Gudjohnsen lifts Blues from their lethargyAmy Lawrence at Stamford BridgeSunday February 26, 2006The ObserverSubstitutes' benches are instructive barometers of the strength ofclub nowadays. That Portsmouth's contained a smattering ofinternational experience was encouraging - until you compared it toChelsea's: Claude Makelele, Eidur Gudjohnsen, Damien Duff. All came onto turn Chelsea from sloppy to serious.This was not their most refined performance by any means, but as ameans to an end this was a decent afternoon for Chelsea. If theircountdown to the title is echoed by Portsmouth's slide towards theChampionship, at least their opponents can take heart from the qualityof their fight.Any inkling that Portsmouth represented an anti-climax after Barcelonawas not of interest to Chelsea's manager. Jose Mourinho was animatedon the touchline, barking instructions at players who were lessenergised after their midweek exertions. He scowled, he scribbledfurious notes, and then he made a no-nonsense substitution. Asier DelHorno, the recipient of more than one earful during a lacklustre firsthalfhour, lasted even fewer minutes here than he managed three daysearlier.Affronted by perceived injustice when the £8m full-back was dismissedin the Champions League, this time Mourinho was short of sympathy. DelHorno's number was up in the 31st minute, as he gave way to Duff. Bythen Mourinho had realised that three defenders were sufficientagainst an under-confident team.And that more offensive power was necessary.Portsmouth were so ravaged by defensive injuries that Harry Redknappplayed Norwegian Azar Karadas - a striker - in the heart of his backfour. Marking Didier Drogba, he started off in remarkably assuredfashion.Early on Drogba was nudged in the back and went flying, rolling, andclutching his face before he limped off. The word theatre sprang to
With more focus, Chelsea could have been comfortably ahead by halftime. Dean Kiely excelled in throwing various body parts at a varietyof shots. Frank Lampard wasted an opportunity after Arjen Robben hadwriggled into space and seen his shot blocked - the first of threeefforts from the Dutchman in the first 45 minutes. Portsmouth survivedtheir biggest scare when John Terry\'s bullet header struck Kiely onthe chest.It would get more surprising.Redknapp fuelled his men with a sense a derring do at half time, andthey emerged for the second half in high spirits, biting at Chelsea,closing down and passing the ball more fluently.Chelsea were vulnerable to the counter attack, and Robert Huth\'ssuperb tackle spared Terry\'s blushes when Lomana LuaLua dashed onto apoor back header from his partner. At the other end Kiely again proveddefiant, dealing confidently with Shaun Wright- Phillips\'s drive andLampard\'s follow-up.Chelsea missed the midfield authority they possess when Makelele orGudjohnsen are on the pitch. On the hour, Mourinho addressed thatproblem with another meaningful substitution. On came the old headsfor the impotent Joe Cole and Wright-Phillips.Within four minutes the difference was demonstrated. Drogba chargedforward and poked a pass across the face of goal and Gudjohnsen\'sclassy dummy invited Lampard to steer past Kiely.Game over? Hardly. Richard Hughes squandered a golden opportunity,slicing free header from Wayne Routledge\'s perceptive cross, and PedroMendes\'s dipping shot inched over the bar.But Robben finished their rally with a cute finish after Gudjohnsenput him through with a beautifully weighted lob.Man of the match: Eidur GudjohnsenA class act for 30 minutes once he came on as a substitute. TheIceland international showed his guile and intelligence in crafting",1]
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mind.With more focus, Chelsea could have been comfortably ahead by halftime. Dean Kiely excelled in throwing various body parts at a varietyof shots. Frank Lampard wasted an opportunity after Arjen Robben hadwriggled into space and seen his shot blocked - the first of threeefforts from the Dutchman in the first 45 minutes. Portsmouth survivedtheir biggest scare when John Terry's bullet header struck Kiely onthe chest.It would get more surprising.Redknapp fuelled his men with a sense a derring do at half time, andthey emerged for the second half in high spirits, biting at Chelsea,closing down and passing the ball more fluently.Chelsea were vulnerable to the counter attack, and Robert Huth'ssuperb tackle spared Terry's blushes when Lomana LuaLua dashed onto apoor back header from his partner. At the other end Kiely again proveddefiant, dealing confidently with Shaun Wright- Phillips's drive andLampard's follow-up.Chelsea missed the midfield authority they possess when Makelele orGudjohnsen are on the pitch. On the hour, Mourinho addressed thatproblem with another meaningful substitution. On came the old headsfor the impotent Joe Cole and Wright-Phillips.Within four minutes the difference was demonstrated. Drogba chargedforward and poked a pass across the face of goal and Gudjohnsen'sclassy dummy invited Lampard to steer past Kiely.Game over? Hardly. Richard Hughes squandered a golden opportunity,slicing free header from Wayne Routledge's perceptive cross, and PedroMendes's dipping shot inched over the bar.But Robben finished their rally with a cute finish after Gudjohnsenput him through with a beautifully weighted lob.Man of the match: Eidur GudjohnsenA class act for 30 minutes once he came on as a substitute. TheIceland international showed his guile and intelligence in crafting
