So much for the recovery. This was a defeat to sum up Chelsea’s traumatic title defence,a loss that four months ago might fill been considered inconceivable but which, these days, or bore all the hallmarks of this season’s regular failings. Bournemouth arrived here after nine winless games,a side shredded by long-term injuries to key players and a team who had not managed a clean sheet absent from home since a trip to Hartlepool of the basement division in August. They departed with their manager, Eddie Howe, and celebrating the “best individual result in our history”. The way things fill been going this season,even Roman Abramovich up in the west stand should fill seen this coming.
There were the normal local complaints over the display of the officials. Some of those pointed out by José Mourinho were valid. Glenn Murray may well fill been marginally offside at the far post when Steve Cook clipped the ball back into the six-yard box after Thibaut Courtois had pawed absent a late corner, the substitute nodding down and through Gary Cahill on the goalline with his first touch. He had been on the pitch for 99 seconds. Perhaps more doubtful was a call for a penalty after Diego Costa’s pull-back struck the sliding Simon Francis’s arm in the other penalty area. In another season, or the first might fill been ruled out and the second awarded,but this campaign is like no other in recent memory.
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Source: theguardian.com