10-man Chelsea lack ‘ruthless’ streak as Burnley steal late point

LONDON — Chelsea were left to rue a familiar failing at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, surrendering a lead and ultimately two precious Premier League points after substitute Zian Flemming’s stoppage-time header earned Burnley a dramatic 1-1 draw.

João Pedro’s early strike had put the Blues in control, yet the hosts failed to turn possession into a decisive second goal. The momentum shifted irrevocably in the 72nd minute when defender Wesley Fofana received a second yellow card, reducing Chelsea to ten men and inviting pressure that would eventually tell.

With the clock ticking past 90, James Ward-Prowse’s outswinging corner found Flemming unmarked beyond the back post, and the Dutch forward planted a clinical header into the far corner to spark jubilant scenes among the travelling Clarets.

Interim boss Liam Rosenior pulled no punches in his post-match assessment. “We should have won the game,” he told BBC Sport. “We should have been more ruthless. There was a lack of penetration in the first half; second half we had more moments without the right final pass or finish.”

Rosenior, appointed only recently, emphasised the need for killer instinct at this level. “The best teams put the opposition to bed. The best teams are ruthless when they have the upper hand. If you are not ruthless you have to keep a clean sheet. There are not enough clean sheets.”

The draw extends Chelsea’s winless run and leaves them reflecting on four points dropped across their last two league outings. “The four points we have dropped in our last two games shouldn’t have happened,” Rosenior admitted. “We still should win this game and that is something I need to address very quickly.”

Discipline is another concern. Fofana’s dismissal was Chelsea’s sixth Premier League card this term, the most in the division, and the club’s eighth across all competitions when accounting for previous managerial sanctions and João Pedro’s European red.

Asked about the trend, Rosenior replied: “I can only speak on my time with the group so far. Up until today our disciplinary record has been good. It is something for me to solve, but I thought it was an unfortunate red card. Even so, you have to see the game out.”

For Burnley, the late equaliser represents a vital point in their survival bid, while Chelsea must quickly rediscover a cutting edge if they are to avoid further costly slips.