Chelsea duo injured in draw with Burnley

Chelsea 2 Burnley 2

Chelsea dropped points and lost both N’Golo Kante and Callum Hudson-Odoi to injury on a frustrating night for the Blues at Stamford Bridge, where Maurizio Sarri was sent off in the closing seconds. 

After Jeff Hendrick volleyed Burnley ahead early on, Kante equalisd after being set up by Eden Hazard, and Gonzalo Higuain then fired Chelsea into the lead – all within the opening 14 minutes.

But Ashley Barnes hauled Burnley level midway through the first half and it proved to be enough to earn them a point.

The draw took Chelsea above Arsenal and into fourth place on goal difference, but a win would have taken them above third-placed Tottenham.

Hazard delightfully created Chelsea’s equaliser, embarrassing Matthew Lowton by twisting inside and outside the defender on the left before picking out Kante, who made no mistake.

Two minutes later, Higuain netted only his fourth goal since arriving at the Bridge in January – and it was a beauty.

Higuain skilfully turned away from Ben Mee, touched the ball off to Cesar Azpilicueta and collected the Spaniard’s back-heeled return before blasting past keeper Tom Heaton.

But Chelsea’s shortcomings at the other end of the pitch were soon exposed again.

Having been unable to clear a corner in the build up to Hendrick’s right-footed strike, they failed to deal with a free-kick lofted into their area and were punished.

Mee’s header was diverted towards Barnes by Chris Woods’ all-important touch and the unmarked striker applied the finish from close range.

Worse followed for Chelsea when Hudson-Odoi limped off four minutes before half-time.

They had to make another change at the interval, with Mateo Kovacic replacing Kante.

Burnley defended in numbers and kept Chelsea at bay in the second half.

And as the home side’s frustration boiled over at the end,  a free-kick being awarded to Burnley led to Kovacic squaring up to opposing players and irate Blues boss Sarri being sent from the dugout.