Maresca jeered as Chelsea and Bournemouth trade in chaos

Enzo Maresca has been talking up his relationship with Chelsea’s supporters but the love was not returned during this draw with Bournemouth.

- Jacob Steinberg

There was open dissent from the Stamford Bridge crowd when Cole Palmer, who is still feeling his way back from a groin injury, went off midway through the second half and there was more grumbling when a wild game was over.

This was another bad night for Chelsea. Maresca’s erratic side defended poorly, have one win in their past seven topflight games and remain incapable of capitalising on dominant spells. They have now dropped 13 points from winning positions at home - more than any other side in the Premier League - after being held by Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth, who ended grateful to Antoine Semenyo giving his all in what might be his final appearance for the club before a likely move to Manchester City.

Perhaps an evening of chaos was inevitable. Inconsistency has plagued these sides - Chelsea because of their dizzying losses of control when in dominant positions, Bournemouth because of their defensive struggles since losing Milos Kerkez, Illia Zabarnyi and Dean Huijsen last summer - and it was in full evidence throughout a bonkers first half.