Chelsea 3-1 Wolves: Enzo Maresca's side end five-game winless run in Premier League

Chelsea overcame Wolves with a strong second-half performance, ending their five-game winless streak in the Premier League and successfully climbing into the top four. After Tosin Adarabioyo's goal was cancelled out by Matt Doherty, a brace of goals within five minutes from Marc Cucurella and Noni Madueke in the second half secured victory for the home side at Stamford Bridge.

Cucurella, marking his 100th Premier League appearance, scored from close range after Madueke's cross was flicked on by Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. Subsequently, Madueke also headed in a goal following a towering header from Trevoh Chalobah from a corner, with Chalobah having returned from a loan spell at Crystal Palace.

These goals made up for a mistake by Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, whose error led to Doherty's equalizer in first-half stoppage time. Sanchez was caught too far off his line and was exposed by Matheus Cunha, who delivered a precise cross, which Sanchez tried to catch rather than punch, leading to the goal. This was Sanchez’s fourth error leading to a goal this season, second only to Ipswich’s Arijanet Muric (five), and it has raised further questions about whether he should continue as first choice, with Chelsea keeping only one home clean sheet this season.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca defended Sanchez, stating in a Sky Sports interview: "You say it's his fourth mistake [leading to a goal]? Okay, how many times has he saved us? It's more than four for sure. So it's okay. Mistakes happen, he will make mistakes, the strikers will make mistakes, the midfielders will make mistakes. He did well." Tosin’s goal – which was awarded after a VAR check following an initial offside call – came after a deflected shot from Reece James fell to his feet.

The victory lifted Chelsea to fourth, two points ahead of Manchester City and Newcastle United. Wolves, who have now conceded 51 goals, the most in the league, remain 17th, just outside the relegation zone on goal difference, under Vitor Pereira. Chelsea's inconsistency was still evident, as they made five changes, including a first Premier League start for Dewsbury-Hall since his summer move from Leicester City, and they began well. They had four shots in the first five minutes and continued to press, with Cole Palmer going closest early on, his shot from the edge of the box being saved by the visiting goalkeeper, Jose Sa.

Their bright start almost went unrewarded, before Tosin controlled well with his thigh and scored his first Premier League goal for Chelsea. The flag went up immediately, but Cunha had not retreated with the rest of the defence, playing Tosin onside. Chelsea's level then dropped sharply, while Wolves, who had been poor for the opening half-hour, began to take control. Doherty’s equalizer was their first shot on target, but it came after a sustained spell of pressure. Chelsea controlled the second half, and Nicolas Jackson had a goal ruled out for offside, his fourth such disallowed goal, after running too early onto Palmer’s through ball. This made it six Premier League games without a goal for Jackson, which has coincided with Chelsea's dip in form, another issue for Maresca to address.

Wolves were lackluster and did not have their first shot of the second half until the 79th minute. After taking seven points from their first three games, Pereira has now lost three in a row, and Wolves remain deep in relegation trouble. One real area of concern will be defending set pieces, with Wolves having conceded 19 set-piece goals this season, seven more than any other team. They have lost their first three league games in a calendar year for the first time since 1982, and their next four league games are against Arsenal, Aston Villa, Liverpool and Bournemouth – all in the top eight – so the immediate future looks bleak.

Pereira said: “We need to be consistent for 95 minutes. Today the team tried their best but didn’t do it the way we should. We certainly need to improve set pieces. We need to improve in the moments we have to be confident to convert, to move the ball. We need to improve our tactical maturity.” Cunha walked straight down the tunnel at full-time without acknowledging the away fans, which Pereira was unhappy about, saying it was “something that shouldn’t happen.” “He is a captain. He might be frustrated because he wants to win, but everyone in the dressing room wants to win. I don’t like his body language,” Pereira added. “I expect the captain to help the team by running, by suffering, by fighting together. But I understand now, next time I won’t understand.”