Tosin Adarabioyo, Marc Cucurella, and Noni Madueke scored as Chelsea overcame a pre-halftime blip to beat Wolves 3-1 at Stamford Bridge on Monday.
Enzo Maresca’s Blues got back on track in the Premier League after going five matches without a win, climbing back into the top four as the fourth PL team to reach the 40-point mark this season.
[ MORE: Enzo Maresca on Robert Sanchez error, Enzo Fernandez injury ]
Matt Doherty poked Wolves level before the break after Chelsea had largely controlled the first 45 minutes, but that came on an error from Blues goalkeeper Robert Sanchez and Wolves only put two further shots on target.
Wolves remain out of the bottom three on goal differential over Ipswich Town.
Blues have understanding, need consistent execution
This was a good win, no doubt, but the Blues did leave openings for their opponents and Wolves’ level footing at halftime was very fortunate for the visitors. It wasn’t because Chelsea don’t know what to do in Enzo Maresca’s system, just that they give away the ball when in the right position. Robert Sanchez’s leaping drop of the ball on the corner was a glaring error, but Chelsea also hit several first-half passes right to Wolves that threatened to take away from a dynamic first half. The second half was better, and the Blues clearly know Maresca’s plan. If they can get just a bit sharper, there’s no reason they’ll finish outside the top four.
Chelsea vs Wolves player ratings
(from fotmob.com)
Chelsea vs Wolves player ratings (from fotmob.com)
Chelsea vs Wolves player ratings (from fotmob.com)
What’s next?
Wolves host Arsenal at 10am ET Saturday, while Chelsea go to Man City at 12:30pm that same day in a pivotal top-four clash with the defending champions.
How to watch Chelsea vs Wolves live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 3pm ET Monday (January 20)
Venue: Stamford Bridge — London
TV Channel: USA
Streaming: Watch live on NBC.com
Chelsea vs Wolves final score: 3-1
Tosin Adarabioyo 25', Matt Doherty 45'+5, Marc Cucurella 60', Noni Madueke
Chelsea vs Wolves live updates — By Nick Mendola
Full time — Chelsea vs Wolves stats
Possession: Chelsea 64%
Expected goals: Chelsea, 3.07-0.86
Shot attempts: Chelsea 18-9
Corner kicks: Wolves 6-3
Chelsea subs
Joao Felix and Tyrique George enter for Palmer and Madueke.
George, who turns 19 early next month, has nine senior appearances for Chelsea and this is his Premier League debut.
Big save by Robert Sanchez
Was it going wide? Maybe, but Cunha forces Chelsea keeper Sanchez to fly to his right and poke a hard shot out for a corner.
Subs
Chelsea take off James and Dewsbury-Hall in favor of Axel Disasi and Malo Gusto.
Wolves bring on Goncalo Guedes, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, and Rodrigo Gomes for Aitn-Nouri, Sarabia, and Andre.
3-1 Chelsea, 77'.
Noni Madueke goal — Chelsea 3-1 Wolves (65th minute)
The man who scored three against Wolves at the Molineux is on the board in London, too.
A corner kick is sent to the back post, and Chalobah rises his to nod toward goal.
It looks headed inside the far post but Madueke makes sure there’s no wrong turn and nods it into the back of the goal.
Chelsea sub
Ex-Wolves man Pedro Neto is off in favor of Jadon Sancho in the 62nd minute.
Marc Cucurella goal — Chelsea 2-1 Wolves (60th minute)
Noni Madueke’s cross is spun-in from the right, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall gets a slight flick on it.
Cucurella settles it and snaps it over the line. The Blues are back in front.
Second half underway
No moves at the break.
Halftime — Chelsea 1-1 Wolves
Possession dipped to 65-35 in favor of the Blues, with shots 11-5 for Chelsea, who opened the door to the visitors.
It wouldn’t be a surprise for Enzo Maresca to make a personnel tweak at the break, perhaps in midfield.
Reece James and Trevoh Chalobah have stood out for the Blues, while Ait-Nouri and Joao Gomes have been Wolves’ stars.
Matt Doherty goal — Chelsea 1-1 Wolves (45'+5)
Just like that, Wolves are level.
Robert Sanchez fails to catch a high corner and Matt Doherty jabs his foot at the loose ball to knock it home.
Poor from the keeper.
Chelsea sloppiness adds to Wolves hope
Again — Chelsea are controlling this game aside from three or four wayward passes in the midfield or even their own third.
