FULL-TIME: Chelsea win!
90min: 4 minutes of added-on time.
88min: Hazard holds the ball after a Pedro interception, then holds it some more, then finds Moses whose cross is met by Zappacosta at the far post, but he can’t keep his header down.
84min: Hazard creates a chance for Giroud. It’s blocked for a corner, which is then aimed at Pedro making his typical run to the top of the box. His good-looking shot is blocked. Zappacosta replaces Emerson on the left.
81min: Emerson’s turn to win a free kick, but the subsequent move breaks down.
78min: Bakayoko gets taken down, no card. Conte not happy with that decision and lets the fourth official know in no uncertain terms. From the resulting free kick, Hazard and Moses almost create a glorious chance but Burnley clear at the last second. Some excellent running on the right from Moses tonight.
74min: Chelsea look for a third but Hazard thwarted by Cork at the last second after some intricate interplay with Giroud
69min: VICTOR MOSES! Another good cross from Emerson is missed by Giroud, but Moses is there at the far post to collect and smash it low and hard past Pope. 2-1! Hazard comes on for Morata in the wake of the goal to restore Chelsea to a more familiar 3-4-3. Morata none too pleased, but his miss was horrendous (yet again).
63min: Out of nothing, a faraway shot from Gudmondsson is deflected into the back of the net off Ashley Barnes’s heel, who knew nothing about it. He was on-side, but that’s about it for actual intent. Morata’s miss looms large, as does the no-call on Moses going to ground a few seconds prior.
62min: Moses’s effort held well with both Giroud and Morata lurking.
60min: A much more even half, though Chelsea “should” be up two. Alas, it remains just a 1-0 lead. Fabregas, Hazard, Willian warming up. Tarkowski a bit lucky to escape a second yellow for a flailing arm that gets Giroud in the neck, who receives a bit of treatment.
55min: Morata misses an absolute sitter after great work from Kanté in intercepting the ball and setting the striker in all alone from the half-way line. Morata outpaces his defender but rolls his effort wide of the right-hand side post.
53min: Courtois catches a corner as he wakes briefly from his slumber.
50min: Burnley start the second half well, but Chelsea hold steady then threaten at the other end.
46min: Back underway; no changes.
HALF-TIME: One additional minute later, Bobby Madley blows for half-time. Decent effort by the Blues, though certainly better than the hosts. Giroud & Morata have linked up well at times, with the former central to most things good from the boys. Burnley have been largely restricted, though Ashley Barnes still managed to get in a maiming attempt on Gary Cahill.
Can we hang on to this lead in the second-half and maybe even add to it?
39min: Kanté goes close with a dipping rasper of a shot after one of those mazy runs he sometimes decides to do when no one else is doing anything.
38min: Pedro steals a few souls with a backflick and nutmeg before setting up on a 50-yard sprint up the left. The cross to Giroud is almost inch-perfect. What a goal that would’ve been!
33min: Giroud and Morata link up well again; Pope saves for a corner from the latter, but it’s wasted with a terrible take from Pedro.
31min: Burnley finally show up and launch a few efforts into the box. Bakayoko eventually clears.
28min: Morata wins a free-kick just outside the penalty area. Tarkowski booked. Pedro’s effort well wide of the near post.
25min: Chelsea continue to press the issue. Burnley have offered very little so far.
20min: A long ball from Cahill finds Moses up the right wing; his cross is diverted into the net for an own goal. LOL! We’ll take them any way we can!
15min: Quarter hour gone; scoreless. Chelsea with the edge in possession and chances. Giroud central to most good things.
11min: Morata and Giroud link up, the latter flicking the ball on for the former, but his shot is saved by Pope. Promising.
8min: Giroud played in again, loses balance in the box. No call, and probably rightly so.
Seen them given*
* when watching other teams — TOCFCWS (@tocfcws) April 19, 2018
5min: Chelsea defend a free kick and break upfield. Moses finds Giroud in the middle, bu this shot is blocked.
KICK-OFF: The teams walk out to a bit of Arcade Fire. Will there be fire-works on the pitch? Chelsea look to be in a 3-5-2.
ANTONIOOOOO:
Antonio Conte takes charge of his 100th Chelsea game (all comps), tonight.
He’s the 3rd Chelsea manager to reach that milestone under the 15-year ownership of Roman Abramovich, after Jose Mourinho (321 over 2 spells) & Carlo Ancelotti (109) #PL pic.twitter.com/HqQ14HAAd5 — Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) April 19, 2018
We’re trying something slightly different with gamethreads: instead of just an open thread, it will be updated regularly (while you comment away below) with highlights, stats, and anything else worthwhile for a live blog sort of thing. Let’s see how it goes.
COME ON, CHELSEA!
Burnley starting lineup (4-4-2):
Pope | Ward, Tarkowski, Long, Lowton | Gudmundsson, Westwood, Cork, Lennon | Barnes, Wood
Substitutes from: Heaton, Taylor, Marney, Vokes, Hendrick, Wells, Bardsley
Chelsea starting lineup (3-4-3?):
Courtois | Rudiger, Cahill (c), Azpilicueta | Emerson, Bakayoko, Kante, Moses | Giroud, Morata, Pedro
Substitutes from: Caballero, Christensen, Zappacosta, Fabregas, Barkley, Willian, Hazard
So that’s Giroud and Morata starting together for the first time? The official Chelsea Twitter still gave it as a 3-4-3, but surely Giroud is not playing as a winger. 3-4-1-2? 4-4-2?
Rudiger is restored, Christensen is rested, as are both Hazard and Willian ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup semifinal.
