NONI MADUEKE sent his popularity in Wolverhampton plummeting even further with his latest strike against the club.
The Chelsea winger branded the Midlands city “s***” before bagging a hat-trick at Molineux last August.
He was booed by the visiting fans all night in the return at Stamford Bridge but shrugged it off to score the crucial second-half goal that condemned them to a third straight Premier League defeat.
His close-range header is also his fourth goal against them this season.
For someone who dislikes the place so much he sure likes playing against them.
Madueke’s 65th-minute goal added to earlier strikes by defenders Tosin Adarabioyo and Marc Cucurella on what looks a convincing win for Chelsea but took far too long to get over the line.
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It’s a first home win for them since mid-December even if it does take Enzo Maresca’s team back into the top four. They are four points off second place but still ten off the top.
Although head coach Maresca will be relieved that his rejigged team managed to end a run of five games without a win in the league.
With such a top-quality and expensive squad it is surprising how Chelsea are struggling to put a team together at the moment.
But key injuries count. They haven’t looked the same since unlucky centre-back Wesley Fofana was effectively ruled out for the season.
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Trevoh Chalobah was forced into an emergency recall from loan at Crystal Palace late last week and immediately handed a start.
Maresca also can’t make up his mind about experienced Tosin, who scored twice in the FA Cup against Morecambe only to be dropped for the next game.
He was back in the fold last night and repaid the decision by putting Chelsea ahead with a scrappy goal in a scrappy first half.
An outswinging corner in the 24th minute eventually found Reece James waiting on the edge of the Wolves box.
His low drive into the mix hit Tosin, who showed cool control then prodded the ball in from around eight yards out.
It was initially ruled out for offside but the defender was convinced not as he wagged his finger towards the linesman and his raised flag.
VAR made sure justice was served and Maresca’s team were ahead for the fourth match in a row. But it never looked solid.
Chelsea’s manager insists he is happy with the amount of chances his team is creating and they did that but even when clear-cut opportunities came their way, the clinical touch is missing.
Never more so than two minutes before the home side went ahead.
Nicolas Jackson pickpocketed Matt Doherty in his own half and was clear through for a run at goal.
But Chelsea’s striker who has a habit of missing almost as many as he scores, could not maintain the pace and was easily caught and stopped in his tracks by a muscly challenge from Emmanuel Agbadou.
Had he followed through it could easily have been game over inside half an hour. But this is the story of Chelsea lately.
A whole chapter could be devoted to the issue of the keepers.
If it wasn’t Sanchez dropping a clanger it could just as easily have been his sidekick Filip Jorgensen.
Neither of them make for the most reassuring night at Stamford Bridge although Sanchez’s latest clanger was a belter.
Matheus Cunha’s corner swung into the box and Sanchez looked to have the danger covered only to lose control and lob it downwards towards the advancing Doherty.
The Wolves defender bulldozed in and bundled a shot over the line in front of the away end.
It goes down as Sanchez’s fourth mistake of the season, leaving him second only to struggling Ipswich’s Arijanet Muric for errors.
Chelsea’s second goal was key and turned the tide bang on the hour mark.
Cucurella started the move with a sideways pass to Cole Palmer, who then fed Madueke on the wing.
His cross, flicked on by Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, found the Spanish left-back arriving just in time to slot the ball home with his second touch.
Cucurella’s goal celebration was the most significant aspect.
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As he raced to the touchline he put one finger to his temple as a gesture to urge his team-mates to keep their heads from now on.
Wolves were wilting having fought to get back in and their hopes of an unexpected point away from home were over when Madueke nodded in from close range when Chalobah’s header was already going in.
Chelsea ratings vs Wolves: Chalobah back with a bang but Sanchez drops 2/10 horror show
By Lloyd Canfiel
CHELSEA made sure to send their fans home happy on Blue Monday thanks to inspired performances from their defenders.
Goals from Tosin Adarabioyo, Marc Cucurella and then a Noni Madueke finish created by the returning Trevoh Chalobah covered up a pretty quiet attacking display and a mistake from their goalkeeper.
Lloyd Canfield rates how Blues’ stars got on against Wolves…
Robert Sanchez – 2
Up to his usual tricks when passing out from the back, gifting it to the Wolves attack waiting to pounce on a mistake.
That was before he dropped an in-swinging corner, gifting Wolves an equaliser before half-time.
Reece James – 9
Was tasked with arguably the hardest job of the night, stopping Wolves’ threatening left side of Ait-Nouri and Cunha, the latter of whom he dominated throughout the game.
Was strong defensively, always stepping in with a tackle at the crucial moment and drove the team forwards well too, always offering a shot with his lethal long-range efforts.
Tosin Adarabioyo – 8
Continued his impressive hot-streak in front of goal of late as he reacted first to a loose ball in the box and finished like a striker.
The ‘Uncle’ of the Chelsea side at just 28-years-old had another game to be proud of.
Trevoh Chalobah – 9
His first game back in a Chelsea shirt after being recalled from his loan at Crystal Palace couldn’t have gone much better.
The fans chanted his name throughout as he proved strong in the air and imperial across the ground.
Slide tackles, blocks, headed assists, the lot. Trev had it all but a clean sheet tonight and a goal to his name tonight (Which he could’ve had as well).
Marc Cucurella – 8
Solid defensively and came up with a crucial goal to restore Chelsea’s lead.
A great right-footed finish as he was falling to the floor saw the Spaniard prove why he is so good inverting from fullback.
Moises Caicedo – 7
Started brightly, putting a bad game last time out behind him and was back to the Caicedo that Chelsea fans have loved this season.
Recovered well from what looked like a nasty tackle to put in a good a strong second-half performance too.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – 6
A rare Premier League start offered KDH to show what he can do, and maybe put himself in the shop window for a January move.
Was combative in midfield, and his flick for Marc Cucurella’s goal proved why he can be a threat in the Premier League as he was in a great position.
Noni Madueke – 8
A quiet first half was met by a wicked second half in which we saw the same Noni Madueke we saw in the reverse fixture after his infamous Instagram mistake.
He was Chelsea’s most dangerous attacker on the night, with a great cross leading to Marc Cucurella’s goal, before stealing in to head home Chelsea’s third of the night.
Cole Palmer – 4
The ice cold superstar we’ve become accustomed to seeing seemed a bit off the boil tonight.
He came under a few more nasty tackles and seemed a bit put off by that after carrying an injury in the week.
Pedro Neto – 4
Was jeered and booed by the visiting fans of his former club throughout the game.
Despite some dangerous running, he failed to really create anything meaningful and looks better on the right-hand side.
Nicolas Jackson – 5
Had one good run in the first half, but was otherwise pretty quiet.
He did improve in the second half, as his hard work won the free-kick which Chelsea added their third goal from and he did put the ball in the back of the net, only for the linesman to rule it out as offside.
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Jadon Sancho (Pedro Neto, 62) – 6
Chelsea instantly looked better when he came on.
Just seems to add a layer of control to the Blues on the wing, and showed more of the flair and good feet we’ve been getting used to from him here.
Axel Disasi (Reece James, 78) – 5
Fans weren’t best pleased with him simply coming on, and would’ve preferred to see Josh Acheampong.
That said, he did nothing wrong.
Malo Gusto (Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, 78) – 6
Did well in the few minutes he had to play, nothing spectacular but was solid on the left side.
Tyrique George (Noni Madueke, 83) – 5
Wasn’t given enough time to make a meaningful impact on the game.
Joao Felix (Cole Palmer, 83) – 5
Wasn’t given enough time to make a meaningful impact on the game.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
