Mason Mount was dropped from the Chelsea starting XI against West Ham after a poor run of form. Graham Potter took the decision to deploy Ruben Loftus-Cheek alongside new signing Enzo Fernandez in midfield as an attack-minded Chelsea side took the game to their opponents.
Things started well for the Blues with Joao Felix putting the ball in the net early only for it to be disallowed. Felix did then have reason to celebrate as Fernandez clipped a pass into his path to give a deserved lead. It could have 2-0 not long later as Kai Havertz rounded Lukas Fabianski only to be denied by the offside flag once more.
It was perhaps the best half-hour of football played by Chelsea under Potter, certainly in recent weeks. The Hammers hit back though and fought hard for a 1-1 draw in the end.
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The midfield was hardly a major talking point come the end of the game. Fernandez was classy once more for Chelsea whilst Loftus-Cheek drove with purpose from deep. Late substitute Conor Gallagher - also dropped from the start - should have had a penalty when his shot was effectively saved by Thomas Soucek in the box.
Gallagher has impressed in recent weeks when used more consistently but failed to make a true relationship with Fernandez in the 0-0 draw with Fulham last week. He played alongside Mason Mount in that side but neither player offered enough support to their new star.
In a slightly tweaked system the Blues went for 4-2-3-1 against the Hammers but Mount's arrival into the game prompted a change of position. He appear on the left in place of Mykhailo Mudryk - who hadn't been getting much service from Marc Cucurella. Mount's stat sheet looks poor but he did setup a chance for Kai Havertz in the box despite Hakim Ziyech waiting at the far post.
This image has seen Mount once more picked out for criticism from fans who haven't seen him hit the heights of last season, where he registered double figures for goals and assists. He has only scored three times so far this term.
It was his full-time actions that prompted even more frustration though, with Mount seen laughing and smiling with West Ham defender Thilo Kehrer. The incident has attracted more to vent their anger at Mount. He is already a divisive figure within the fanbase with many happy to see him replaced in the team, even if it is only a temporary thing.
The 24-year-old is yet to agree a new deal with the club and has just under 18 months left. He is wanted by Liverpool but the new owners are determined to keep on-board the two-time player of the season. The reaction to his full-time actions is similar to the way that Chelsea legend Eden Hazard was hammered in Spain two years ago.
The Belgian was seen laughing, joking and smiling on the pitch at Stamford Bridge after his Real Madrid side had been defeated by Chelsea in the Champions League semi-final. With his Madrid career going far from well this only served as more ammunition for publications to use as bait for bashing him. Hazard hadn't even been used in that match.
Back to London though and Mount isn't the only one in the team causing a stir with the Stamford Bridge faithful.
Summer signing Marc Cucurella was heard being booed by the away fans who have grown restless at his performances. The Spaniard has been defended multiple times by Potter in public but is still attracting criticism as supporters fail to bond with the new Chelsea on show.
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