Telegraph:
Chelsea 0 Bournemouth 3: Olivier Giroud watches on as new side are picked apart
Matt Law
Olivier Giroud must have thought he was leaving nights like this behind him when he swapped Arsenal for Chelsea.
But just 24 hours after seeing the Gunners concede three goals to Swansea City, Giroud watched his new Chelsea team-mates fall to an embarrassing defeat at the hands of Bournemouth.
Second-half goals from Callum Wilson, Junior Stanislas and former Chelsea defender Nathan Ake made it an unhappy introduction to his new surroundings for Giroud.
Ahead of kick-off, there had been as much interest among the Chelsea fans on matters off the pitch as what was going to happen on it. New signings Giroud and Emerson Palmieri were at Stamford Bridge even though they were not eligible to play.
But following their heaviest home defeat in the League for eight years and with Chelsea now only two points above fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, there will suddenly be concern over whether reinforcements from the benches of Arsenal and Roma will be enough for the Blues to remain in the top four.
The £18million arrival of Giroud meant Michy Batshuayi, who had been due to start against Bournemouth, was allowed to join Borussia Dortmund on loan until the end of the seasonto try to boost his bid to secure a place in Belgium’s World Cup squad.
With Batshuayi gone and Alvaro Morata and Willian injured, head coach Antonio Conte was forced into a late re-think over his team and opted to hand a first start to the first of Chelsea’s three January signings, Ross Barkley.
Eden Hazard was deployed through the middle with Barkley to the right of him, but the change of plan did not work as Chelsea were toothless without a recognised striker and Conte even threw on 17-year-old Callum Hudson Odoi just after Bournemouth had netted their second.
Wilson, Stanislas and Jordan Ibe caused Chelsea problems from the first minute and the home side’s task was made more difficult when Andreas Christensen suffered a hamstring injury and had to be replaced by Antonio Rudiger.
Gary Cahill headed Pedro’s corner over the bar, Steve Cook had to be alert to produce a goal-saving tackle on Hazard and Marcos Alonso headed a David Zappacosta cross just wide. But ex-Chelsea goalkeeper Asmir Begovic enjoyed a relatively untroubled first half.
Marcos Alonso curled a free-kick just over the bar after Hazard had been fouled by Cook shortly after the break, but Chelsea were immediately caught on the counter attack as Bournemouth took a shock 51st-minute lead.
Tiemoue Bakayoko lost the ball and Wilson laid it off to Ibe before racing on to the former Liverpool forward’s pass and beating goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
Lewis Cook then went close to doubling the visitors’ lead before Cesc Fabregas replaced Barkley and Rudiger’s cross-shot was poked behind by Simon Francis.
As Conte prepared to send on Hudson-Odoi for his first Premier League appearance, Bournemouth extended their advantage.
Wilson was the provider this time as he passed to Stanislas and, with Cesar Azpilicueta out of position, he poked the ball through the legs of Courtois.
Any slim hope of a Chelsea fightback was killed off just three minutes later, as a corner came back out to Stanislas and Ake diverted his attempted shot into the net to the general disbelief of everybody inside Stamford Bridge.
The victory was Bournemouth’s first on the road since beating Newcastle United on November 4 and manager Eddie Howe rated it as the best since he has been in charge.
“This is the best because of the performance,” said Howe. “When we won here in our first season in the Premier League it was an historic performance, but it was backs were against the wall. There was no luck connected today. It was a very strong performance. We're improving, we're getting stronger, we were very brave in our approach.
“It's a huge moment for us this season. The best performance that we’ve had at this level and the result has matched it. Full credit to the players. Chelsea are an outstanding team, but we defended very well, attacked with purpose, and the shape and balance were very good.”
As good as Bournemouth were, nobody could blame the thousands of Chelsea fans who walked out early and Giroud must have wondered if he was still at the Emirates. At least he is used to a top-four fight.
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Mail:
Chelsea 0-3 Bournemouth: Antonio Conte's champions go into meltdown as Nathan Ake comes back to haunt his former side at Stamford Bridge
By Matt Barlow
Chelsea paraded their statuesque striker after signing Olivier Giroud but the statuesque big men at the back were the problem for Antonio Conte as his champions froze against Bournemouth.
