Bournemouth claimed a stunning 3-0 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge as the hosts’ inconsistencies continued.
Callum Wilson opened the scoring for the visitors shortly after the interval before Junior Stanislas doubled their lead with 64 minutes on the clock.
Former Chelsea defender Nathan Ake then netted a third moments later to stun Antonio Conte’s toothless side on a night to forget for the Premier League champions.
With Alvaro Morata injured, Michy Batshuayi moving on loan to Borussia Dortmund and new signing Olivier Giroud here in west London but unavailable, Eden Hazard was tasked with leading the Chelsea line as Ross Barkley, making his first start for the club, slotted in behind.
Thibaut Courtois was back in goal for Chelsea following a four-game absence, and, perhaps ominously, it was the Belgium international who was the busiest of the two goalkeepers in the opening exchanges.
First, he comfortably saved from Wilson before hanging on to Jordon Ibe’s long-range effort after the former Liverpool man was allowed to carry the ball unchallenged.
It was an underwhelming opening from the Blues and the home supporters had to wait until the half-hour mark to see their side muster a first real assault on Asmir Begovic’s goal after Gary Cahill headed a Pedro corner onto the roof of the net.
Chelsea enjoyed a short burst of pressure, with Begovic called upon to deal with Barkley’s deflected effort, while Hazard then appeared to be through on goal only for Steve Cook to expertly dispossess the Belgian with a well-timed sliding challenge.
With five minutes of the opening half remaining, Marcos Alonso’s header from a pin-point Hazard cross trickled just wide of Begovic’s far post.
A clearly disgruntled Conte would have demanded much more from his side at the interval, only to witness an extraordinary collapse.
With 51 minutes on the clock, a dithering Tiemoue Bakayoko was caught in possession. Wilson latched on to the loose ball, played a neat one-two with Ibe, before coolly slotting past an on-rushing Courtois to give the visitors the lead.
In truth it was no more than they deserved, and dramatically it was to get even better for Eddie Howe’s travelling team.
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