Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson on target as Chelsea see off Sheffield United

While a seven-minute burst of inspiration from the excellent Cole Palmer was enough for Chelsea to see off the worst team in the Premier League, this was not a performance that will lure Mauricio Pochettino into thinking that the corner has been turned and a charge up the table is on the way.

Ultimately there was not much to glean from a sleepy 2-0 victory over opponents as limited as Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United. Although it ended with Chelsea’s forwards revelling in the chance to express themselves, goals from Palmer and Nicolas Jackson settling the nerves at the start of the second half, Pochettino is unlikely to forget their ineffectiveness against a deep defence in the first half.

This, after all, is a manager who prides himself on his sides playing with aggression, intensity and pace on the ball. Chelsea are still falling short on that front and cannot pretend that beating United, who remain five points off 17^th place, means the damage has been repaired given how much money has been spent on this squad.

Chelsea may have been depleted but they were still strong enough to put their £106.8m midfielder, Enzo Fernández, on the bench. Pochettino would be pushing it were he to claim that depth is an issue. He was able to start Palmer as a No 10, with Mykhailo Mudryk and Raheem Sterling flanking Jackson in attack, but the real issue for Chelsea during a dreadful first half was their utter inability to do anything with all their possession. The lowlight, Mudryk nutmegging Jayden Bogle before shooting embarrassingly wide from a ridiculous angle, summed up the rashness running through this youthful side.

Still, at least Fernández was able to spend his time on the bench reflecting on the fact that he was busy winning the World Cup with Argentina a year ago. There was no bite to Chelsea’s attacking play. Palmer floated around, only to find Vini Souza tracking his every move, and the frustration did not take long to mount. Pochettino must have required all of his patience not to erupt at the sight of Mudryk repeatedly wasting corners and Jackson finding new and interesting ways to stray offside.

The best of it was limited to Conor Gallagher shooting at Wes Foderingham in the 15^th minute and Jackson bending an effort wide. Foderingham also had to race out to beat Jackson to a pass from Moisés Caicedo, but otherwise this was merely the latest example of Chelsea struggling for ideas against a low block. They might even have been behind when Cameron Archer’s deflected shot flew narrowly wide.

Chelsea had to show more urgency. There was more encouragement at the start of the second half, Gallagher making space with a clever turn and looking right for Palmer, who saw his shot deflected behind by Auston Trusty.

It was from there that the breakthrough would come. With 54 minutes gone Palmer picked up possession, dropped a shoulder and played a reverse pass to Sterling. He drove down the right, past Andre Brooks and drove in a low cross that Palmer turned past Foderingham from close range.

Pochettino was pleased to see his forwards finally seizing the initiative. Chelsea relaxed and soon doubled their lead. Palmer was involved again, dribbling in from the right before Gallagher and Sterling forced their way past some meek challenges. All that was left was for Sterling to shoot, Foderingham to claw the ball away and Palmer to cut it back for Jackson to punish United’s unresponsive defending by tapping in from a yard out.

That was pretty much that. United’s reply was limited to Gustavo Hamer testing Djordje Petrovic with a curling free-kick. The 24-year-old goalkeeper, making his full debut with Robert Sánchez injured, responded with a fine leaping save and Chelsea, who are up to 10^th, were able to win consecutive home games in the league for the first time since October 2022.