Chelsea 4-2 Watford, Premier League RESULT: Michy Batshuayi and Cesar Azpilicueta turn things around for the champions after Hornets stun Stamford Bridge in thriller

  • Pedro fired Chelsea into the lead before half-time with a stunning strike
  • Abdoulaye Doucoure equalised just before the break as he finished well
  • Roberto Pereyra then put the Hornets ahead with a neat finish 
  • Michy Batshuayi brought Chelsea level before Cesar Azpilicueta's goal
  • Belgian striker Batshuayi added a second in stoppage time to make sure  
  • REPORT: Read the full story of Chelsea's win with Sportsmail's Oliver Holt 

Chelsea dug deep to secure a 4-2 victory over Watford which lightens the pressure on manager Antonio Conte and his players.

After Pedro put the Blues ahead with a stunning strike, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Roberto Pereyra turned the game on its head with goals either side of the break to put Watford ahead.

But the introduction of Michy Batshuayi changed the game, with the Belgian scoring two goals to sandwich a header from Cesar Azpilicueta to win it for the Blues.  


For users viewing this on the app, click here for live blog access on the mobile site. 

 

<
  • Andy Warren

    Host commentator

14:33

That's it for our live coverage from Stamford Bridge after what turned out to be a stunning game of football.

You can read the full report from Sportsmail's Oliver Holt right here. 

Thanks for following today's game with us.

READ THE FULL REPORT HERE

14:28
Conte's crowd surfing

This is what it means to the Chelsea manager

14:25
FT: Chelsea 4-2 Watford

What a game.

14:25
GOAL! Chelsea 4-2 Watford

Chelsea 4-2 Watford (Batshuayi): The Belgian does superbly well to hold off Kabasele and finish neatly past Gomes. Game over.

14:20
The winner?

Five minutes have been added on

14:19
Watford change

Andre Gray on for Mariappa as we approach stoppage time

14:16
GOAL! 3-2 Chelsea

Chelsea 3-2 Watford (Azpilicueta 87): Surely they have won it now. It's Willian with the cross which Azpilicueta does superbly well to head the ball into the back of the net. Stamford Bridge goes wild, Antonio Conte goes wild.

14:16
Substitution

Zappacosta on for Pedro in a final throw of the dice

14:15
14:13
Gomes's throwing ability is insane

He's just launched one which reached all the way to the middle of the Chelsea half without bouncing.

14:11
Another chance for Batshuayi

This time it's over the top of the bar as the striker twists and turns inside the box and fires his shot just a little too high.

Can he win it for his side?

14:10
Substitution

Looks like Silva is happy with a point as he brings on Ben Watson and takes off Troy Deeney

14:09
Ten minutes to go
14:09
The Belgian flashes a shot wide

Gomes looked really calm as that shot from outside the box flew past his post, but it really wasn't far away!

14:06
Batshuayi celebrates his goal
14:03
Another Watford chance

They may well be level but Chelsea's defence is still all over the place. Kabasele was allowed to ghost into the box and meet a free-kick, but his header has no conviction and is easy for Courtous. Another lucky escape.

14:01
GOAL 2-2! (Batshuayi)

Chelsea 2-2 Watford (Batshuayi 71): Just when Chelsea needed it the substitute delivers. He got across his man, Britos, to meet a Pedro cross and thump his header into the back of the net. Chelsea needed that.

13:59
Close your eyes and hope
13:56
This is getting silly now

So, so sloppy. Watford are getting space whenever they want it, particularly in behind Alonso, and they've just won another corner, but can't make anything of it.

13:54
The goalscorer comes off

Treatment for Pereyra following a clash and it looks as though his race is run.

As he continues to be assessed Watford have a corner, which doesn't beat the first man, before Andre Carrillo comes on.

13:50
He's missed two sitters but he's still pretty good
13:49
Chelsea's response

Morata is being taken off and replaced by Batshuayi

13:44
Pereyra's goal in pictures
13:43
And it should be 3-1!

