We did it, fam. Frank Lampard’s Chelsea thankfully, beautifully, finally, convincingly won a match in the Premier League.This was not an eeked out win as it was a few weeks ago against Norwich. No, this was a 5-2 drubbing of the Wandering Wolves of Wolverhampton (also, change the name, ya know?). And what’s more, all five goals were scored by Chelsea Academy graduates. In fact, all of Chelsea goals this entire season have been scored by Academy graduates. The electric Tammy Abraham has led that charge, with an absolutely incredible seven goals in five matches. That’s absurd. If this current trend continues, it looks like Chelsea’s “loan army” reputation will quickly dissipate. Instead, Chelsea field one of the most electric young squads in the Premier League.
In last year’s Premier League season, Chelsea went 0-1-1 against Wolves. In fact, Chelsea had not won against Wolves since 2012, thanks to a last minute goal by none other than the gaffer himself, Frank Lampard. Coming off of the international break, and a less than inspiring first few weeks, Chelsea desperately needed a strong showing this week. And they did not disappoint.
After a quiet opening thirty minutes, Fikayo Tomori, a Chelsea Academy player since the age of 8, opened up the scoring with this absolute screamer. Abraham would follow this up only three minutes later with a slick turn and shoot after Mount had gone down in the box. But Abraham wasn’t quite finished. He would cap off his day with a beautiful header from an assist by Alonso, and a crafty run into the box to get past Coady in the 55th minute. Mount, who had just missed a chance earlier in the match when he hit the side of the net, got a score of his own in extra time after some crafty footwork in the box. Wolves didn’t go down without a fight, though. Scoring on a set piece in the 69th minute, which went down in the books as an own goal by Abraham after Saiss’s attempt deflected off of him, and a close-range strike in the 85th by Cutrone, Wolves showed a glimmer of fight, but not much more.
All in all, it was another incredibly exciting and promising showing by our youngsters. Pulisic didn’t start or come in as a sub in this match, but Lampard’s 3-4-2-1 lineup wasn’t conducive to the winger coming into the match. Regardless, with Mount and Abraham playing the way they were up front, there wasn’t much need for Pulisic, either. If Chelsea’s young core can keep up this run of form, with Ruben Loftis-Cheek and Callum Hudson-Odoi still to return, Chelsea have the potential to look even better.
Antonio Rudiger, a stalwart in the Chelsea back line, made his 19/20 campaign debut today, but came off with a groin injury. While initial reports point to his being pulled off as being purely precautionary, Chelsea fans can only hope that he comes back quickly, as Chelsea have yet to keep a clean sheet this season. Only Norwich have conceded more goals this season, and with Emerson already nursing an injury sustained over the international break and Kante still dealing with his own injury woes, Chelsea can ill-afford to lose another defender to injury.
Looking forward, Chelsea begin their UCL Group Stage campaign on Tuesday, home to Valencia, who are currently 14th in La Liga and similarly suffered a 5-2 drubbing against a Barcelona side that is still trying to find its groove.
Next weekend, Chelsea play host to Liverpool, which no doubt will be an incredibly tough test for Lampard & Co.
Questions/comments/concerns/grievances about anything I wrote today? Hit me up on Twitter at @BrianAngelino. No promises that I’ll respond to you in anything other than memes, though
Author: Brian Angelino, “Originally from The Great State of North Carolina, I’ve just started following the premier league again after a traumatic experience as a child where I wore a Chelsea jacket in the wrong part of London. For more questionably hot takes, follow him on Twitter @BrianAngelino