Wolves are out of the Carabao Cup, coming up short in a pulsating match at Molineux.
It was a tale of two halves, with Wolves playing atrociously in the first and finding themselves 3-0 down at half-time, before improving massively in the second.
Vitor Pereira made a bizarre team selection, deploying six defenders with Emmanuel Agbadou playing in midfield. That experiment lasted all of about half an hour, before he moved back into defence.
Wolves gifted Chelsea their goals in the first-half, but did show good character to run the Blues close in the second.
Following a lively game, here are a few takeaways.
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David Moller Wolfe has arrived at Wolves
David Moller Wolfe has drawn criticism since his summer move from AZ Alkmaar, having lacked impact.
He has been warming the bench for weeks, and been stuck firmly behind Hugo Bueno in the pecking order. But tonight he was given a chance – and he took his opportunity.
Moller Wolfe was tireless playing on the left side, and put in several great balls.
He also helped himself to a brace, and the Norwegian now needs to build on what was easily his best performance since signing.
It’s not about lack of effort, it’s about quality
It was clear tonight that these Wolves players do not lack in terms of effort. That performance in the second-half was full of heart, it just wasn’t quite enough.
Ultimately, Wolves are losing games because the quality isn’t there, as the squad is weaker now compared to last term.
Too many mistakes are being made, and it’s giving Wolves a mountain to climb in games.
If Wolves are to salvage their season, then it is paramount that the club have a strong January and raise the level of quality in the squad.
Tolu Arokodare needs more minutes for Wolves
Tolu got off to the worst possible start against Chelsea, playing a loose back pass that the Blues seized upon.
It was a poor mistake from the Nigerian, but he then set about trying to atone, and eventually did so by scoring shortly after the restart.
He missed quite a few chances, but when he had time to finish when played in by Hwang Hee-chan, he again showed how ice-cool he can be.
It feels like he could be a real hit for Wolves if he got regular minutes – whether he will under Pereira remains to be seen.
Vitor Pereira continues to make strange decisions
Pereira has made so many weird decisions this season, and there were more tonight against Chelsea.
The starting XI was nothing short of baffling, with six defenders in there featuring Agbadou as a central midfielder. This did not work, and Pereira moved him back into the defence after around half an hour, in an admission that he got it wrong.
If he wanted to play a defender in midfield, why did he not just start Ladislav Krejci? He did then put Krejci on at half-time, and the Czech international was solid next to Joao Gomes.
That meant Fer Lopez then had to play in a double pivot with Joao Gomes, something he hasn’t done before. The Spaniard was out of his depth.
And in what was no doubt a big blow to his confidence, Lopez was then hooked at half-time by Pereira.
Pereira is under major pressure right now, and some of the decisions he’s made this term have undoubtedly cost Wolves.