What is going on in the Chelsea backline? All at sea.

That's another glorious chance for Richarlison which he really should have scored, but he sends his free header wide.

Watford should be out of sight. Chelsea have many, many issues.

13:39
GOAL 1-2 (Pereyra 49)

Chelsea 1-2 Watford (Pereyra): This time the Hornets do make it count! 

This game has turned on its head. Pereyra had so much space and so much time to place his shot into the back of the net and that's exactly what he did.

Chelsea's defence have been opened up twice at the start of this second half. 

13:38
How has he missed?

Nobody can believe it. The ball in is perfect for Richarlison who has half a goal to put the ball into, but he somehow slices it wide of the far post. He's been so impressive since arrving in the Premier League but that was really poor.

13:37
End-to-end stuff!

A Watford attack comes to nothing as a ball into the box is easily cleared, before the Blues charge down the other end, allowing Pedro to try his luck again. This time it's off target.

13:36

46 minutes: Early corner for the Blues is swung in by Fabregas, Watford can only clear as far as Alonso who drills a low cross in which is cleared by the Hornets.

13:35
We're off and running once again in the second half
13:32
First half stats
13:28
Clinical
13:19
HT: Chelsea 1-1 Watford

Stamford Bridge silenced right on the whistle

13:18
GOAL! 1-1 Doucoure

Chelsea 1-1 Watford (Doucoure 45+2) Another great strike, this time from inside the box as the Watford man keeps his effort low and fires home after the ball broke to him following a long throw. Game on!

13:15
Two minutes added on
13:11
Fabregas stings the palms

40 minutes: Fabregas lets fly from range but Gomes gets a good sight of it and is able to turn the ball behind.

The corner is sprayed out to Luiz on the edge of the box but his volley is a wild one.

13:10
Conte looking animated on the touchline
13:09
Good stuff from Watford

Watford slowly but surely getting more of a foothold on this. They are passing the ball well but need to get in behind Chelsea a little more. They've only really test Courtois from Cleverley's free-kick.

13:03
Two quick Richarlison chances

32 minutes: Richarlison is the next to try his luck for the Hornets, following a crunching 50/50 tackle between Bakayoko and Doucoure, but hit's high and over the top.

A minute later the Brazilian has another effort which rolls through to Courtois.

13:01
Good save from the Chelsea goalkeeper

31 minutes: Cleverley lines up a free-kick from outside the box, on the angle to the left, and it's a good effort which Courtois needs to claw away from under his own bar.

Good save.

13:00
Luiz has a go

30 minutes: Chelsea work a corner short which eventually gets rolled to David Luiz, who tries a speculative effort which is straight down the throat of fellow Brazilian, Gomes. 

12:54
He can't do it again, can he?

24 minutes: The Spaniard lets fly from outside the box once again but this time his effort flies wide of the post.

12:50
Pedro holds the key
12:50
Yellow card

Mariappa goes in the book for a late tackle on Hazard

12:49
But it should really be 2-0

A stunning break from Chelsea ends with Hazard finding Fabregas inside the box, but instead of trying to place the ball past Gomes, he instead tries to chip the Brazilian but doesn't get it high enough or use enough power. The Hornets goalkeeper saves.

12:48
Pedro's goal in pictures
12:47
A stunning goal but a bit of controversy

Take nothing away from Pedro following his stunning strike, but Watford may feel a little hard done by due to a decision in the build-up.

The goal came from a Chelsea corner, but it should have been a goal kick after it clearly came off Hazard.

Watford weren't happy
12:42
GOAL! 1-0 Chelsea!

Chelsea 1-0 Watford - Pedro 12: And what a goal it is as Pedro takes aim from outside the box, takes it first time and curls the ball off the inside of the post and into the back of the net. No chance at all for Gomes.

12:41

10 minutes: Azplicueta aims a cross towards and unmarked Pedro but Britos is there to turn it away.

