LONDON: Chelsea suffered a dispiriting 1-0 loss at home to Bournemouth as a late Dan Gosling goal secured all three points for the visitors to end their five-match losing streak and condemn the London side to a fourth defeat in five Premier League games.

Gosling, making his first start of the season, was left alone as Chelsea’s defence rushed out and he looped a shot high over goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga in the 84th minute.

Although the linesman raised his flag for offside, referee Graham Scott awarded the goal after a lengthy VAR check.

Chelsea remain fourth with 29 points from 17 games, while Bournemouth rose to 14th on 19, four points above the relegation zone after their third win in five visits to Stamford Bridge.The Blues had over 60% possession and buzzed around the penalty area to create chances for Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount and Christian Pulisic but struggled to create clear opportunities against a side missing several key players through injury.

Cherries’ keeper Aaron Ramsdale pulled off fine reaction saves in each half from midfielder Mount and full back Emerson to keep the south-coast side in the game before Gosling’s goal delighted the travelling fans on a chilly afternoon.

Chelsea coach Frank Lampard said the defeat, after recent losses to West Ham United and Everton, was a reality check for his young players who had racked up a string of wins earlier in the season with attack-minded football.

LEICESTER LOSE GROUND

Leicester had the chance to cut the gap to toppers Liver­pool to just five points ahead of that meeting had they beaten Norwich and Man­chester City next weekend.

However, a club record run of eight straight Premier League wins for Brendan Rodgers’s men came to an end against the Canaries.

Teemu Pukki broke clear and finished calmly for his ninth goal of the season to put the visitors in front.

Leicester levelled before the break when Jamie Vardy’s header from James Maddison’s corner was turned into his own net by Norwich goalkeeper Tim Krul, but the hosts could not press home their dominance in the second half.

“The players have been brilliant. When you are on that winning run you believe you are going to win every game but of course it does not work like that,” said Rodgers.

“We were not 100 percent on it. We need to set the reset button.”

Sheffield United provisionally moved ahead of Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur into fifth as John Fleck scored twice in the second half to inflict a 2-0 defeat on Aston Villa, while Jack Grealish missed a late penalty for the visitors.

At the other end of the table, West Ham eased the pressure on Manuel Pelle­grini with a 1-0 win at fellow strugglers Southampton.

Burnley were also 1-0 victors over Newcastle, thanks to Chris Wood’s close-range finish in a game of few chances at Turf Moor.

Published in Dawn, December 16th, 2019