Chelsea 5-1 Shamrock Rovers LIVE RESULT: Guiu bags hat-trick as Blues top Conference League table – updates

Match report

Chelsea were pelted with toilet paper but are on a roll with their best run for eight years.

Play was halted for a few minutes in the first half when Christopher Nkunku came under attack from a hail of Kleenex three-ply launched from the away end as he tried to take a corner.

But the diversion tactics backfired as boss Enzo Maresca rounded off the first phase of the Conference League with his 100 percent record intact and an eighth successive win in all competitions.

That hasn’t been seen since 2016 and is a sign of the marked upturn under the Italian this season.

Striker Marc Guiu clinched a hat-trick by half-time to add to two he scored against Kazakhstanis Astana last week.

Winning run to continue?

Looking at their next five games, you’d have to say they have a great chance to continue racking up victories.

Though it is a tough, grueling schedule for all those involved…

It’s an away trip to Goodison at the weekend before a home derby with Fulham on Boxing Day.

Away trips at Ipswich and Crystal Palace round off the festivities.

Unhappy star man tonight…

Marc Guiu was given a 10 by Lloyd.

But Enzo Maresca admits tonight’s star man is UNHAPPY.

Purely as the two names ahead of him in the pecking order – Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku – are also doing well.

He told TNT: “Marc is a bit unhappy as Nicolas and Christopher are doing well.

“When you’re a nine and another nine is doing well it is a matter of being questioned. It is important that they work hard day-by-day and then they get a chance.”

Player ratings – Attackers

NONI MADUEKE – 7: His excellent first touch and dazzling feet were on full show, getting the Chelsea fans on their feet a few times. It looked like his good deliveries would get no reward until he provided a classy assist for Marc Guiu’s hat-trick goal.

CHRISTOPHER NKUNKU  – 7: Was kicked around the pitch like a ragdoll by the visitors, but constantly drove the team forward and won foul upon foul in the first half for The Blues. Worked tirelessly and perhaps didn’t get the reward he deserved after being bought down before Dewsbury-Hall netted Chelsea’s third. Notched an assist as Marc Cucurella finished into the bottom left corner to add a fifth. 

TYRIQUE GEORGE – 7: Looks a special player on the ball for the Blues, and it’s easy to see why fans are so excited about him for the future. A raw talent who is far from the finished product in terms of his final ball – his brilliant run created the defensive chaos that allowed Marc Guiu to finish with ease. Was unfortunate not to add a goal to his performance after he sent a Shamrock defender for a Guinness at the end of the game before seeing his shot well blocked.

MARC GUIU – 10: Scored his fourth, fifth and sixth Europa Conference League goals in six matches to make him the competition’s highest scorer as it stands. The Shamrock Rovers goalkeeper will be seeing Marc Guiu’s face when he closes his eyes for at least the next few weeks. Chelsea fans will be seeing shades of Olivier Giroud’s Europa League run in 2019. 

Player ratings – Midfielders

CESARE CASADEI – 4: Turned his back on a volleyed effort which he then deflected into his own net with a flick. Andrey Santos on loan at Strasbourg will be an upgrade on him next season. 

KIERNAN DEWSBURY-HALL – 8: His best game in a Chelsea shirt to date, a tenacious performance saw him battle to win the ball high up and press the Shamrock defense really well. Looked overjoyed to net his first Chelsea goal since joining from Leicester.

Player ratings – Defenders

SunSport’s Lloyd Canfield runs the rule over tonight’s Chelsea players, starting with those at the back.

FILIP JORGENSEN – 7: Didn’t have much at all to do throughout. Commanded his box well, and couldn’t do much about the goal.

JOSH ACHAEMPONG – 6: All eyes were on the young defender who has just signed a new long-term deal at Stamford Bridge. He played as a more defensive-minded right-back in Maresca’s system, who looked good in that role.

AXEL DISASI – 6: A commanding performance from the French centre-half, he showed maturity in his game, was always an outlet for the Chelsea midfield.

RENATO VEIGA – 6: A very solid performance from Chelsea’s number 40.  Unpolished, but physically strong and composed on the ball – this tournament should prove brilliant for him in a blue shirt.

MARC CUCURELLA – 8: Acted as a leader inverting into midfield for Chelsea, mostly playing as the left-sided number 10. Scored a classy right-footed goal into the bottom left corner to cap off a great performance.

Enzo speaks

Enzo Maresca admits being ‘very happy’ with the performance from his young side tonight as they swept away Shamrock Rovers.

He told TNT Sports: “I am very happy with the performances and results. In these kind of games, it is easy not to do. They showed how professional they are and this is the right way.

“Since we started we have tried to share minutes – tonight was for young players. Josh Acheampong and Tyrique George are still very young, but we are very happy with them.

“In these kind of games it is easy not to do and have the right performance, but they know if they don’t work properly they are not going to play.”

Some run

It’s now 11 games unbeaten in all competitions for Chelsea after tonight as they continue to roll on nicely.

More impressively, as Andy pointed out earlier, it’s now EIGHT wins on the bounce for the Blues.

Their best run of form for eight years!

Chelsea’s European results

Granted, they’ve not come up against too much.

But it’s been a really good campaign up until now for Chelsea’s second string.

• Chelsea 4-2 Gent
• Panathanaikos 1-4 Chelsea
• Chelsea 8-0 Noah
• Heidenheim 0-2 Chelsea
• Astana 1-3 Chelsea
• Chelsea 5-1 Shamrock

More from KDH

On his goal, Dewsbury-Hall added: “That is what the gaffer wants, he wants the attacking midfielders to sniff out opportunities.

“I am happy to get another one.”

Top scorers

It looked set to be a Chelsea man at the top of the scoring charts with Christopher Nkunku in a three-way dead heat before kick-off.

This has been his competition and it looked like he had a huge chance to top the standings.

But his team-mate MARC GUIU has pipped him to the post with his hat-trick tonight!

Three Blues players amongst the top scorers….

• 6 – MARC GUIU
• 5 – Christopher Nkunku, Krzysztof Piatek, Johnny Kenny, Milos Pantovic, Afimico Pululu
• 4 – Kevin Denkey, Frederik Ihler, Jonathan Ikone, Joao Felix, Matheus Aias

‘Good vibes’

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall says playing in this competition is helping ‘relieve’ the pressures of Premier League football and giving fringe players a chance to shine.

He told TNT: “Another good night at the Bridge.

“A lot of people will say we are big favourites and honestly, we probably are, but in football it is not easy to keep winning.

“Six wins out of six is pretty good.

“This tournament is relieving a lot of pressure for some of the people who play in the Premier league and it’s a chance for young academy lads to make their debuts.

“It is a good vibe at the moment.”

Match stats

One final look at tonight’s stats, with Chelsea registering five goals, from ten shots on target, from 20 shots in total.

A nice piece of symmetry there and Enzo Maresca will be delighted with his fringe players for the work they put in.

They registered over 3x as many completed passes as the visitors, with the possession hitting over 80% at one stage before the substitutions in the second half.

Perfect six

Six wins from six games.

A ridiculous =21 goal difference after scoring 26 goals in those six games.

Chelsea miles clear of the opposition heading into the latter stages.

As for Shamrock Rovers – ouch. They’ll be absolutely gutted to just miss out on the top six after a stellar run so far.