'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Chelsea went up to third in the Premier League standings for the time being with a well-constructed victory against bottom-dwellers Watford at Vicarage Road.
Goals from Tammy Abraham and Christian Pulisic helped the Blues record their seventh successive away win while Lampard and co. also secured their fifth consecutive win in the Premier League.
It was much harder in the end than it seemed after Gerard Deulofeu, upon VAR's intervention, dispatched a penalty for the hosts. But, Chelsea held on, courtesy a splendid save from Kepa in the 96th minute to prevent a drop of points.
They were in cruise control of the game for large periods, but Ben Foster's heroics prevented a comprehensive triumph for the visitors. That though, seldom matters to them; a side that is beginning to muster points in various ways.
On that note, we analyze the five major talking points from Chelsea's 2-1 win over the Hornets.
#5 Abraham punishes a static Watford defence early on
As envisioned, Chelsea began to dictate proceedings right from the outset. Watford, setting up in typical Quique Sanches Flores style, enveloped a gigantic yellow blanket over their defensive end.
They did try to lock Chelsea down further up, but as soon as the defenders found Jorginho or Mateo Kovacic in space, the Hornets clouded the back end of the pitch in a 4-5-1 system, with Ricardo Pereyra and Deulofeu stationed for the counter.
They got everybody behind the ball, but that's of no use if the defence remains rooted to the ground. Such was the case when Jorginho picked an absolute cracker of a pass to Abraham, who applied the finishing touches at the first go to net his ninth for the season.
What was highly impressive was the pace at which both Jorginho and Abraham got their heads up. Even before the pass was played to the former, his head was right in front, yearning for a gap between the likes of Craig Dawson and Craig Cathcart.
And, when the pass was played, the Chelsea striker displayed massive composure to slide it past the in-form Foster.
#4 Ben Foster was the biggest talking point of the first half
Pictures as they say, tell hundreds and thousands of stories. Well, the one above justifies the proverb quite well. Watford's defenders ailing, Chelsea on the move, but a spectacular Foster keeping his side in the game despite all their shabby defending.
They played with five at the back but more often than not, they were completely exposed by a pacy Chelsea attack. The game could well have been over, meaning the nail-biting finale towards the end couldn't even have held a pinch of significance.
If not for Foster, Chelsea could have been three or four up inside the first half. A lucky break for Abraham saw the former England international dive to his left. Moreover, he pulled off a jaw-dropping stop off Pulisic's free header. Here again, absolutely no one picked up the run of the American at the near post. The Hornets have sturdy, robust center-halves but no one managed to win the first ball.
Another brilliant passage of play from Chelsea resulted in a thunderous volley from Mason Mount, who did more than just ask questions of the goalkeeper. Foster reacted brilliantly to spring off his stance and deny the youngster.
Shockingly, he almost scored the leveler with the last touch of the game, only to be denied by his counterpart, who was hardly ever troubled in the game.
#3 Watford the architects of their own downfall as Pulisic nets a second
Pulisic embellishes the art of trading inside the 18-yard box with match-defining runs. While we speak about him in a moment, let's learn how Watford shot themselves in the foot while trying to take the attack to Chelsea.
After the 50th minute, Sanches Flores' men probed with purpose and committed bodies forward. Deulofeu's shift to his left was followed by a stinging shot that was just wide off the post. And, that was one indication of what Watford could inflict.
But, while they tried to push Chelsea to the corners and steal the ball off them, they allowed far too much space to the likes of Mount and Pulisic to run in behind. As a result, we witnessed a couple of counter-attacking opportunities for the Blues; an improbable sight in the first 45 minutes.
A quick transition involving Willian eventually led to the second Chelsea goal, with Pulisic there to repay Lampard's faith once again. The Brazilian, having darted forward with sharpness, played Abraham down the right, who made no mistake in sliding it through to Pulisic.
Once again, neither Mariappa nor Kabasele picked up the run of the American, who just ran across the face of goal under their noses. It's no wonder then, that Watford are win-less in their previous 14 PL encounters.
#2 Chelsea's victory was created mainly through the midfield's work ethic
Abraham twisted and turned to perfection, left defenders in their wake and offered everything en route his goal and assist while Pulisic, with his fourth goal of the season, already matched his best-ever goal tally in his senior career.
But today was all about the partnership of Mateo Kovacic and Jorginho. The duo, with each passing game, are giving Lampard a massive selection headache with the likes of Ruben Loftus-Cheek and the world-class N'Golo Kante sidelined.
They work as a pair and share significant similarities and differences. Speaking of the first case, both of them always work in close proximity to each other. They're hardly ever even seven yards away from each other on the field. And, both always seem to have their heads up.
But, what Jorginho offers in abudance in vision. He's got a scintillating range of passing - as seen in Chelsea's first goal. From the diagonals to the ones Cesc Fabregas used to supply Diego Costa with, five years ago, the Italy international has got it all in his locker.
Further, through this very performance, Jorginho recovered the ball ample times and chipped in with vital interventions. Much like Kante himself, Jorginho seems to be learning where to be.
Kovacic on the other hand, complements him and makes their partnership magical with some of his attributes. He may not be renowned for nailing goals and assists down, but in world football, there are few better ball carriers than the Croat. He's also always plugging in between opponent midfielders and making himself available.
This very substance provided by the midfield metronomes at Chelsea were instrumental in the win against Watford, besides other top oppositions.
#1 Chelsea's young crop of players are maturing extremely quickly
In August, when nothing seemed certain about Frank Lampard's philosophy in the English top-flight, Chelsea drew a similar tricky contest against a spirited Sheffield United side. They went 2-0 up in no time, went into the break with complete control of the game but surrendered their lead at home to only register a solitary point.
Fast forward to the present and despite owning a tendency to leak goals rather recklessly, this exciting bunch has instilled the winning mentality earlier than expected. Away at Amsterdam, they worked their socks off to beat Ajax while a solid display of a different kind helped them emerge victorious over Newcastle.
They've begun to win games differently, meaning the intent and maturity is developing thick and fast within the dressing room and on the pitch. On a personal level, the rise of Kurt Zouma typifies the above statements.
He endured a horror show on opening day at Old Trafford, but he is on top of his game with consistent displays since the international break. A couple of last-ditch blocks by him epitomized just how badly himself, and his side, wanted the three points.
