Chelsea recovered from Antonio Rudiger’s own goal to move up to fifth in the Premier League, as Thomas Tuchel’s unbeaten start as manager continued with victory at Sheffield United.
The German, who took over from Frank Lampard last month, watched as his side struggled in the opening half hour on a freezing night as Oliver Burke fired wide in the opening minute.
But the visitors went ahead before the break when Mason Mount found the bottom corner following Timo Werner’s cross from the left.
Chelsea then conceded the first goal of Tuchel’s four-game reign in calamitous circumstances when Rudiger poked past Benjamin Mendy into his own net.
The winner arrived in bizarre circumstances.
Timo Werner was brought down by goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale for what looked like a clear penalty, but referee Kevin Friend ignored Chelsea’s appeals and waved play on.
The action continued for almost two minutes before the video assistant referee intervened, but despite the delay, Jorghino kept his cool from the spot for his sixth goal of the season.
Coming after Liverpool’s 4-1 defeat by leaders Manchester City, the win put Chelsea’s Champions League ambitions back on track after they had slipped to ninth under former boss Frank Lampard.
Sheffield United, who had won three of their previous five games, pressed for a late equaliser but found Rudiger in the way and missed out on the chance to move above second-bottom West Brom.
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Sheffield United
Squad number1Player nameRamsdale
Squad number6Player nameBasham
Squad number12Player nameEgan
Squad number29Player nameBryan
Squad number20Player nameBogle
Squad number7Player nameLundstram
Squad number16Player nameNorwood
Squad number4Player nameFleck
Squad number13Player nameLowe
Squad number14Player nameBurke
Squad number9Player nameMcBurnie
Squad number10Player nameSharp
Squad number17Player nameMcGoldrick
Squad number24Player nameBrewster
Chelsea
Squad number16Player nameMendy
Squad number28Player nameAzpilicueta
Squad number4Player nameChristensen
Squad number2Player nameRüdiger
Squad number24Player nameJames
Squad number5Player nameJorginho
Squad number17Player nameKovacic
Squad number21Player nameChilwell
Squad number19Player nameMount
Squad number18Player nameGiroud
Squad number11Player nameWerner
Squad number3Player nameAlonso
Squad number7Player nameKanté
Squad number20Player nameHudson-Odoi
Line-ups
Sheff Utd
Formation 3-5-2
- 1Ramsdale
- 6BashamBooked at 17mins
- 12Egan
- 29BryanSubstituted forSharpat 68′minutes
- 20Bogle
- 7Lundstram
- 16NorwoodSubstituted forBrewsterat 86′minutes
- 4Fleck
- 13Lowe
- 14BurkeSubstituted forMcGoldrickat 62′minutes
- 9McBurnie
Substitutes
- 10Sharp
- 15Jagielka
- 17McGoldrick
- 18Foderingham
- 23Osborn
- 24Brewster
Chelsea
Formation 3-4-1-2
- 16Mendy
- 28Azpilicueta
- 4Christensen
- 2Rüdiger
- 24James
- 5Jorginho
- 17Kovacic
- 21ChilwellSubstituted forAlonsoat 62′minutes
- 19Mount
- 18GiroudSubstituted forHudson-Odoiat 62′minutes
- 11WernerSubstituted forKantéat 75′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Arrizabalaga
- 3Alonso
- 7Kanté
- 9Abraham
- 15Zouma
- 20Hudson-Odoi
- 22Ziyech
- 23Gilmour
- 33Emerson
Live Text
Match ends, Sheffield United 1, Chelsea 2.
Second Half ends, Sheffield United 1, Chelsea 2.
Offside, Sheffield United. Billy Sharp tries a through ball, but Oliver McBurnie is caught offside.
Attempt saved. Billy Sharp (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Oliver McBurnie.
Mason Mount (Chelsea) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Jayden Bogle (Sheffield United).
Attempt blocked. Rhian Brewster (Sheffield United) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Attempt blocked. Rhian Brewster (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Foul by Reece James (Chelsea).
Max Lowe (Sheffield United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Attempt missed. John Lundstram (Sheffield United) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by David McGoldrick.
Substitution, Sheffield United. Rhian Brewster replaces Oliver Norwood.
Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Max Lowe.
Attempt blocked. Reece James (Chelsea) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Callum Hudson-Odoi.
Attempt missed. Mateo Kovacic (Chelsea) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Callum Hudson-Odoi.
Substitution, Chelsea. N’Golo Kanté replaces Timo Werner.
Attempt saved. David McGoldrick (Sheffield United) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Foul by Timo Werner (Chelsea).
John Lundstram (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Reece James (Chelsea).
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