24 Dec 202310.41 ESTThanks for joining us. Here is Pete Lansley’s report.
Mauricio Pochettino: “We feel very disappointed because we deserve much more. We are not clinical enough. We created chances and had the possession.
“It is a young team and many players are in the Premier League for the first time. They need to adapt. We need to learn from these games. We are in a position Chelsea should not be in.”
24 Dec 202310.11 ESTMario Lemina: “It is amazing. The support that we’ve got here is fantastic – we just push all the time. We are really happy to make this performance in front og our supporters.”
Matt Doherty: “[The goal was] very important because they nicked a goal at the end. I tend to have a knack over my career of being in the right place at the right time and I slotted it away.”
24 Dec 202310.01 ESTMerry Christmas!
I’m afraid those intestinal problems have returned so I might be absent for a bit, but Pete Lansley’s match report will appear shortly.
Updated at 10.02 EST24 Dec 202310.00 ESTFull time: Wolves 2-1 Chelsea
That’s it! Wolves move up to 11th, level on points with Chelsea, after another stirring win over a Big Seven club at Molineux. Mario Lemina and Matt Doherty were the scorers, and Christopher Nkunku’s first Premier League goal wasn’t enough for Chelsea.
Not for the first time this season, Chelsea missed far too many chances. If they had a goalscorer they’d be dangerous.
24 Dec 202310.00 EST90+13 min Hwang almost seals the game, stumbling into the area before being desperately tackled.
24 Dec 202310.00 EST90+11 min The two late goals mean yet more added time.
24 Dec 202309.58 EST90+10 min Hugo Bueno is booked for fouling Madueke, then the Chelsea sub keeper Marcus Bettinelli gets a yellow card as well.
24 Dec 202309.57 EST90+9 min Sterling collides with Joao Gomes in the area and goes over. He’s booked for diving, an exceptionally harsh decision that means he, along with Cole Palmer, will miss the Crystal Palace game on Wednesday.
24 Dec 202309.54 ESTSterling’s deflected cross loops up towards Nkunku, unmarked six yards out, and he strained his neck muscles to guide a header into the far corner. It’s his first goal for Chelsea. “That,” says Alan Smith on Sky, “is a top header.”
Updated at 09.54 EST24 Dec 202309.53 ESTGOAL! Wolves 2-1 Chelsea (Nkunku 90+6)
Now then!
90+5 min On the Chelsea bench, Mauricio Pochettino’s facial expression is one part distressed, four parts fuming.
24 Dec 202309.51 ESTI thought Matt Doherty’s introduction signalled the parking of the bus by Wolves. Far from it: he has just sealed the game! Hugo Bueno’s low cross was cut out at the near post by Badiashile – but he only guide the ball straight to Doherty, who opened his body to slide the ball calmly past Petrovic. That’s a very accomplished finish.
24 Dec 202309.50 ESTGOAL! Wolves 2-0 Chelsea (Doherty 90+3)
The bus driver has scored!
90+2 min Madueke cuts inside from the right but shoots wide of the far post. The wrong option, poorly executed.
24 Dec 202309.48 EST90 min A fierce cross from Madueke is fumbled by Sa, but he gets away with it. There will be 11 minutes of added time.
24 Dec 202309.45 EST88 min The commentators think there will be around 10 minutes of added time, in no small part because of the injury too Craig Dawson.
24 Dec 202309.45 EST87 min “Just as a counterpoint to Charles Antaki’s well observed moment of 2023, I’d note that the Premier League had its first female referee yesterday with a refreshing absence (I think?) of hullabaloo and the England women’s goalkeeper won SPOTY (it feels like only one World Cup since ‘these teams need a man in goal’ was still getting an airing),” says Tom Hopkins. “Yes, there’s a lot of depressing stuff, but sometimes it goes the other way too. And, while I’m here, thanks to you and the rest of the MBM/OBO team for another excellent year, you all enrich my enjoyment of so many sports. A lovely Christmas and new year to all.”
That’s a very good point too. It’s a confusing time to be alive. And thanks for the note – MBMs are probably 95 per cent fun, 5 per cent misery. In 2023, that’s a pretty good ratio.
24 Dec 202309.43 EST86 min: Double substitution for Wolves Hugo Bueno and Matt Doherty replace Matheus Cunha and Rayan Ait-Nouri. The Christmas bus has been parked.
24 Dec 202309.42 EST84 min A half chance for Nkunku, who heads a dropping ball straight at Sa from eight yards. Hwang is alone on the halfway line, no Chelsea defenders anywhere him – Jose Sa spots him but then boots the ball straight out of play. It’s rare to say that a goalkeeper has missed a great chance but that’s kind of what Jose Sa kind did then.
24 Dec 202309.40 EST83 min If it stays like this Wolves will be level on points with Chelsea. But that is an increasingly big if: after good play from Palmer, Madueke’s cross is desperately cleared at the near post with Nkunku lurking.
Updated at 09.41 EST24 Dec 202309.39 EST82 min Wolves break and Doyle wobbles a good shot across goal from 25 yards. Petrovic dives to his right to push it away two-handed.
24 Dec 202309.37 EST79 min: Triple substitution for Chelsea Benoit Badiashile, Noni Madueke and Ian Maatsen replace Colwill, Gusto and Jackson.
I thought Lavia was coming on; I was wrong.
24 Dec 202309.35 EST78 min Romeo Lavia, one of Chelsea’s big summer signings, is about to come off the bench to make his debut.
24 Dec 202309.34 EST76 min Wolves break five on four, with no other Chelsea players in a hurry to get back, but Doyle’s cross is too close to Petrovic.
24 Dec 202309.33 EST76 min Cunha hits the side netting with a snapshot after yet another defensive mistake, this time from Gusto.
24 Dec 202309.32 EST75 min: Wolves substitution Tommy Doyle replaces Pablo Sarabia, whose erudite left foot made the goal.
24 Dec 202309.32 EST74 min Nkunku, such a smooth and progressive player, releases Mudryk on the left. He goes backwards with a dodgy ball to Gallagher, who is penalised for a foul on Hwang.
24 Dec 202309.29 EST72 min Mudryk’s cross is put behind by Kilman. Chelsea take the corner quickly; Gusto’s long-range shot is blocked.
24 Dec 202309.27 EST70 min: Wolves substitution Santiago Bueno replaces Craig Dawson.
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