Chelsea 2-2 Bournemouth: Reece James spares Blues' blushes as skipper nets stoppage time free-kick to salvage point - but poor run of form continues

The Blues had led but Bournemouth came from behind to get themselves ahead

With Chelsea losing 2-1 and a 25-yard free-kick in the fifth minute of stoppage time, we all thought Cole Palmer would take it.

But then, up stepped Reece James, club captain and saviour, as the substitute now free from injury struck the ball into the far corner and beyond Mark Travers to salvage a draw out of defeat.

Though Chelsea relied on this late leveller from their skipper, they left somewhat displeased. This was yet another game in which they created a silly number of chances and took none, Nicolas Jackson yet again a culprit.

Tempting though it is to dissect the Blues' failings further, with Stamford Bridge's expectant fans showing their frustrations before James had a blast, this was actually an evening for praising Andoni Iraola's Bournemouth.

They are turning into this season's other surprise package, after Nottingham Forest, of course. Nine games unbeaten in the Premier League represents a club record, and they could yet secure European football for the first time ever. It was a penalty equaliser from Justin Kluivert and a 68th-minute strike from Antoine Semenyo which saw them come so close to victory.

Chelsea have been linked with almost all of Bournemouth's back line, not least their central defenders Dean Huijsen, 19, and Illia Zabarnyi, 22. They do like a talented youngster, the Blues, and this was certainly a youthful team that arrived with Iraola.

Reece James came off the bench to score a late equaliser for Chelsea against Bournemouth

The Blues captain found the bottom corner from a free kick deep into stoppage time

Antoine Semenyo had put the injury-hit Cherries ahead as they came from behind to lead

Their substitutes' bench told a story as injuries and other issues saw it littered with kids, including Daniel Adu-Adjei and Dominic Sadi, two youngsters who were playing for League Two Carlisle United until last week. It was on Friday when Bournemouth announced they were recalling the duo from their season-long loans to help with their shortage.

They watched as Chelsea threatened from the get-go, a heavy touch from Enzo Fernandez robbing him of the chance to open the scoring as Mark Travers smothered the ball before the midfielder could get to it. Travers was standing in for Kepa Arrizabalaga – the goalkeeper unable to face his parent club – and got used to seeing Jadon Sancho sprinting at his box.

Sancho was having fun here. There was even a double nutmeg from the Manchester United loanee at one stage – stroking the ball through the legs of Lewis Cook then Ryan Christie to get out of a jam down the left wing – as the south London boy displayed his cage football creativity.

He assisted Cole Palmer in Chelsea's last Premier League outing at Crystal Palace and nearly did so again when he cut the ball back for his team-mate, whose curler narrowly went wide. England manager Thomas Tuchel was here at Stamford Bridge to watch the pair combine.

In the 13th minute, Chelsea found the breakthrough. It started with an interception from Marc Cucurella as Jackson held up the ball. He was surrounded by three Bournemouth men, and yet rolled Zabarnyi as he turned and played in Palmer for a one-on-one with Travers.

Perhaps we should not be surprised by the finish which followed from Chelsea's 22-year-old superstar, the way he pretended to shoot in order to sit down Bournemouth's goalkeeper and slotted the ball into the gaping goal. The English wonder made it look easy. It is, if your name is Cole Palmer.

After 22 minutes, Iraola needed to make a substitution as James Hill was injured. He turned to the only senior footballer he had on the bench in Kluivert.

Chelsea went back to attacking, Noni Madueke's determination down the right going unrewarded when Jackson skied what should have been a tap-in for an elite striker.

In the 37th minute came Bournemouth's first chance, gifted to them by Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez yet again bungling an attempt at passing from the back. Kluivert struck the post from it. Seconds later, Jackson did the same from 20 yards.

Cole Palmer scored the opening goal for the hosts, who were hoping to end their winless run

Moises Caicedo, however, fouled Antoine Semenyo to give Bournemouth the chance to net

Justin Kluivert took the penalty kick having come off the bench himself and scored

Andoni Iraola's side continued their hunt for a European finish despite their injury issues

Chelsea should have scored again after 44 minutes when Palmer's cross found Jackson. His header from six yards was saved by Travers. The rebound fell to his feet, this time from two yards. He struck it into the side-netting as Enzo Maresca fell to his knees in the technical area.

It is little wonder Chelsea continue to be linked to strikers, such as Ipswich's Liam Delap, when their centre forward is missing chances as clear-cut as this.

In the 49th minute, Bournemouth won a penalty as Moises Caicedo barged into the back of Semenyo. He took none of the ball, all of the man, and Kluivert made it 1-1 by scoring straight down the middle. Not for the first time this season, Chelsea were ruing their wastefulness.

David Brooks feared a red card when Jones visited his pitch-side monitor, alerted that the Bournemouth winger had potentially violently stopped Cucurella. In a rare sight, Jones disagreed with VAR's recommendation, much to Chelsea's fury.

Sanchez was then needed to stop Brooks from giving Bournemouth the lead. But Chelsea's goalkeeper could not stop Semenyo when, given too much space by Josh Acheampong as the 18-year-old centre back showed his inexperienced, he blasted the ball into the goal for 2-1.

In stoppage time, substitute Joao Felix won a free-kick. Palmer stood over it. But then James curled the ball beyond Travers for 2-2.

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