The Blues travelled to the Vitality having won just one of their first three league games under Enzo Maresca.
There was much excitement ahead of kick-off with deadline day signing Jadon Sancho on the bench and ready to make his debut, though yet again several big names were missing.
Reece James, Romeo Lavia and Malo Gusto are all sidelined with injury, with Axel Disasi taking the place of the latter at right-back in one of two changes to the starting XI.
The other saw youngster Renato Veiga, making his first league start, in for Fernandez, with Moises Caiecedo wearing the captain’s armband instead of the Argentina midfielder.
There was no prior indication that the 23-year-old would be unavailable for the Bournemouth clash, especially after he made it through the international break unscathed.
Reports claim that Fernandez’s absence is down to illness.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Carney Chukwuemeka and Ben Chilwell were other notable absentees for Chelsea.
As for Bournemouth, they have also made two changes, one of them enforced with on loan Kepa Arrizabalaga unable to face his parent club so Mark Travers replaces him.
More to follow…
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