Monday 18 August 2014 - Burnley 1 Chelsea 3
And we’re back….finally!
The home side held the lead for just 3 minutes before Chelsea took hold of the first half with a sublime display of free flowing passing football. Our opening goal of the campaign came from new boy Diego Costa with a rebounded shot.
The second goal was sheer class, patient build up passing culminating in a superb pass from Cesc Fabregas into the path of the approaching Schurrle. And just after the half hour a perfectly weighted corner from Fabregas gratefully converted by Ivanovich.
An almost perfect first half, only spoiled by a contentious yellow card shown to Costa for simulation when he went over in the box, seemingly tripped by the approaching keeper. A tough one to call, possibly a soft penalty to give, but I don’t think a card was warranted either.
The second half was very quiet in comparison, and Burnley could have gained some confidence by our readiness to consolidate the lead, but with returning keeper Courtois picking up everything, we never looked in danger of conceding. And good to see Chelsea legend Didier Drogba come on towards the end of the game.
A solid start to the season, and the superb Cesc Fabregas rightly man of the match.
NB Photo not from this game, sadly the TV fixture change meant I wasn’t able to go.