Cup Progress

Michy Batshuayi was afforded his first Chelsea start and underlined his credentials as an expert goal poacher by scoring twice in the first half, thereby taking his goals tally to three in August already. Victor Moses was also granted a rare start and rewarded his manager's faith by finding the net as well. Clearly, the Blues are a force to be reckoned with when advancing with the ball at their feet. However, when they don't have the ball, alas it is a completely different story. The hosts proceeded to concede twice to a team from a lower league, thus bringing their goals conceded to a disturbing four from three outings against relatively mediocre opposition.

The Blues desperately need cover at both full back and in the centre of defence. We cannot rely on old Terry for much longer, while the eventual return of Kurt Zouma will be followed by weeks of trying to get match fitness under his belt.

Three wins out of three is I'm afraid a false dawn. We simply haven't been tested enough yet by teams with solid defences. When we run up against a brick wall, we will be snookered, because it's our goals that have bailed out our own average defending. In fact, it might not be too much of an exaggeration to state that the Chelsea brains trust have exactly seven days to save the season from likely mid-table mediocrity, because no defence and no clean sheets eventually equals no silverware and no chance. Fortunately we 'only' have Burnley to negotiate this Saturday, but then again Liverfools were saying something similar this time last week.....

CHELSEA 3 Bristol Rovers 2; halftime: 3-1

CHELSEA goal scorers: Batshuayi (2); Moses

CHELSEA team: Begovic; Azpilicueta; Aina; Matic; Pedro; Cahill; Fabregas; Ivanovic; Moses; Pedro; Batshuayi. Used substitutes: Hazard; Oscar; Terry