Date / Time: Thursday, April 19th, 2018, 19:45 BST; 2:45 pm EDT; 12:15 am IST
Venue: Turf Moor, Burnley, England
Referee: Bobby Madley
On TV: Sky Sports (UK); NBCSN, Telemundo (USA); Star Sports Select HD2 (India); elsewhere
Streaming online: Sky Go (UK); NBC Sports Live, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo (USA); Hotstar (India)
Please keep comments civil and be excellent to each other.
Chelsea were robust rather than fluent - particularly in defence - but given the changes to the line-up it was a creditable win to retain Conte’s aspirations of a purposeful conclusion to the season, and most likely his reign. They are not so far behind Spurs in the chase for the top four, and Liverpool must still win their next two to guarantee the Merseysiders’ trip to Stamford Bridge has little meaning.
“The only way is to get three points in every game from now until the end. It won’t be easy because it is five points to Tottenham,” said Conte.
“We have missed great chances to stay closer but tonight I saw a great team spirit and we must be pleased.”
Chelsea were a tad patched up, particularly as Marcus Alonso’s suspension for stamping Southampton’s Shane Long was confirmed before kick-off.
More changes followed, Conte’s team selection given a retro feel – a reminder of those times when managers rested players in the league for crucial FA Cup ties rather than vice-versa.
Emerson made his first start. Hazard, Willian, Fabregas and Andreas Christensen began on the bench. If that was no shock, Ross Barkley’s failure to get a game in the light of so many other changes was more surprising. The midfielder must hope the next coach sees what Conte has evidently missed.
The Chelsea extras showed their desire was not as compromised as the manager’s selections, Morata sent clear by Giroud’s clever flick and forcing Nick Pope into the first meaningful action on ten minutes – an easy save from a tight angle.
The visitors took the lead on 19 minutes, Gary Cahill’s diagonal picking out Moses whose tame cross somehow bewitched Pope and Kevin Long. The keeper’s fingertip onto the chest of the retreating centre-half did the damage. Gareth Southgate’s prayer for a consistent, error free finale to the season from his England goalkeepers is yet to be answered.
Burnley responded when their defenders found their range and accuracy with their drivers, Matt Lowton particularly effective when testing Chelsea’s centre-halves.
More sophistication was needed to ruffle Chelsea’s back three, however. Gary Cahill and company’s application, courage and concentration was under most scrutiny here, particularly when the Chelsea captain took an accidental boot in the face from Ashley Barnes.
After Morata’s sloppy miss, Burnley struck a fortuitous equaliser on 64 minutes. The visitors felt Moses was fouled in the build-up, but the ball was worked to Johann Berg Gudmundsson whose hopeful strike deflected off Barnes heel, wrong-footing Thibaut Courtois.
Chelsea won back-to-back Premier League games for the first time this year to maintain their faint Champions League hopes.
Antonio Conte’s former champions have moved to within five points of fourth-placed Tottenham with four games remaining.
Victor Moses’ strike gave Chelsea their first consecutive league wins since the end of December and boosted them going into Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final against Southampton.
Chelsea took the lead through Kevin Long’s own goal before Ashley Barnes cancelled it out with a furious Conte claiming Moses had been fouled in the build-up.
(Image: Action Images via Reuters)
(Image: REUTERS/Andrew Yates)
(Image: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Alvaro Morata missed a great chance to score and the Spanish striker reacted angrily when he was taken off soon after.
Conte made six changes with Southampton in mind and Eden Hazard, Andreas Christensen, Cesc Fabregas and Willian started on the bench.
(Image: Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers)
(Image: PA)
(Image: Action Images via Reuters)
The Cup is Chelsea’s last hope of salvaging something from Conte’s hugely-disappointing second campaign.
Winning would unlikely be enough to save the Italian at Stamford Bridge with Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri being strongly linked with his job.
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(Image: Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Getty Images)
(Image: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
(Image: REUTERS/Andrew Yates)
The defeat ended Burnley’s five-match winning streak in the league as they enjoy their best season since 1974.
The Clarets remain seventh and still on course for the Europa League, providing Southampton do not win the FA Cup.
Relive the action as it happened below
Chelsea won back-to-back Premier League games for the first time this year to maintain their faint Champions League hopes.
Antonio Conte’s former champions have moved to within five points of fourth-placed Tottenham with four games remaining.
Victor Moses’ strike gave Chelsea their first consecutive league wins since the end of December and boosted them going into Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final against Southampton.
Chelsea took the lead through Kevin Long’s own goal before Ashley Barnes cancelled it out with a furious Conte claiming Moses had been fouled in the build-up.
(Image: Action Images via Reuters)
(Image: REUTERS/Andrew Yates)
(Image: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Alvaro Morata missed a great chance to score and the Spanish striker reacted angrily when he was taken off soon after.
Conte made six changes with Southampton in mind and Eden Hazard, Andreas Christensen, Cesc Fabregas and Willian started on the bench.
(Image: Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers)
(Image: PA)
(Image: Action Images via Reuters)
The Cup is Chelsea’s last hope of salvaging something from Conte’s hugely-disappointing second campaign.
Winning would unlikely be enough to save the Italian at Stamford Bridge with Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri being strongly linked with his job.
Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now
(Image: Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Getty Images)
(Image: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
(Image: REUTERS/Andrew Yates)
The defeat ended Burnley’s five-match winning streak in the league as they enjoy their best season since 1974.
The Clarets remain seventh and still on course for the Europa League, providing Southampton do not win the FA Cup.
Relive the action as it happened below
