"Much-needed good afternoon" – Chelsea's least popular starting player earns them a point

Today at 11:45 AM

Robert Sanchez has been perhaps the most maligned Chelsea player this season – certainly from among the regular starting XI.

Fans and pundits constantly talk about him as a weak link, and as a player the Blues will be looking to upgrade before too long. He's often been talked about as one of the reasons this team aren't in a title race, despite their strong league position.

But his manager Enzo Maresca has always backed him, and despite a few mistakes along the way, his season is looking better and better.

The media who published their player ratings on the whistle of today's game backed that opinion – both had him as the top or second top rated player on the pitch.

The Sun had him down as follows:

Robert Sanchez – 7. Smart stop down to his right to deny Orel Mangala shortly before the break. Pulled off an even better save when Jack Harrison looked certain to score in the second half.

While the Evening Standard went with:

Robert Sanchez – 8. Fine low save from Mangala in the first-half, then even better one to deny Harrison an opener. A much-needed good afternoon.

Sanchez adds to growing list of vital moments

Sanchez can still iron out some mistakes, but there's no denying he's a top shot stopper, and today wasn't the first day he saved his team a point or two. After the Brentford win last week Maresca reeled off a list of important moments from the Spaniard this season, and today he can add a couple more to the list.

So if there's one thing we can take from a disappointing result, it's more confidence for a key player, hopefully something which helps eliminate some mistakes and focus on his strengths.