Chelsea cruised to a 3-0 win over Wolves without a manager in Graham Potter’s Premier League home opener, charged with finishing fourth in the table and extending a poor start to the season from the visitors.
Diego Costa’s return to Stamford Bridge was a big talking point, but Chelsea’s two-time Premier League winner was unable to upset his former side, with Wolves led by coaches academy Steve Davis and James Collins, on the back foot for much of the contest.
After letting a string of chances slip by, Chelsea finally made their first-half dominance count when Kai Havertz (45+2) curled a header at the far post and a relieved Christian Pulisic (54) – who could have done a hat trick. in that opening period – put the result beyond doubt after a clever trade with Mason Mount, scoring his first goal of the season.
Costa, making his first Premier League start since May 2017, received a standing ovation from home fans when he was substituted in the 57th minute, but even with the iconic striker in their ranks, Wolves had looked toothless in attack .
Wolves’ Diego Costa gets a standing ovation from Chelsea fans
They have scored just three times in their nine league games this season – as many goals as Chelsea scored in that game, when Armando Broja (90) came off the bench, beat the offside trap and fired in the bottom of the third for his first goal for the club – continuing Potter’s unbeaten start in style.
As for the visitors, they have one win in nine games and need some inspiration.
How Chelsea got the win
Chelsea had beaten Italian holders AC Milan here in the Champions League on Wednesday night and they were full of confidence in the early stages, with Conor Gallagher leading the charge down the right side, after returning to his own box to make a block .
Gallagher, Havertz and Mount were all off target and Jorginho saw a shot saved by Jose Sa as Chelsea pitched in the visitors’ half, but it was Pulisic who was the biggest waster. The American saw three good moments come and go in half an hour and slammed the turf after planting an unconvincing header over the bar. He couldn’t have done much more with a bending shot soon after, which had Sa all the way.
Wolves – who only tested Kepa with a routine save from Joao Moutinho’s free-kick and saw a Matheus Nunes header go by just before the break – thought they had survived until half-time but on the shot of the interval, Chelsea finally got their reward .
Kai Havertz celebrates after putting Chelsea ahead of Wolves
Mount found some space down the right – much to Costa’s frustration – and crossed for Havertz to get away from Nelson Semedo and head in on Sa and at the far post.
The visitors – with 20-year-old midfielder Joe Hodge launched on his senior debut – started the second half with energy and intention, but any hope of a comeback was dashed when Pulisic converted with a quick one -two with Mount.
Christian Pulisic doubles Chelsea’s lead over Wolves
Wolves coaches Davis and Collins took the opportunity to give 19-year-old Chem Campbell a few more minutes in the Premier League as the game played to its conclusion, but after Daniel Podence left Passing the chance to play Adama Traore, Broja’s late and angled arrival demonstrated the edge Wolves will have to find to get out of trouble.
Potter: the key to rotation success
Chelsea boss Graham Potter: “It was not easy. They are never in the Premier League, especially when we played on Wednesday. Recovering and preparing is not easy but we have a committed group fighting for each other. We have been disappointed not to score sooner Wolves started the second half well but maybe the second goal was the respite we needed and then Armando finishes it off, great for us.
Armando Broja celebrates his first goal for Chelsea
“We can’t succeed with just 11 players. And we can’t go with 11 until they drop and then play the next ones, it won’t be good for the group dynamic. The group is pushing each other others and it’s important everyone knows that we can’t settle for 11. It’s important that we have a strong squad, a strong collective. It’s hard to achieve anything without that.”
Wolves’ Davis: We have to stay positive
Wolves caretaker boss Steve Davis: “We knew it was going to be a tough game with the injuries and suspensions we had. We took advantage of our chance in the first half with some of the goalmouth jostling, but if we had gone 0-0, who knows.When we were at the top we had to create chances in goal and take risks, there were not enough people in the box to take risks.
“The atmosphere was difficult, as one would expect. [at the start of the week]. We had a great week of training, the atmosphere was good, we picked it up. We kept going, we worked hard and got the minutes in the guys we wanted. I was positive in the dressing room afterwards – and that’s the key, we have to stay positive.”
English watch: Mount and Gallagher impress
After recent impressive performances by Leicester’s James Maddison, mason mount showed off his attacking attributes in a fine performance, crossing for Kai Havertz’s opener and then netting a brilliant reverse pass for Christian Pulisic to add the second.
His midfield colleague Conor Gallagher seized on his own starting role, leading Chelsea’s play down the right side of the pitch in a performance that caught the eye of Gareth Southgate, after the England boss dropped him from his last squad.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek has barely featured for the national team of late but was solid in central midfield, although Well Chilwell was left benched and unable to get a runout like another sub Reece James.
And after?
Chelsea are back in the Champions League on Tuesday night as they travel to AC Milan, before visiting Aston Villa live on Sky Sports Premier League next Sunday.
Sunday, October 16, 1:00 p.m.
Kick off 2:00 p.m.
Wolves host modest Nottingham Forest next Saturday ahead of a midweek trip to Crystal Palace, visiting Selhurst Park on October 18.