It was a cold evening at Kingsmeadow, and Wolves seemed set to frustrate our young Blues as the match started out in a scrappy nature.

Nevertheless, our boys remained patient and were able to break the deadlock with a fast counter as Omari Hutchinson and Burstow combined, The latter finished expertly to give us the lead.

Hutchinson went close to scoring one of his own, but his strike was deflected wide.

In the second half, Rankine used his pace to beat his opponent and he calmly slotted past Jackson Smith to give us a second.

We showed our superiority for most of the game and that should have been reflected in the scoreline as Cesare Casadei, Hutchinson and Malik Mothersille all went close to scoring.

Hutchinson also struck the crossbar with a free-kick late on.

Team news

It was a similar side to the one that started against Leicester City on Monday evening.

Gabriel Slonina made his development squad debut coming in for Eddie Beach, while Omari Hutchinson was also drafted into the line-up following two men's first team appearances under Graham Potter.

Scrappy start

Our young Blues were looking to make it three wins on the bounce as we took on a Wolves side who we beat in our first PL2 game of this season by seven goals to one.

The returning Hutchinson had a penalty claim waved away early on despite it looking like he was fouled inside the penalty box.

After a scrappy start, we settled into a rhythm which saw the away side penned into their half.

Our first opportunity was a half chance, as a hung cross from Dylan Williams found the head of Burstow, but he was stretching for the ball and put his header wide.

Rankine put in a dangerous cross which Hutchinson just failed to connect cleanly with.

Excellent finish

The goal that we deserved finally came and it was a fast counter-attack which undid the away side’s defence.

Williams released Hutchinson down the left side of the pitch, and he fired in a cross which Burstow took nicely into his path and then chipped the goalkeeper with his left foot. Sublime finish.

Wolves seldom threatened in the first period, but they went close as Harry Birtwistle put in a cross from a seemingly impossible angle and it found the head of Nathan Fraser who failed to keep his effort down.

Hutchinson went close just before half time to adding to the scoreline as he ran towards goal and unleashed a powerful shot which took a slight deflection before going wide.

Calm and composed finishing

The second half almost started with a bang as Burstow was put through on goal and his strike was destined for the bottom corner, but Smith saved well with an outstretched leg.

The in-form Rankine made it back-to-back games with a goal as he finished off a fine team move which started from a Slonina goal-kick. The winger was able to sweep the ball past the goalkeeper with a left-footed finish which went through the legs of the Smith in goal.

Flurry of chances

Our young Blues were in firm control of this contest as Wolves struggled to create.

A flurry of chances ensued as Hutchinson, Casadei and Mothersille all had chances to add to the scoreline.

Five minutes from time, the away side created a golden chance to pull one back though as a well-worked move found Owen Hesketh in the box and his shot just went wide of the post.

There was still time for Hutchinson to try his luck with a free-kick from distance and it cannoned off the bar.

This win means that we top the PL2 albeit with surrounding teams still having games to play.

Our young Blues not only made it three wins on the bounce, but they can also boast of three clean sheets in a row too.

Our development squad are next in action away from home against Fulham on Sunday 22 January.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Gabriel Slonina; Josh Brooking, Alfie Gilchrist (c), Zak Sturge; Charlie Webster, Ben Elliott (Derrick Abu 57); Dion Rankine, Dylan Williams, Omari Hutchinson, Cesare Casadei; Mason Burstow (Malik Mothersille 77).

Unused subs: Max Merrick, Brodi Hughes, Juan Castillo.

Scorers: Mason Burstow 21; Dion Rankine 51.

Booked: Derrick Abu 63.

Wolverhampton Wanderers (4-2-3-1): Jackson Smith; Harry Birtwistle (Jack Scott 86), Aaron Keto-Diyawa (Justin Hubner 54), Harvey Griffiths, Oliver Tipton (c), Filozofe Mabete (Kam Kandola 71), Tyler Roberts, Dylan Scicluna (Temple Ojinnaka 85), Nathan Fraser, Owen Hesketh, Owen Farmer (Jack Hodnett 71).

Booked: Dylan Scicluna 38.