Olivier Giroud scores to help Chelsea cement Champions League spot

The Blues tightened their grip on a Champions League spot as Olivier Giroud’s first goal from a header since 2018 gave them a 1-0 win over relegated Norwich.

Giroud’s header moments before half-time, against an unusually resolute Norwich defence, ensured the Chelsea side returned to winning ways after their shambolic defeat at Sheffield United last weekend.

The victory strengthens Chelsea’s hold on third place in the Premier League, where they sit four points above Leicester and Manchester United, who both play on Thursday.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bz5LFvGsbpE

Christian Pulisic saw a shot on the turn palmed onto the bar by Tim Krul while Giroud missed a number of first-half chances before scoring the only goal. After the break, Pulisic and Willian were both denied, but Chelsea saw out the victory relatively comfortably to move four points clear, for now at least, in third.

Chelsea’s boss, Frank Lampard says he “wants more” from his team but it “can wait” as their pursuit to secure a Champions League spot was given a boost by the narrow victory over relegated Norwich.

Norwich, who were relegated following a 4-0 thrashing by West Ham on Saturday, failed to record a shot on target during the match.

But Lampard said his team “can improve” despite showing “a bit more personality in our game“.

“We need to move the ball quicker and be more mobile with our rotations,” he added. “We have done it in parts this season but if we want to move on, it needs to be better. But I don’t want to be too critical after a win.

“We didn’t give them anything to worry us. We had 10-15 minutes in the second half where we were slow and I didn’t like it but after that we got it back.”

Stats and facts from the match

• Chelsea have won five consecutive home Premier League games for the first time since December 2017.
• Norwich have now lost 25 Premier League games this season – the most defeats they have ever suffered in a league campaign.
• Chelsea stopped their opponents from mustering a single first-half shot for the fourth time in the Premier League this season, more than any other side.
• Norwich have now lost eight consecutive league games for the first time in their history.
• Since his Premier League debut in August 2012, Chelsea striker Giroud has scored 31 headed goals in the competition, five more than any other player in that time.
• Giroud has scored in three successive Premier League starts for the first time since January 2017 when netting six in a row for Arsenal.
• Pulisic has registered 11 goals involvements in the Premier League this season (eight goals, three assists), the most by a USA player since Clint Dempsey in 2012-13 (also 11).
• Alexander Tettey became the ninth player to make 100 or more Premier League appearances for Norwich City.