invaluable.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Independent:Chelsea 2 Portsmouth 0: Mourinho\'s tactical nous lifts ChelseaSlick switches are rewarded by Lampard and RobbenBy Steve Tongue at Stamford BridgePublished: 26 February 2006Peeved he may have been by the midweek defeat against Barc-elona,which seriously threatens the Champions\' League triumph he has beencraving these past 12 months, but Jose Mourinho earned his roublesagain yesterday.His first substitution was made after only half an hour, when AsierDel Horno\'s bad week took an even worse turn as he was ruthlesslyhauled off for Damien Duff; Chelsea immediately roused themselves andfinally scored the goals required for a routine victory following afurther double change that brought on Eidur Gudjohnsen to create bothof them.Ordinary as the champions had been until that point, a 15-point leadat the top of the table is the outcome, while Portsmouth\'s eightsuccessive away defeats tell a relegation tale. They have never scoreda goal against Chelsea in six Premiership matches and are highlyunlikely to have the chance to do so next season. It was easy toimagine the rueful tone of the conversation between the respectiveclubs\' Russian owners in the posh boxes afterwards.Roman Abramovich has had more stimulating days at the Bridge - many ofthem. After the draining drama of last Wednesday night, it wasunderstandable that both the home team and the atmosphere were flat -flatter, certainly, than the playing surface. Anticipating that,Mourinho tried to freshen up his side with four changes, restoringMichael Essien, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Robert Huth and Didier Drogba,but to limited effect. Hence the unusually early change of tack and",1]
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Chelsea's two goals. In and out of the team, when he is in, he can beinvaluable.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Independent:Chelsea 2 Portsmouth 0: Mourinho's tactical nous lifts ChelseaSlick switches are rewarded by Lampard and RobbenBy Steve Tongue at Stamford BridgePublished: 26 February 2006Peeved he may have been by the midweek defeat against Barc-elona,which seriously threatens the Champions' League triumph he has beencraving these past 12 months, but Jose Mourinho earned his roublesagain yesterday.His first substitution was made after only half an hour, when AsierDel Horno's bad week took an even worse turn as he was ruthlesslyhauled off for Damien Duff; Chelsea immediately roused themselves andfinally scored the goals required for a routine victory following afurther double change that brought on Eidur Gudjohnsen to create bothof them.Ordinary as the champions had been until that point, a 15-point leadat the top of the table is the outcome, while Portsmouth's eightsuccessive away defeats tell a relegation tale. They have never scoreda goal against Chelsea in six Premiership matches and are highlyunlikely to have the chance to do so next season. It was easy toimagine the rueful tone of the conversation between the respectiveclubs' Russian owners in the posh boxes afterwards.Roman Abramovich has had more stimulating days at the Bridge - many ofthem. After the draining drama of last Wednesday night, it wasunderstandable that both the home team and the atmosphere were flat -flatter, certainly, than the playing surface. Anticipating that,Mourinho tried to freshen up his side with four changes, restoringMichael Essien, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Robert Huth and Didier Drogba,but to limited effect. Hence the unusually early change of tack and
more scuffed than ever, hindering what few constructive passing movesthere were in a dull opening.Chelsea, predictably, put together most of them, Wright-Phillipscausing the first shudder in the visitors\' ranks with an angled shotfrom just inside the penalty area that Dean Kiely needed two grabs torepel. But Mourinho\'s high standards were not being met, and aftertwice bawling out Del Horno he pulled the full-back off, even earlierthan he had been sent off in midweek. Duff\'s arrival, albeit in anunfamiliar position, had the desired effect of livening his side up.His first touch was a square pass for Wright-Phillips, who shot toohigh. A couple more minutes and John Terry met Arjen Robben\'s curlingfree-kick from the right with a smart header that Kiely did well toparry. The goalkeeper next had to beat out a direct free-kick byDrogba before holding Huth\'s weaker header from the rebound.Early in the second half, Kiely was required to make another save asWright-Phillips shot from 20 yards, Frank Lampard for once getting nopower on the follow-up. Mourinho was soon twitching again, risking histwo remaining substitutions on the hour and finding fortune favouringhis bravery. Gudjohnsen and Claude Makelele, left out afterWednesday\'s exertions, replaced Wright-Phillips and Joe Cole, andwithin six minutes the Icelander was instrumental in forcing a goal.Drogba, on the left, laid the ball towards Gudjohnsen, who deftlystepped over it, allowing Lampard to come steaming through and shootlow inside a post for his 17th goal of the season. Even Kiely couldnot keep that one out.Cursing his nephew, Harry Redknapp responded by sending on WayneRoutledge, the little winger who has been in indifferent form sincejoining on loan from Tottenham. It was a good move to pit him against",1]
