Chelsea 3 City 0
Report by Colin Hall
Leicester City slumped to their fourth successive away defeat of the current Premier League season as hosts Chelsea cruised to a 3-0 victory.
While few of the Blue Army expected victory at a venue where the Foxes have managed just one league success in the last 50 years, the manner of this capitulation was desperately disappointing.
Although the demotion of Algeria duo Mahrez and Slimani to the subs’ bench was not entirely unexpected in the light of their international exertions, their replacement by two other Africa internationals – Schlupp and Musa – certainly was. Many travelling Foxes were further bemused by the omission of the on-form Gray.
Claudio Ranieri also made a change in defence where Hernandez replaced Simpson.
But if the City manager hoped this move would bring extra stability to a shaky defence, he was to be proved swiftly mistaken.
As so often on their travels so far this season, setpieces proved City’s undoing. After Chelsea forced the first corner of the game after seven minutes, Hazard’s kick was allowed to roll along the six-yard box before being converted by an unmarked Diego Costa at the far post.
With the visitors reeling from this setback, the former champions pressed forward relentless, with Hazard and Pedro particularly prominent. Once again, the spirit and resilience that had been the team's trademarks during so many of last season's travels,were notable for their absence.
After Huth had been booked for a trip on Hazard, David Luiz sent a swerving, dipping free-kick against the post with Schmeichel left stranded.
However, the hosts were not unduly delayed in adding to their lead, as Huth and Hernandez collided while stretching for a through ball, which broke for Hazard to round Schmeichel and apply the coolest of finishes.
Schmeichel then blocked another long-range free-kick by David Luiz as the home onslaught continued. The half-time whistle came as some relief to the travelling contingent, as the deficit could easily have been of Old Trafford proportions.
The defensive indiscipline reasserted itself within seconds after the break, as Pedro was allowed to chase down a long pass before eventually finding his shot blocked by Fuchs.
Moments later, in City’s first serious attack of the afternoon, the hitherto-ineffective Schlupp burst clear on the left, and was crudely body-checked by Moses, only for referee Marriner to rule the contact unintentional – much to the fury of the travelling hordes.
With Drinkwater beginning to exert an influence in midfield, City briefly began to show signs of becoming a competitive force. The only serious threat to Courtois in the home goal, though, occurred when David Luiz diverted an Albrighton cross against his own post.
Even the belated introduction of Mahrez and Slimani – and a consequent switch to a 4-3-3 formation – failed to make any impact on the home defence.
Indeed, the hosts – who had regularly threatened during counter-attacks – always looked more likely to add to the scoresheet, and eventually did so when Moses was allowed to stroll past a static defence to beat Schmeichel from close range.
With the exception of Schmeichel, and perhaps Drinkwater, none of the City players on display at Stamford Bridge did themselves any form of justice. Collectively, they produced a performance that was more befitting of the Championship than the Champions League. The impending clash in the latter competition with Copenhagen was clearly a bigger distraction on the team – and perhaps the management, too – than it should have been.
This group of players are capable of so much better. It is to be hoped that Ranieri will secure a significant improvement in both of this week’s forthcoming home games.
Chelsea (3-4-3): Courtois; Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Cahill (c); Moses (Aina 81), Kante, Matic, Alonso; Hazard (Loftus-Cheek 81), Diego Costa, Pedro (Chalobah 68). Subs not used: Begovic, Batshuayi, Terry, Solanke
Goals: Diego Costa 7, Hazard 33, Moses 80.
Booking: Azpilicueta.
City (4-4-2): Schmeichel, Hernández, Huth, Morgan (c), Fuchs; Schlupp (Mahrez 67), Drinkwater, Amartey, Albrighton (King 74); Musa (Slimani 67), Vardy. Subs not used: Zieler, Simpson, Gray, Ulloa
Booking: Huth
Attendance: 41,547 Referee: Andre Marriner.
The views expressed in this report are the opinions of the Trust member nominated to file the report only and do not represent the views of the Foxes Trust organisation