Antonio Conte's frustrating week ends in relief as Eden Hazard secures hard-fought victory over Bournemouth

Bournemouth 0 Chelsea 1: Belgian forward takes full advantage of Asmir Begovic error to secure narrow victory as Blues overtake Arsenal and return to top four

Eden Hazard celebrates after scoring the winning goal for Chelsea against Bournemouth (Getty)

Twenty-four hours after an angry outburst had revealed the depth of his frustration at the growing speculation surrounding his future, Antonio Conte was provided with a welcome distraction when Eden Hazard’s second-half goal ensured his Chelsea side avoided slipping further behind in the title race.

Conte was angered by reports Carlo Ancelotti is being lined up as his successor and of unrest within his squad. The Italian’s mood would have darkened further if his side had failed to respond to Manchester City’s earlier win at West Bromwich Albion that meant the defending champions started the game 12 points adrift of Pep Guardiola’s side in the Premier League table.

As it was, they were made to work hard for a win that was finally secured by Hazard’s

51st-minute finish. This was not a performance to remember but it was sufficient to see off a Bournemouth side that remain in the bottom three.

Conte made just one change to the side that started last weekend’s victory over Watford, a win that might have been expected to have eased the scrutiny on the Chelsea head coach, with Gary Cahill dropping to the bench ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League trip to face AS Roma.

The Italian’s side had initially laboured against Marco Silva’s side seven days previously before the introduction of Michy Batshuayi from the bench helped inspire a recovery that overturned a 2-1 deficit.

The opening moments at the Vitality Stadium suggested the defending champions would face similarly obstinate opponents with Bournemouth, buoyed by back to back victories last week, approached the game with renewed confidence.

Howe’s side have faced a testing start to the campaign and had mustered just one Premier League victory before last week’s impressive win at Stoke City. That was followed by midweek defeat of Middlesbrough that set up a Carabao Cup quarter-final with Conte’s side, prompting Howe to talk of growing sense of momentum at the club.

That momentum would have been maintained had Benik Afobe made more of a 17th-minute opportunity when the striker found himself in space on the edge of the penalty area. The striker could have shot but instead played an overhit pass towards the advancing Charlie Daniels who did well to pull the ball back for Afobe, whose shot was deflected wide.

At that point, Chelsea’s two best openings had come after long balls behind the home defence had released first Pedro and then Davide Zappacosta but Nathan Ake, the former Chelsea defender, did well to spot the danger on both occasions.


 Alvaro Morata tries an acrobatic attempt at goal 
 (Getty)

Conte’s side were growing in authority and it appeared inevitable they would force the lead during a period of sustained pressure. Initially they were helped on their way by a 24th-minute mis-kicked clearance by Asmir Begovic, the keeper who left Chelsea for Bournemouth last summer.

The ball landed at the feet of Hazard, 25 yards from goal, and Begovic was relieved to see Alvaro Morata place his finish wide of the near post after the Spain international had been sent clear by his team-mate.

Two minutes later, Tiemoue Bakayoko rose above the home defence to meet Cesc Fabregas’s corner but could only direct his header at Begovic. And moments after that chance, Morata thought he had made up for his earlier miss after another Fabregas corner.

Hazard managed to squeeze the ball between goalkeeper Asmir Begovic and the near-post (Getty)

A half-clearance fell to David Luiz on the edge of the box whose shot was helped on by Cesar Azpilicueta and parried by Begovic into the path of Morata. The striker placed the ball into the net but the effort was ruled out because Azpilicueta had drifted narrowly offside.

Chelsea’s frustration was growing while Morata in particular was entitled to feel this would not be his day. That changed six minutes after the break when the forward assumed the role of provider to set up Hazard’s goal.

Hazard's strike sends Chelsea back up to fourth but still nine points behind Manchester City (Getty)

Morata did well to retain possession inside the centre circle, turning to make space before clipping a ball out towards Hazard on the left hand flank. Bournemouth skipper Simon Francis should have cut out the pass, but once clear, Hazard raced into the home area and took advantage of Begovic’s poor positioning to beat the keeper at his near post from a tight angle.

Bournemouth responded with Ibe’s goal-bound shot deflected over the bar by Rudiger but Chelsea repelled the home side’s late pressure to hold on for the win, much to Conte’s relief.

Teams

Bournemouth (5-3-2): Begovic 5; A Smith 6, Francis 5, S Cook 7, Ake 8, Daniels 7; L Cook 6, Stanislas 7 (Pugh 62,6) , Surman 6; Defoe 6 (Ibe 46), Afobe 6 (Wilson 73,6).

Subs not used: Boruc, Gosling, Pugh, Arter, Mousset.

Chelsea (3-4-3): Courtois 6; Azpilicueta 7, Luiz 6, Rudiger 8; Zappacosta 6, Fabregas 7, Bakayoko 6, Alonso 6; Pedro 7 (Drinkwater 78), Morata 6 (Batshuayi 73), Hazard 9 (Willian 85,6).

Subs not used: Caballero, Cahill, Christensen, Ampadu.

Referee: C Pawson