Chelsea’s statistics from the league phase of this year’s Conference League are just six games and six wins. We were already certain of making it to the round of 16, but with an impeccable record we secured our place as league winners.

Helping us along the way were Shamrock Rovers’ error-prone defense on a chilly evening at Stamford Bridge, when a wayward header left Guiu with an empty net into which to slot the opener, and then a short back pass allowed the Spaniard to score rounds the goalkeeper and scores his second goal.

Between these two goals, the visitors scored a surprise equalizer from a corner, but once Guiu restored the lead there was no looking back. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall drilled a loose ball into the box to give us breathing room and Guiu headed in a cross from Noni Madueke in first half stoppage time to extend our lead and effectively end the game as a contest until half time.

After the break there was a debut for young defender Harrison Murray-Campbell and Marc Cucurella scored his second goal in as many games, for a total of five, but in reality the game was all but over by that point.

The selection

Marc Cucurella and Noni Madueke were the only two players who started in the Premier League win over Brentford at the weekend and retained their place for that game, while Josh Acheampong and Tyrique George joined them in the line-up after leaving on had been accepted into the senior national team the day before.

Filip Jorgensen continued in goal in Europe, with Acheampong and Cucurella at full-back, either side of Renato Veiga and captain Axel Disasi. Cesare Casadei and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall came into midfield, and in attack George and Madueke acted as wingers, with Christopher Nkunku supporting striker Marc Guiu.

The chances are bad

The game started as most expected: Chelsea had possession in Shamrock Rovers’ half and patiently looked for an opportunity. With the visitors’ compact back three making direct routes difficult, wingers George and Madueke increasingly had to bypass the block, while Cucurella and Nkunku moved into wide positions to provide support.

However, Shamrock Rovers defended resolutely with a series of blocks and we were unable to do anything from the resulting corners.

Instead, it was the away team who took the lead with their first chance of the game, and probably should have, when Dylan Watts fired a low ball over goal, only for the Conference League’s top scorer, Johnny Kenny, to miss his ball Finish, unmarked eight meters from the goal.

A moment later we gave the Shamrock Rovers something of their own. George had started brightly and did brilliantly to pick out Madueke at the back post with a floating cross, but he didn’t connect cleanly with his volley.

Early Christmas presents

We soon had the lead and it was a great start. Shortly after the 20 minute mark Shamrock Rovers were forced into their first mistake and we punished them mercilessly. As he raced back towards his own goal under pressure from George, there was a miscommunication which resulted in a defender heading the ball back to his goalkeeper, where Guiu was only too happy to score first.

However, anyone who thought that would be the case as soon as we took the lead was wrong. The Irish side hit back almost immediately. It looked like the danger had passed when Jorgensen made an excellent save to keep out Kenny’s half-volley from the top corner, but the resulting corner broke nicely in the penalty area and Markus Poom fired it home with a flick from Casadei’s heel.

However, Shamrock Rovers continued to be their own worst enemy and when Daniel Cleary subverted a back pass, Guiu was only too happy to take advantage again, showing good composure to get around the keeper and slot in from a tight angle.

Hungry for more

The Spaniard was having fun and thought he had got his hat-trick when Rovers took it again. This time the goalkeeper tried to get around him in the penalty area only to lose it, but his defenders came back to clear on the line.

Nevertheless, we managed to extend our lead and find a margin of safety to reduce the game’s lead. Casadei did well to win the ball and pass it to Cucurella, who played a pass in front of Nkunku in the penalty area. The visiting defender did well to slide inside when he was ready to shoot, but that’s when Dewsbury-Hall burst in to clear the ball and fire into the bottom corner.

We weren’t done yet either, as Guiu still had time before half-time to score a first-half hat-trick, his first for Chelsea. This time it was all in our own hands as a corner ended with Madueke crossing from the right and Guiu rising highest and heading into the bottom corner.

On the way to the goal

That goal before half-time wiped out most of what little threat Chelsea had left in the game. For Enzo Maresca it was an opportunity to give others a chance, as under-21 captain Harvey Vale came off the bench at half-time, followed by defender Harrison Murray-Campbell, who made his senior Blues debut.

With victory secured and all of Shamrock Rovers’ hopes quickly fading as they had to overturn a three goal deficit, the intensity quickly died down and we were able to play comfortably for the rest of the game for the most part.

Joao Felix had a couple of half-chances and Nkunku stabbed the goalkeeper’s palms from distance, but there was little real action in the goal area in the second half.

The only exception was Chelsea’s fifth goal, and it was probably the most popular goal of the night with the home fans. It was a lovely, fluid passing move involving multiple players that ended with Nkunku finding Cucurella on the edge of the penalty area.

The Spanish defender made a brilliant effort, turning from his spotter into space and firing a right-footed shot into the goal from the left post, bringing the home crowd to their feet in an otherwise quiet second half.

Despite George’s best efforts to score his first senior Chelsea goal and some half-hearted penalty appeals from Shamrock Rovers, that was pretty much the end of the action as we let things wind down in peace.

What’s next?

We’re back in the Premier League for our final game before Christmas, traveling to Everton on Sunday December 22nd with kick-off at 2pm before returning to Stamford Bridge at 3pm on Boxing Day for the Hosting neighbors Fulham in the same competition.

The teams

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Jorgensen; Acheampong, Disasi (c) (Murray-Campbell 59), Veiga, Cucurella; Dewsbury Hall (Rak-Sakyi 83), Casadei; Madueke (Vale ht), Nkunku, George; Guiu (Joao Felix 59)
Substitute: Bergstrom, Sanchez, Tosin, Dyer, Neto, Sancho, Mheuka
Goalscorers: Guiu 22, 33, 45+3, Dewsbury Hall 40, Cucurella 58

Shamrock Rovers (3-5-2): Pohls; Cleary, Lopes (c), Grace; Honohan, Watts (Byrne 67), Poom, (Mandroiu 67), O’Niell (Nugent 77), Burns; Kenny (Greene 73), Farrugia (Burke 73)
Unused Subs: Steacy, A. Noonan, McEneff, Kavanagh, Clarke, O’Sullivan, C. Noonan
Scorer: Poom 26
Booked: Lopes 62

Referee: Willy Delajod

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