Boos rang out around Stamford Bridge after Chelsea could only manage a 1-1 draw against lowly Burnley in the Premier League, writes Tim Harrison.
So much for giving the players a few days’ holiday to recharge their batteries.
Despite the Blues scoring the fastest goal of their season so far, when Pedro Neto crossed for Joao Pedro to bundle home in under four minutes, the rest of the match was largely forgettable, apart from Wes Fofana’s sending off for a second booking.
Indeed, Burnley looked the more dangerous team, and there was a grim inevitability about the equaliser in the second of six minutes of stoppage time, when Zian Flemming’s firm header beat Robert Sanchez.
Chelsea played more than 20 minutes with 10 men, and Scott Parker’s side, seemingly doomed to relegation, capitalised.
Read more
Latest update to Sutton Morrisons after new store plans announcement
Death notices and funeral announcements from the Your Local Guardian
Meanwhile, Chelsea Women advanced to the Women’s FA Cup quarter-finals by beating Manchester United, although it needed extra time and some frantic defending to achieve the 2-1 win at Kingsmeadow.
Sam Kerr came on as sub to score, while defender Naomi Girma added her first goal for the club, as the sides – scheduled to meet in mid-March in the League Cup final – proved almost impossible to separate. That upcoming final, on neutral territory in Bristol, is too close to call.
Kadeisha Buchanan came back on as a sub in extra time after missing 15 months with a ligament injury. “It’s good to be back; we fought really hard today,” she said.
Chelsea’s 19-year-old Dutch defender Veerle Buurman said at the end: “Of course it was a hard game against Man United, but it feels good to be through to the next round.”
Her manager, Sonia Bompastor, agreed. “You have to show great character to win,” she said. “Set pieces are huge, and it’s something we will keep working on.” The extra-time winner came from a Sandy Baltimore corner – Chelsea’s 13th of the match.