12:38
Better from the champions

Seven minutes: Chelsea looking to use the flanks now, with Azpilicueta a regular target. He wins a corner off Holebas and Morata manages to turn a following cross towards goal but is unable to really test Gomes.

12:34
Chelsea under pressure

Three minutes: Rudiger has to intervene again to dig out Pereyra's low cross, with Courtois then having to punch away the resulting corner. A very good start from the Hornets.

12:32
A fast start

A great driving run from Richarlison ends with Rudiger putting in a thumping tackle. A good start.

Play moves down the other end quickly and Azplicueta swings in a cross which catches Morata just offside.

Morata was flagged offside as he attempted to reach the cross
12:30
We're off and running
12:30
The teams are out!

And before they emerged from the tunnel, Conte and Silva found time for a little chat.

Just minutes from kick-off

12:26
Can the Hornets keep this man busy?
12:14
So how many will they score today?
12:11
No takers for this Costa scarf?
12:09
Conte also expecting a tough afternoon... he wasn't saying much

'It's a big test but we know that today we play a very good team and it will be really tough. We have to be ready to fight even though it's our third game in seven days.

'We have to try and play our football and win. We have to try always to win, the win is important at every moment and I always try and play for the win.

'Watford are a strong team, very strong, and today it will be tough for us. We want to play a good game and try to win.'

12:06
Chelsea out to warm up
11:58
Morata expecting a tough afternoon

Spanish striker Alvaro Morata has been speaking ahead of kick-off.

He told Sky Sports: 'It's an important game for us because we need to get back to winning, we need three points at home and to make a good performance.

'The attitude of the squad is very good but sometimes things don't go the best way. We need to change this and now it's time to show it on the field.

'Watford are a very good team, they are difficult to play against and it's a difficult match for us because they play well on the ball and have a good defence.'

11:54
A beautiful day for football at Stamford Bridge
11:52
Why Marco started Troy
11:48

It's slightly straying from this game at Stamford Bridge, but I urge you to give this tactical analysis of Manchester City a read.

We all know Pep Guardiola's side are good... but why are they so good?

Amitai Winehouse has broken it down superbly.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

11:42
Can this man continue his sparkling form at the home of the champions?

Watford star Richarlison has been an instant hit at Vicarage Road but his journey from Brazil to the Premier League was anything but smooth.

Richarlison, who has scored three goals in his first eight Premier League appearances, will line up against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

But a trip to the champions won't faze the 20-year-old, who faced much scarier situations during his childhood on the rough streets of Nova Venecia.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

11:38
Conte under pressure?

KIERAN GILL: The pressure on Antonio Conte is intensifying with the Chelsea manager's ruthless training schedule coming under scrutiny.

Some of the Premier League champions' players are not happy as Chelsea stutter in their title defence and continue to be struck by injuries.

Conte's tough sessions last season were easier to handle with no European football to consider, but now their workload is taking its toll.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

11:34
And here's the Watford side

Watford starting XI: Gomes; Mariappa, Kabasele, Britos; Femenía, Cleverley, Doucouré, Holebas; Pereyra, Deeney (C), Richarlison

Subs: Karnezis (GK), Wagué, Janmaat, Watson, Capoue, Carrillo, Gray

11:32
The Chelsea team is in

Chelsea starting XI: Courtois; Rudiger, David Luiz, Cahill (c); Azpilicueta, Bakayoko, Fabregas, Alonso; Pedro, Morata, Hazard

Subs: Caballero, Christensen, Ampadu, Zappacosta, Musonda, Willian, Batshuayi

11:29
Chelsea in the house

Team news coming up any minute now, but for now here are some images of the Chelsea squad arriving.

11:19
Good morning

Good morning one and all and welcome to Sportsmail's live coverage of this lunchtime Premier League clash between Chelsea and Watford.

This game pits fourth against fifth, but it is Marco Silva's Hornets, rather than Antonio Conte's champions, who sit higher in the standings.

We've got all the action as it happens, with the game kicking off at 12.30pm.

The comments below have not been moderated.

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

We are no longer accepting comments on this article.