Jay O'Shea

Blues Reserves came from behind to give new Reserve team boss Malky Thomson a winning start against Chelsea at Griffin Park this evening.

Blues went one down early on, but hit back through goals from Jay O'Shea and Jake Jervis to come away worthy 2-1 winners.

Against a young but lively Chelsea attack, Captain Franck Queudrue marshalled his side superbly in the centre of defence and helped his side to their first league victory of the season.

Blues second string began the game at a decent pace and with the greater attacking intent.

But it was Chelsea who created the first clear opening of the game when Fabio Borini charged down Colin Doyle's clearance and the ball flew back past the Blues keeper and just inches wide of his post.

With 14 minutes on the clock the same Chelsea forward broke quickly on the right from midfield before letting fly with a low shot which went just wide of Doyle's far post.

But Blues failed to spot the danger signs and on 16 minutes they fell behind to the hosts after they failed to deal with a Chelsea foray on the edge of their own box.

Billy Clifford dinked the ball through a static Blues defence for Borini to latch onto it and he in turn fired it past Doyle from eight yards out.

But just after the half hour mark Blues found themselves back in the game when Jay O'Shea levelled the scores.

Keith Fahey picked up a loose ball in midfield before finding Shroot who played it into the path of an on-running O'Shea to drill it beyond Chelsea keeper Turnbull from 12 yards out.

The goal seemed to give Blues an extra dose of confidence and for the next ten minutes they had the majority of the play and were forcing the home defence back on their heels at regular intervals.

But with the first half entering its final minute the ever-threatening Borini had another good chance for his side.

This time he cut inside from the left wing before hitting a powerful right footed effort, which found Doyle's near post side-netting.

Half time: Chelsea Reserve 1 Blues Reserves 1

Jake Jervis

Chelsea made one change at half time with Billy Clifford replacing Sam Hutchinson.

The home side came out for the second half with real vigour and had Blues pinned back in their own half for much of the opening exchanges.

Their early pressure almost paid dividends on 52 minutes when Borini found space on the left of the Blues box and attempted a curling effort which was not far off target.

Colin Doyle was then called into action as he pulled off an impressive diving save to deny Gael Kakuta from 25 yards.

It took until 70 minutes for Blues first shot on target of the second period, when Jake Jervis turned inside his man on the left before sending in a low shot which Turnbull pushed into the path of Shroot.

But unfortunately the linesman's flag had been raised for offside against the former Burton Albion loanee.

The pendulum swung into Blues favour on 74 minutes when they took the lead through Jervis.

The lively Blues forward robbed Kenny Strickland of the ball some 40 yards out before running on with it and confidently side-footing it past a despairing Turnbull. 2-1 Blues!

Blues continued to press and O'Shea brought the ball down brilliantly before seeing his left footed shot charged down for a corner.

Hutchinson made his first substitution of the evening when Ashley Sammons was introduced in place of Jordon Mutch.

Blues had a great opportunity to add a third goal in the final minute of normal time when McSheffrey drifted inside and saw his low shot fly agonisingly wide of the far post.

All in all a deserved first win of the season for Blues in what was an entertaining encounter.

Full time: Chelsea Reserves 1 Blues Reserves 2

Chelsea: Ross Turnbull, Nikki Ahamed, Sam Hutchinson (Billy Clifford 45), Kenny Strickland, Ben Gordon, Nemanja Matic, Conor Clifford, Joshua McEachran (Mitrovic 88), Gael Kakuta, Milan Lalkovic (Gokhan Tore 80), Fabio Borini.
Subs not used: Jan Sebek, Daniel Philliskirk

Goals: Borini (16)

Bookings: None

Blues: Colin Doyle, Daniel Preston, Jared Wilson, Keith Fahey, Giovanny Espinoza, Franck Queudrue, James O'Shea, Jordon Mutch (Ashley Sammons, 78), Jake Jervis, Robin Shroot, Gary McSheffrey.

Subs not used: Jacob Rowe, Jack Butland, Ashley Sammons, Akwasi Asante, Omar Bogle.

Goals: O'Shea (32), Jervis (74)

Bookings: None