Facing a third title contender this month, Wolves finally got the point they deserved for their efforts against Chelsea at a misty Molineux. Chances were at a premium throughout, but Wolves were once again organised and solid, earning them a clean sheet and fourth point of the week.
Daniel Podence thought he’d given his side the lead in the first-half, turning into an open net, but Raul Jimenez was offside in the build-up. Chelsea’s best chance fell to Christian Pulisic, but he was denied by a firm one-handed save by Jose Sa, earning Wolves the point they deserved.
Having beaten the Covid-19 cancellations, unlike much of the Premier League, Wolves and Chelsea battled out a closely fought first 45 minutes. The closest either side came to a game arrived when Podence had the ball in the Blues’ net, but in the lead-up Jimenez had strayed offside when meeting Marcal’s low cross, before diverting into the path of Podence who tapped home.
Leander Dendoncker, having been restored to the starting line-up, came close to his first Premier League goal of the season in the opening period too. Podence was the creator this time, hanging up a cross for the Belgian, who met it well, but couldn’t put enough power on his header and Edouard Mendy was able to collect easily.
Chelsea offered little in the final third themselves, with Sa untested before the break, but being required to act smartly to turn away a dangerous Reece James cross and come off his line and deny Pulisic an effort on goal, but it was Wolves the more dangerous before the break.
Half-time | Wolves 0 Chelsea 0
The second-half continued with a similar narrative to the first – evenly fought a sprinkling of chances, but in the main the points were deservedly shared. Wolves chances particularly were a rarity – the one occasion Ki-Jana Hoever, coming in for Nelson Semedo, got in behind Marcos Alonso, he couldn’t pick out an old gold shirt in the middle.
Instead, it was Chelsea who’d create the one big chance of the second period. Alonso played in Pulisic and the USA international sped between Maximilian Kilman and Conor Coady, before striking firmly with his left foot, only for Sa to stick out a strong left arm and make a brilliant save.
From there, Chelsea had the majority of the possession, but found a stubborn Wolves in their way. Sa wasn’t required to make another save, while Mendy was quiet at the other end, meaning stalemate was probably the fairest result.
Full-time | Wolves 0
Wolves | Sa, Hoever, Kilman, Coady, Saiss, Marcal, Neves, Moutinho, Dendoncker, Podence (Traore 79), Jimenez (Trincao 89).
Subs | Ruddy, Moulden, Semedo, Bueno, Cundle, Jordao.
Chelsea | Mendy, Azpilicueta, Chalobah (Niguez 46), Rudiger, Silva, Alonso, James, Kante, Pulisic, Mount, Ziyech (Kovacic 65).
Subs | Arrizabalaga, Bettinelli, Barkley, Sarr.
