Chelsea sink Nkunku at Bournemouth, with a record number of yellow cards in the Premier League | Premier League

In the blue corner, Todd Boehly. In the other blue corner, Behdad Eghbali. Meanwhile, Enzo Maresca must continue with his task of winning football matches. Chelsea The soap opera takes an unexpected turn: it turns out that this club is not big enough for two billionaire egos. Maresca's team put in a performance as dysfunctional as what was happening in the boardroom. And yet Christopher Nkunku's late goal stole the points from them.

Andoni Iraola's Bournemouth, a team as well-drilled and energetic as any you'll find in the Premier League He had the better of the chances and played far more progressive football. But a game that might be best remembered for an inordinate number of yellow cards would not fall in favour of the Basque side despite many near misses. Instead, the Frenchman, shaking off the Bournemouth defenders, scored a winner that really should have been out of reach for a malfunctioning Chelsea.

In the absence of Enzo Fernandez and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, the imposing figure of Renato Veiga partnered Moisés Caicedo. That presence was supposed to give him the chance to make more of the runs that made him famous at Brighton but the Portuguese player, making his first league start, needed help against Bournemouth's speedy pressing and attacks. In the opening salvos, Marcus Tavernier smashed a shot past Robert Sanchez and wide of the angle and, when Axel Disasi hesitated, Evanilson was instantly within a whisker of scoring his first Premier League goal.

Nicolas Jackson, with his term secured until 2033, led the attacking line. Jadon Sancho, another addition to Chelsea's winger squad, was on the bench while England international Noni Madueke and Pedro Neto flanked Cole Palmer. The presence of that attacking unit was patchy in the first half, with a wealth of individual talent searching for the right combinations. Adam Smith versus Neto was a key battleground and the veteran from Bournemouth's League One days held firm.

Chelsea's defence and midfield were similarly listless, Veiga clumsy and nervous, Caicedo wasted. Another loss of possession and Evanilson was quick to lay off Justin Kluivert to warm Sanchez's hands as a warm late summer day turned into a chilly coastal afternoon.

Shortly before the half-hour, Madueke finally had space to make a trademark move, but his ball out to Jackson had drifted into an offside position. While referee Anthony Taylor bore the brunt of Chelsea fans’ anger, the root of it lay in his team’s performance. Finally, in the 33rd minute, Mark Travers, who had replaced Kepa Arrizabalaga, ineligible against the parent club who did not want him, had to make a save, when Levi Colwill passed to Jackson. The shot was straight at the Irish goalkeeper.

Sanchez, Kepa's replacement, became the villain and then the instant hero by conceding a penalty to Evanilson and then having it saved by the same player. Taylor ruled that the goalkeeper had fouled the Brazilian in what looked more like a 50-50 play after Wesley Fofana's horribly botched backpass. A first half that might have seen Bournemouth go into the break with a 100-metre lead ended with another Evanilson shot going wide.

Six bookings in the first half suggested a bad-tempered game, when in fact they were more due to Taylor's meticulousness. At the break Sancho came on for Neto, but Chelsea continued to struggle to get the ball out from the back, with Lewis Cook and Christie always hot on their heels.

Sancho’s first real involvement was to set up Jackson for another missed attempt. Bournemouth kept getting the better of their chances. Kluivert, running straight at goal, easily bypassing Fofana, forced Sanchez into another save. A training-ground free-kick saw Antoine Semenyo crash over just over the box and then a deflected Ryan Christie shot bounced off the post. By the 62nd minute, 10 had been booked and not even a furious kick had been directed. And there was still no opening goal, as Maresca replaced Madueke with João Félix.

Bournemouth tired of their first-half efforts and began to dig in as Chelsea finally enjoyed the comfort of dominating possession. João Félix moved on as Palmer advanced in support of Jackson and Iraola brought on new players, including Luis Sinisterra. The unfortunate but gritty Jackson was replaced by Nkunku and when Sancho cut inside, the substitute scored a goal to remind us that, for all the dysfunction, Chelsea have accumulated valuable talent.