Chelsea beat Wolves 3-0 at Stamford Bridge to go second in the Premier League table and add to the relegation fears of their managerless visitors.
The Blues had been booed off at half-time after struggling to turn their dominance into a goal in the first 45 but tore their visitors apart after the break. By the final whistle, their fans were in party mood, knowing their side are just six points off Arsenal, who were held at Sunderland earlier on Saturday.
Winless Wolves battled hard but were ultimately outclassed in a game which underlined the scale of the task facing Rob Edwards, if he completes his switch from Middlesbrough, following the sacking of Vitor Pereira. After 11 games, Wolves are eight points from safety and their suffering supporters sung about dropping into the Championship.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Malo Gusto opens the scoring against Wolves with his first goal for Chelsea
It was an unlikely goalscorer who eventually made the breakthrough for Chelsea six minutes into the second half. Malo Gusto headed in the first goal of his career on his 159th game in club football.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Estevao makes an instant impact to tee up Joao Pedro for Chelsea’s second goal against Wolves
It was a milestone night for Joao Pedro, too, who slammed in a second soon after to mark his 100th Premier League appearance, after sub Estevao’s dribble and cross.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Pedro Neto haunts his former side for Chelsea’s third goal against Wolves
Alejandro Garnacho had crossed for Gusto’s opener and he was the provider of the third as well, showing a surge of speed to burst away from Santiago Bueno before crossing for Pedro Neto to score against his former side.
It turned into a chastening night for the visitors, who were coached by caretaker James Collins. It could have been worse, with Marc Guiu hitting a post among a number of other good chances for the hosts.
In truth, Chelsea should have taken this game away from Wolves in the first half, with Sam Johnstone saving well from an Enzo Fernandez free-kick and Garnacho one-on-one before a corner was cleared off the line and Joao Pedro dragged a shot wide.
Wolves, who remain rooted to the foot of the Premier League table with just two points, will hope for a rejuvenation during the international break. Meanwhile, Chelsea, who have had an up-and-down first part of the season, are handily placed before the hard winter stretch begins.
Maresca: I was very happy at half-time!
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca:
“I was very, very, very happy at half-time, to be honest. The difference between half-time and second half has been that we just scored goals.
“When you don’t concede nothing, nothing, nothing and you create four or five chances, you have to be clinical. We said many times – otherwise the game is always open, anything can happen.
“But fortunately in the second half we scored goals.”
On the potential of Estevao: “He’s top, he’s a talent. We are trying to help him to adapt and to give him the right minutes. He’s doing fantastic. For this club, in the next 5-10 years, he will be a top, top player. The reason why fans pay tickets is because they want to see players like Estevao, like Cole [Palmer].”
Analysis: Are Chelsea Premier League title contenders?
Sky Sports’ Peter Smith at Stamford Bridge:
Booed off at half-time, given a standing ovation at the final whistle. There was a big mood-shift at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea eventually broken down and then tore apart Wolves.
The Chelsea supporters had been celebrating before kick-off, too, watching Arsenal get pegged back by Sunderland on the TV screens inside the stadium. Those two results, leave Chelsea second in the Premier League title race and just six points off the Gunners.
Are the world champions now Premier League contenders?
Put a big circle around Chelsea vs Arsenal, live on Sky Sports on November 30.
That could be the day Chelsea establish serious momentum. Or the day their shortcomings are underlined.
In moments, this is a team so slick and brimming with potential. In others, they look stuck and short of ideas. The return to fitness of Cole Palmer should at least help with their final-third quality but issues at No 9 persist, with Liam Delap and Marc Guiu off the pace right now.
After this third international break of the season, the hard and decisive winter months begin. Chelsea are well placed – just as they were at this stage last season. Can they kick on and go for the crown?
Caretaker Collins: Wolves players are together
Wolves caretaker boss James Collins:
“I felt we got a foothold in the game. We defended well, we worked hard and connected. The plan was working. The goal changes things, we became more open and they took full advantage.”
On his message to Edwards, if he takes the job: “It’s obviously a tough job but the boys are together, they’re working hard on the training pitch and that’s a good place to start. Yes, we have to improve, but the season isn’t going to be defined by Chelsea away. If they work as hard as that and add quality to some of the play at times, they can pick up points.”
O’Neil: Wolves need a big reset
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Former Wolves manager Gary O’Neil explained to David Jones on Saturday Night Football why he decided against returning to Molineux to replace Vitor Pereira
Former Wolves boss Gary O’Neil speaking on Sky Sports:
“I think it’s an interesting transition that they’ve gone through. Obviously they’ve lost big players in windows just gone. But they spent a lot in the last summer window. They backed Vitor [Pereira].
“So far, this team that they’ve put together has not been able to put results on the board. They’re in a transition period from the group that we had. A more physical group that maybe weren’t as technical. It’s going to need a big reset.
“Rob [Edwards] has already been in a great job at Middlesbrough so he must see something in this that gives him a good opportunity to work with this group and give them a chance to stay up in the second half of the season.”
Analysis: Doomed Wolves need a miracle
Sky Sports’ David Richardson at Stamford Bridge:
Former Wolves boss Gary O’Neil says the club needs a “reset”. To stay in the Premier League they’ll need a miracle.
Every single top-flight side with two or fewer points at this stage have then been relegated – Man City in 1995-96 (2), Sunderland in 2016-17 (2), Sheffield United in 2020-21 (1) and 2023-24 (1), and Norwich in 2021-22 (2).
The last time Wolves failed to win any of their opening 11 games, in 1983, they were relegated from the top flight. It is near impossible to see how that won’t happen again.
Rob Edwards needs to consider very carefully whether it is worth leaving his high-flying Middlesbrough for a side that they could pass on the way up.
Wolves look doomed with their best players sold in the summer and striker Jorgen Strand Larsen struggling for service and form. It won’t just be a long winter, but a long season.
