Malo Gusto’s first professional goal sets up Chelsea cruise past winless Wolves

Relegation beckons when all it takes to undo 51 minutes of hard graft is a full-back without a goal in 165 games for club and country popping up to break the deadlock. This is the reality for Wolves now. They are in a miserable state, so much so that it is hard to see why Rob Edwards is prepared to leave Middlesbrough to take the vacancy at Molineux, and they looked utterly bereft of fight as Chelsea handed them their ninth defeat of the season.

It turned into a rout once Malo Gusto had set Chelsea on the path to victory by scoring the first senior goal of his career. Further strikes from Pedro Neto and João Pedro added a more realistic look to the scoreline. Chelsea, who are up to second, were dominant. They took a while to get going but sprinted away once Gusto had settled their nerves.

There was defiance from Wolves at first. They were led by their Under-21s manager, James Collins, who has stepped into the breach since the departure of Vítor Pereira, and they stifled Chelsea during a disappointing opening period. Ultimately, though, there is a reason why Wolves are rooted to the bottom of the league. There is simply nothing to them. They cannot defend, carry zero attacking threat and remain winless after their first 11 games.

Collins had tried to find solutions against superior opposition. Coming up with answers against a deep back five has often been a problem for Enzo Maresca. Chelsea, stung by Sunderland in their previous home game, struggle when they fail to move the ball with enough intensity. It leads to them drifting into sterile domination, testing the patience of their fans, and even this threatened to turn into a slog once Wolves had managed to come through a difficult opening 10 minutes without conceding.

Wolves had resembled easy prey. Chelsea flew at them from the start and made several chances. Enzo Fernández, seemingly operating a shoot-on-sight policy, began in a vibrant mood. The midfielder went close with an ambitious free-kick in the third minute and then produced a lofted ball to release Alejandro Garnacho, who should have done more than bobble a tame shot straight at Sam Johnstone.

There was little suggestion of Chelsea suffering from fatigue after their 5,000-mile round trip to Azerbaijan. Maresca’s resources go far. The Italian’s squad is deeper than most, his rotation policy is backed by his bosses and he was able to make eight changes to the team that drew 2-2 with Qarabag in the Champions League in Baku on Wednesday.

There was more than enough attacking talent at Chelsea’s disposal. Liam Delap, stupidly sent off when these sides met in the Carabao Cup last month, was under pressure to make a positive impression on his first start since suffering a hamstring injury in August. The problem, though, was getting the ball to the striker. He was not given space to run in behind and was shoved to the margins during an unremarkable first half.

João Pedro doubles Chelsea’s lead from close range in the 65th minute. Photograph: David Klein/Reuters

Chelsea flickered. Fernández drew another save from Johnstone. João Pedro, floating behind Delap, dragged a shot wide from 20 yards. Neto and Garnacho were being crowded out on the flanks.

Yet Wolves lacked belief on the ball. A surge from João Gomes created a three-on-two situation in the 19th minute but the move broke down when Jørgen Strand Larsen dribbled away from goal.

The visitors focused on spoiling. Chelsea were booed off at half-time and jeered again when a malfunctioning corner routine ended with the ball going all the way back to Robert Sánchez in the 50th minute.

The home fans had too much faith in Wolves’ defence. It was only another minute before they were celebrating the opening goal. Garnacho crossed from the left and Gusto, ghosting between Toti Gomes and Hugo Bueno, was free to head past Johnstone from close range.

Tension lifted, Chelsea pushed on. Estêvão Willian replaced the ineffective Delap and made an instant impact. The Brazilian moved to the right flank and soon claimed an assist, dancing past Hugo Bueno and pulling the ball back for João Pedro to slam in his first goal at Stamford Bridge since August.

Wolves collapsed. Garnacho, so dangerous in transitions, sped down the left and crossed for Neto to score against his former club, leaving Chelsea to enjoy the rarity of an emphatic home win in the league.