At last, victory for Chelsea, and one which was inspired by their own as Trevoh Chalobah returned from Selhurst Park to lift the doom and gloom that had been seeping into Stamford Bridge.
Chalobah’s recall from a season-long loan with Crystal Palace was unexpected but required. He blocked, he tackled, he passed with purpose, and he assisted their third goal from Noni Madueke which meant not even Chelsea could contrive to throw away this lead.
Enzo Maresca feared that was happening initially when Robert Sanchez spilled the ball to gift Wolves their equaliser. There is nothing like the constructive criticism of football fans and the advice from a voice beside the Chelsea bench went: ‘Enzo, get a new goalkeeper, he’s s***.’
It is not only a small minority of supporters who are wondering why Maresca is persisting with Sanchez, or why their club is not targeting someone new this month. Some are even asking if Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho – a target of theirs – is any good in goal.
Nevertheless, Chelsea saw this through with Chalobah’s help as Stamford Bridge sang his name throughout the second half in recognition. We do not know what will happen with the 25-year-old at the end of this season, such is life in a world where homegrown players represent pure profit.
But for now, he can relish nights such as this, where he made a few folks wonder why Chelsea ever sent him away on loan at all.
Chelsea climbed to fourth in the league table with a 3-1 victory over Wolves at Stamford Bridge
Trevoh Chalobah shone for the Blues following his recall on loan from Crystal Palace this week
Noni Madueke scored Chelsea’s third goal, having netted a hat-trick at Molineux in August
Wolves have been the Premier League’s downright worst at defending set-pieces, conceding more than anyone else at England’s elite level, and their warm-up was not your usual one as they practised clearing corners. Among those heading away the danger was Emmanuel Agbadou, their 6ft 4in central defender signed from Reims for £16.6million this month and who started here.
Agbadou and Co did not have to wait long for the first test proper as Chelsea won a corner within 25 seconds. Reece James curled in the out-swinger as Chalobah, starting for the first time since being recalled from Crystal Palace, headed on to Nicolas Jackson at the back post.
It was reminiscent of how Jackson opening the scoring inside two minutes in the reverse fixture at Molineux – a 6-2 win for Chelsea in which Madueke netted a hat-trick – but Jose Sa was there to deny the striker’s bicycle kick this time around.
There is nothing wrong with Chelsea’s chance creation and with Wolves under the cosh, Sa dropped down injured. Cynical as it sounds, it can be suspicious when goalkeepers ask for medical assistance so soon into a match, and the visiting outfielders certainly wasted no time in huddling around their manager Vitor Pereira to talk tactics. After some magic sponge treatment, Sa was back on his feet, fine to continue.
Wolves arrived here in search of a first clean sheet in the capital since a 2-0 win over Tottenham in February 2022. Bruno Lage was their manager at that time, then came Julen Lopetegui, and then Gary O’Neil, and it was Pereira’s turn to try to plug their London leakage.
Yet in the 24th minute, Chelsea found the breakthrough with a little help, first from Wolves and then VAR. It started with Matt Doherty trying – and failing – to send a header back into the arms of his goalkeeper. The ball looped over Sa, but made its way out for a corner.
James’ crack from the back of the box fell kindly to Tosin Adarabioyo, who scored his first Premier League goal for Chelsea. Up went the assistant’s flag, though replays showed Adarabioyo was onside as VAR Matthew Donohue deemed it a good goal.
After 36 minutes, Andre landed on Moises Caicedo, leaving him writhing in pain on the pitch. Chelsea were worried, not least because their substitutes’ bench contained zero midfielders. Caicedo managed to continue. When Andre then stood on Palmer’s ankle to leave the Englishman hobbling, he was cautioned.
Madueke (left) scored just five minutes after Marc Cucurella (right) restored Chelsea’s lead
The victory was a seismic one for Enzo Maresca, whose side were on a dismal run of form
Robert Sanchez’s blushes were spared after the goalkeeper’s error led to Wolves’ equaliser
Amid six minutes of stoppage time, Wolves won a corner. In came the cross and it was Sanchez’s to catch, all day long. He spilled it under pressure from Santiago Bueno, as Doherty happily accepted the tap-in to make it 1-1.
Only Ipswich’s Arijanet Muric has made more errors leading to Premier League goals than Sanchez this season. The rapper, Central Cee, was at Stamford Bridge walking around in a goalkeeper’s shirt. You had to wonder if it was worth subbing him in.
Chelsea’s fans took to cheering ironically whenever Sanchez caught the ball from then on. How relieved he was, therefore, when he watched as Marc Cucurella controlled Madueke’s cross and scrambled the ball into the Wolves’ goal for 2-1 after 60 minutes.
Just 43 per cent of Chelsea’s Premier League points this season had come at home, the lowest share in the division, but they were now leading. It got better in the 65th minute when, from a free-kick, Palmer crossed, Chalobah headed, and Madueke tapped in for 3-1.
Madueke wanted that goal for himself, getting a touch on the ball before it bounced over the line. Harsh on Chalobah? That’s football. The supporters recognised his contribution nonetheless, chanting the name of their academy graduate who returned from Selhurst Park to make sure they got back to winning at Stamford Bridge.
After throwing away too many leads over the last month – against Fulham, Bournemouth and Crystal Palace – this was a significant test of character for Chelsea’s starlets. Now with a two-goal lead, Stamford Bridge could breathe, even enjoy it.
In the 78th minute, Jackson ran through. One on one with Sa, he scored, but the offside flag denied him the goal. VAR checked and verified it. His time will come. Chelsea’s certainly did here.
