Match Report: Chelsea Res 1 – Blackburn Res 1

Dermot‘s  reserve side had to settle for a 1-1 draw vs. Blackburn and after two good wins against Sunderland at home and Bolton away this season you could tell that he was a little disappointed with the result.

Ross Turnbull was selected in goal for his first reserve team appearance of the season, but international call-ups prevented Josh McEachran, Conor Clifford and Nathaniel Chalobah from being included.

Sam Hutchinson captained the side which also featured Patrick van Aanholt at left-back in the way of first team experience.

First year scholar Lewis Baker started on the right wing ahead of midfielders Billy Clifford, Jacob Mellis and George Saville.

In front of a good crowd at Stamford Bridge the lads made a positive start and went ahead with a goal from Jacob Mellis.  There were other opportunities in the first half.  We almost added to the score when MItrovic headed a Todd Kane cross just wide, and then the Swede saw his low drive tipped around the post by Urwin.

Blackburn equalised just before the hour and if it hadn’t been for their poor finishing might have got another.

Chelsea gradually recovered but could not get past some resilient defending, inspired goalkeeping and the woodwork, when Marko Mitrovic’s shot was deflected onto the post.

Connor Clifford pulled a shot wide and Patrick Van Aanholt shot straight at Urwin as time ran out.

After the game Dermot said:- 

‘We overplayed at times in the first half, and didn’t really have an answer in the second when they pressed us and we didn’t get our game going again, which is disappointing,

It was a great goal, a great touch and we talked with Jacob before the game about being higher up the field and making those forward runs, and a great through ball. He could have had another one to be fair, and if Kaby with the last kick of the first half had squared the ball, it could have been 2-0, and that matters.

We still created enough chances in the second half to win the game, they’ve had one good ball and Ross hasn’t had too many saves to make but I wasn’t happy with the second half performance.’

Gill Reeves – disabled rep CSG