Spot-On Cole Palmer Fires First-Half Hat-Trick in Chelsea's Commanding Win at Woeful Wolves
It would be easy to frame this match as a Cole Palmer masterclass, with the Chelsea midfielder completing his hat-trick inside the opening 38 minutes. By the time he was substituted on the hour mark, his work was undeniably done, leaving the visitors comfortably ahead at 3-1. Wolves managed to pull a goal back early in the second half when Tolu Arokodare spun in the box to convert from a corner, but from that point onward, Chelsea appeared to be merely going through the motions.
Palmer's Clinical Finishing Secures Victory
Palmer's trio of cool finishes, two from the penalty spot, were instrumental in securing the victory for Chelsea. His third goal, which capped a slick team move, was particularly pleasing for head coach Liam Rosenior. Rosenior's record as Chelsea manager now stands at an impressive seven wins in nine matches, including four successive victories in the Premier League. This result keeps Chelsea hot on the heels of fourth-placed Manchester United, who are also finding their form under Michael Carrick with a fourth straight league win of their own.
Wolves must be growing weary of facing Chelsea, having now lost their past four encounters by an aggregate scoreline of 15-4. This dismal record does not even include their 6-2 defeat at the start of last season. Despite beginning the match as the better side, Wolves crumbled after captain Matt Doherty conceded a needless penalty. João Pedro was casually moving away from José Sá's goal when Doherty's overzealous challenge gave the Brazil forward a bump in the box, leaving referee Jarred Gillett with little choice but to award the spot-kick.
Confidence Flowing Through Chelsea's Attack
Palmer sent Sá the wrong way with his first penalty, celebrating by covering his ears with his black gloves as he wheeled away towards the Chelsea supporters. The goal came from Chelsea's first meaningful attack, and it seemed they might score from almost every subsequent foray forward. Such was the confidence flowing through the visitors that Enzo Fernández even attempted a rabona, though he was eventually flagged offside. Malo Gusto tested Sá with a stinging shot towards the top corner, and it felt only a matter of time before Chelsea extended their lead.
The second penalty was another gift for Chelsea, with Yerson Mosquera's brainless two-handed shove on João Pedro giving the officials another straightforward decision. Once it was confirmed the foul occurred inside the box, Palmer calmly dispatched the ball into the opposite corner, prompting every outfield Chelsea player to join in the celebrations.
Crisp Team Move Caps Off Hat-Trick
Chelsea's third goal was a model of precision. Pedro Neto sent the ball across the field from right to left for Fernández, who spotted the run of Marc Cucurella. When Cucurella cut the ball back for Palmer, positioned a yard or so in front of the penalty spot, Palmer lashed a first-time finish into the roof of the net. A frustrated Sá could only hammer the ball into his own side netting in anger, as driving rain threatened to turn the afternoon into a truly humiliating experience for Wolves.
However, Chelsea's intensity waned after Palmer's substitution, with his third goal marking their last effort on target. Wolves showed some resilience, with Arokodare reacting quickly to Adam Armstrong's clever backward header to score, moments after Mateus Mané struck the inside of a post. Goalkeeper Robert Sánchez was visibly furious with his defence, but Chelsea held firm to secure the three points.
