Chelsea vs Bournemouth. Premier League.
Stamford BridgeAttendance41,631.
Sunday 6 December 2015 08:13, UK
Glenn Murray headed home a late winner to seal a famous 1-0 victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge that moves Bournemouth out of the relegation zone.
Murray, a second-half substitute, nodded the ball into an empty net in the 82nd minute after Junior Stanislas' corner caused panic in the Chelsea box.
The Blues had opportunities before and after the introduction of Diego Costa as a half-time substitute, but goalkeeper Artur Boruc kept them at bay as Bournemouth, who have the Premier League's joint-worst defensive record, held on for only their third clean sheet of the season.
Chelsea had a penalty appeal turned down prior to Murray's goal, as Costa's low cross appeared to hit Simon Francis' arm but referee Mike Jones was unmoved, and Bournemouth had late chances to double their lead through Harry Arter and Dan Gosling.
The win moves Bournemouth above Sunderland into 17th place, while Chelsea remain 14th, 14 points off the top four, after suffering their eighth league defeat of the season.
Both sides made two changes for Saturday's contest in London, as Jose Mourinho brought in goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois for the first time since his knee injury suffered in September.
Begovic dropped to the bench despite three consecutive clean sheets, while the Cherries welcomed Boruc back after five games out.
Costa started from the bench as Eden Hazard continued up front following his bright display at White Hart Lane, supported once again by Willian, Pedro and Oscar, and both keepers were forced into saves in a lively first half.
The visitors started the brighter, though, as Stanislas and Josh King led early Bournemouth attacks, and both worked Courtois inside the opening 15 minutes.
A misplaced Pedro pass sparked Bournemouth's first opportunity (12), but Stanislas' low shot was kept out by the Belgian No 1 with King close to following up.
The Cherries striker tested Courtois two minutes later after a flowing move, but his near-post effort was blocked again.
Chelsea lacked a focal point throughout a frustrating opening 45 minutes, but grew into the game as it approached the interval. Hazard's stinging shot from 18 yards was comfortable for Boruc, before Pedro's curling drive and Oscar's low strike offered stiffer tests, both of which Boruc passed.
With Chelsea struggling, Mourinho wasted little time in making a change, bringing Costa on for Oscar at half-time, and the Blues initially improved. Matic went close after Matt Ritchie had skied an effort over from long range, the Chelsea midfielder heading over from three yards after a superb cross from the right by the bright Willian.
Costa had been warned by the referee for going in late on Adam Smith, and the Chelsea striker went into the book less than 20 minutes after coming on after clashing with Ritchie.
The Chelsea substitute remained the centre of attention as a Blues' penalty appeal fell on deaf ears. The striker's cross struck Francis' arm in the box but referee Jones waved play on, and Costa nearly turned in Ivanovic's cross at the back post, only to be denied by excellent defending from Francis.
After weathering Chelsea's pressure, Bournemouth struck through Murray just two minutes after his arrival as a replacement for King. The Blues appealed for offside in vain as Steve Cook helped the ball back into the box following a poor Courtois punch, with Murray on hand to head past Gary Cahill on the line.
Mourinho responded immediately, bringing on Loic Remy and Bertrand Traore, but Bournemouth had the clearer opportunities to score again as Chelsea pressed for a desperate equaliser.
Gosling and Arter went close to doubling the lead in the final moments, as Howe's side stopped Chelsea from scoring in the league at home for the first time since May 2014.
The Blues, unbeaten in their previous 43 league matches against newly-promoted opposition at home, face top of the table Leicester City next in the league at the King Power Stadium, five days after they welcome Porto to Stamford Bridge in the Champions League.
As for Bournemouth, they return to the Vitality Stadium full of confidence ahead of the visit of Manchester United next Saturday.
Player ratings
Chelsea: Courtois (6), Ivanovic (6), Zouma (6), Cahill (6), Baba (6), Fabregas (5), Matic (5), Willian (7), Oscar (5), Pedro (5), Hazard (5)
Subs used: Traore (6), Remy (6), Costa (5)
Bournemouth: Boruc (7), Daniels (7), Cook (7), Francis (8), Smith (7), Arter (7), Gosling (7), Surman (7), Ritchie (7), Stanislas (8), King (8)
Subs used: Murray (8)
Man of the match: Simon Francis
