Chelsea put in a tepid performance as Sunderland lifted themselves off the bottom of the Premier League table with a 1-0 win that eases the pressure on under-fire manager Regis Le Bris.
Xabi Alonso’s side were second-best throughout. None of their midfield attack won a duel or a tackle in the opening 20 minutes, while Sunderland’s fight was best shown through Brian Brobbey’s efforts up front.
The Dutch international smashed his way through Chelsea centre-backs Wesley Fofana and Levi Colwill in a brutal first half – coming close to scoring twice, before eventually getting his rewards.
Ten minutes before half-time, he rolled past Colwill with immense strength to win a penalty, which Enzo Le Fee converted. Colwill was then taken off at half-time.
If Chelsea were weak in defence, they weren’t much better in attack. They struggled to break down a Sunderland defence that has been leaking goals of late. Morgan Rogers went closest in the first half with an off-target header, while their only chance of note in the second half was Danny Welbeck’s injury-time miss.
Chelsea had a penalty shout in the first half when the mostly-ineffective Cole Palmer burst through and went down under two Sunderland challenges right on the edge of the penalty area – but VAR controversially said there was no foul regardless of whether it was inside or outside the box.
Sunderland were still the better team throughout – despite losing captain Granit Xhaka after three minutes due to injury – and looked more likely to get a second goal than Chelsea were to getting an equaliser. Substitute Wilson Isidor nearly made it 2-0 when he was one-on-one but Mike Penders denied him in style.
The result moves Sunderland off the bottom of the table, while Chelsea have lost their place in the top four as their inconsistency continues.
More to follow…
The key moments from the Stadium of Light
3: INJURY! Sunderland are dealt an early blow as Xhaka limps off after going down off the ball.
14: BIG MISS! Chesmine Talbi starts the game strongly, curling in a cross which Brobbey fails to convert.
24: NO PENALTY! Palmer goes down under a double challenge from Luke O’Nien and substitute Jules Ahoka right on the line of the penalty area. But VAR says no foul when checking it.
Cole Palmer was not given a penalty after he went down near the box
25: BIG MISS! Rogers heads Marco Palestra’s cross off target after leaping well in the penalty area.
28: CHANCE! Brobbey takes on last defender Fofana but his touch takes him wide and he shoots off target.
36: GOAL! Brobbey’s hard work eventually comes off as he grapples with Colwill to win a penalty, which Le Fee converts.
61: BIG TACKLE! Estevao comes on at half-time and Rogers tries to poke the ball through to him but Thomas Meunier comes up with a goal-saving tackle.
77: BIG SAVE! A loose ball breaks to Isidor but his powerful effort when through on goal is saved by Penders.
Mike Penders denied Wilson Isidor with a stunning save
81: WIDE! Chelsea’s first chance of note in the second half sees Geovany Quenda fire wide of the far post.
90+2: OVER! Welbeck heads over Estevao’s free-kick from inside the box.
What the result means and next fixtures…
Rate the players…
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: skynews.com
