Premier League, Britannia Stadium – Stoke City 1 (Arnautovic 53’) Chelsea 0
Marko Arnautovic‘s volley gave Stoke City a 1-0 win over Chelsea, leaving JoseMourinho‘s job in peril.
The first half had few chances, with Chelsea and Stoke both looking to keep control of the ball without risking too much in defence or attack.
For Chelsea, they didn’t seem to miss Jose Mourinho’s instructions from the sidelines – he was nowhere to be seen as he served out his one-match ban – and perhaps the better of the half. Diego Costa and Ramires both brought good saves from Jack Butland, but for Stoke, Glen Johnson forced Asmir Begovic to tip wide.
In the second half, a quick passing move instigated by Bojan ended with Arnautovic sending a bicycle kick past Begovic to put Stoke ahead.
Pedro almost levelled for Chelsea when he sent a shot crashing against the post, and Loic Remy should have had a penalty when he had to leap out of the way of Butland’s sliding challenge, but they were unable to mount a serious challenge as the game drew to a close. Mourinho’s job will be on the line.
KEY EVENTS
14’ – BUTLAND SAVE – A Stoke corner from the left is cleared and Hazardbreaks. He picks out Willian, who plays it back inside for Ramires, and his shot goes just wide.
17’ – BEGOVIC SAVE – Begovic tips away a shot from Johnson who cuts inside from the left and into the box.
40’ – COSTA SHOT – Costa forces his way past a defender and brings a good low stop out of Butland.
53’ – GOAL! Stoke City 1-0 Chelsea. Arnautovic scores – Bojan finds Johnson on the overlap, his pullback comes to Walters, whose shot is blocked, looping to Arnautovic who bicycle kicks past Begovic.
67’ – PEDRO SHOT – Willian finds Pedro outside the box, and he curls a low shot against the far post with a left-footed shot.
81’ – HAZARD SHOT – Two backheels, from Fabregas, to Terry, and pass from Fabregas to Hazard, and the winger has a shot deflected just wide of goal.
85’ – REMY MISS – Remy has to take evasive action as he rounds the keeper, and falls to the ground to avoid him, and can’t hook his shot into the goal after he falls.
KEY STATS
Chelsea have won just two of their last 11 away matches in all competitions (W2 D3 L6).
Jose Mourinho had lost six league games already in 2015-16 – this is the first time he has lost seven league games in a season.
MATCHCAST: FULL MATCH STATS AND COMMENTARY
TALKING POINT
Can Jose Mourinho hold on? They are still in contention to qualify for the Champions League group stages, but the title is definitely beyond them. Many more defeats and they won’t have a shot of even Europa League qualification. It would be a huge surprise if Mourinho could not turn around Chelsea eventually, but it would be no surprise should Roman Abramovich soon choose to give someone else a chance.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Ryan Shawcross (Stoke City): He dealt with the constant irritation of Diego Costa with a mixture of calmness and obvious boredom. As well as that, with Chelsea’s increasing use of crosses as they chased the game, he kept the defence solid and organised.
PLAYER RATINGS
Chelsea: Begovic 6, Azpilicueta 6, Zouma 6, Terry 6, Baba 5, Ramires 6, Matic 6, Willian 6, Hazard 6, Pedro 6, Diego Costa 6. Subs: Fabregas 6, Oscar 5, Remy 5.
Stoke City: Butland 6, Johnson 6, Shawcross 7, Wollscheid 6, Pieters 6, Whelan 6, Adam 6, Shaqiri 6, Bojan 6, Arnautovic 6, Walters 6.Subs: Afellay 6, Diouf 6, Cameron 6.
