Chelsea 0-1 AFC Bournemouth: 5 Talking Points and Tactical Analysis | Premier League 2019-20

2. Bournemouth contain well, Howe's tactics do the trick

Billing excelled in midfield as Howe's trident held their position and frustrated Chelsea to good effect

Eddie Howe's tactics were spot on and after five successive defeats, it's easy to forget how Bournemouth are a tough team who can beat any team across the league when on song. They were at Stamford Bridge and since their 2015 promotion, no team has beaten Chelsea more often away from home (3) than them. So evidently, something has stuck with them - despite managerial and personnel changes galore since the first 1-0 victory, four years ago.

Howe has alternated between a 4-4-2 and a 4-3-3 in recent weeks but on this occasion, opted for an unorthodox 4-5-1 type formation. A midfield trio of Gosling, Lerma and Billing being supported by Ryan Fraser and Lewis Cook either side, King led the line by himself for the first time this term.

Injuries to key personnel meant changes were always going to be expected, but Chelsea players found themselves stifled by the aforementioned midfield trident: who all did their jobs brilliantly, despite largely struggling to retain possession. It was unrealistic to expect much more from them, given the opposition quality they were up against - but they kept Pulisic and Mount quiet, frustrated Kante while forcing Jorginho into much deeper playmaking positions.

This all combined to ensure their leading goalscorer Abraham was starved of good service, while regularly forcing Willian into mistakes in possession. Despite having 40 touches, the Brazilian lost possession a whopping 18 times before being replaced.

Cook struggled for much efficiency down the right-hand side against Jorginho, but Fraser shook off an early knock to work tirelessly out-of-possession while providing King with some much-needed creative help in transition.

Dominic Solanke delivered an encouraging cameo against his former side in King's absence and they defended well, winning aerial duels and working hard for one another: this was a disciplined showing by the visitors - who were ultimately deserved winners and could've easily had two or three more goals.