Quite a few Chelsea supporters on social media appreciated one moment of Ross Barkley’s display against Norwich City last weekend.
By the time Barkley was called into action on Saturday, the Blues had already fired five past their feeble opponents, who were also down to ten men.
Goals from Mason Mount, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Reece James in the first half were followed up by Ben Chilwell’s third of the season.
Canaries centre-back Ben Gibson received a second yellow card, just moments after Max Aarons inadvertently turned one into his own net.
All of this was achieved before Barkley had even been substituted on by Thomas Tuchel.
Penalty persistence
In the final flourishes of the match, Chelsea earned a penalty for handball.
With Jorginho off the field, Mount took the spot-kick responsibilities upon himself.
Tim Krul saved the midfielder’s effort, yet the Dutchman’s denial was done in vain after both his feet were planted in front of the goal line.
Mount stepped up to try his luck again, but only after one eagle-eyed Chelsea fan spotted Barkley asking to have the subsequent shot from 12-yards.
Followers of the Blues valued this act of confidence from the former England international.
Here’s how they reacted on Twitter:
Barkley can’t buy a goal
Luckily for Mount, he managed to put the ball past Krul at the second attempt.
He then rounded off an awesome afternoon by sealing his hat-trick in injury time.
Had Barkley converted the penalty, he would’ve become Chelsea’s 18th different goal scorer this term.
It would’ve also marked the 27-year-old’s first for the Blues since netting in a 6-0 Carabao Cup thumping of Barnsley last September.
But the wait for that golden goal goes on…
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