POPE: HARD WORK GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

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Goalkeeper Nick Pope's reaction to 1-1 draw at Chelsea

2021-11-07T10:56:33.148Z

POPE: HARD WORK GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

Goalkeeper Nick Pope's reaction to 1-1 draw at Chelsea

2021-11-07T10:56:33.148Z

Goalkeeper Nick Pope's reaction to 1-1 draw at Chelsea

Nick Pope believes making great saves is part and parcel of playing at places like Stamford Bridge after the 1-1 draw against Chelsea.

Matěj Vydra became the first player to score against Chelsea in open play this season with a 79th-minute goal that cancelled out Kai Havertz’s headed opener.

But the 29-year-old shot-stopper also played a pivotal role to gain a point for the Clarets in West London, making three sublime saves at crucial moments during the game.

Pope got down low to his right to prevent Callum Hudson-Odoi’s powerful shot from finding the corner of the net, and Jorginho forced another great save inside ten minutes, before making his best stop of the afternoon to deny Hudson-Odoi again in the second-half.

He said: “Part of hanging in there is making saves really, it’s part and parcel of coming to these places and getting points, it’s something that’s going to happen.

“It says it all really when you’re away at Stamford Bridge and going towards the final ten minutes thinking you can win the game and creating chances to win the game.

“That speaks volumes. We’ve been nearly men a few times this season, so it’s nice to maybe get something we deserve today.

“I didn’t want to say justice then! It just proves the hard work is going in the right direction.”

Chelsea remain top of the league despite the defeat and they dominated the early stages.

He added: "But the Clarets improved throughout the second half and looked the better side once Vydra and Jay Rodriguez came on, a fact not lost on Pope.

“They were brilliant. Since I’ve been here, the squad has been really strong, and it looks like we can affect games from the bench.

“People that come on make differences like you’ve seen today, and so today proved it’s good to have options.

“It’s good to have good memories here, it’s why you want to play football when you’re a little boy, really, and it’s why you want to play in the Premier League.

NICK POPE PREVIEWS BRIGHTON CLASH - Image 2

“You want to come to the big places and get the big points.”

Chelsea had numerous chances in the first half and could have been several goals ahead inside 20 minutes were it not for Pope’s outstanding saves.

The keeper believes that period of the game was crucial and that not conceding set his side up to grow as the game progressed.

He said: “It feels great to play well again and nearly nick it. To come to these grounds, the Champions League winners, and perform like we did in the second half so we can nick a point is great.

“You’ve got to stick in there, and if they score one, it’s important not to concede the second, especially in the next five minutes, because then 2-0 is a real steep one.

“We hung in there and hung in there and always believed that if we hung in there enough that the tables would turn, and we’d have a good spell and create chances.

“I feel like we have done all season, so I think that’s come from that belief.”