English Premier League

Chelsea beat Bournemouth 2 – 0

The Cherries had produced a stubborn defensive display to frustrate the hosts before Pedro struck seven minutes after replacing Willian. Chelsea made it four wins from four Premier League games under Maurizio Sarri after goals by substitute Pedro and Eden Hazard helped them beat Bournemouth.

The Spaniard exchanged passes with fellow substitute Olivier Giroud before his deflected finish beat former Blues keeper Asmir Begovic. Hazard doubled the lead with a qualifying finish from an angle while Bournemouth’s ex-Chelsea defender Nathan Ake blazed over from three yards out when the game was goalless.

Pedro

Maurizio Sarri has been at pains to insist Chelsea are a work in progress under his stewardship yet, a month into the new campaign, their perfect record remains intact. This was another win which had to be ground out against stubborn opposition but, as Eden Hazard skipped through to score the hosts’ second late on, after Pedro’s opener, the whole occasion had a very familiar feel. It all ended up appearing deceptively comfortable.

Not that the head coach will be satisfied as yet. The huff and puff endured for over an hour will have left him dissatisfied, and the nagging concern remains that his team are still too reliant upon Hazard’s quick feet and vision against teams who seek to clog up the play, as Bournemouth did for long periods here. But leaning upon a world-class talent is no chore when he delivers form this dazzling.

There was a trademark exchange with Marcos Alonso out on the left in the build-up to his goal, then a skip into the box and fizzed low finish through Asmir Begovic to lance any tension so close to the end. On four out of the five previous times, Chelsea has won their opening four fixtures, they have gone on to claim the league title. It is still far too early to suggest they are setting up another such challenge, but theirs has been an impressive start. At present, they are finding ways to prevail.

Source: The Guardian