Nicholas Jackson And Raheem Sterling were those denied by the frame of the goal, and Bournemouth keeper Neto also made some good saves to keep clear Conor Gallagher, Levi Colwill and under Cole Palmer.

The Cherries had their own opportunities though, and Robert Sanchez produced a fantastic save in each half to preserve our clean sheet in an entertaining but ultimately goalless match.

Mauricio Pochettino made two changes to the Chelsea team that started our defeat to Nottingham Forest before the international break. Lesley Ugochukwu made his full debut in the Premier League, and Mykhailo Mudryk his first start this term. Moses Caicedo completely missed due to a knee problem suffered while representing Ecuador in midweek. The bench included young people Alfie Gilchrist, Alex Matos And Ronnie Stuttering.

Early openings

Chelsea, sporting our new Eton Blue third kit on a rainy and windy afternoon in Dorset, created a good chance inside three minutes. Mudryk and Jackson combined perfectly, although the former’s cross was a little difficult for captain Gallagher to direct.

An even more excellent exchange between Mudryk and Jackson created space for the Senegalese, whose low shot from the edge of the D hit the outside of the post with Neto struggling.

Fort Sanchez

Sanchez produced his best save in a Chelsea shirt as the 20 minute mark approached, stretching out to deny Dango Ouattara from close range after the Cherries had executed a short free-kick.

The rest of the half was more difficult with clear chances at a premium. The best went to Gallagher after Mudryk’s pass reached him 10 yards out, and this time it was Neto’s time to shine, coming down quickly to his right and using a strong right hand to thwart our skipper.

We almost broke the deadlock five minutes into the second half. Sterling, once again enjoying an excellent game, fired a free kick towards goal. It crashed under the crossbar but unfortunately only about half of the ball landed behind the goal line. It fell to Colwill, who found the net from an offside position.

Colwill almost gave us the lead midway through the second half, with Neto pushing away Jackson’s sideways effort, when he needed another save from Super Sanchez to keep the game scoreless at 10 minutes of the end. Dominic Solanke worked a meter of space for himself and got his shot away, only to be pushed away by the Spaniard’s outstretched right leg.

Late chances come and go

The Palmer submarines and Ian Maatsen were denied by a desperate Bournemouth defense as we looked for a late winner, with the Blues’ frustration growing. Once again, missed chances and a lack of determination in the final third cost us three points.

What this means…

The Blues’ first away point of the season, and their second clean sheet this season, keeps us in 14th place in the table, although of course it is still early days.

What happens next…

We host Aston Villa a week today before our Carabao Cup campaign continues at home to Brighton on Wednesday September 27.

Chelsea (4-3-3): Sanchez; Gusto, Disasi, Thiago Silva, Colwill (Chilwell 80); Gallagher (c), Ugochukwu, Enzo (Maatsen 81); Sterling, Jackson and Mudryk (Palmer 63).
Unused subscribers Bergstrom, Petrovic, Gilchrist, Matos, Stutter, Washington.
Reserve Sterling 4, Mudryk 41, Disasi 76

Bournemouth (4-2-3-1): Néto (c); Aarons, Zabarnyi, Kelly, Kerkez (Senesi 73); Cook, billing; Tavernier (Sinisterra 73), Christie (Brooks 89), Ouattara (Kluivert 63); Solanké.
Unused subscribers Radu, Rothwell, Smith, Traoré, Semenyo.
Reserve Kerkez 62

Arbitrator David Coote