Chelsea miss chance as Burnley dig in

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Chelsea missed the opportunity to move third in the Premier League after drawing 2-2 with Burnley on Monday Night Football.

It was a pulsating start at Stamford Bridge as all four goals came in the opening 24 minutes. Jeff Hendrick’s spectacular volley put Burnley ahead (8) before N’Golo Kante (12) and Gonzalo Higuain (14) put Chelsea in front with a quickfire double.

However, Burnley came into this one high on confidence with three straight wins under their belt and levelled it up through Ashley Barnes (24), meaning Chelsea have now failed to win any of their last six fixtures following a Europa League game.

Chelsea’s frustrations boiled over as the clock ticked down with Maurizio Sarri being sent to the stands after protesting at Burnley’s perceived time-wasting while Antonio Rudiger – not in the matchday squad – was seen arguing with a Burnley member of staff near the tunnel at full-time.

The result leaves Chelsea in fourth place in the Premier League having played a game more than their top-four rivals, while Burnley are all-but safe, nine points clear of Cardiff in 18th with three games left.

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How Burnley stifled Chelsea

With Tottenham, Arsenal and Manchester United all losing over the weekend, the door was open for Chelsea to make a statement.

The hosts started brightly with Higuain having an effort cleared off the line by Ben Mee but fell behind on seven minutes to a cracking strike from Hendrick. There did not look much danger on when the ball dropped out of sky following a Burnley corner but the Republic of Ireland international connected flush with a volley which flew into the net.

The Blues were level four minutes later when Hazard tricked and turned Matthew Lowton inside out down the left before rolling a cross to Kante, who spanked a left-footed strike home.

With Burnley struggling to get out of their half, Chelsea struck again. Cesar Azpilicueta flicked a ball into Higuain down the right-edge of the box and the 31-year-old fired a powerful effort home to notch his first goal since March 3.

That should have been the catalyst to take control of the game but back came Burnley again, to score the fourth goal in a pulsating opening 24 minutes.

A free-kick was met Ben Mee who nodded it across the six-yard box. Chris Wood then helped it into the the path of Barnes, who finished from close range. From having just 18 per cent of the ball, Burnley had somehow scored twice.

Callum Hudson-Odoi limped off midway through the half with a calf problem before Kante joined him in the treatment room after being replaced by Mateo Kovacic at the break.

Callum Hudson-Odoi was forced off approaching half-time on Monday night

Hazard continued to threaten after the break but the Chelsea chances dried up as Burnley began to heavily frustrate Sarri’s side, who were restricted to long-range efforts.

Olivier Giroud replaced an unhappy Higuain with 15 minutes but despite dominating territory, Chelsea failed to produce a match-winning moment and Sarri’s frustration boiled over as he was sent to the stands in stoppage time.

WATCH: Higuain’s strop

0:32

Gonzalo Higuain could not hide his anger after being substituted in Chelsea’s 2-2 draw with Burnley.

Gonzalo Higuain could not hide his anger after being substituted in Chelsea’s 2-2 draw with Burnley.

Man of the match: Ben Mee

The Burnley centre-half led his team magnificently as they repelled a toothless Chelsea attack in the second-half. Sarri’s side worked plenty of space down the channels but their final ball was usually hacked clear by a Burnley shirt, more of tenthan not it was Mee first to the loose ball. No Burnley player made more clearances than him (10).

Ben Mee put in a masterclass of defending in the second-half

Top four race: Sky Bet odds…

Opta stats

• Since their 3-2 victory against Chelsea in this exact fixture last season, Burnley have failed to win any of their last 11 Premier League away games versus ‘big six’ opposition (D5 L6).
• Chelsea conceded two goals from set-pieces (exc. penalties) in a single Premier League game at Stamford Bridge for the first time since May 2011 versus Newcastle.
• Hazard has provided 13 assists in the Premier League in 2018-19, the most in the competition this season and one more than he registered in his previous three seasons combined (12).
• Kante has scored four goals in 34 Premier League games this season, one more than he netted in his previous three campaigns in the competition combined (three goals in 106 apps).
• Barnes has scored 11 Premier League goals this season, the joint-most by a Burnley player in a single campaign in the competition (also Danny Ings in 2014-15).
• Higuain has scored 10+ league goals in each of his last 11 seasons in Europe’s top five leagues (4 for Chelsea, 6 for Milan in 2018-19).

What’s next?

Chelsea now have a six-day break before taking on United at Old Trafford, live on Super Sunday. That game follows Burnley’s trip to title-chasing Manchester City.

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