COLE PALMER turned the game and maybe even Chelsea’s season in a sizzling seven-minute spell.
The Blues’ blues were on course to continue after a drab first half in which they managed just one shot on target.
But Palmer scored one and made another for Nicolas Jackson after the break to relieve the pressure on Mauricio Pochettino and his team.
Chelsea recorded back to back home league wins for the first time since October 2022.
Beating a dogged but limited Sheffield United, who arrived at Stamford Bridge bottom of the table, is hardly the stuff of dreams.
But to use Pochettino’s metaphor about housebuilding, perhaps this will turn out to be solid foundation.
Chelsea were lucky only to hear a few boos as they walked off at half time.
Their only effort on goal had come from captain Conor Gallagher quite early on and visiting goalkeeper Wes Foderingham made only one more important intervention when he rushed out to deny Jackson.
The Chelsea striker also fired wide after a clash between Moises Caicedo and Anel Ahmedhodzic left the Blades captain clutching his face. As he fouled Caicedo he was caught by a flailing arm but no VAR check was announced.
If anything, the visitors had the better openings.
Cameron Archer had an early shot blocked and later saw another deflected away for a corner. Bogle sent one dangerous ball right across the six-yard box and James McAtee’s deflected centre almost fell perfectly.
Chelsea started the second half with more purpose and Auston Trusty made a vital block on Palmer.
And moments later they scored. Raheem Sterling burst forward and his low ball was turned in from six yards by Palmer, with the goal confirmed after a puzzling VAR check for offside.
Palmer turned provider soon afterwards.
He would probably have been on penalty duty after Ahmedhodzic hauled back Sterling in the messy build-up. Instead he crossed for Jackson to tap home from close range.
Foderingham made a good smothering stop from Jackson before Chelsea ‘keeper Djordje Petrovic, making his full debut in the absence of the injured Robert Sanchez, made his first save of the afternoon from Gustavo Hamer’s free kick.
Palmer should have had another assist in the 84th minute but substitute Armando Broja somehow contrived to miss an open goal when found three yards out by another fine cross.
Palmer still hadn’t finished, forcing Foderingham into a low save with a free kick. The Blades’ keeper also blocked Jackson’s follow-up but Chelsea had already done enough to stop the rot.
