Chelsea and Bournemouth played out a goalless draw in their Premier League clash at the Vitality Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The pair have scored nine goals between them in the first five matches of the new Premier League season and have struggled to find the back of the net. but it was Chelsea who had the best chances.
Nicolas Jackson and Raheem Sterling both hit the woodwork, while Levi Colwill tapped in from close range, but his strike was ruled out and the defender was ruled offside.
This means Mauricio Pochettino’s side have failed to score in their previous two outings, while Bournemouth remain one place below them in the table, having failed to win this season.
Courrier Sport’s KATHRYN BATTE was at Vitality Stadium and looks back at some things you may have missed from Sunday’s game.
Chelsea and Bournemouth played out a goalless draw on Sunday at the Vitality Stadium.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side have now failed to score in their last two Premier League matches and have, to date, failed to win in their last 14 Premier League away matches.
Bournemouth are also struggling with their form, having not won a Championship game since May.
Chelsea’s young reinforcements
Chelsea may have spent £1 billion since buying Todd Boehly, but their bench on Sunday consisted of six players who have never played for the club.
Mauricio Pochettino is currently without 10 first-team players due to injuries, meaning three 18-year-olds made up his replacements.
The average age of the judges was 21 years and 54 days. Ben Chillwell, 26, was the most experienced player with 89 appearances.
Ian Maatsen (5) and Cole Palmer (1) are the only two other players to have played a match for the club before yesterday.
Conor Gallagher takes the armband
Conor Gallagher was regularly linked with a move away from Chelsea during the summer transfer window, but on Sunday he became the fourth different player to captain the club in the Premier League this season.
Gallagher, who also wore the armband in the League Cup win over AFC Wimbledon last month, was handed responsibility against Bournemouth with regular captain Reece James still injured and vice-captain Ben Chilwell on the bench.
Pochettino opted for Gallagher over Enzo Fernandez, who had already been given the armband when Chilwell was substituted in previous matches.
Goals are difficult for both teams
It was the story of two teams’ struggles in front of goal at the Vitality Stadium.
Only Everton, Luton and Burnley have scored fewer goals than Chelsea (5) and Bournemouth (4) this season.
Four of the Cherries’ 13 shots were on target while the visitors managed to direct six of their 14 shots on goal.
Midfielder Conor Gallagher has become the fourth player to captain Chelsea this season.
The away team had the lion’s share of chances, with Levi Colwill having a goal ruled out for offside after tapping in a Raheem Sterling free-kick which bounced off the crossbar.
Pochettino’s away day is tough
The away blues continue for Mauricio Pochettino, now winless in 14 away games in the Premier League.
The record predates his time at Chelsea, with the manager having gone 12 away games without a win at Tottenham.
That draw against Bournemouth followed Chelsea’s 3-1 defeat to West Ham earlier in the season.
The wait for a Bournemouth victory continues
Bournemouth’s wait for a first league win since May continues.
The Cherries have played some good football under new manager Andoni Iraola this season but, in a run dating back to last season, they are now nine league matches without a win.
This is their worst spell since going eight without a win between February and July 2020, a campaign which saw them relegated to the Championship.
Jackson’s disciplinary problems
Nicolas Jackson is now one warning away from a suspension after the striker received his fourth yellow card of the season for reprimanding a referee.
Jackson was booked for complaining to official David Coote when he failed to award a free kick in the second half.
His yellow cards against Liverpool and West Ham were for complaining about a decision going against him, while he also received one against Nottingham Forest for trying to book an opponent.
Nicolas Jackson is already one card away from a suspension after receiving four yellows
