Chelsea met a stumbling block in their pursuit of the premier league title as they were held to a 1-1 draw at home Burnley in a game that the Blues would rue their missed opportunities, albeit they still remain top of the log.
Deputising in the absence of preferred strikers, Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner, Kai Havertz put the home team ahead, before Matej Vydra came off the bench to earn a point for the Clarets.
While Thomas Tuchel made four changes to his side from their Champions League trip to Malmo, he maintained the same backline, but brought in Reece James and Ben Chilwell. His opposing number, Sean Dyche kept faith with a winning team, same team that won last weekend againt Brentford.
A fixture that Chelsea had dominated over the years, it looked like the same of same as the Blues were on the front foot from the get go.
Callum Hudson-Odoi was the first to put Nick Pope to test when Chelsea broke on a counterattack in the 4th minute. The winger was released by Ross Barkley, before taking an effort at goal which was saved by Pope. The rebound fell to him, but he was unable to get enough composure to score from close range.
Andreas Christensen was next in the line of action three minutes later. His flight to meet a cross from Hudson-Odoi with a header went well wide of the left post from a range he should have hit the target or at least, make the keeper work.
As Chelsea continued to dominate proceedings in the early stages of the game, Jorginho was presented with an opportunity to score when he glanced a cross from Hudson-Odoi towards goal. Pope was well aware and saved it away to the left post.
In the 13th minute, Barkley played a lovely one-two with James before letting one go, aimed at the top left corner. His effort drifted just wide of the goal in the end.
The England midfielder then took a free kick in the 25th minute, whipping a cross into the Burnley box, which was met by Antonio Rudiger, but the German's effort failed to find the target.
It was becoming increasingly frustrating for Chelsea as they were able to find the final balls to punish Burnley despite seeing more of the ball. Their patience finally paid off in the 13th minute.
N'Golo Kante does well to find James in acres of space on the right side of attack. The right back then sends a pinpoint cross into the middle and Havertz found space between the Burnley defence to get a free header and into the bottom left corner as Chelsea deservedly took the lead.
It was always coming and was only a matter of when and if not Chelsea would score. The game could have been finished of as early as the first 30 minutes of the encounter, but due to Chelsea's profligacy, their flurry of missed opportunities gave their visitors a glimmer of hope.
Five minutes after the restart, Chelsea faithful must have been on their feet for their second goal when James' cross was well connected to by Thiago Silva, whose header headed for the top corner, only to clip the outside of the post and out of play.
A sitter was missed by Havertz again three minutes later. Barkley had released Hudson-Odoi on the right side, who sends a low cross into the middle where Havertz was lurking less than 12 yards out. He managed to blaze his effort well over the bar.
Chace after chance, Chelsea continued to squander chances to kill the game and the latest was Barkley in the 72nd minute. Hudson-Odoi had released him in the middle of the 18-yard box. With Chilwell as an option to the left, the former Everton man went for goal himself much to the frustration of his teammate, Chilwell, who hit his hand in the air in frustration.
Sean Dyche made substitutions, looking for options to bring his side back into the game, thanks to Chelsea's wastefulness. He brought on Jay Rodriguez and Matej Vydra. The duo combined to rescue a vital point for the Clarets.
With about 11 minutes of regulation time left to play, Matthew Lowton lofted a ball into the left far post where Rodriguez was making a run into. He headed the ball unselfishly back across goal to Vydra, who was well positioned to tap beyond Edouard Mendy.
The Clarets almost won it in additional time. Pope launched a counterattack after plucking James' cross into the box. The counterattack freed Vydra who tried his effort from about 20 yards out, but the Czech Republic striker saw his effort go just wide of the left post as both teams settled for a draw.
Concluding Thoughts
A big disappointment for Thomas Tuchel as his side failed to take advantage of the momentum that swung in their favour from the beginning, failing to build on their first goal.
The draw obviously feels like a loss to the Blues, who would kick themselves having had 25 shots in the game, a testament to how much dominance they had.
Having won their previous four games against the Clarets, scoring 12 times and conceding just twice, they had all the opportunity to stretch that record, but failed to do so. The draw leaves them just three points ahead of Manchester City who defeated their neighbours, Manchester United 2-0 away earlier in the day and four points ahead of Liverpool who play West Ham on Sunday evening.
Sean Dyche would feel a lucky man after his team scrapped an unlikely draw away to Chelsea.
The six of the seven points that the Clarets have won against Chelsea have all come at Stamford Bridge, with one win and three draws. The draw keeps Burnley in the relegation zion, two points adrift of safety.
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