Bournemouth 0-0 Chelsea recap - Premier League result as Cherries hold Blues to stalemate at Vitality Stadium

It was a hard-fought but fruitless match for both Bournemouth and Chelsea as their clash finished 0-0 despite flashes of promise throughout.

The result provisionally boosted Bournemouth up from 14th to 13th in the table, while Manchester City and Aston Villa continue to pull away from Chelsea in fourth, who lost a big opportunity to make ground in the title race after Arsenal's defeat earlier today.

Antoine Semenyo was the first to bring hope to the home crowd as he put the ball into the back of the net, but Evanilson was found to be offside in the build-up to erase an early lead.

The Cherries were the better in the first half with a couple more close calls, and Chelsea were unable to register a single shot on target.

A big blow came for the visitors as Liam Delap went down hard on his right shoulder in a collision with Marcos Senesi, and he retreated down the tunnel immediately after, with Marc Guiu coming on.

The second half started with yet another opportunity for Bournemouth, but Marcus Tavernier put it wide.

Djordje Petrovic was forced into action as Pedro Neto, Alejandro Garnacho, and Cole Palmer each took a shot.

Palmer, who excited fans with a start after a long injury absence, showed none of the excellent form he had last season and came off before the hour.

The Blues picked up their game and started to push harder, seeking a win to narrow their deficit at the top of the table, and they looked much better in the second half.

But it would all be too little, too late as attempt after attempt was saved or off-target, and both teams had to settle for a draw and a point each today.

Chelsea will travel to Atalanta in midweek for a big UEFA Champions League match, while Bournemouth will play Manchester United next on December 15.

Guiu finds Fernandez, who goes for it from distance but it is a bad choice when he had so much space in front of him. It sails far above the crossbar.

Scott intercepts, but Cucurella steals the ball back to move into their last third.

Diakite picks it up and he sets off on a run, but James shoves him down for a foul. The Chelsea players' hands shoot straight into the air in protest. Neto receives his own yellow for dissent.

Poor from Guiu, he gives it away in the final third with a sloppy pass, then he slides and takes Hill down in frustration to get the first booking of the day.

Evanilson offside, he looks like he's running out of steam and he is pulled off for Enes Unal.

It was tense for a second, Pedro slides in a ball to the box but Neto doesn't advance enough to take it and it rolls wide. If he had put a foot on it it would have been wide open for him. There have been a handful of missed opportunities like that for Chelsea now, is it an issue of timing or awareness?

Massive shot from Semenyo to force a save from Sanchez!

Then a roar from the crowd as Brooks is offside, it was a stalemate as the Cherries tried to find they way through a wall of Chelsea players and he just edged too far.

Will we see last-minute drama or will it be double goose eggs on the scoreboard?

Space for Garnacho to break on a counter, but Hill runs him out to the side. Garnacho sends it towards the far post but it's harmlessly wide as no Chelsea player comes forward for it.

Chelsea to change now, Garnacho off for 18-year-old Estevao. What can the young talent do for them?

Cucurella comes up and passes, a gap opens up for Garnacho and it curls towards the wrong side of the far post.

Evanilson doesn't hold on to a clearance and Chelsea are back on the hunt.

It's a clean tackle by Kluivert on James and both teams charge down the pitch down. James clears.

Double change now, Kluivert off for David Brooks' 100th game, and Jimenez off for Amine Adli.

Chelsea with possession now, Garnach puts it in, Cucurella tips it to Guiu who has to strike on a spin and it's off target.

Scott finds a good run into Chelsea's box, Gusto gets the tip of his boot to the ball and it's a great challenge.

Poor pass from Diakite sees Pedro go free, Kluivert pushes him down and escapes a yellow. Free kick Chelsea from 40 yards and it's headed away by Smith.

Senesi takes a minute with the medical team and Chelsea take the opportunity to put Joao Pedro on in place of Palmer, who has largely been lackluster over the past hour.

Guiu takes a strike that is blocked by Sanchez, but Senesi is down again. Disappointing for the Cherries as he has been fantastic for them so far, and James Hill heads onto the pitch.

Free kick for Bournemouth, Semenyo sets Kluivert free but to no avail. It's a mad scramble in the box now as it pings around, Truffert in particular takes a shot from the center of the box. The Chelsea players are throwing themselves in front of their net as Bournemouth take shot after shot.

It eventually comes out of the final third to give Chelsea some relief, but Senesi makes a brilliant challenge on Garnacho to halt the counter.

But Senesi is down!

Jimenez tries to get it to Evanilson in the box, it never gets there as Sanchez bats it away. But a big roar now as Scott picks up the ball off a horrible pass from James, but the referee gets in the way!

The Cherries win another corner after Gusto does well to halt Semenyo. Scott sends it straight to Sanchez' hands.

Neto runs in, it's a nice strike and forces Petrovic into his first save of the day! It is Chelsea's only shot on target so far out of a mere four atttempts. Neto again, curls it in to Garnacho and he heads it above Smith - but it pings off the left post.

Guiu tips a pass at Fernandez, who has to pivot it round to take the shot. Petrovic makes a third save seconds later as Palmer is in clean air, he takes a shot at the far post but it's comfortable for the keeper. Much better for the Blues.

Kluivert finds himself with the ball in clear space, he sends it to Tavanier, who passes to Semenyo, then it's back to Tavanier for the shot and it goes wide! A respectable chance for the hosts early into this half.

Evanilson gets us going again at the Vitality Stadium, no changes at halftime.

Free kick to Chelsea 40 yards out, Senesi heads it away. Cucurella gives it away to Tavanier, who speeds past Palmer with no effort. He tries to find Evanilson but it's cleared. Scott picks it up to run down the right and shoot, but it's a beautiful save from Sanchez.

Bournemouth stay on the offensive - the last one of this half - and it's Semenyo to come in again and he forces yet another crucial save from the Blues' keeper. An admirable attack to no avail.

Semenyo holds off Gusto but it's off target again. The Cherries continue to chip away at the visitors, will they be rewarded?

Couple touches allow Cucurella to move up the pitch, but Bournemouth snatch it back with Semenyo on the ball yet again. He passes to Kluivert curving in on the left, but it's a disappointment over the net.

Gusto heads a ball down into the box, and it comes down close to Guiu but Diakite kicks it clear to the home crowd's relief.

Tavanier approaches, tries it from distance and it curls completely wide.

Gusto on the left, to Palmer, his pass comes off Scott and Bournemouth send it back down the pitch.

Poor choice from Senesi for Chelsea to scoop up, Palmer's strike is blocked again and Neto takes the rebound only for it to go wide as well.

Bournemouth win another corner off a quick throw in while Reece James was off the pitch. It's an odd choice as a short corner is immediately snatched up by Cole Palmer and it's Chelsea possession now.

Semenyo drives towards the goal, his shot is blocked by a reaching Sanchez but it comes to Evanilson quick but he whiffs it over the bar! It seemed like a sure goal for the Cherries, that one will hurt if they lose today.

Bournemouth with the first corner of the match, Scott takes it. This is where Chelsea conceded to Leeds and they will be on high alert.

It's punched away by Sanchez and Bournemouth recover the ball, but Delap is down and it seems he and Senesi went down in a tussle. Delap is escorted off the pitch as he clutches at his shoulder - it took the brunt of the hit as Senesi came down on top of him. A shame as Delap has looked so good in this match so far.

Marc Guiu jogs on as Delap heads down the tunnel. He marks his arrival with an immediate shunt on Senesi.