Chelsea’s capacity for chaos knows no bounds, this time losing two leads against a Burnley team consisting of 10 men and no manager on the sidelines of Stamford Bridge as Mauricio Pochettino was left perplexed.
Pochettino is never one for burying his players in public. More than most Premier League managers, he will defend them to the ends of the earth, no matter how poorly they have performed.
So when Chelsea’s manager calmly pointed to his heart and then his head in his post-match press conference – to suggest that was missing here – it was cutting by his genteel standards. Not as explicit as the way Jose Mourinho might have scolded this group for the goals they conceded, but still a critical take on a problem that is plaguing Chelsea.
They have now conceded at least two or more goals in their last five games at this ground. They have surrendered leads in all of those matches as Chelsea’s fans booed at full-time, knowing that this was an opportunity missed to move into the top half of the Premier League table.
Cole Palmer twice left them in a position from which they should have won yet Burnley – even after losing Lorenz Assignon and Vincent Kompany to red cards in the 40th minute – went on to equalise through Josh Cullen then Dara O’Shea.
Dara O’Shea celebrates after scoring a late equaliser to seal a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge
![O'Shea rose high to head in on the 81st minute and make it another day to forget for the Blues](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/30/19/83066829-13254867-image-a-27_1711825850884.jpg)
O’Shea rose high to head in on the 81st minute and make it another day to forget for the Blues
![It was a disappointing afternoon for Mauricio Pochettino, who cut a frustrated figure](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/30/19/83064315-13254867-It_was_another_disappointing_afternoon_for_Mauricio_Pochettino_w-a-34_1711826140283.jpg)
It was a disappointing afternoon for Mauricio Pochettino, who cut a frustrated figure
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This was another rank return for Chelsea after an international break, having won none of their first games back in September, October or November.
Burnley piled on the pressure as they looked to prolong that winless streak, one ball in behind their opponents’ defence leading to a Jacob Bruun Larsen attempt which narrowly went wide.
After 10 minutes of doing more defending than attacking, Chelsea finally flew forward as Mykhailo Mudryk set up Enzo Fernandez, who was denied as Burnley goalkeeper Arijanet Muric tipped the ball on to the crossbar.
In the 14th minute, Muric took a quick free-kick on the left-hand side. It found Wilson Odobert, who forced his way inside before unleashing a curler which seemed destined for the corner until Djordje Petrovic pushed it wide.
Continuing the ‘you shoot, we shoot’ spirit that this match seemed hellbent on following, Chelsea then came close when Palmer set up Nicolas Jackson. Fast feet left the striker with only Muric to beat, but a smothering save followed.
Chelsea scored in the 20th minute as, from a corner taken short, Mudryk crossed for Axel Disasi to head home. Yet in spite of his celebrations, it transpired that he did not use his head. It took an arm for him to direct the ball into the goal as VAR John Brooks disallowed the opener.
![Burnley were reduced to 10-men after Lorenz Assignon was shown a soft second yellow card](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/30/19/83066839-13254867-image-a-29_1711825907410.jpg)
Burnley were reduced to 10-men after Lorenz Assignon was shown a soft second yellow card
![A furious Vincent Kompany was also shown a red card for his reaction to Assignon's dismissal](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/30/19/83066909-13254867-image-m-37_1711826243150.jpg)
A furious Vincent Kompany was also shown a red card for his reaction to Assignon’s dismissal
![Referee Darren England awarded the penalty against Assignon for a tug on Mykhailo Mudryk](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/30/19/83064603-13254867-The_penalty_was_awarded_for_a_tug_on_Mykhailo_Mudryk_by_Lorenz_A-a-32_1711826014451.jpg)
Referee Darren England awarded the penalty against Assignon for a tug on Mykhailo Mudryk
![Cole Palmer broke the deadlock, dinking the resulting penalty down the middle](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/30/19/83063687-13254867-Cole_Palmer_broke_the_deadlock_with_a_dinked_penalty_down_the_mi-a-30_1711825958931.jpg)
Cole Palmer broke the deadlock, dinking the resulting penalty down the middle
![Josh Cullen celebrates after drawing the visitors level two minutes into the second half](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/30/19/83063769-13254867-Josh_Cullen_celebrates_after_drawing_the_visitors_level_two_minu-a-19_1711825221183.jpg)
Josh Cullen celebrates after drawing the visitors level two minutes into the second half
![Cullen stunned the home crowd with a brilliant strike from outside the area in the 47th minute](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/30/19/83063761-13254867-Cullen_stunned_the_home_crowd_with_a_brilliant_strike_from_outsi-a-20_1711825223887.jpg)
Cullen stunned the home crowd with a brilliant strike from outside the area in the 47th minute
Mudryk should have given Chelsea the lead when a counter-attack saw the ball move from Palmer to Jackson to Mudryk, who had an unobstructed view of the goal. Muric was a grateful goalkeeper as the shot sailed into his arms.
Mudryk was involved in Chelsea taking the lead when he knocked the ball into the box and behind Assignon, who brought him down. Referee Darren England took his time. First, he awarded the penalty.
Then, he showed a second yellow to Assignon. Kompany went wild, unleashing his outrage on the fourth official James Bell. For that, he received a red card of his own.
After four minutes and 19 seconds of waiting, Palmer scored a left-footed Panenka. Leading 1-0 and up against 10 men, you expected Chelsea to have enough to go on to confirm this win in the second half.
Yet in the 47th minute, Burnley made it 1-1. A beautiful strike it was, too, as Cullen and half-time substitute Josh Brownhill exchanged a one-two. It ended with Cullen smacking the ball beyond Petrovic with the outside of his right boot.
In the 57th minute, Burnley would have taken the lead were it not for Petrovic’s quick reactions to stop Lyle Foster’s header. That woke up Chelsea, who took control in their search for a winner.
![Palmer put the hosts back in front in the second half and produced his trademark celebration](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/30/19/83063899-13254867-Palmer_celebrates_after_putting_his_side_back_in_front_in_the_Pr-a-31_1711825999467.jpg)
Palmer put the hosts back in front in the second half and produced his trademark celebration
![Axel Disasi thought he had given the home side an early lead but he had handled the ball](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/30/19/83063645-13254867-Axel_Disasi_thought_he_had_given_the_home_side_an_early_lead_but-a-33_1711826089308.jpg)
Axel Disasi thought he had given the home side an early lead but he had handled the ball
Muric was repeatedly required as he denied Jackson twice and Palmer twice. Burnley’s brick wall was eventually breached and it was the substitute Raheem Sterling who created it, flicking the ball in behind for Palmer to make it 2-1 after 78 minutes.
Yet in the 80th minute, the 2-2 draw was confirmed. How straightforward it was, too – a corner from Cullen and a header from O’Shea as Petrovic flapped at the ball.
Burnley might even have won it when Jay Rodriguez sent a header crashing against the crossbar.
As Pochettino said, Chelsea lacked the heart and head to win and not for the first time, the fans let them know their thoughts at full-time.
Source From: Football | Mail Online
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