Victor Moses sees off battling Burnley to keep Chelsea’s slim top-four hopes alive
Burnley 1-2 Chelsea: A Kevin Long own goal put the Blues in front but Ashley Barnes seemed to have salvaged a point before Moses’s winner
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Your support makes all the difference.Antonio Conte saw Victor Moses’ second half winner notch his second Premier League victory of the week but, more importantly, this was a Chelsea performance that also suggested that this so-far instantly forgettable season may yet end with silverware.
The Nigerian international finished clinically in the 70th minute when Emerson’s left-wing cross found him unmarked 15 yards out after Olivier Giroud had failed to make contact in the middle.
The goal cancelled out a Burnley equaliser just five minutes earlier which had been as controversial, to Chelsea eyes at least, as it was fortunate.
Johann Berg Gudmundson’s hopeful, long-range shot looked unlikely to trouble Thibaut Courtois until it took a wicked deflection off Ashley Barnes who scored without even being aware of the fact.
Conte, however, was less impressed and led the Chelsea complaints that Moses had been fouled in the build-up to the goal.
Like the equaliser, the opener may also have benefitted from a huge slice of luck but it was still not more than Chelsea deserved for their first half domination, and Conte’s bold team selection.
The Italian made six changes from the weekend league win over Southampton, clearly with an eye on Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final against the same opponents, and opted to partner Alvaro Morata and Giroud in a two-man forward line for the first time.
The pair consistently unsettled Burnley’s usually rock-solid defence although when Chelsea opened the scoring on 20 minutes, they were not involved.
Instead, it was a curiously route one affair as Gary Cahill’s long punt forward sent Moses haring to the by-line where he was put under pressure by full-back Stephen Ward.
The Blues’ wing-back manager to chip over a decent cross but it appeared that keeper Nick Pope would deal with it, only for him to push the ball against his own defender Kevin Long and into his own goal.
Yet a Burnley side looking to record a sixth successive top flight victory for the first time since November 1968 could have few complaints at going in a goal down at the interval.
With Giroud and Morata adopting an impressive and early understanding, the former set up the latter for a shot from a wide angle which Pope did well to save via an outstretched boot after 10 minutes.
After going behind, James Tarkowski fouled Morata, presenting Pedro with a free-kick which he placed just wide, Pope was required to block well at the feet of Morata and Tiemoue Bakayoko’s short pass to N’Golo Kante saw the Burnley defence open up and the midfielder shoot over from 20 yards.
Burnley’s first half hopes had been limited to a couple of dangerous crosses and plenty of long balls and, despite a stronger start to the second by the hosts, the game should have been decided when Kante broke up a Burnley corner after 55 minutes and sparked a counter-attack.
Kante’s superb pass sent Morata sprinting from the halfway line and, after the Spaniard had won his foot race against the Burnley defence impressively, his finish was far less admirable – the Spaniard planting his shot wide of Pope’s goal unopposed.
When Morata was substituted 15 minutes later, his reaction on the bench suggested a player not completely content with his lot in life at present.
The improved second half showing from Dyche’s side led, eventually, to an equaliser every bit as fortunate as Chelsea’s goal from Burnley’s first on-target shot of the night, although they remained level for just five minutes.
As Burnley looked for a second equaliser, substitute Sam Vokes headed directly at the keeper from a corner with his first touch but Chelsea looked far more likely to find a third goal with Pedro having a shot deflected wide and Davide Zappacosta heading over.
Burnley (4-4-2): Pope 7; Lowton 6, Long 5, Tarkowski 5, Ward 5; Lennon 5 (Wells 87), Westwood 6, Cork 7, Gudmundsson 8; Wood 7 (Vokes 72, 6), Barnes 7. Subs (not used) Heaton, Taylor, Marney, Hendrick, Bardsley.
Chelsea (3-5-2): Courtois 6; Azpilicueta 6, Cahill 7, Rudiger 6; Moses 7, Pedro 7, Kante 7, Bakayoko 6, Emerson 6; Giroud 8, Morata 7 (Hazard 70, 6). Subs (not used) Caballero, Fabregas, Barkley, Zappacosta, Willian, Christensen.
Referee: B Madley (Wakefield).
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