When Cunha’s around, anything can happen and Wolves are showing a greedy spirit when the Blues make a mistake.
Trevoh Chalobah has twice denied decent Wolves’ opportunities, including a corner concession in the 45h minute.
Still 1-0 on the Tosin goal.
Wolves threat looms but not quite visible
Here’s your reason to have a devastating attacker like Matheus Cunha and a speed merchant like Rayan Ait-Nouri — even when your team’s doing very little, there’s still a charge inside of a one-goal game.
We’re past the half-hour mark and Chelsea are over 75% possession, out-attempting Wolves 10-1. Unfortunately for Chelsea, they’ve only found a single goal.
VAR awards Tosin Adarabioyo goal! Chelsea 1-0 Wolves (26th minute)
Reece James’ low shot is deflected onto the body of Tosin Adarabioyo, who turns and slashes the ball home.
The flag is up.
Chelsea had maybe five players who looked offside, but Tosin was not! The goal will count and Chelsea lead 1-0.
Doherty, Sa dodge howler
Trevoh Chalobah sprays a long pass toward the Wolves box and Matt Doherty’s headed back pass misses the charging Jose Sa.
Fortunately, Wolves slam the ball out of play.
Just wide from Cole Palmer
Noni Madueke collects a cross at the back post and pushes the ball between the feet of Cole Palmer.
The England playmaker only has a quarter-yard space and still nearly massages a shot inside the far post.
Mostly Chelsea through a dozen minutes, 0-0.
Really bright start from the Blues
It’s only the fifth minute but Chelsea’s on its second corner and have produced three legitimate spells in the final third.
The latest corner is won by Wolves and Rayan Ait-Nouri leads a counter attack that see the visitors establish their first run with of possession.
0-0, 6'.
Quick corner
Chelsea win a corner in the first minute, and an off-balance Nicolas Jackson can’t side volley home after Reece James’ service winds up at the back post.
Chelsea lineup
Sanchez, James, Adarabioyo, Chalobah, Cucurella, Caicedo, Dewsbury-Hall, Madueke, Palmer, Neto, Jackson
Wolves lineup
Sa, Semedo, Doherty, Bueno, Agbadou, Ait-Nouri, J. Gomes, Andre, Sarabia, Strand Larsen, Cunha
Chelsea vs Wolves preview — By Joe Prince-Wright
The Blues have gone five games without a win in the Premier League to go from title contenders to top four hopefuls over the last month. Their 2-2 home draw with Bournemouth on Tuesday summed up their issues, with a fast start not being built on as missed chances piled up and Reece James’ 95th-minute equalizer saved a point for them.
Wolves’ new manager bounce has ended as Vitor Pereira’s side lost 3-0 at Newcastle in midweek and have now lost two games in a row in the Premier League and are three games without a win. Heading into the weekend Wolves sat out of the relegation zone only on goals scored and they need a big win to renew belief that can climb further away from the drop zone in the coming weeks and months.
Chelsea team news, focus
Maresca has a host of injury concerns to key players with Palmer, Lavia, Colwill and Fernandez all struggling to be fit, which causes a problem in midfield and defense. Caicedo will start in central midfield with James starting at right back, while Tosin and Disasi could start at center back. If Palmer isn’t ready then perhaps Joao Felix will start and Sancho or Madueke will move into a central role.
OUT: Wesley Fofana (hamstring), Mykhailo Mudryk (suspension), Benoit Badiashile (thigh), Kieran Dewsbury-Hall (knock), Omari Kellyman (thigh) | QUESTIONABLE: Cole Palmer (knock), Romeo Lavia (other), Levi Colwill (other), Enzo Fernandez (other)
Wolves team news, focus
Pereira is obviously hoping talisman Cunha can shake off illness to start as the Brazilian forward is so key to everything Wolves do. He will also be hoping for a big defensive improvement after conceding three goals in each of their last two Premier League defeats.
OUT: Toti Gomes (hamstring), Yerson Mosquera (knee), Enso Medina (knee), Sasa Kalajdzic (knee) | QUESTIONABLE: Boubacar Traore (knee), Matheus Cunha (illness)
Chelsea vs Wolves prediction
This feels like it will be a nervous game between two teams who need to get back on track for very different reasons. There will be one goal in it. Go for Chelsea to finally get a win. Chelsea 2-1 Wolves.
