The Blues started well at the Stadium of Light and Cole Palmer was denied in the early stages. Yet the home side took control of the contest as the opening 45 minutes progressed, and broke the deadlock through Trai Hume’s well-controlled volley.

A second arrived for Sunderland early in the second period as a scuffed attempt from Brian Brobbey was deflected into the Chelsea net by the unfortunate Malo Gusto. Yet we were quickly given hope by a powerful Palmer drive that beat Robin Roefs.

However, our task was made harder when Wesley Fofana was dismissed just after the hour mark, having received two yellow cards, but we still pushed on with 10 men. Palmer had a shot wide and Reece James was denied, then there were 10 minutes added.

Unfortunately, the goal we needed to draw level and secure European football for next season didn't arrive, and our campaign ended with a narrow defeat.

An early opportunity

McFarlane made three personnel changes in addition to altering the Blues' shape to a 3-4-2-1. Levi Colwill returned to the heart of our defence, Gusto was included at right wing-back, and Joao Pedro was restored to spearhead our frontline.

Sunderland had European aspirations of their own, which ensured a fevered atmosphere come kick-off. Yet it was the Blues who fashioned the first opportunity of the game.

Pedro Neto was able to slip a pass through to Palmer, who advanced on goal and tried to guide a shot beyond Roefs. Unfortunately, the attempt lacked venom and the Sunderland goalkeeper saved.

The hosts responded with a chance of their own, as Enzo Le Fee drove into the Chelsea penalty area and drove a shot toward goal that Robert Sanchez palmed behind.

Under pressure

It raised the noise inside the Stadium of Light and the hosts enjoyed a sustained period of pressure. Nordi Mukiele fired an attempt on goal that Enzo Fernandez blocked well before Colwill hooked the ball away from Brobbey inside the Blues' penalty area.

Nilson Angulo then forced Sanchez into a smart reaction save with a whipped drive from distance. Our resistance was being tested – and it was broken in the 25th minute as the home side went ahead.

A long pass forward from Roefs was flicked into the path of Hume by Luke O'Nien, and the Northern Ireland international guided a first-time volley beyond Sanchez and in at the near post.

Sunderland were not content to simply sit on their advantage – enough for a potential European place – during the remainder of the opening period. They continued to push forward and Brobbey drilled an effort into the side netting.

Chances were limited for the Blues, but in the closing stages of the half, Gusto delivered a left-footed cross to the back post and Joao Pedro attempted to guide a header back across goal. Unfortunately, his effort bounced wide and we trailed at the interval.

Work to do

McFarlane opted against any changes at the interval; those who started were trusted to get the Blues back into the contest.

However, Sunderland maintained the same intensity and, within 90 seconds of the restart, came close to a second, as Brobbey broke through and drilled a shot low across goal. Sanchez flung out a leg and saved well. It was a let-off – and one not heeded.

From their next attack, Sunderland doubled their advantage. An overload down the Blues' left enabled Le Fee to cut a pass back to Brobbey inside our six-yard box. He scuffed his shot across goal, but the ball struck Gusto and deflected into our net.

McFarlane responded by introducing James for Jorrel Hato; the Blues shape also shifted into a 4-2-3-1 as we looked for a route back into the game.

And, in the 57th minute, we found one. It came via the left boot of Palmer, who was given time to measure a shot from 20 yards and drilled the ball beyond Roefs.

Down to 10

Momentum was seemingly with the Blues. Yet five minutes after getting on the scoreboard, we were reduced to 10 men as Fofana was adjudged to have fouled Wilson Isidor and, having been booked earlier in the half, was shown a second yellow card and then a red.

Trevoh Chalobah was quickly called into action, replacing Neto, to form a centre-back partnership with Colwill. It was almost instantly breached as a Sunderland attack ended with the ball falling to Habib Diarra at the back post, but Joao Pedro somehow managed to toe the ball off his foot and over the crossbar at close range.

We fashioned a sight of goal despite our numerical disadvantage. Palmer found space on the edge of the area to measure a shot, but his effort cleared the crossbar.

With five minutes to play, a double change was made. Josh Acheampong and Liam Delap replaced Gusto and Moises Caicedo.

Time was ticking down as James powered a low drive at goal that Roefs saved. We committed more and more men forward in search of an equaliser – and 10 minutes of additional time would be played. But much of that was taken up by stoppages and delays, preventing the Blues from building momentum, and we ended beaten on the final day.

What it means

Our Premier League campaign comes to a close with the Blues 10th in the table, having taken 52 points from our 38 matches.

The teams

Chelsea (3-4-2-1): Sanchez; Fofana, Colwill, Hato (James 52); Gusto (Acheampong 85), Caicedo (Delap 85), Fernandez (c), Cucurella; Palmer, Neto (Chalobah 65); Joao Pedro
Unused subs: Jorgensen, Essugo, Santos, Derry, Garnacho
Scorer: Palmer 56
Booked: Fofana 54, 62, Fernandez 69, Joao Pedro 90+7, Palmer 90+11
Sent off: Fofana 62

Sunderland (4-2-3-1): Roefs; Geertruida, Mukiele, O'Nien, Mandava; Xhaka (c), Sadiki; Hume, Le Fee (Rigg 90+8), Angulo (Diarra 61); Brobbey (Isidor 61)
Unused subs: Ellborg, Alderete, Cirkin, Mayenda, Traore, Ta Bi
Scorers: Hume 25, Gusto og 50
Booked: Angulo 42, Geertruida 53, Xhaka 73, Diarra 81, Sadiki 89