Of course it would be typical Chelsea to fall flat on their faces a week after giving Manchester City a footballing lesson at Stamford Bridge.
Few in the 40,571-strong crowd expected a Blues win against the champions... but the risk of a third successive away defeat is real as Chelsea prepare to visit the Amex stadium to face Brighton.
Defeats on the road to Spurs and Wolves means Morrie Sarri is determined not to undo all the good work which ended City’s unbeaten run.
The question is, will he again play without a target man up front, and rely once more on the scampering trio of Eden Hazard, Willian and Pedro – probably the smallest attacking line in the Premier League – to bamboozle the Seagulls.
With N'Golo Kante – a player who usually hits Row Z with his lofty efforts – and David Luiz on the scoresheet against City, is there any longer a need for Alvaro Morata or Olivier Giroud?
Chelsea Women showed the men how to do it on Sunday, scoring four times without reply at Brighton to finish 2018 on the gallop, closing on leaders Arsenal at the top of the WSL.
But Sarri will be wary of a mood of festive euphoria in the dressing room. It took a collective effort (one of his favourite concepts) to defeat City, and Albion will be just as difficult to conquer.
The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and unless specifically stated are not necessarily those of Hammersmith & Fulham Council.
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