Palmer and Jackson score to help Chelsea beat last-place Sheffield United

LONDON (AP) — Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson scored as Chelsea beat last-placed Sheffield United 2-0 to snap their two-game skid in the English Premier League on Saturday.

Chelsea has struggled again this season despite expensive signings, but manager Mauricio Pochettino called for patience, which was tested in a sluggish first half at Stamford Bridge.

Palmer opened the scoring from close range in the 54th minute after Raheem Sterling made a quick burst and sent a low cross in front of goal.

Seven minutes later, Jackson doubled the lead with an easy tap in at the far post. Sterling was involved again. He tried to poke the ball past goalkeeper Wes Foderingham and it fell to Palmer, who passed it under a leaping Foderingham to Jackson by the goal-line.

Pochettino kept midfielder Enzo Fernandez out of the starting lineup, but the Argentina international came on as a substitute in the 69th.

Chelsea’s second win in the last six league games bumped it up two spots to 10th.

Christopher Nkunku was an unused substitute for Chelsea. The France forward has returned from knee surgery.

Chelsea hosts Newcastle on Tuesday in a League Cup quarterfinal.

Sheffield faces a grind to get out of the relegation zone. The Blades have just two league wins and play at Aston Villa next Friday.

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