Tuesday 12 December
Huddersfield Town 1:3 Chelsea
Only two days after the shambles of the Olympic stadium and we showed how easy it should be to beat minnows. Without Alvaro Morata we played with Willian, Pedro and Hazard up front and the three of them never stopped buzzing. Stung by the limited performance against the Hammers, Conte sent this side out with instructions to get the ball wide. I was, at times, like watching gridiron with looping quarterback passes finding Alonso and Moses.
Our opener came from the high press we operated throughout as Moses intercepted as their ‘keeper slipped on clearing and the ball flashed to Bakayoko via Willian and Hazard before the Terriers knew what was happening.
Things were going so well for the Blues that Willian got a header in for the second just before the break and Pedro pounced on a loose ball moments into the second to put the issue beyond dispute.
Their late consolation was a surprise for a number of reasons, not least because if they had played with that power and conviction from the start we might have struggled.
Ethan Ampadu got another run out in the sleeting rain as we got back on track in confident style.
Thursday 14 December
Emma Hayes has just announced that she is expecting twins. The babies are due to arrive just after the season finishes. We wish her and the babies all the best and suggest Stamford and Bridget if they are a boy and girl.
The inaugural youth league cup handed us an away tie with Sunderland as reward for finishing top of our group.
Friday 15 December
Chelsea U18 4:0 Scunthorpe United U18
The FA Youth Cup third round and Callum Hudson-Odoi flashed in a couple of goals either side of a hatful of misses and late goal from George McEachran and a debut strike from Tino Anjorin gave the scoreboard a respectable look. We really should have been in double figures with the chances we out wide on the night. But safe passage and a clean sheet are good enough.
Saturday 16 December
Chelsea 1:0 Southampton
We are developing a habit of dominating teams but not being clinical in front of goal. One was enough today as Marcos Alonso caught Fraser Forster out with a free-kick just before the break but we should have been home and dry by then with chances fluffed or offside flags raised.
It didn’t really matter at the end of this Christmassy match – well, it was cold enough – but it has blunted our challenge as Spurs capitulated to Man City.
Alvaro Morata made a heartening cameo appearance at the end as we look to get him back to full fitness.
Sunday 17 December
Chelsea 5:1 Liverpool
The quarter-final of the Continental tyres cup and a hat-trick for Fran Kirby against a strong Liverpool side.
Nobody really expected this level of dominance by Ramona Bachmann and a late Erin Cuthbert effort completed the rout.
