Chelsea were forced to settle for a point after a much-improved second-half display against Watford. Here’s how we rated the Blues players in the 0-0 draw at Vicarage Road.
Thibaut Courtois: 7
Made some important first-half saves – notably from Etienne Capoue’s stinging shot – and was largely untroubled after the break. Assured with his catching.
Branislav Ivanovic: 7
Steady and defensively sound, winning a couple of vital headers and making some strong challenges. Supported Willian well but should have scored with a late chance created by Eden Hazard.
Kurt Zouma: 6
Defended well enough, winning his headers and dealing with the speed of Deeney and Ighalo, but had several nervy moments in possession and was regularly overly cautious clearing his lines.
John Terry: 8
Chelsea’s best defender in his first game since revealing his likely departure at the end of the season. Seized the initiative with the ball, organised his defence with his usual calmness and drove the team on in search of a winner until the final whistle.
Cesar Azpilicueta: 6
There are still matches where the right-footed left-back stands out for the wrong reasons and this was one of them. A couple of woeful crosses, and a reluctance to bomb on and trust his weaker foot cost Chelsea in the final third – particularly when Oscar also had similar issues.
Nemanja Matic: 6
Part of a midfield that did not really function in the first half. Was too often guilty of sitting too deep and not closing down quick enough, or failing to protect his centre-backs from Watford’s pacy front duo. Was much better in a more dynamic second half, closing down, running with the ball and joining in with his forwards.
John Mikel Obi: 5
Much more ponderous than he has been recently and, like Matic, never got to grips with Watford’s nippier midfield before the break.
Oscar: 6
Normally looks half the player when pushed out wide and this was no exception. Plenty of endeavour and tenacity but is clearly not comfortable on the left. Posed more of a goal threat in the last 15 minutes or so than he did for the previous 75 when he was moved inside.
Cesc Fabregas: 6
Pushed further forward so lacked time to find his man with intricate passes in tight areas. The match was crying out for him to be given more possession and when Hazard came on and he moved further back, he had more options and was far more effective.
Willian: 7
Some delightful touches and trickery, but only fleetingly. Impressive but not as impressive as he has been for the vast majority of an incredible season.
Diego Costa: 7
A barnstorming display which almost got a full house in Costa bingo. Ran himself ragged, got involved in several spats, had a few chances, created a few chances and tried to run through three defenders on at least three occasions. It just missed a goal, which he was only denied by a brilliant late Heurrelho Gomes save.
Eden Hazard: 7
The substitute that the game, and Chelsea fans, desperately wanted came too late. His introduction panicked Watford, freeing up space and giving his team-mates more options. Should have scored with a late chance only for a really poor touch to stop him getting a shot away.
This post was last modified on 04/02/2016