THE NOTEBOOK: Mauricio Pochettino backs youth over experience as Conor Gallagher becomes FOURTH Chelsea captain this season
Chelsea and Bournemouth played out a goalless draw in the Premier League at the Vitality Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The pair scored nine goals between them across the first five games of the new Premier League season and they struggled to find the back of the net again today, but it was Chelsea who had the better chances.
Nicolas Jackson and Raheem Sterling both hit the woodwork, with Levi Colwill tapping in a deflected free-kick, but his strike was disallowed as the defender was ruled offside.
It means Mauricio Pochettino’s side have failed to score in each of their previous matches, while Bournemouth remain one place below them in the table as they have failed to win in each of their previous matches .
Mail Sport’s Kathryn Batte was at the Vitality Stadium and brings you several things you may have missed from Sunday’s match.
Chelsea and Bournemouth played out a goalless draw in the Premier League at the Vitality Stadium on Sunday afternoon
Mauricio Pochettino’s side (pictured) have now failed to score in their last two Premier League appearances and as of today have not won in their last 14 away Premier League games
Bournemouth, meanwhile, are also struggling with form, having not won a Premier League match since May last year
Chelsea prefers youth players
Chelsea may have spent £1 billion since acquiring Todd Boehly, but their bench yesterday consisted of six players who have never played for the club.
Mauricio Pochettino is currently without as many as 10 first-team players due to injuries, meaning three 18-year-olds formed his substitutes.
The average age of the bank was 21 years and 54 days. Ben Chillwell, 26, was the most experienced player with 89 appearances.
Ian Maatsen (5) and Cole Palmer (1) were the only other two players to play a game for the club before yesterday.
Conor Gallagher takes over the armband
Conor Gallagher was regularly linked with a move away from Chelsea in the summer transfer window, but yesterday he became the fourth different player to captain the club in the Premier League this season.
Gallagher, who also wore the armband in the League Cup victory over AFC Wimbledon last month, was given responsibility against Bournemouth, while regular captain Reece James was still injured and vice-captain Ben Chilwell on the bench.
Pochettino opted for Gallagher over Enzo Fernandez, who was previously given the armband when Chilwell was substituted in previous matches.
Goal problems on both sides of the pitch
It was a story yesterday about the battle of two teams in front of goal at the Vitality Stadium.
Only Everton, Luton and Burnley have scored fewer goals this season than Chelsea (5) and Bournemouth (4).
Three of the Cherries’ thirteen shots were on target, while the visitors managed four of their fourteen shots on target.
Conor Gallagher (pictured) became the fourth player to captain Chelsea this season in today’s match
The away side had the lion’s share of chances, with Levi Colwill (pictured center) having a goal disallowed for offside after he tapped in a deflected shot that bounced off the crossbar.
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Nicolas Jackson (right) also had chances for Chelsea, but The Blues couldn’t find the back of the net
Between them, Bournemouth and Chelsea have scored just nine goals this season
The blues continue for Pochettino, away from home
The away blues continue for Mauricio Pochettino, who is now winless in 14 away games in the Premier League.
The record predates his time at Chelsea, when the manager went 12 away games without winning at Tottenham.
This draw against Bournemouth followed Chelsea’s 3-1 defeat to West Ham earlier this season.
Bournemouth’s drought continues
Bournemouth are waiting for a first league victory since May.
The Cherries have played some decent football this season under new manager Andoni Iraola, but in a run dating back to last season they are now nine league games without a win.
It represents their worst period since finishing eight times without a win between February and July in 2020, a campaign that saw them relegated to the Championship.