Chelsea 4-2 Gent
Completely changing your starting Xl ahead of an important European tie is either an act of madness or an act of genius.
Fortunately Enzo Maresca appears to know what he's doing, and the fans – once sceptical – are warming to their animated Italian gaffer.
What delighted him more than the 4-2 victory at a near-packed Stamford Bridge on Thursday night was the fact that Keirnan Dewsbury-Hall got an all-important goal; the confidence booster that he desperately needed after following his old manager from Leicester City to SW6.
It's been a tough readjustment for the attacking midfielder, who turned 26 last month. He was a big fish in a small pond at the King Power, and now he's having to adjust to splashing about in an Olympic-size pool.
"Overall we dominated the game after we made a lot of changes," said the articulate – and now bearded – player at the side of the pitch after the match. No kidding. To swap the entire team from the one that also beat Brighton 4-2 shows remarkable managerial belief in the players.
"This squad is the strongest in the Premier League. It's important to give the manager decisions to make! I can't lie; my goal meant a lot, and to get it at [the Matthew Harding] end! I'm buzzing. I was taken aback by how good the atmosphere was, and I've played in European nights before."
There were no weak links, although Cole Palmer (absent from the squad and watching from the stand) might have helped unlock a few static situations when the new Chelsea back line sometimes struggled to find the key to unlock a determined Belgian barrier.
Renato Veiga also got his first goal for the Blues, heading down and past the Gent keeper after 11 minutes to open the scoring.
Pedro Neto doubled the lead in the second half, but Gent pulled one back as Tsuyoshi Watanabe replicated Veiga's first-half header to make it 2-1.
Dewsbury-Hall got his goal after Chris Nkunku had slammed in an unstoppable rocket, but there was still time for Gent to make it interesting at the end as sub Omri Gandelman blasted a late consolation.
Chelsea's fans reacted brilliantly to Dewsbury-Hall's goal, firing up the torches on their mobile phones to replicate a co-ordinated display from Gent fans earlier in the evening.
This was a dazzling show by 11 supposed reserves. Maresca is only now discovering what a deep and potent well of talent he has taken charge of at the Bridge.
Next up, Forest's visit in the league on Sunday lunchtime, ahead of another international break. It's probably worth a punt on another 4-2 win!
The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and unless specifically stated are not necessarily those of Hammersmith & Fulham Council.