Conte's team lacked threat in attack, neatly illustrating the manager's desire for more options up front, and were uncharacteristically awful in defence after Andreas Christensen was forced off injured.
Eddie How's team took advantage with three goals in a blistering 16-minute spell at the start of the second-half.
Callum Wilson dashed clear and fired in the first, Junior Stanislas scored the second in similar fashion and former Chelsea defender Nathan Ake pounced to make it three.
For Giroud it must have felt a lot like it did before his £18million move across London; sitting in the stands, watching his team under-achieve.
Just 24 hours earlier, he was at Swansea as Arsene Wenger's team leaked three to a lowly team and it is little more than a fortnight since Bournemouth embarrassed the Gunners.
Here, Eddie Howe's side were at it again, disturbing a prestigious reputation and damaging top-four ambitions. Chelsea have slipped behind Liverpool and closer to Tottenham.
Any hopes of defending the title may be long gone but they may have a fight on their hands to protect their Champions League status.
'We must be worried,' said Conte. 'It won't be easy and we must be prepared to fight and ready to do this. I am ready and I think the players are starting to understand that this season, we have to struggle for a position in the Champions League.
'Their commitment and their behaviour is great and if they hadn't done that, our place in the table would be worse. They understand the danger.
'If we want only to dream, I can tell you now we can fight to win the title this season. But it is important to look at the reality and to know that, if we are able to reach a place in the Champions League, it will be a great success for us.'
Chelsea supporters launched an ironic chorus of 'Barcelona, we're coming for you' as Bournemouth comfortably defended their lead in the closing minutes.
Ross Barkley, starting his first game since May, again looked short of match-sharpness before he was replaced soon after half-time.
Eden Hazard, deployed in a central role in the absence of any options, flickered but was largely subdued and more easily crowded out than when he operates wide.
Christensen suffered what seemed to be a hamstring injury, midway through the first half which will be a serious concern for Conte.
David Luiz, having lost his place to the young Dane, is out with an ankle injury and not close to a return.
Conte sent on Antonio Rudiger and Gary Cahill moved into the central position and Chelsea hit their best rhythm as half-time approached.
Cahill headed over at the near post from a corner, Marcos Alonso headed wide and Hazard mistimed a good chance in the air.
Bournemouth's back-three stayed firm and reached the interval and came out for the restart full of purpose.
Tiemoue Bakayoko was caught dwelling on the ball in a deep midfield area by Wilson, who gave the ball to Jordon Ibe and sped towards goal through the heart of Chelsea's back line.
Ibe slid a pass into the path and Wilson accelerated clear of Cahill and Cesar Azpilicueta and tucked a neat and confident finish past Thibaut Courtois.
Stanislas grabbed the second and, like the first, his pace was key as he latched onto a pass threaded through the Chelsea defence, sped clear of Cahill and beat Courtois.
Less than three minutes later, Ake made it 3-0, diverting a low drive from Stanislas on target following a corner.
Alonso went close, referee Lee Probert rejected a strong penalty appeal for handball against Ake and teenage sub Callum Hudson-Odoi impressed.
But Chelsea never looked like finding a way back into the game.
'It is a huge moment for us,' said Howe, now unbeaten in six Premier League games. 'It's the best performance we've had at this level. There was no luck involved.
'We looked a strong team. We defended well and we attacked with purpose. Our shape and balance was good. And the result matched it.'
Chelsea: Courtois 6; Azpilicueta 6, Christensen 6.5 (Rudiger 28 min, 6), Cahill 5.5; Zappacosta 6 (Hudson-Odoi 65, 6), Kante 6.5, Bakayoko 5.5, Alonso 6.5; Pedro 6, Hazard 6.5, Barkley 5.5 (Fabregas 54, 5).
Subs not used: Cabellero, Ampadu, Drinkwater, Moses.
Bookings: Fabregas
Manager: Antonio Conte 6
Bournemouth: Begovic 6; Francis 7.5, S.Cook 7, Ake 7; Fraser 6, Gosling 6.5, L.Cook 7, Daniels 6; Ibe 7, Wilson 7 (Mousset 90+2), Stanislas 8 (King 71).
Subs not used: Boruc, Surman, Pugh, Arter, Simpson
Goals: Wilson 51, Stanislas, 64, Ake 67
Manager: Eddie Howe 7
Referee: Lee Probert 6
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