wide but a frustrated Costa was seeing little of the ball, and when he did get in a good position, he looked rusty.
On the stroke of half-time Wolves finally cracked when the influential Mount slung in a beautiful cross from the right and Havertz looped home his header.
Once more it was Mount’s ingenuity that provided the key moment for the second soon after, his lovely reverse pass freeing Pulisic who slipped through to fire home his first goal of the season.
Off came Costa, to cheers all around the ground.
They still love him around SW6.
“He’s won more than you!” the Chelsea fans taunted their opponents. And he won’t win much more in this team.
Substitute Armando
Broja added Chelsea’s third in the 89th minute, swerving away from two challenges to shoot into the corner for his first goal for the club.