Chelsea back to winning ways with Wolves win

AFP

Chelsea won for the first time in six Premier League matches when they beat relegation-threatened Wolves 3-1 at home with goals from defenders Tosin Adarabioyo and Marc Cucurella and a third from winger Noni Madueke.

The win pushed Chelsea - who had been second as recently as last month - above Manchester City and Newcastle United into fourth place, while Wolves remained out of the bottom three only on goal difference ahead of Ipswich Town.

The hosts, seeking to get back on track for a place in next season's Champions League, went ahead in the 24th minute when Tosin sidefooted home from close range.

But goalkeeper Robert Sanchez gifted Wolves an equaliser in first-half stoppage time when he dropped a corner and Matt Doherty stabbed the ball in.

The home fans were fearing a repeat of recent games when Chelsea threw away leads until Cucurella popped up in attack to score after Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall - in his first league start for the Blues - flicked on a Madueke cross on the hour.

Five minutes later, Madueke nodded in to make sure a header from Trevoh Chalobah - returning to Stamford Bridge after being recalled from a loan spell at Crystal Palace - crossed the line.

Chelsea have 40 points from 22 games, 10 adrift of leaders Liverpool and four behind second-placed Arsenal and Nottingham Forest. They are two points above Manchester City and Newcastle.

Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca was boosted by the return of club captain Reece James who made his first start after the latest in a string of injury absences.

Chalobah also gave the Blues' defence a stronger shape after the loss of Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile due to injuries.

Defender Levi Colwill and midfielders Romeo Lavia and Enzo Fernandez were all absent from the squad ahead of Chelsea's trip to champions Manchester City on Saturday.

More from Sports News

  • Swiatek, Keys charge into Australian Open semis

    A rampaging Iga Swiatek stormed into her second Australian Open semi-final with a 6-1 6-2 centre court demolition of eighth seed Emma Navarro on Wednesday, while Madison Keys overhauled Elina Svitolina 3-6 6-3 6-4 in the earlier quarter-final.

  • MI Emirates defeat Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in ILT20

    The MI Emirates produced a clinical display with the bat and the ball, handing the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders a 28-run defeat in the DP World ILT20 Season 3 at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium on Tuesday.

  • Liverpool beat Lille to reach Champions League last 16

    Liverpool booked their spot in the last 16 of the Champions League with a 2-1 victory over 10-man Lille on Tuesday at Anfield, thanks to goals from talisman Mohamed Salah and substitute Harvey Elliott.

  • Djokovic quells Alcaraz challenge to reach Australian Open semis

    Novak Djokovic beat young rival Carlos Alcaraz 4-6 6-4 6-3 6-4 in a battle worthy of a title clash to charge into the Australian Open semi-finals on Tuesday and remain in the hunt for a record 25th Grand Slam title.

  • Dupont back to Six Nations to inspire France

    Antoine Dupont will make a much-awaited return to the Six Nations after a one-year hiatus that cemented his status as one of France's top athletes, hoping Les Bleus can win the tournament on the back of a perfect autumn series.

On Virgin Radio today

Trending on Virgin Radio