Cole Palmer scored a first-half hat-trick to inspire Chelsea to a 3-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux on Saturday, making Liam Rosenior the second English manager to win his first four Premier League matches.
The hosts’ woes started early. Inside 15 minutes, João Pedro was fouled by Matt Doherty in the box, allowing Palmer to convert the resulting penalty and give Chelsea the lead.
Wolves’ goalkeeper José Sá denied further damage from Enzo Fernández and Malo Gusto, but the damage was done.
Wolves compounded their troubles when Yerson Mosquera fouled Pedro again in the area. Palmer calmly dispatched the second penalty, marking his 50th goal in 100 competitive appearances for Chelsea.
Three minutes later, he completed his first-half hat-trick with a close-range finish from Marc Cucurella’s cross, putting the game beyond doubt.
Wolves, who had failed to score in their last 10 home league games, offered a glimmer of hope after the break. Mateus Mané rattled the post with a curling effort before debutant Adam Armstrong assisted Tolu Arokodare, who scored from close range to make it 3-1.
Despite this, the hosts could not mount a serious comeback, with Pedro Neto miscuing a late chance as full time approached.
Chelsea’s victory keeps them fifth in the table, just one point behind the final Champions League spot, while Wolves remain mired in the relegation zone with 19 league defeats, three shy of Derby County’s record low for a Premier League season.
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