Chelsea 3 – 0 Wolves

Chelsea cruised to a 3-0 win over Wolves without a manager in Graham Potter’s first home Premier League game in charge of moving fourth in the Premier League and extending a poor start to the season by the visitors.

Diego Costa’s return to Stamford Bridge was a big talking point, but Chelsea’s two-time Premier League winner couldn’t upset his old team, with Wolves, managed by academy managers Steve Davis and James Collins. defensive much of the time. contest.

After passing up a number of chances, Chelsea finally made their first-half dominance count when Kai Havertz (45+2) struck from the far post and a relieved Christian Pulisic (54) could have scored a hat-trick. . in that opening period – put the result beyond doubt after a clever exchange with Mason Mount, scoring his first goal of the season.

Costa, who made his Premier League debut 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 looked toothless in attack.

He has only scored three times in his nine league games this season – as many goals as Chelsea finished off in this match, when Armando Broja (90) came off the bench, overcame offside and fired in the final third – and his first for the club, to continue Potter’s unbeaten start in style. As for the visitors, they have one win in nine games and seem in need of inspiration.

How Chelsea sailed to victory

Chelsea had beaten Italian champions AC Milan here in the Champions League on Wednesday night and were full of confidence in the early stages, with Conor Gallagher leading the charge down the right flank, after returning to his own box to make a blocking.

Gallagher, Havertz and Mount were all out of goal and Jorginho saw a shot saved by Jose Sa as Chelsea camped in the visitors’ half, but it was Pulisic who splurged the most. The American saw three good moments come and go within half an hour and hit the turf after planting an unconvincing header over the crossbar. However, he couldn’t have done much more with a flex shot soon after, which had Sa in full expansion.

Wolves, who only tested Kepa with a routine Joao Moutinho free-kick save and watched a Matheus Nunes header just before half-time, thought they had survived until half-time, but at the stroke of half-time, Chelsea finally got their prize. .

Mount found some space down the right, much to Costa’s frustration, and crossed for Havertz to get away from Nelson Semedo and head over Sa and to the far post.

The visitors, with 20-year-old midfielder Joe Hodge making his senior debut, began the second half with energy and determination, but any hopes of a comeback were stalled when Pulisic converted a quick one-two with Mount.

Wolves managers Davis and Collins used the opportunity to give 19-year-old Chem Campbell a few more Premier League minutes as the game drew to a conclusion, but after Daniel Podence passed up the opportunity to play on Adama Traore, Broja’s late, angled finisher showed what the forward-thinking Wolves will have to find to get out of the jam.

England watch: Mount and Gallagher impress

After recent impressive performances from Leicester’s James Maddison, mason assembly He showed his attacking attributes in a strong performance, crossing for Kai Havertz’s first goal and then launching a brilliant reverse pass to Christian Pulisic to add the second.

Your colleague in midfield Conor Gallagher he capitalized on his own starting role, propelling Chelsea’s play down the right side of the pitch in a performance that will have caught the eye of Gareth Southgate, after the England manager left him out of his last squad.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek He has hardly appeared in recent times with the national team but he was solid in midfield, although good chilwell sat on the bench and couldn’t get a break as his fellow substitute reece james.

Whats Next?

Chelsea return to Champions League action on Tuesday night as they travel to AC Milan, before visiting Aston Villa live on Sky Sports Premier League next Sunday.

Wolves host lowly Nottingham Forest next Saturday before a midweek trip to Crystal Palace, visiting Selhurst Park on October 18.