Thursday 14 January 2016 12:45, UK
Chelsea twice surrendered the lead against West Brom at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night as the defending champions remained in 14th in the Premier League table.
Cesar Azpilicueta's opener was cancelled out by substitute Craig Gardner and while Gareth McAuley's own goal looked to have given Chelsea the points, James McClean scored a late equaliser.
Adam Bate was at Stamford Bridge for Sky Sports and picks out five questions for Chelsea interim boss Guus Hiddink to ponder after this latest wobble at home…
Is confidence the issue?
Chelsea are on a six-match unbeaten run, their longest of the season, and there are positives signs. The sight of one full-back, Branislav Ivanovic, crossing for the other, Cesar Azpilicueta, to score certainly hinted at a more optimistic approach. But the fragility that got them here remains evident.
"That might be an issue because we were starting very well and we should have added a second but we didn't and then we concede an unfortunate goal," said Hiddink afterwards. "Then you see a little bit of a lack of confidence and we have to rebuild that, which was done in the second half.
"Every now and again it happens to the team, that's true." Unfortunately for Chelsea, it's happening rather more regularly than that. There remains a softness to this side that makes little sense considering the experience within it and it's continuing to undermine them in key phases of games.
Perhaps Chelsea's best moment came when Costa failed to put the finish to a wonderful flowing move just after the half-hour mark. There were loud chants of "Diego" followed by "Super Chelsea" and the belief was surging around Stamford Bridge. Moments later, West Brom equalised.
In the second half, having found another breakthrough, there was another opportunity to close the game out and build some bridges at the Bridge. The standing ovation afforded Cesc Fabregas by sections of the crowd felt like it could be part of the healing process.
But then came a second equaliser, panic in the stands, taunts of "you're going down with the Villa" from the away end and the sight of Ivanovic, ball at his feet, berating those ahead of him for their lack of movement. Adversity still isn't bringing the best out of this Chelsea group.
What's up with Pedro?
One man suffering more than most is Pedro, the £19m summer signing from Barcelona. For a player who was won everything and shown plenty of quality in doing so, this was another underwhelming performance that resulted in him being withdrawn at half time in favour of the 19-year-old Kenedy.
Pedro scored in his first game for Jose Mourinho and then repeated the trick for Hiddink, so he has had every reason to settle quickly. However, he has been unable to forge the sort of on-pitch relationships on which he thrived at Barca and a first-half mistake proved costly against West Brom.
Under pressure in his own half, he surrendered possession and Gardner promptly found the corner of the Chelsea net. "We were disappointed with the goal, of course, but we did not anticipate very well this loss of possession of the ball," said Hiddink. Even so, it was Pedro who made way.
The more positive contribution of his replacement Kenedy raises the question of whether, even in a matter of months, Chelsea's priorities have shifted from short to the long term sufficiently to render the future of an out-of-form 28-year-old winger in doubt. Pedro has much work to do.
Time to trust in youth?
Hiddink and John Terry both took the opportunity in their programme notes to mention Ruben Loftus-Cheek's weekend performance with the stadium announcer even introducing the young midfielder as "Sunday's scorer" in honour of his first Chelsea goal against Scunthorpe in the FA Cup.
Kenedy made a similar impact against West Brom, with his run inducing the error that saw McAuley put through his own net. Both men featured under Mourinho but this has been an encouraging week for their development and the hope that Hiddink will give youth a chance.
"He's a young guy and he was involved in the goal," said the coach of Kenedy. "They must get this experience as well. In the recent game we brought in Loftus-Cheek and now this guy. We are now in the period that we want to give the youngsters every now and then some chances as well."
The Stamford Bridge crowd appears more receptive to the youngsters and there's rarely likely to be such an opportunity to give them Premier League experience in a Chelsea shirt free from the pressures of a Champions League push. If Hiddink takes it, there could be long-term rewards.
Is Costa back to his best?
More immediately, Costa's form could be just as important. The forward treated the West Brom defenders to most of his repertoire on Wednesday. He was threatening from the very first minute and having scored four goals in his previous three games, he certainly looked in the mood.
"He is causing continuously danger and he's very vertical now in his actions and that is very good to see," said Hiddink, clearly impressed by the directness that's back in Costa's game. He showed plenty of aggression to the final whistle and beyond, haranguing referee Anthony Taylor even then.
"He's an emotional guy and I like that very much," said Hiddink afterwards. "If you have to push the players then I think it's difficult to survive in the Premier League. Every now and then if you have to control them that's fine."
Asked if Costa was playing on the limit, Hiddink was even happy to joke that he felt he could have gone a little further. He seems content to trust his striker and that's fortunate given the lack of alternatives at Chelsea right now. Getting the best from Costa is going to be key.
Should he focus on cups?
Hiddink's squad management is going to be fascinating for the remainder of the season. For while many Premier League managers might wish to rotate the squad for the cup competitions, there would appear more logic in Chelsea using their league games for experimentation.
The interim boss was unwilling to admit as much on Wednesday. "We have said before that as long as it's possible to mathematically get the fourth position to get in the Champions League then we go for it," said Hiddink. "But you have to win all your games at home at least."
Chelsea aren't doing that and so the FA Cup and Champions League represent their best chance of salvaging something from the season. However he chooses to go about it, the chief challenge for Hiddink will be to infuse this squad with more confidence by the time those cup ties come around.
