Chelsea's stuttering form in the Premier League continued after a 2-2 draw against bottom-placed Sheffield United on Sunday evening.
Following an enthralling last -gasp win over Manchester United in midweek, Thiago Silva, Trevor Chalobah and Noni Madueke returned in place of Benoit Badiashile, Malo Gusto, and Axel Disasi.
Silva’s return coincided perfectly eleven minutes played as the Brazilian volleyed in Conor Gallagher’s corner-kick from a surging run in the box.
Sheffield were nearly cut open again a little later from a one-two involving Marc Cucurella and Moses Caicedo left of the area, but the defence tracked back and cleared.
The Blades didn’t lose courage and levelled two minutes past the half-hour mark when Jayden Bogle made a blind run to the area to meet Gustavo Hamer’s pass to finish from an awkward angle.
Neither the Blues or Blades managed got further goals and were forced to enter the break on an equal standing – leaving the tie nicely poised.
Furthermore, no substitutions came ahead of the second period as the bottom-placed host fancied the lead where a close-range header from Oliver McBurnie hit the outside post.
Chelsea were firmly on the back-foot – despite being first to the lead and lived nervously when a swerving shot from Hamer narrowly past the goal of Dorde Petrovic.
However, Madueke changed their fortunes towards the remaining 20 minutes after he cut-in from the right to nestle in off the underside of the crossbar.
Break-out star Cole Palmer, fresh from a hat-trick against Manchester United in midweek, had very little impact and was substituted inside the final ten minutes to see Carney Chukwuemeka come on.
The Blades salvaged a draw in added time when McBurnie made complete use of Cameron Archer’s ball and nestled the net to end the contest and denied the Blues maximum points.
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