By David Awopetu
Chelsea claimed a third consecutive victory under Thomas Tuchel as they beat Sheffield United 2-1 in an incident-packed contest at Bramall Lane to climb to fifth on the Premier League table.
Mason Mount set Chelsea on their way with a clinical finish from Timo Werner’s cutback shortly before half-time, but the Blades were level within nine minutes of the restart when Antonio Rudiger’s bizarre own goal gifted the hosts an equaliser – the first goal conceded of Tuchel’s tenure.
Having denied Sheffield United a first-half penalty, VAR took centre stage as Chelsea restored their lead four minutes later, with goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale’s foul on Werner penalised after referee Kevin Friend consulted the pitchside monitor, allowing Jorginho to convert from the spot for the second game running.
Rudiger atoned for his earlier error with a string of crucial defensive interventions that saw out the Chelsea win and condemned the battling Blades – who remain rooted to the foot of the table, 12 points from safety – to an 18th defeat of the season.
Chelsea are a team still coming to terms with a change in manager and a new style.
They are now looking to assert their authority with controlled possession football, and they have quickly recovered from the decline under Lampard to move within a point of the top four.
Having drawn with Wolves and beaten both Burnley and Tottenham, this was a test of character for Tuchel’s side after Rudiger’s mistake threatened to throw them off course against a Sheffield United outfit buoyed by their recent upturn in form.
Key to the victory, also, was Werner, who failed to end his 14-game goal drought in the Premier League, yet had a hand in both goals.
Rudiger, who has described how he was racially abused on social media for his supposed part in Lampard’s downfall, then handed the Blades a lifeline when he stroked the ball past Mendy into his own net following Oliver McBurnie’s surging run.
But fortunately for the Germany defender, Chelsea quickly recovered and four minutes later they were ahead again.
