Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez had been heading in the right direction as Chelsea moved as much as second within the Premier League, for a couple of hours a minimum of, with victory at Burnley.
It wasn’t a sport that may stay lengthy within the reminiscence however Chelsea received’t care after leapfrogging Manchester Metropolis, who go to Newcastle tonight, and transferring inside three factors of leaders Arsenal.
The opener got here eight minutes earlier than half-time when Neto steered Jamie Gittens’ cross previous Martin Dubravka with a diving header. And Fernandez made certain of the win with two minutes to go, slotting house after good work from substitute Marc Guiu.
Chelsea had been a great distance from their fluent greatest and with Burnley missing the standard to hassle them on the different finish, it descended right into a sterile contest.
Neto stars in lacklustre Chelsea show
Neto was one of the best participant on the pitch by a distance with the previous Wolves man trying harmful each time he obtained the ball.
His team-mates lacked inspiration with a typically sloppy show characterised after 5 minutes when goalkeeper Robert Sanchez walloped a purpose kick straight into the again of Fernandez’s head.
Quilindschy Hartman headed over and Jaidon Anthony noticed a shot blocked as Burnley threatened early on.
Chelsea gave the impression to be lacking the drive of Moises Caicedo in midfield with the Ecuador worldwide left on the bench. However they got here shut within the thirty sixth minute, Neto’s low centre heading for Gittens and what would have been a simple end earlier than Kyle Walker appeared from nowhere to get the block in.
It was solely a brief reprieve, although, as Neto struck from their subsequent assault of notice.
Liam Delap may have made it 2-0 earlier than the break however fired a shot straight at Dubravka from a slender angle.
Fernandez settles it late on for Chelsea
Marc Cucurella noticed an effort blocked after 55 minutes and Chelsea’s early second-half stress was virtually rewarded when Gittens’ shot was deflected narrowly huge.
Neto got here even nearer 9 minutes later. After Chelsea received the ball again in midfield, Fernandez slipped the ball to the Portugal worldwide, whose right-footed shot crashed again off the close to publish with Dubravka crushed.
Enzo Maresca changed Delap with full-back Malo Gusto and Chelsea misplaced a few of their momentum with Zian Flemming losing an honest have a look at an equaliser, spooning his effort over the bar.
Dubravka saved from Gusto earlier than Chelsea killed the sport late on. Neto fed Guiu, who held off Axel Tuanzebe earlier than crossing for Fernandez to fireplace house.