Mistakes costly as Chelsea prove a bridge too far for Shamrock Rovers

For eight minutes in the first half, a mismatch was a match when Markus Poom pulled Rovers level but the riches were reflected in the Premier League contenders steamrolling the Irish side with four goals within a 23 minutes spell either side of half-time.

Visions of the 8-0 hammering the Blues inflicted on Noah were vivid when Chelsea had 35 minutes to add to their fifth but the Hoops held firm, offering encouragement for what comes next in their Conference League playoff against either Molde or TSC Backa Topola.

Chelsea’s €1.5bn investment in their squad affords the privilege of rotation and Enzo Maresca changed all but two of the starters from Sunday’s win over Brentford which lifted them to within two points of leaders Liverpool.

Marc Cucurella’s suspension incurred from red card at full-time meant he represented the frontliners in the line-up, among a trio of 26-year-olds acting as chaperones for the Chelsea cubs. Christopher Nkunku was the elder statesman at 27.

And what a stockpile of youngsters they have, three 18-year-olds in Tyrique George, Joshua Acheampong and Marc Guiu all contributing in their consolidation of top spot in the 36-team league table.

The latter became Barcelona’s youngest La Liga debutant last season but not even his Champions League bow could prevent him departing for Chelsea in the summer. At €6m – the same amount Rovers have earned from this run - Guiu may eventually rival Erling Haaland for value.

His poacher’s instinct was soon evident but Rovers were responsible for feeding his appetite.

However unlikely it was that they would’ve sustained the Battle of the Bridge without blunders, Stephen Bradley did warn in the build-up everything needed to go right for Rovers.

This was impossible when their backline, led by goalkeeper Leon Pohls, invited trouble by choosing to play out from their goalkicks.

The German was likely to be replaced by incoming Ed McGinty for when the Hoops are next in action in the February playoff for a last-16 place and this performance strewn with indecision confirmed it.

Shot-stopping, like the drive from Italian Cesare Casadei that he batted away in the first-half and another after the break from substitute Joao Felix, is his strongpoint but the modern goal demands a custodian equally comfortable with his feet as hands.

Culpability could be shared between Pohls and Darragh Burns for the 22nd-minute breakthrough, all the more stinging as the visitors had succeeded in restricting their hosts for the first quarter of the game.

Rovers’ fans, 3,000 in number, found their voice well before kick-off but may hit their club in the pocket after delaying the game by three minutes.

As Nkunku attempted to take the first corner, a hail of objects were flung from the Shed Stand housing the Hoops fans. Thankfully, the majority consisted of harmless ticker tape but French referee Willy Delajod wasn’t budging until the debris was cleared.

Pico Lopes was the warrior personified by blocking a couple of early goalbound strikes from Marc Guiu and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. Noni Madueke in the 16th minute conjured their first attempt of note, looping his shot onto the roof of the net after being picked up by his opposite winger George.

Despite facing an onslaught, demonstrated by Chelsea’s 97% possession, Rovers squandered a golden opportunity to nick the opener.

Dylan Watts has been the standout for Rovers this year and one of his trademark curled crosses was curled into the path of Johnny Kenny but he fluffed the chance, skimming off his top.

Kenny went into the game as joint top scorer in the competition and although his embarrassment was spared by the offside flag, a VAR check wouldn’t prove he was level.

Once the back-peddling Burns nodded the ball past the onrushing Pohls to gift the Guiu, a long night looked inevitable.

Yet the glimpses of joy they’d earlier got continued and they were level within eight minutes.

Kenny’s shot on the stretch forced Filip Jørgensen to paw the ball away from a corner and from the Watts delivery, Poom unleashed a shot from the edge of the box which took a deflected off Guiu to wrongfoot the Dane.

Up went their tails and the sense of expectation but the stranger things Bradley spoke of on the eve of the game were obliterated by the concession of three goals in 11 minutes before the break.

On 34, Cleary’s failure to look clearly was costly, for his undercooked backpass was ideal for Guiu to nip in, round the goalkeeper and angle the ball home to regain the lead.

Poom then mopped up another Pohls error by hacking Guiu’s shot off the line but Dewsbury-Hall made it 3-1 by passing the ball into the net, nullifying an impressive interception on Madueke by Lopes.

Madueke did provide an assist as the floodgates of the Thames opened up, his dinked cross in first-half stoppage time enabling Guiu to get across Clearly and glance in his hat-trick goal.

Dazed by that blitz, Rovers were steadier after the interval, with Cleary spearing his header wide. They had their moments with substitute Graham Burke unlucky not to earn a penalty and another entrant, Aaron Greene, unable to steer Cleary’s last-minute shot home from close range.

Still, Chelsea could empty their bench and Cucurella completed the scoring on 57 minutes, latching onto a pass, darting into the box and finishing off the post in one fell swoop. Classes apart.

CHELSEA: F Jorgensen; J Acheampong, A Disasi (H Murray-Campbell 58), R Veiga, M Cucurella; C Casadei, K Dewsbury-Hall (S Rak-Sakyi 83); N Madueke (H Vale 46), C Nkunku, T George; M Guiu (Joao Felix 58).

SHAMROCK ROVERS: L Pohls; D Cleary, R Lopes, L Grace; D Burns, M Poom (D Mandroiu 67), G O’Neill (D Nugent 78), J Honohan; D Watts (J Byrne 67), N Farrugia (G Burke; J Kenny (A Greene 72).

Referee: Willy Delajod (France).