Match Day Chelsea v Bournemouth, Saturday 1 September 15:00

[SALTIRE]

Match chat.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Expect this will be where the good run comes to an end, but you never know. We've done Chelsea before at their place, humiliated them last season in fact! Though in previous wins we've had the benefit of being on the 'downward' side of their managerial curves both Mourinho and Conte, this time we come across them very much in the honeymoon period for Sarri.

Given how well we've started, anything we can get here would be a big bonus. I think going with the 4-4-2 / 4-2-4 we've used to date would be pretty mental, I think we'll need to adjust the formation to be a bit more stingy and less open. Going to West Ham and winning with an open attacking approach is one thing, this is a completely different kettle of fish. But all the same we're hardly going to park any buses whatever we do.

 

[Pickleman1967]

Great start to the season for Bournemouth, and although Sarri seems to have got his team playing with more cohesion and belief a tricky tie against a confident Bournemouth side will test him and the players. I think the Cherries are good for a point.

Bournemouth 1 Chelsea 1

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Well for 70 minutes or so we were right in that. Chelsea's having the edge eventually. I've come away disappointed, naturally. But also content and more confident (now that we've been hard tested) that our decent start is because we have a decent team together here rather than fluke.

That was an impressive Chelsea side, in that their movement and range of passing is tough to fight. And we coped, not only that but missed two absolute sitters to score.

Disappointed in Mason not sending Alsonso off for a stonewall second yellow. Certainly gets booked if not already on a yellow. But thems the breaks away from home.

We did switch things up tactically, with Lerma coming in as a midfield destroyer and he works, also Rico as a left wing back and that worked too. Liking all 3 of our summer signings so far. Well done to the club.

Into the first break of the season a happy camp.