Chelsea thrash Wolves to climb to second in Premier League

LONDON - Malo Gusto, Joao Pedro and Pedro Neto struck in the second half as Chelsea outclassed Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-0 on Saturday to climb to second in the Premier League table and extend the visitors' winless run.

Enzo Maresca's men are six points behind leaders Arsenal with 20 points after 11 games, with Manchester City (19) hosting Liverpool (18) on Sunday.

Wolves, who were managed by Under-21 coach James Collins after Vitor Pereira was sacked last week, are bottom on two points after the worst start to a season in the club's history.

Chelsea seized control from the outset but a wasteful first half had the Stamford Bridge fans booing them off the pitch at the break.    They were significantly better in the second half, and Gusto finally broke the deadlock in the 51st minute with his first senior goal in 98 games since joining Chelsea from Lyon, when he nodded Alejandro Garnacho's cross in at the back post from short range. The goal lifted the mood in a game that had provided little excitement in the first half.

Pedro doubled Chelsea's lead in the 65th minute when Brazilian Estevao beat a defender before pulling the ball back to his compatriot who slotted home from the middle of the box.

Neto scored against his former team to put the game out of reach eight minutes later when he tapped in an excellent cross from Garnacho.

"The clean sheet, the amount of chances we created - these games can be worrying because they are games you have to win and they can be tricky, complicated games," Maresca told Sky Sports.

"First half we conceded nothing, you have to be clinical in the box otherwise the game is always open, second half we scored the goals."

Chelsea had 18 shots, including seven on target, to the visitors' three, and they swarmed Wolverhampton's net until the final whistle with substitute Marc Guiu and Neto squandering late chances.

Wolves' terrible start to the season has them eight points adrift of the safety zone, and no team has ever stayed up in the England's top flight with two points after 11 games. They have scored the joint-fewest goals in the division while simultaneously boasting the league's leakiest defence.

"The spirit in the dressing room, I've seen this week, there's 27 games left, plenty of football, our season won't be decided on Chelsea away," Collins told the BBC.

"The players have shown drive and determination. If we can add a bit of quality who knows?"

Rob Edwards could be next in line to attempt to turn the team around after second-tier Middlesbrough gave him permission on Saturday to speak to the club about the managerial vacancy. Edwards previously guided Luton Town to the Premier League in his first season. REUTERS