Chelsea’s difficult run of form continued on an uneasy night at Stamford Bridge as they were held to a breathless 2-2 draw by Bournemouth, with tension spilling into the stands after a controversial substitution late on.
The home crowd’s frustration was clear when Cole Palmer was withdrawn during the second half, a decision that drew loud boos and underlined the growing scrutiny on Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca. The Blues had chances to put the game away but were undone by defensive lapses and an inability to seize control when momentum swung their way.
Chelsea made several changes following their recent defeat to Aston Villa, while Bournemouth arrived in west London still searching for a first win in nine league matches. Despite that poor run, the visitors struck first. A long throw into the box caused panic in the Chelsea defence and, after an initial effort was blocked, David Brooks reacted quickest to force the ball over the line.
The match quickly descended into end-to-end chaos, with both sides looking capable of scoring every time they moved forward. Chelsea were handed a route back into the contest when VAR intervened to penalise Antoine Semenyo for a challenge inside the area. Palmer stepped up and kept his composure, sliding the penalty beyond Djordje Petrovic to level matters.
The turnaround was swift. Enzo Fernandez ghosted into space moments later and unleashed a fierce strike into the top corner, putting Chelsea ahead inside a frantic opening spell that set the tone for the evening.
That lead did not last. Bournemouth continued to pose problems from set pieces and direct play, and Chelsea were caught napping once again as Evanilson arrived at the back post to finish from close range, punishing a lack of concentration and restoring parity before the half-hour mark.
Reece James was introduced after the break as Chelsea tried to assert greater authority, but the game lost little of its unpredictability. The pivotal moment came midway through the second half when Palmer was replaced, a decision that did not go down well with supporters desperate for a late winner. The change failed to spark the desired response, with Estevao’s effort proving Chelsea’s only shot on target after the interval.
As the final whistle approached, neither side found the breakthrough. Chelsea’s run now stands at just one win in seven league matches, while Bournemouth departed with a point earned through resilience and opportunism. Semenyo, who continues to be linked with a high-profile move away, acknowledged the travelling support at full-time, adding further intrigue to an already dramatic night.
With pressure mounting on Chelsea and confidence fragile, this draw felt like another missed opportunity rather than a platform to build on, while Bournemouth showed enough spirit to suggest their winless spell may not last much longer.
