London is Blue Dispatch #085

Don’t drop the ball on staying in the know

If you’re a Golden State Warriors fan, stay connected to your favorite team in the NBA by signing up for our free Locked On Warriors newsletter. Get access to game day info, team updates, and more from our podcast hosts.

Subscribe for free

On a day where the first public demonstration against the BlueCo ownership could well have taken centerstage, the Blues raced into their first 3-0 lead at HT under Enzo Maresca to keep all eyes firmly on the pitch.

While bullying the league's worst team in the league (by some distance) isn't usually the kind of thing Chelsea teams write home about, the league's most error prone team, the only one yet to hit double digits for points was just the kind of opposition the Blues desperately needed to play themselves back into rhythm.

There should be credit sprinkled Enzo Maresca’s way. Being asked to play an XI without a center-forward for an extended run of games is hardly ideal, but moving Pedro Neto to CF has proved to be an excellent use of resources. The Portuguese international set up Enzo Fernandez’s opener against Villa, and one better by grabbing the crucial second goal. Neto’s movement against Mings and Konsa was impressive, and he continued to thrive on the additional freedom gifted to him - assisting from the right vs Villa, and moving from in-to-out into to the left half-space and cracking home the goal.

That goal was set up by Christopher Nkunku, who has lately symbolized the lethargy and underwhelming output in attack, but delivered his best shift in some time. Even without the goal, where he headed one ball before headbutting Ramsdale’s two, there were those sparkling, quicksilver give-and-go’s that made him Europe’s golden snitch for a good few years.

A first home clean-sheet in the league in 87 days was also courtesy of much improved performances across the backline individually and a relatively easy evening against a Saints attack lacking any cohesion or purpose. That feel good evening was capped off by the introduction of three teenagers in Tyrique George and league debutants Shim Mheuka and Tyrique George. Cobham’s two attackers almost grabbed a goal each with their first touches, but Tyrique settled for a well-earned assist from nice cutback to Cucurella.

The only one that would have left the field with cause for grief would probably be Cole Palmer, finishing a seventh game in a row with no goals or assists. That what should be quite a normal run for a young player with less than 75 apps in the PL feels like a drought in a rainforest, reflects just how high the standards have been from him this season. Maresca took time out to console him post the game, but no words will fix what a few goals will.

The win and confidence come in good time for a vital game against FC Copenhagen in the Europa Conference League. And while I hate to be a party pooper, Chelsea’s wins since the last week of December have been against Southampton (20th), Morecambe (league 2), Wolves (17th) and West Ham (16th.) There will understandably be apprehensions about a false dawn. Win big against the Danes and another relegation-threatened team in Leicester, and that could set up a very interesting game against Arsenal at the Emirates in three weeks time and Spurs right after. Arguably the season’s most crucial 30 days have begun auspiciously. Now to keep it going.