Brilliant Comeback, Patchy Performance

Watford, like Crystal Palace, have a knack of raising their game against Chelsea - and so it proved on Saturday. The visitors started brightly and then recovered from a one-goal deficit to score either side of half time. Then with the away team leading by two goals to one, it was they who looked far more likely to score the next goal, seemingly to put the contest to bed. Then, with Conte staring at a season mired in mid table, along pops supersub Michy Batshuayi to dramatically turn this match on its head. First the Belgian marksman expertly headed home an excellent cross from Pedro. Later in the dying seconds of added on time, Michy slotted home his second, leaving Watford on the receiving end of a harsh final score.

Elsewhere, Chelsea's Spanish contingent had an afternoon of mixed fortunes. Morata was surprisingly ineffective and Marcus Alonso scarcely much better. Both ended up being replaced. Meanwhile, Pedro opened the goals bonanza with a sumptuous first time strike from a corner that the champions should not have been awarded. Pedro, bless him, doesn't score ordinary goals, and he had one or two efforts on goal from long range, which reveal his admirable willingness to shoot whenever possible. As for the evergreen Azpilicueta, darling Dave put his team back in front with a rare header from another brilliant cross from the right flank, this time from the impressive Willian.

Chelsea however remain an enigma. They have presided over two six-goal thrillers inside a week, so they are nothing if not dull. I can't help feeling that this dramatic turnaround has merely papered over the cracks. Whilst Rudiger looked good in defence, Bakayoko remains disturbingly erratic, losing the ball with alarming regularity. Perhaps the sooner that Drinkwater and Kante revive their old midfield partnership, the better.

CHELSEA 4 Watford 2; half time: 1-1

CHELSEA goal scorers: Pedro; Batshuayi (two); Azpilicueta

CHELSEA: Courtois; Cahill; Azpilicueta; Alonso; Luiz; Rudiger; Pedro; Bakayoko; Morata; Fabregas; Hazard. Used substitutes: Batshuayi; Willian; Zappacosta

CHELSEA leading scorers:

Batshuayi seven

Morata seven

Pedro three

Alonso two

Azpilicueta two

Bakayoko two

Hazard two

Luiz two