by The problem with having so many inexperienced players? The mood swings wild. The utter inability to understand when trouble is brewing. The lack of control when a game turns. Thiago Silva appeared to be in existential crisis as Chelsea’s offense evaporated as Luton poured forward, delivering cross after cross and threatening to steal the most likely points.
For Mauricio Pochettino, the hope is that an end to this wild encounter will help his inconsistent youngsters grow. They are capable of playing great football but they have to understand that there is no room for complacency at this level. After regaining control through a fine double from Cole Palmer and another goal for the resurrected Noni Madueke, Chelsea almost paid a heavy price for making the mistake of thinking Luton would step up after going 3-0 down.
Related: Mauricio Pochettino relieved after Chelsea resisted Luton’s fight back
Luton’s resilience is no secret. Rob Edwards’ side have already beaten Newcastle at home, drawn against Liverpool and given Arsenal and Manchester City a run for their money. They stay in the bottom three but never lie down. They showed Chelsea that winning games requires more than acting the part when everything is going your way.
It was the difference in those final 20 minutes, when Luton struck back-to-back from Elijah Adebayo and Ross Barkley, Chelsea put an end to it. They suffered because they stopped closing Luton crossings. Silva, Chelsea’s most experienced player, was screaming at his teammates to wake up as the game headed into six minutes of added time as another ball flashed across the six-yard box.
Still, even though Chelsea haven’t kept a clean sheet on the road since October 2, at least they ended a terrible year by ending a four-match losing streak. Despite the questions about his leadership, Pochettino saw evidence of his young team learning and building valuable momentum during the first 70 minutes.
Chelsea remain in 10th place, the top four still out of reach, and this was the first time they have won back-to-back league games since early October. There is no doubt that the talent is dripping in this squad. Is the consistency?
For 70 minutes this was a step in the right direction. Chelsea took control from the start and Madueke, favored by Raheem Sterling after scoring a goal against Crystal Palace, immediately looked dangerous on the right. Conor Gallagher tested Thomas Kaminski from close range.
The financial discrepancy told. Armando Broja, keen to prove that Chelsea do not need to sign a new striker in January, impressed beforehand. Nicolas Jackson caused problems down the left.
Barkley, full of tricks and flicks against his old side, looked at Luton steady with some silky turns. Not everyone had such confidence, however. After 12 minutes Palmer, back from suspension, spun and Jackson put it away.
Jackson shot Kaminski from a tight angle. Issa Kaboré gave the ball back to Palmer. In this era of playing out from the back, sometimes a hoof will do. Palmer punished the defender by sending a shot into the far corner.
Chelsea mounted a brief spell of pressure and went into a 2-0 lead shortly before half-time. It felt too easy when Levi Colwill advanced down the left and Palmer found Madueke. He stood Amari’i Bell up and tried to cut inside, then surprised the defender by moving outside, making room for a right-footed shot that soared powerfully inside Kaminski’s near post.
Luton had more urgency after two changes at half-time, Chiedozie Ogbene and Tahith Chong replacing Jacob Brown and Kaboré, but Chelsea remained in control. Djordje Petrovic dominated the goal, claiming several crosses. Jackson, who was off to represent Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations, sent Palmer to Kaminski and he ran the ball into the net after chasing a defender.
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Somehow, Luton went back to Chelsea. Adebayo headed the bar and there was no goal. Axel Disasi bowed next to Silva. Chelsea full-backs, Malo Gusto and Colwill, began to feel dizzy. Barkley finally found his goal, heading in a corner.
Great stop by Petrovic from substitute Carlton Morris. He made another when Ogbene crossed for Alfie Doughty, but Adebayo smashed in the rebound. Luton pressed again, making it even more physical. The crosses kept coming. Chelsea were relieved at the end.
