Back in business: Chelsea ended a run of three straight losses against Bournemouth
(Picture: PA)Chelsea marked their return to Premier League action with a much-needed 2-0 win over Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge.
Kai Havertz and Mason Mount were both on target inside the opening 25 minutes to remove any sense of jeopardy for Graham Potter’s side, who will be hugely concerned after Reece James was forced off with a worrying setback on his first appearance since recovering from a serious knee injury.
James - who missed England’s World Cup campaign in Qatar with the injury sustained against AC Milan in the Champions League back in October - pulled up less than 10 minutes into the second half and pointed to his knee and covered his face in anguish as he received treatment, later walking off under his own power.
Potter has since said that is is too early to determine the severity of such a blow as Chelsea face an anxious wait over the next couple of days.
The hosts created numerous other decent chances but couldn’t properly kill off Tuesday night’s game, but ultimately it mattered little as Bournemouth failed to offer a sustained attacking threat despite brighter periods after the break and a committed finish.
The win ends a dismal run of form for Chelsea dating back to before the mid-season World Cup break, with a run of four successive top-flight losses for the first time since March 1998 easily avoided in the end as they won for the first time since October 16.
Instead, they scored two goals in the first half of a league game for the first time this season to move above west London rivals Fulham and into eighth spot before opening 2023 with a trip to struggling Nottingham Forest and league-cup double-header against defending champions Manchester City, with Chelsea now six points adrift of the top four.
Bournemouth, meanwhile, stay 14th and only three points above the drop zone after a disappointing display in front of new owner Bill Foley and part-owner Michael B. Jordan, the Hollywood actor and director who was in attendance on Tuesday. Crystal Palace visit the Vitality Stadium on Saturday to close out an eventful calendar year for the Cherries.
