Bournemouth stunned Chelsea with a second-half salvo as they hammered the Blues 4-0 on Wednesday evening.
Chelsea began the match looking to cement their position in the top four after a difficult period for Maurizio Sarri, and Bournemouth needed to improve on their woeful defensive record.
While the home side invited pressure, nobody could find a way past Artur Boruc, and at the other end Kepa was similarly capable of palming away anything sent at him.
Bournemouth's English-born Welsh midfielder David Brooks (2R) shoots but fails to score during the English Premier League football match between Bournemouth and Chelsea at the Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth, southern England on January 30, 2019.
Image credit: Getty Images
In the second half, it took just two minutes for Joshua King to put his side ahead after an excellent David Brooks pass from the left.
Brooks then had the favour returned by King as he doubled the lead, shortly before leaving with an injury, and King made it three, before Charlie Daniels’ injury time fourth.
The defeat leaves Chelsea in fifth - the scale of the defeat allows Arsenal to leapfrog them on goals scored, while Bournemouth move into 10th.
TALKING POINT
Sarri is already losing the fans: As Olivier Giroud replaced Gonzalo Higuain, the Chelsea fans could be heard chanting ‘You don’t know what you’re doing’ at Maurizio Sarri. Sarri is clearly an accomplished manager, but it appears the problems with Chelsea’s squad - churning through managers with impunity almost every season - has led to short-termism amongst fans too.
Higuain, Sarri - Bournemouth-Chelsea - Premier League 2018/2019 - Getty Images
Image credit: Getty Images
MAN OF THE MATCH
David Brooks (Bournemouth): Bournemouth will be hopeful that his injury is not too serious. King was just as good, and his second goal calmed the nerves, but Brooks appears to have the potential to turn into a leader for Bournemouth and he could soon be off to a bigger side.
David Brooks of AFC Bournemouth celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Chelsea FC at Vitality Stadium on January 29, 2019 in Bournemouth, United Kingdom
Image credit: Getty Images
PLAYER RATINGS
Bournemouth: Boruc 7, Smith 7, Ake 7, S Cook 7, Clyne 7, Fraser 7, Surman 7, Gosling 6, Brooks 8, Stanislas 7, King 8. Subs: Daniels 7, Ibe 6.
Chelsea: Arrizabalaga 6, Azpilicueta 6, Luiz 5, Rudiger 5, Emerson 5, Jorginho 5, Kante 5, Kovacic 6, Pedro 6, Higuain 6, Hazard 6. Subs: Loftus-Cheek 6, Willian 6, Giroud 6.
KEY EVENTS
7’ - KOVACIC HEADER - At the Bournemouth end, Kovacic runs onto a Higuain cross from the right in space, and his header strikes the bar and bounces away
25’ - PEDRO CHANCE - Pedro attempts to finish a Chelsea break but his effort with his left foot goes straight to Boruc.
47’ - GOAL! Bournemouth 1-0 Chelsea. King scores - There's an upset on the cards now as Bournemouth take the lead. Brooks advances down the left, picks out King, and he fires home.
63’ -GOAL! Bournemouth 2-0 Chelsea. Brooks scores - Brilliant from Brooks. He drives down the middle and he is tackled by Luiz. The ball runs to King, who loops a pass forward for Brooks to chase towards goal. He takes it onto his left, makes space, and drills it into the corner past Kepa.
77’ - GOAL! Bournemouth 3-0 Chelsea. King scores - Stanislas runs onto a ball down the channel, whips the ball onto King's run, and he clips the ball over the 'keeper.
90+4’ - GOAL! Bournemouth 4-0 Chelsea. Daniels scores - Well, it's four. Daniels completes the humiliation for Sarri's side as he makes it four in injury time.
KEY STAT
This was the first game that Brooks provided both an assist and a goal in his career. Opta
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