Chelsea 3-1 Wolves LIVE RESULT: Madueke and Cucurella fire Blues back into top four after Sanchez’s howler – updates

Boss heads back to old stomping ground

Enzo Maresca will now start preparing for their weekend trip to The Etihard to face his old club. Man City.

The pair now seem to be competing for Champions League football now and neither side can afford to lose this one.

Chelsea's new man would love nothing more than to get an all important victory against his friend Pep Guardiola's team.

Top four minimum expectation

When you look at the teams who are pushing to qualify for the Champions League this season, Chelsea have to be one of the favourites.

They have squad at bursting point, full of quality.

Playing in the Europa Conference League, they are able to play reserve teams and fringe players.

This can be an advatage over their rivals who do not have such a luxury with their European exploits.

Maresca's side are perfectly placed now to push on for the rest of the season and cement their top four position.

Spaniard shows true worth to Blues

Marc Cucurella put in a brilliant performance for Chelsea against Wolves this evening.

Not just in a defensive capacity, he supported their attacks and often when crosses came into the box, he was the main man attacking them.

He got himself a goal and showed how much he can offer to this side when he is on top of his game after some questionable performances of late.

Nightmare fixture list looms

Wolves currently sit just outside the bottom three on goal difference.

There is a four-point gap between them and Everton above them.

It does not get any easier for Vitor Pereira's side who have a very tricky run of fixtures ahead of them.

Revor Trevoh makes sterling return

Recalled from loan at Crystal Palace, Trevoh Chalobah was immediately brought into the first-team this evening.

He was denied a goal on his return as Noni Madueke stole his goal-bound header on the line.

Despite this, it was a solid performance, one which saw him awarded with the man of the match award.

Boss content with ending poor run

Speaking with Sky Sports after the game, the Chelsea manager gave his view on their victory over Wolves this evening:

I think the first forty minutes we were top. Dominated and created chances. Then we show what we have been doing of late and conceded the goal. After the second goal I think we were in control and won the game. Overall I think the performance was good apart from the last five or ten minutes of the first half.

Enzo MarescaChelsea

Portuguese man of war required

Vitor Pereira needs to start making his team harder to breakdown.

Particularly from set-pieces, they are conceding way too much.

They are capable of getting forward and scoring goals but are letting too many in at the other end.

Keeping Matheus Cunha fit is key to their struggles to ensure that they are a Premier League team next season.

Chelsea with chance to shape season

Maresca will be looking to use tonight's victory to change the mindset with his squad going forward.

They have been stuck in rut, unable to win games.

A tough trip to The Etihad lies ahead before a couple of tricky fixtures on the south coast against Brighton.

View from SunSport's Andy Dillon at Stamford Bridge

CHELSEA finally grab a win but if you can't beat Wolves it's worrying.

Maresca still needs to address issues Iike his flapping keepers. Robert Sanchez guilty of a howler tonight.

For all the hard work up front with three goals it can all be so easily undone at the back.

Promised land back in sight

It is a must for Chelsea that qualify for the Champions League this season for their owners.

Having forked out a fortune and big signings, spread over the next two decades, the model only works if they get back into Europe's elite competition.

Victory tonight takes them to fourth in the table, two points clear of Man City and Newcastle.

Form is temporary, class is permanent

Fantasy league managers will argue that Cole Palmer has dropped off form-wise as they are not seeing many points of late.

However, despite not getting on the scoresheet, he was integral in everything that Chelsea did well.

He got kicked and fouled a lot by the visitors but still played the most of the game and always look dangerous.

Maresca needs to splash out in window

The best thing Chelsea can do in this transfer window is to bring in some of the best medical and rehabilitation staff money can buy.

There is no doubting there is plenty of talent at Stamford Bridge but some players they can still not afford to be without.

One such player is skipper Reece James, aside from his footballing ability, his leadership skills are integral to The Blues.

FT: Chelsea 3-1 Wolves

It was a dominant display in all for Chelsea.

They still look a bit frail in defence but Chalobah added some aerial dominance for them tonight.

Palmer was instrumental as ever but did not manage to get on the scoresheet.

Chelsea 3-1 Wolves

90+4. Sanchez is shown a yellow card for time-wasting.

This result is in the bag for Chelsea now.

It is no more than they deserve.

Chelsea 3-1 Wolves

90+2. What a miss by Jackson for Chelsea.

Sancho did all the hard work and laid it on a plate for him just six yards from goal.

Jackson side-foots it wide and you wonder if he will ever score again.

Chelsea 3-1 Wolves

90. Semedo is shown a yellow card for a challenge.

There were no arguments from the player there.

We are going to have five added minutes.

Chelsea 3-1 Wolves

88. Wolves have created so little in this second-half.

They would have hoped with the return of Cunha, they would have got back to scoring freely once again.

You could not deny that Chelsea have edged this game and deserve the three points this evening.

Chelsea 3-1 Wolves

86. Time is running out for Wolves.

Chelsea continue to dominate possession.

The Blues seem happy to just keep the ball for as long as possible to see this game out.

Chelsea 3-1 Wolves

84. Felix comes on to replace Palmer for Chelsea.

George comes on for his first Premier League appearance as Madueke makes way for him.

Big cheer for the youngster as his name is announced over the PR system.

Chelsea 3-1 Wolves

82. Chelsea are preparing to make some more changes.

Wolves are getting some joy out on the flanks at the moment.

Gomes looks to get a shot off at goal from the edge of the box but it is well blocked by Caicedo.

Chelsea 3-1 Wolves

80. It is all about game management for Chelsea now.

This is something they usually do not seem to have in their locker under Maresca this season.

They seem to have two options, all-out attack or nervously defending like an under-10 side playing against men.

Chelsea 3-1 Wolves

78. Gusto and Disasi come on for Chelsea.

They replace James and Dewsbury-Hall.

That is the end of that leader out on the pitch for the hosts, watch Wolves draw this 3-3 now.

Jackson has the ball in the back of the net but immediately the flag goes up for offside.

Chelsea 3-1 Wolves

76. Gomes, Bellegarde and Guedes come on for Wolves.

They replace Ait-Nouri, Andre and Sarabia.

The visitors need to start throwing caution to the wind more if they are to have any hope of getting anything from this trip to London.

Chelsea 3-1 Wolves

74. Chelsea seem to actually have a leader out there when James is fit enough to play.

You can see him barking orders to his teammates regularly.

Never do you see that with Fernandez, mainly as he doesn't speak a word of English.