Burnley 0-2 Chelsea: Blues go second thanks to goals from Neto and Fernandez
Chelsea are second ahead of the later games
Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez were on target as Chelsea moved up to second in the Premier League, for a few hours at least, with victory at Burnley.
It wasn’t a game that will live long in the memory but Chelsea won’t care after leapfrogging Manchester City, who visit Newcastle tonight, and moving within three points of leaders Arsenal.
The opener came eight minutes before half-time when Neto steered Jamie Gittens’ cross past Martin Dubravka with a diving header. And Fernandez made sure of the win with two minutes to go, slotting home after good work from substitute Marc Guiu.
Chelsea were a long way from their fluent best and with Burnley lacking the quality to trouble them at the other end, it descended into a sterile contest.
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Neto stars in lacklustre Chelsea display
Neto was the best player on the pitch by a distance with the former Wolves man looking dangerous every time he got the ball.
His team-mates lacked inspiration with a generally sloppy display characterised after five minutes when goalkeeper Robert Sanchez walloped a goal kick straight into the back of Fernandez’s head.
Quilindschy Hartman headed over and Jaidon Anthony saw a shot blocked as Burnley threatened early on.
Chelsea appeared to be missing the drive of Moises Caicedo in midfield with the Ecuador international left on the bench. But they came close in the 36th minute, Neto’s low centre heading for Gittens and what would have been a straightforward finish before Kyle Walker appeared from nowhere to get the block in.
It was only a temporary reprieve, though, as Neto struck from their next attack of note.
Liam Delap could have made it 2-0 before the break but fired a shot straight at Dubravka from a narrow angle.
Fernandez settles it late on for Chelsea
Marc Cucurella saw an effort blocked after 55 minutes and Chelsea’s early second-half pressure was almost rewarded when Gittens’ shot was deflected narrowly wide.
Neto came even closer nine minutes later. After Chelsea won the ball back in midfield, Fernandez slipped the ball to the Portugal international, whose right-footed shot crashed back off the near post with Dubravka beaten.
Enzo Maresca replaced Delap with full-back Malo Gusto and Chelsea lost some of their momentum with Zian Flemming wasting a decent look at an equaliser, spooning his effort over the bar.
Dubravka saved from Gusto before Chelsea killed the game late on. Neto fed Guiu, who held off Axel Tuanzebe before crossing for Fernandez to fire home.