Chelsea 2-0 Sheffield United: Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson ...

Cole Palmer scored one and set up another as Chelsea managed a second successive home victory, defeating bottom-club Sheffield United.

In a very poor first half, The Blades were very comfortable keeping the Blues at bay but Palmer took the game by the scruff of the neck after the break.

Nine minutes into the second half, he set up Raheem Sterling on the right and then raced into the box to convert home from close range for the opener.

Seven minutes later, when most in the box had stopped playing, Palmer took advantage of an error from Wes Foderingham to square for Nicholas Jackson to tap home the second goal.

The lead should have been extended when Armando Broja diverted the ball wide of the target from two yards out after more classy work from the former Manchester City forward.

The win takes the Blues up to 10th in the table, while the Blades remain marooned at the bottom.

Imagine a world where Pep Guardiola could have coaxed, persuaded or promised Cole Palmer enough to stay at the Etihad Stadium in August. It is unthinkable for Chelsea. The first half was the kind of coaching performance which can, very understandably, get a manager sacked. What did Mauricio Pochettino expect playing against the team at the bottom of the Premier League with four centre backs? And, it appeared, little licence for them to go forward. It allowed the Blades to squeeze the Blues forwards of space in the first half. Once more this season it was Palmer who took the initiative to drag Chelsea into a game, managing to get himself the ball in space after the break - in fairness Pochettino moved him from the centre to the right, swapping with Sterling - and this was the difference for the two goals. Along with Conor Gallagher, he has been a shining light for the Blues and hope for better days ahead in the coming years, whoever happens to be at the helm then.

He will have better games, but it takes a special player to be the difference-maker when the mood in the stadium is bleak and there is little belief amongst the team. He wanted to be the difference maker and immediately made things difficult for the Blades after the break running at their defenders. He should have had another assist as Armando Broja contrived to miss an open goal he created and wasn't far away from a cheeky dink from a free kick. He is a special talent, he backed himself to show this by playing regularly and even amidst the gloom in West London he dazzles.

Chelsea: Petrovic 6; Disasi 6, Silva 7, Badiashile 6, Colwill 6; Caicedo 6, Gallagher 7, Palmer 9*; Sterling 7, Mudryk 5; Jackson 6.

Subs: Fernandez 6, Broja 5, Maatsen 6, Gusto 6.

Sheffield United: Foderingham 5; Bogle 6, Ahmedhodzic 6, Trusty 7, Lowe 6; Souza 7; McAtee 6, Hamer 6, Brooks 6, Archer 6; McBurnie 6.

Subs: Norwood 6, Slimane 6, Osula 5.

54' GOAL FOR CHELSEA! Sterling gets to the byline and pulls back to Palmer who slides the ball home from six yards out. He has looked the danger man since the restart. He first fed the ball to Sterling and then got in the middle to finish it.

61' GOAL FOR CHELSEA! A strange goal. Everyone stopped playing after Sterling fell in the area. Everyone except Palmer who kept the ball in and squared for Jackson to tap in.

70' HAMER SHOOTS FROM LONG RANGE! He struck the free kick well and it needed saving from Petrovic diving to his left.

83' ONE OF MISSES OF THE SEASON! Palmer got behind the defence on the right and drilled a ball across the box but Broja from a couple of yards out managed to deflect the ball off his shin well wide.

88' PALMER WITH IMPUDENT CHIP! He dinks the ball over the wall but Foderingham scrambles across line to push away to safety.