How Chelsea Players Proved Doubters Wrong With Win Against Wolves

There were real question marks about Cesar Azpilicueta’s place in the team too after some bad recent showings, but he was the best player on the park in the first 45 minutes and excelled both defensively and offensively.

Chelsea dominated the first half from minute one to minute last, but it took a long time to find the breakthrough, despite multiple excellent chances.

In fact, Chelsea only took the lead with the final action of the period, in added-on time, as Kai Havertz looped the ball over the goalkeeper with a header from a Mason Mount cross. Havertz had come close to scoring earlier, as had Mount, as had Pulisic, as had Loftus-Cheek, as had Azpilicueta, as had Chalobah, even.

Wolves made a halftime change and improved markedly after the break, but Christian Pulisic’s goal early in the second half made most of the second 45 a formality. Chelsea came close a couple of times, though also had some shaky moments at the back, especially with Adama Traoré causing a bit of havoc. Marc Cucurella made one excellent block to help preserve the clean sheet.

Armando Broja then put the icing on the cake with his first senior Chelsea goal.

The result lifts Chelsea up to fourth in the Premier League table, with managerless Wolves down to 19^th. They could go bottom if Nottingham Forest beat Aston Villa on Monday.