With Chelsea losing 2-1 and a 25-yard free-kick awarded in the fifth minute of stoppage time, we assumed Cole Palmer would take it. One last deliverance of coolness was needed at the end of a chaotic evening, and an expectant Stamford Bridge waited on its usual suspect.

But then, up stepped Reece James. The 25-year-old club captain, now free from the latest hamstring injury that interrupted his career, pulled rank. Its positioning suited a right-footer, truth be told, and James struck the ball viciously into the corner and beyond Bournemouth’s Mark Travers.

England manager Thomas Tuchel was here to see the blast in person, and the German was in charge of Chelsea the last time James scored a Premier League goal – in a 2-2 draw with Tottenham in August 2022. That game was more memorable for the full-time fracas when Tuchel refused to let go of Antonio Conte’s hand as all hell broke loose on the touchline.

Enzo Maresca’s side created a silly number of chances, took none and not for the first time this season, Nicolas Jackson was a culprit. Chelsea felt they should have been helped along the way, with Bournemouth fortunate to avoid being reduced to 10 men when David Brooks clotheslined Marc Cucurella, seemingly grabbing hold of his hair at the same time. Referee Robert Jones disagreed it was worthy of red at his pitch-side monitor, much to Maresca’s amazement.

‘When there is no intention to take the ball, it is red,’ Maresca said. ‘They gave yellow, so something happened. How can they judge that was not dangerous? In my opinion, it’s red. Hopefully we can be more lucky with the referee in the future.’

Reece James came off the bench to score a late equaliser for Chelsea against Bournemouth

The Blues captain found the bottom corner from a free kick deep into stoppage time

Antoine Semenyo had put the injury-hit Cherries ahead as they came from behind to lead

On James, Maresca added: ‘I’m very happy for him. He deserved it. He has had a difficult time. The target now is to be fit and to help us.’

Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth are turning into this season’s other surprise package – after Nottingham Forest, of course – with this draw taking them to nine games unbeaten in the Premier League as they could yet secure European football for the first time ever.

Chelsea have been linked with almost all of Bournemouth’s back line, not least their central defenders Dean Huijsen, 19, and Illia Zabarnyi, 22. They do like a talented youngster, the Blues, and this was certainly a youthful team that arrived with Iraola.

Their bench told a story as injuries and other issues saw it littered with kids, including Daniel Adu-Adjei and Dominic Sadi, two youngsters who were playing for League Two Carlisle until last week. It was on Friday when Bournemouth announced they were recalling the duo from their season-long loans to help with their shortage and they were substitutes here.

They watched as Chelsea took 13 minutes to score. Jackson was surrounded by three Bournemouth men and yet rolled Zabarnyi in order to play in Palmer for a one-on-one with Travers. Perhaps we should not be surprised by the finish which followed from Chelsea’s 22-year-old superstar, the way he pretended to shoot in order to sit down Bournemouth’s goalkeeper before slotting the ball into the gaping goal.

After 22 minutes, Iraola needed to make a substitution as his right back James Hill was injured. He turned to the only senior footballer he had on the bench in Justin Kluivert.

Chelsea went back to attacking, Noni Madueke’s determination down the right going unrewarded when Jackson skied what should have been a tap-in for an elite striker.

In the 37th minute came Bournemouth’s first chance, gifted to them by Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez yet again bungling an attempt at passing from the back. Kluivert struck the post from it. Seconds later, Jackson did the same from 20 yards.

Cole Palmer scored the opening goal for the hosts, who were hoping to end their winless run

Moises Caicedo, however, fouled Antoine Semenyo to give Bournemouth the chance to net

Justin Kluivert took the penalty kick having come off the bench himself and scored

Andoni Iraola’s side continued their hunt for a European finish despite their injury issues

Chelsea should have scored again after 44 minutes when Palmer’s cross found Jackson. His header from six yards was saved by Travers. The rebound fell to his feet, this time from two yards. He struck it into the side-netting as Maresca fell to his knees in the technical area.

It is little wonder Chelsea continue to be linked with strikers, such as Ipswich’s Liam Delap, when their centre forward is missing chances as clear-cut as this.

In the 49th minute, Bournemouth won a penalty as Moises Caicedo barged into the back of Antoine Semenyo. He took none of the ball, all of the man, and Kluivert made it 1-1 by shooting straight down the middle.

Brooks feared a red card when Jones visited his pitch-side monitor, alerted that the Bournemouth attacker had potentially stopped Cucurella violently. In a rare sight, Jones disagreed with VAR’s recommendation, showing a yellow card instead.

Sanchez was needed to stop Brooks from giving Bournemouth the lead. But Chelsea’s goalkeeper could not stop Semenyo when, given too much space by Josh Acheampong as the 18-year-old centre back showed his inexperienced, he blasted the ball into the goal for 2-1.

In stoppage time, substitute Joao Felix won a free-kick. Palmer stood over it. But it was James who curled the ball into the corner to turn a defeat into a draw.