PLAYER RATINGS: Joao Felix impresses again as Wesley Fofana grabs the winner
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Chelsea stopped the Graham Potter rot, albeit perhaps temporarily, with a 1-0 win over Leeds at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues had only scored once in their last six games before the clash with Javi Gracia’s side, but Wesley Fofana’s goal eight minutes after the restart ensured some pressure.
Winning their first game in over a month, Stamford Bridge reacted more warmly to Potter and his team than in recent times.
Leeds, meanwhile, were thrown into further danger by the result that leaves them 17th, just one point clear of Everton in 18th.
Gerry Cox offers his ratings and assessments of each of the Stamford Bridge players.
Wesley Fofana’s goal ensured that some of the mounting pressure was eased on Graham Potter.
Chelsea 3-4-3
Kepa Arrizabalaga: Little to be done in terms of saves until late in the game when Leeds tried to fight back. He made two saves in stoppage time, one from a shot from Joseph, the other from a header from his Meslier counterpart. 7
Wes Fofana: He scored the winner with his first Premier League goal, an imposing header in the 53rd minute. He had previously headed in another Chilwell corner in the 12th minute. Booked for a high tackle at Summerville before half time. 7
Kalidou Koulibaly: Dominant performance in the center of the rear three. Two important entrances in the first bars. Great forward pass to set up an early chance for Chilwell and he blocked a shot from Aronson. 7
Benoit Badiashile: Remembered to the left of the back three. He gave up the ball early but regained his composure and made some big interceptions. 6
Benoit Badiashile recovered well from an early mistake to regain his composure for Chelsea
Ruben Loftus: Cheek Right-back in place of the injured Reece James, but nothing close to the same future threat as his England colleague. Replaced by Chalobah late. 6
Mateo Kovacic: Captain replacing the injured Thiago Silva and Azpilicueta. Busy as usual in midfield before being replaced in the last 15 minutes 7
Enzo Fernandez: He fired a shot from 25 yards straight at Meslier. He headed a free kick over the bar at half-time. He struggled in midfield but has yet to show why he is Britain’s most expensive player. 7
Ben Chilwell: It progressed well. Spoken for an early foul and admonished in injury time. Denied a goal for a great tackle from Koch, then volleyed wide when clean before halftime. 7
Rahim Sterling: I cleared Havertz after a fast run early on and then crossed for Felix to fire off the bar. Shot wide after a quick break at the hour mark, but replaced soon after 6
Kai Havertz: A great wasted opportunity to open the scoring on 15 minutes, when Meslier saved from close range, although the German’s shot lacked forcefulness. He kept connecting away without much threat of goal. 6
Joao Felix: He started on the left but moved inside and influenced the entire field. So unfortunate with a volley in the 22nd minute that he hit the bar but he always intervened in Chelsea’s best play until he was substituted for Gallagher in the 68th minute. 8
Joao Félix was brilliant again for Chelsea: they must harbor dreams of signing him permanently
chelsea substitutes
Conor Gallagher for Felix 68′: He brought much-needed energy to midfield 7
Denis Zakaria for Sterling 68′: Helped Chelsea close out the game 6
Carney Chukwuemeka for Kovacic 75′: He replaced the exhausting Kovacic to see the victory 6
Chukwunonso Madueke by Fernández 84′: An exciting race in the final minutes. 6
Trevoh Chalobah for Loftus Cheek 84′: Good tackle for Gnonto as Leeds pushed for an equalizer 6
Chelsea manager: graham potter – No complaints from the fans this week after your team finally scored and won. Good use of substitutions to protect Chelsea’s lead 7
Chelsea boss Graham Potter saw the mounting pressure on his shoulders ease somewhat.
Leeds United 4-2-3-1
Ilian Meslier: He spilled an early free kick. Great one-handed save to deny Havertz from close range in the 15th minute and then saved a shot from Fernández comfortably. No chances with Fofana’s goal. He went up for a corner in stoppage time and his header was saved. 7
Lucas Ayling: He seemed uncomfortable with Chilwell’s attacking threat at first, but he grew up in the game and helped Leeds in attack as well. He put a late header wide open. 6
Robin Koch: Brilliant tackle to deny Chilwell when he was on goal on 24 minutes. Solid for most of the game and made another fine tackle to deny Gallagher in the closing stages 6
Robin Koch launched a brilliant challenge to deny Ben Chilwell and was otherwise solid for most of the game.
Max Wober: Against Havertz, he defended well at all times. He conceded an unnecessary free kick for fouling Sterling early in the second half, but he can’t be called. 6
Junior Firpo: He was very busy with Sterling on Chelsea’s right, but he looked increasingly comfortable and joined the Leeds attack, as well as making some vital tackles. 7
Weston McKennie: Solid play in the heart of Leeds’ midfield, breaking up attacks and countering. Put a free kick over the crossbar. Outjumped by Fofana when he scored the game-winner. 6
Weston McKennie was solid at the heart of Leeds’ midfield against Chelsea’s expensively assembled midfielders
tyler adams: Linked well with fellow American McKennie in Leeds midfield. Good battle against Fernández and Kovacic. A shot went over the crossbar early in the second half. 6
Crysencia Summerville: Instead of Gnonto, he caused Chelsea trouble with his pace tricks and won free kicks after being fouled by Fofana, Badiashile and Koulibaly in a spell before half-time. 7
Brenden Aaronson: Lively and caused problems for Chelsea as number ten. Denied by a late tackle from Koulibaly before halftime, who also blocked one of his shots. He defended well, too, when he needed it. 6
Jack Harrison: He headed a free kick over the crossbar before the break. He intervened a lot more in the second half but the final ball from him wasn’t good enough. Replaced by Greenwood. 6
Georginio Rutter: In Bamford’s place, he looked lively and headed in an early cross from Ayling. Put Aaronson in with a smart pass before halftime. Replaced by Gnonto at 68 minutes. 6
Leeds struggle to score goals like most of the teams around them and again struggled to get the ball into the back of the net.
Leeds Substitutes:
Jose for Rutter 68′: He was close to a corner and was stopped by a low shot in discount 6
Wilfried Gnonto for Aaronson 68′: He caused problems for Chelsea with his dribbling and goal threat 6
Sam Greenwood for Harrison 80′: Little time to make an impact 6
leeds coach
Javi Grace – A frustrating picture on the touchline, the former Watford manager watched his team do everything but score. 6
Javi Gracia was the spitting image of frustration on the touchline as his team did everything but score
Referee
michael oliver he let the game flow and had no major controversies to deal with. 7