There is the possibility Chelsea may be ready to look up in the Premier League and it is a line Mauricio Pochettino is keen to push. This was a third win on the spin in the competition, a reaction to the 1-0 midweek loss at Middlesbrough in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg and all of the criticism that followed.
Yet Pochettino has to know his team continues to look callow, a little fragile; short of cohesion and punch in the areas that matter the most. When they win at the moment, they are doing just enough, putting their supporters through the mill and leaving them with many questions. It was the case again here, with Chelsea grateful to Cole Palmer, their star of an erratic season, and his prowess from the penalty spot.
