Wolves v Chelsea LIVE - Updates from the Premier League as Mauricio Pochettino's side seek a third win in six

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It won’t be a happy Christmas for Mauricio Pochettino, as he watched his Chelsea side fall to a 2-1 defeat to Wolves at Molineux.

Mario Lemina’s deft header six minutes into the second half was the difference between the two sides going, who looked well-matched and good value for their respective positions in the table, before substitute Matt Doherty put the result beyond all doubt, stroking home three minutes into the 11 added on.

Christopher Nkunku scored on his debut with a flicked header three minutes later to set up a grand-stand finish, but the Black Country club held on for a big three points.

The Blues, who sat 10th and five points off ninth-placed Brighton and Hove Albion before today, saw chance after chance spurned as the story of their season continued; their profligacy proving their ultimate pitfall.

It was the visitors who had the lion’s share of the first half highlights, but Nicolas Jackson’s clumsy touch and Raheem Sterling’s lack of composure at the decisive moment were what stopped them going in at half-time with what would have been a comfortable and deserved lead.

Armando Broja, starting alongside Jackson in a revamped 4-4-2 shape, took too many touches in the early exchanges to get a shot off after excellent play from Sterling, before his airshot did not give a drilled Malo Gusto cross the finish it deserved a few moments later.

Jackson himself could have lashed his side ahead on 21 minutes after another Sterling dart and cross found the striker in acres of space at the far post, but the Senegalese could not control the pass, with a golden chance going awry.

A mistake from Joao Gomes on the halfway line saw Sterling pickpocket the Brazilian, with a four-on-Jose Sa ensuing, but Sterling, bearing down on goal, was foiled by the onrushing home ‘keeper instead of squaring the ball right, and another gilt-edged opportunity went amiss.

The hosts grew into the affair late on in the first half, and looked to finish the 45 with a flourish as Pablo Sarabia and Hwang Hee-Chan both went close; the Spaniard seeing his low drive well blocked by Thiago Silva, before Hwang fired an effort narrowly over as he hared onto a sumptuous Sarabia pass into the right channel, with Djordje Petrovic, the Chelsea keeper, in two minds about coming or staying put on his line.

The matchwinner came on 51 minutes, with Lemina nodding home a free header from Sarabia’s inswinger, but that wasn’t before the hosts had already threatened an early onslaught, with Gomes dragging an effort wide of the far post, and Toti forcing a brilliant point-blank save from Petrovic with a powerful, stooping header.

The second half was riddled with Chelsea errors as the hosts sought a second, but it was the visitors who came closest through Nkunku, who was denied by a Toti clearance off the line.

The game was put to bed as Gomes, still full of running, picked up the ball down the Wolves left, finding the underlapping run of Hugo Bueno, who squared for his fellow substitute Doherty to stroke home.

Nkunku had the final say, halving the deficit with a free header three minutes later to set up an intriguing end to the game, but the hosts clung on to grind out the victory.

Gary O’Neil’s side are now level on points with their opponents, as the Blues fall further away from the European places.

There we have it! Wolves hang on, and they're good value for their win. They remained resolute when under the cosh, but Chelsea can only blame themselves for this defeat. Too many chances squandered, and they fall further away from the European places. Thanks for joining us, be sure to come back very soon for even more LIVE Premier League action.

Hugo Bueno also earns himself a yellow for a foul on Madueke.

Joao Gomes barges into Sterling in the box as the visitors claim a penalty, but David Coote sees it as simulation and books the winger, who will also be suspended for the Crystal Palace game.

Sterling crosses as Chelsea move forward, and Nkunku finds space in the box to glance home a debut goal. Game on!

It's two, and it's a merry Christmas Eve for the old gold. Matt Doherty puts it beyond Chelsea, sidefooting into the corner after more good play by Gomes down the left. Hugo Bueno crosses, and finds Doherty unmarked, and the Irishman strokes home to put it beyond all doubt.

Madueke looks to inject some urgency into the Chelsea attack, darting infield onto his left, and looking for a curler into the far corner, but it's wide.

Despite the introduction of two more defenders, it's the hosts who are on the attack through the determined Hwang driving down the right. He wins the corner off Maatsen, but Chelsea clear.

Hugo Bueno is also on for Rayan Ait-Nouri.

Cunha is replaced by Matt Doherty.

Chelsea completely switch off as Hwang is all on his own in his own half, but Sa gets the kick all wrong, shanking into the stands, and the Korean doesn't have a run clean-through on goal!

Madueke, Maatsen, and Badiashile are all on for the visitors.

Another Chelsea mistake, this time from Gusto, sees Cunha have a run down the left and flash a shot into the wrong side of the near post netting.

Doyle is on to replace Sarabia. It'll be more of a 3-5-2 now for the hosts.

Dawson has hurt himself with that block, and Santiago Bueno is coming on to replace him.

Really good defending once more from the hosts, and it's Dawson this time throwing his body on the line. Chelsea work it really nicely from left to right as Colwill finds Mudryk, who looks up and feeds Palmer. Sterling is on the right and is onto it in a flash, but Dawson dives in at the last to deny him!

Cunha is booked for dissent after his late challenge, and gives Gallagher a chance to whip one in from a promising position.

Chelsea come the closest yet for an equaliser, as Toti just about denies Nkunku a debut goal, as the Frenchman stabbed an effort towards goal.