Bournemouth 0-0 Chelsea: Palmer returns to starting XI but toothless Blues held

Cole Palmer’s return from injury failed to inspire Chelsea to victory at Bournemouth this afternoon.

The England international started his first Premier League game since September 20 but remained largely on the fringes of a disappointing encounter.

Both sides had chances – Bournemouth seeing an early Antoine Semenyo effort ruled out for offside while Alejandro Garnacho headed against the post in the second half.

Semenyo denied by VAR

Chelsea rode their luck in the early stages and could easily have been behind inside six minutes. Alex Scott fizzed a pass into the feet of Evanilson and, although the striker failed to take the ball in his stride, it rebounded nicely for Semenyo to fire home. The home fans’ celebrations were cut short, however, when the VAR ruled Evanilson was offside.

Bournemouth were offering a much greater attacking threat and Alex Jimenez was next to try his luck with two efforts, the first blocked and the second flying wide of the upright.

Palmer was a peripheral figure in the opening 20 minutes but he burst into life at the midway point of the first half, skipping past Scott before picking out Pedro Neto, whose cross was headed behind by Marc Cucurella.

Liam Delap saw a shot blocked by home defender Marcos Senesi before the former Ipswich striker had to go off due to what appeared to be a shoulder injury.

Both sides had chances to open the scoring before the break. Evanilson ought to have netted after Robert Sanchez made a mess of Semenyo’s cross-shot while, at the other end, Delap’s replacement Marc Guiu was caught flat-footed when Malo Gusto nodded a cross into his path.

Sanchez atoned for his earlier error on the stroke of half-time, getting down smartly to deny Scott.

Garnacho comes close for Chelsea

Bournemouth remained on the front foot after the restart, Marcus Tavernier firing wide from long range.

Neto was again proving to be Chelsea’s most dangerous player and it was his cross that found Garnacho whose header hit the upright.

Palmer’s return lasted 59 minutes before he was replaced by Joao Pedro. Pedro played just behind Guiu and the former Barcelona striker ought to have done better again after 67 minutes than sky his shot over the bar when well placed.

That was the visitors’ last real opening with their threat petering out.

Bournemouth were not much better, a Semenyo effort that was saved by Sanchez the best they could muster.

Chelsea stay in fourth spot while Bournemouth move up to 13th.