Fofana believes 'small details' are holding back Chelsea's advancement

Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana feels that "small details" explain the Blues' annoying tendency to lose leads, especially after being held to a 2-2 draw by Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.

Under Enzo Maresca, the team has squandered 13 points at home from winning spots this season and has managed just one Premier League victory in their last seven outings.

This poor run has pushed Chelsea outside the top four, as they squandered multiple opportunities against the Cherries, failing to make the most of their control in the second consecutive game after losing to Aston Villa on December 27.

"It was a challenging match," Fofana commented on the Bournemouth stalemate. "We put in maximum effort but failed to seal the win in the second half.

"We created several openings that we could not convert. We must close out games and find the net. This responsibility lies with the whole squad, not just the attackers."

David Brooks put Bournemouth ahead after only six minutes, only for Cole Palmer to level things from the penalty spot.

Enzo Fernandez's strike into the top corner seemed to set Chelsea up for a vital triumph, yet they let in another goal before the break, with Justin Kluivert finishing easily at the back post without a marker.

"We must improve, review our performance, and push forward," Fofana stated.

"Letting in two goals is disheartening, yet it is still just December, so there is time to build."

Fofana continued: "I sense we are improving, merely lacking those fine points.

"This has been a rollercoaster year. Qualifying for the Champions League and claiming the Club World Cup were highlights."

Andoni Iraola's Bournemouth have now gone 10 league matches without a victory, slipping from second place after their October success to 15th.

That said, they have lost only once in their past five fixtures, and hopeful midfielder Alex Scott remarked: "We performed far better and displayed greater determination.

"Visiting a venue like Chelsea is always tough. The second half saw us with less of the ball, but our defence was solid, marking a significant step up for the team.

"Netting twice from set pieces is certainly encouraging."