Chelsea 1 Leeds 0: Fofana the unlikely Blues hero as his goal relieves pressure on Potter for first win since January | The Sun

YOU would have got good odds on someone called Fofana saving Graham Potter from more death threats.

If pushed, you would have guessed the man responsible for scoring the Blues’ first goal at home for nearly two months was David Datro Fofana, the Ivorian forward signed during January’s trolley dash.

But Wesley Fofana? The centre back whose Chelsea career has been plagued by injury since signing for a mere £70million earlier in the new regime’s £600m-plus spree? 

Surely not.

The former Leicester man looked like he could hardly believe it himself. And as he ran to celebrate with the Matthew Harding Stand, he seemed to shake his arm in triumph in the direction of the home dugout.

Potter responded with the same gesture, regardless of whether Fofana meant to salute his under-fire manager.

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And it matters not, because this was a huge goal and a huge result for the beleaguered boss.

A wretched 3-0 defeat at Leeds in August gave the Blues’ more ammunition when it came to firing Thomas Tuchel.

Now they will hope that this narrow but deserved victory, only the third in the last 16 Premier League games, is a different kind of turning point.

If the Blues can overcome a one-goal deficit against Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday night and reach the last eight of the Champions League, finally there will be signs of progress.

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It remains a big if. But for the first time since beating Crystal Palace on January 15, Chelsea went home from Stamford Bridge after seeing a goal and a win, thanks to a player whose struggles have summed up a frustrating few months.

When Potter and Chelsea point to the injury problems that have dogged them all season, you can hear the world’s smallest violin playing for them.

It’s a beautiful little thing, with strings made from the manes of unicorns. Todd Bohely bought it for £20million from a bloke he met in Davos. Allegedly.

But once more Potter’s job of shaping an effective starting 11 from 30-odd players was made more difficult, not less, by factors beyond his control.

Reece James was not fit enough even for the bench and with Thiago Silva out for a while, another defensive reshuffle was required. 

Fofana made only his fifth Premier League start as Chelsea switched to a back three, and Mateo Kovacic came in alongside Enzo Fernandez in midfield.

Leeds also made three changes from the side unfortunate to lose to two brilliant goals at Fulham in the FA Cup in midweek. 

From the outset it was clear that Gracia’s tactics were to soak up pressure and hope to hit the hosts on the break. Wingers Crysencio Summerville and Jack Harrison spent a lot of time defending, leaving centre forward Georginio Rutter, yet to score since his January arrival, isolated for extended periods.

In the absence of a proper number nine of their own, Chelsea did pretty much everything but score in the first half. Again.

They dominated possession and territory, and created four excellent chances in the process.

After Fofana headed just over the bar from a corner, Kai Havertz showed once more why the Blues need a ruthless finisher.

Played through by Raheem Sterling, the German forward took a fraction too long to shoot and when he did, Meslier made a very good save. Squaring the ball to Joao Felix might have been the better option. The Portugal star certainly seemed to think so and soon had his chance to prove it..

Meslier was helpless when a lovely move ended with Sterling cutting the ball back perfectly for Felix. His shot beat Meslier but came back off the bar, and Enzo Fernandez was off target with the rebound.

Unfortunately for Potter and Chelsea, probably the best opportunity of the lot fell to left wing back Ben Chilwell.

The former England man was the Blues’ main outlet all game and Havertz found him with a lofted pass. Chilwell had more time than he thought, but sent his cushioned volley well wide of the post when any connection on target would probably have opened the scoring.

Leeds barely posed any threat at all, and when it came it was mainly from set-pieces.

There were little hints that the visitors might prosper if they got behind the home backline. But they rarely did and they fell behind soon after the break.

Sterling had already gone close when Chilwell swung in a corner and Fofana rose highest to send a firm header past Meslier.

The roar of relief around seven-eighths of Stamford Bridge was huge.

Yet rather than take heart from the breakthrough, the home side immediately fell prey to nerves and Leeds tried to capitalise. 

Tyler Adams sent a shot just wide, then Luke Ayling’s cross was met by Rutter, only for Kalidou Koulibaly to take all the sting out of it with a block that owed as much to good fortune and good positioning.

From a Harrison free kick, Weston McKennie headed wide.

Chelsea did not look like scoring a second and were so nearly pegged back. Ayling headed wide and a flick on from another corner went just past the far post. Right at the death Meslier headed the ball into Kepa Arrizabalaga's arms.

Earlier in the late rearguard action Fofana took out a steward and photographer when shoved to the ground by Leeds substitute Wilfried Gnonto.

Thanks to him, Chelsea and Potter are still down, but not out. At least not until Tuesday.

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