Chelsea vs Burnley. Premier League.
Stamford BridgeAttendance39,798.
Report and highlights as Chelsea are held to a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge by Burnley; Kai Havertz had given the hosts a half-time lead; but substitute Matej Vydra's late header secured the Clarets a point; the Blues lead Manchester City by three points at the top of the Premier League
Sunday 7 November 2021 10:18, UK
Matej Vydra's late strike earned Burnley an unlikely 1-1 draw at Premier League leaders Chelsea.
Kai Havertz, playing as a stand-in striker with Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner still sidelined with injury, headed Chelsea ahead just past the half-hour mark.
However, despite not having had an effort on goal until that point - Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel later called the visitors' draw "very lucky" - Burnley levelled matters totally against the run of play in the 79th minute when substitute Vydra nodded in from close range after a well-worked move.
As a result, Chelsea lead the Premier League by three points from Manchester City following their 2-0 win at Man Utd earlier in the day, while Burnley stay 18th.
Tuchel's first win as Chelsea boss had come against Burnley at Stamford Bridge in January and for the majority of Saturday's contest, a similar result appeared on the cards as the home side dominated proceedings right from the off.
The Blues had a flurry of early chances and but for another impressive goalkeeping display by Clarets No 1 Nick Pope, who was left out of the England squad in midweek, they would have been out of sight by the break.
The giant 'keeper had to be at his very best to deny Callum Hudson-Odoi early on, while the recalled Ross Barkley - making his first league start for Chelsea since July 2020 - also went desperately close to making the breakthrough with a delightful effort that curled just past the far post.
However, the Blues did finally take the lead after 32 minutes when Havertz found some space in the six-yard box to head home Reece James's inviting cross, the England full back's seventh goal involvement already in the league this season.
Chelsea had enjoyed almost 80 per cent possession in the first period and it was more of the same after the interval as they looked for the second goal that would have surely killed the game as a contest, only for Thiago Silva to head against the outside of the post when it seemed easier to score.
Havertz was also guilty of spurning a glorious opportunity to double the hosts' lead soon after, side-footing over from close range with the goal gaping as the missed chances started to rack up for Chelsea.
They were made to pay for their profligacy in front of goal when, totally out of the blue, the visitors crafted a well-worked equaliser 11 minutes from time.
Matt Lowton found Ashley Westwood, who crossed to the unmarked Jay Rodriguez in the box and the substitute then nodded back across for fellow sub Vydra, who could not miss, to complete a great week for the Clarets after they picked up their first league win of the campaign last time out.
There were more than a few raised eyebrows at the Bridge when the teams were announced with Barkley's name in the Chelsea line-up, the midfielder's first league start since July 2020.
However, the 27-year-old totally justified his inclusion with an effervescent display that will surely lead to him featuring more for the Blues in the coming weeks.
Barkley was desperately unlucky not to give the home team the lead with a clever curling shot from the edge of the box, while he also went close to increasing their advantage with 18 minutes to go, but he was unable to keep his shot down.
The England international was soon replaced by Ruben Loftus-Cheek, as he began to tire, but it was an encouraging performance nonetheless, especially given his inactivity of late, and one that bodes well for the future.
Sky Sports' Richard Morgan at Stamford Bridge:
"This season's Premier League title race already has the feel of going all the way down to the wire with leaders Chelsea, champions Man City and third-placed Liverpool currently separated by just four points as we head into the final international break of the year, although the Reds can reduce the gap when they visit West Ham live on Sky Sports on Sunday.
"And while you would expect the lead to change hands on several occasions between now and May, you also feel that maybe a costly draw for the Blues come the final reckoning such was their utter dominance at the Bridge.
"Thomas Tuchel's team enjoyed an incredible 79% possession before the break and 68.5 overall, as well as having a whopping 25 shots, while the Clarets' surprise equaliser came with their first - and only - effort on goal in the match.
"All sides experience frustrating afternoons in front of goal every season, but Tuchel and Co cannot really afford any more such slip-ups, especially against teams they are expected to comfortably beat, if they want to beat City and Liverpool to the title this season."
"Fair play to Burnley, they hung in there - but they only hung in there because of Pope and bad finishing from Chelsea. Pope made some great saves.
"It could have been four or five-nil.
"They scored with their only chance. Chelsea will be kicking themselves. They had chance after chance - you can't miss chances like that because teams in this league, wherever they are, will hurt you if you do."
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel: "Very lucky, but that's football. Were we lucky in the first game of these seven matches to escape with a clean sheet in Brentford? Yes we were.
"Of course they were and that's why everybody loves the game, because it's possible to win matches like this. I stick with my feeling from the sideline. I have proof from all doubters that we have right now that we did a fantastic match.
"I liked the attitude. I liked the intensity. I liked the concentration level, because you need if you play, it's your seventh game in a row, we come from away games, we come from Champions League and we play a team like Burnley who always believes, puts long balls into your box, and you keep them out of your box, on the level where we did.
"We collected first balls, second balls. You need to do so much invisible work as a team, on such a high level, to control a match like this. To create so many chances. So it was a fantastic effort and fantastic performance. I'm super happy.
"It can happen in football. Sometimes unfortunately like today, somebody else steals some points and is lucky. Like I said, we have been lucky in Brentford, to walk away with a clean sheet. They are lucky today to walk away with a result. It happens some times."
Burnley boss Sean Dyche: "I didn't see or say anything at all (after an apparent touchline argument involving Clarets first-team coach Steve Stone).
"I have no clue where these questions are coming from. I have no clue what a flash point is any more.
"I'm actually confused. I don't remember hardly anything happening to be honest. I don't remember any flash points that's for sure.
"That's standard stuff, two groups of people trying to win a football game. I actually have no clue where this line of question's coming from.
"It's just two groups of staff trying to win a football match.
"I'm not hard at all! I'm just a normal bloke trying to win a football match, that's it.
"I can understand him [Tuchel] being frustrated.
"Any team that makes that many chances I can understand him being frustrated. If the shoe's on the other foot I'd be thinking 'how didn't we win that'."
After the international break, Chelsea take on Leicester City at the King Power Stadium (12.30pm), while Burnley face Crystal Palace at Turf Moor (3pm), with both Premier League games taking place on Saturday November 20.
