The brief ripple of applause at full time said it all. This was a deeply unconvincing display from Chelsea, who took 78 agonising minutes to find a way past the might of the champions of Cyprus, and it was not a surprise that Stamford Bridge greeted victory with such a muted response.
The mood was one of relief. There was plenty of angst on a night when the home fans continued their protests against Chelsea’s owners. The football was too slow, too predictable, and it hardly seemed to register that Moisés Caicedo shattering Pafos FC’s defiance ensured that Liam Rosenior’s side will have a chance to secure direct qualification into the Champions League last 16 when they visit Napoli in their final game next week.