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tactics on a pitch that, far from being freshened up, looked drier andmore scuffed than ever, hindering what few constructive passing movesthere were in a dull opening.Chelsea, predictably, put together most of them, Wright-Phillipscausing the first shudder in the visitors' ranks with an angled shotfrom just inside the penalty area that Dean Kiely needed two grabs torepel. But Mourinho's high standards were not being met, and aftertwice bawling out Del Horno he pulled the full-back off, even earlierthan he had been sent off in midweek. Duff's arrival, albeit in anunfamiliar position, had the desired effect of livening his side up.His first touch was a square pass for Wright-Phillips, who shot toohigh. A couple more minutes and John Terry met Arjen Robben's curlingfree-kick from the right with a smart header that Kiely did well toparry. The goalkeeper next had to beat out a direct free-kick byDrogba before holding Huth's weaker header from the rebound.Early in the second half, Kiely was required to make another save asWright-Phillips shot from 20 yards, Frank Lampard for once getting nopower on the follow-up. Mourinho was soon twitching again, risking histwo remaining substitutions on the hour and finding fortune favouringhis bravery. Gudjohnsen and Claude Makelele, left out afterWednesday's exertions, replaced Wright-Phillips and Joe Cole, andwithin six minutes the Icelander was instrumental in forcing a goal.Drogba, on the left, laid the ball towards Gudjohnsen, who deftlystepped over it, allowing Lampard to come steaming through and shootlow inside a post for his 17th goal of the season. Even Kiely couldnot keep that one out.Cursing his nephew, Harry Redknapp responded by sending on WayneRoutledge, the little winger who has been in indifferent form sincejoining on loan from Tottenham. It was a good move to pit him against
Irishman with ease, his cross was only fractionally too far ahead ofRichard Hughes, who could only head wide.The danger, of course, was Chelsea\'s speed on the break, not entirelynegated by the pitch. Twelve minutes from time Gudjohnsen lobbed apass over the two central defenders for Robben to open his body andside-foot carefully past Kiely. Drogba, Lampard and Paulo Ferreira allmissed the target in the last few minutes, though neither sidedeserved a rout."I never felt we were under any real pressure," said Redknapp, whoneeds to look on the bright side these days. "It\'s going to be tough,but we always knew that. There\'s 11 games to go and points to playfor. But it\'s been one of those weeks." Del Horno knows the feeling.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Telegraph:Lampard restores Chelsea sparkBy Roy Collins at Stamford BridgeChelsea (0) 2 Portsmouth (0) 0The one great quality that Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has alwaysappeared to possess that his predecessor, Claudio Ranieri, patentlylacked is his ability to use his substitutes and squad rotation todevastating effect.While Ranieri, the Tinkerman, seemed to switch players and line-ups ona whim, or possibly the roll of a die, Mourinho has shown ingenuity inslicing up his team sheet without a discernible reduction in quality,while constantly introducing substitutes who have proved instantmatch-winners. In recent weeks, however, some of the magic seems tohave deserted him.Mourinho came close to humiliation against Division One Colchester inthe FA Cup last weekend when leaving out Joe Cole and Frank Lampard,both of whom were restored to the team at half-time. And here, after",1]
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Duff, the irregular left-back, and when Routledge went past theIrishman with ease, his cross was only fractionally too far ahead ofRichard Hughes, who could only head wide.The danger, of course, was Chelsea's speed on the break, not entirelynegated by the pitch. Twelve minutes from time Gudjohnsen lobbed apass over the two central defenders for Robben to open his body andside-foot carefully past Kiely. Drogba, Lampard and Paulo Ferreira allmissed the target in the last few minutes, though neither sidedeserved a rout."I never felt we were under any real pressure," said Redknapp, whoneeds to look on the bright side these days. "It's going to be tough,but we always knew that. There's 11 games to go and points to playfor. But it's been one of those weeks." Del Horno knows the feeling.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Telegraph:Lampard restores Chelsea sparkBy Roy Collins at Stamford BridgeChelsea (0) 2 Portsmouth (0) 0The one great quality that Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has alwaysappeared to possess that his predecessor, Claudio Ranieri, patentlylacked is his ability to use his substitutes and squad rotation todevastating effect.While Ranieri, the Tinkerman, seemed to switch players and line-ups ona whim, or possibly the roll of a die, Mourinho has shown ingenuity inslicing up his team sheet without a discernible reduction in quality,while constantly introducing substitutes who have proved instantmatch-winners. In recent weeks, however, some of the magic seems tohave deserted him.Mourinho came close to humiliation against Division One Colchester inthe FA Cup last weekend when leaving out Joe Cole and Frank Lampard,both of whom were restored to the team at half-time. And here, after
Eidur Gudjohnsen and Claude Makelele, Mourinho was forced to send bothon after an hour to make some sense of a starting line up thatresembled one of those graffiti scrawls that passed for a Ranieri teamsheet.Chelsea started so poorly that Mourinho made a substitution after halfan hour, bringing on Damien Duff for left-back Asier Del Horno, whohad been on for longer when he was sent off against Barcelona inmidweek.Once again, Del Horno\'s removal carried some relief. In midweek itallowed him to escape the rack on which he was being stretched byLionel Messi; yesterday he endured some terrible verbal abuse fromMourinho.But it was only when Makelele and Gudjohnsen, the glue in theirmidfield, galloped into the action that Chelsea sparked. Within fourminutes of his arrival, Gudjohnsen, on the turn, flicked DidierDrogba\'s pass into the path of Frank Lampard in full stride. After twoearlier clumps over the bar, Lampard was in no mood to miss that one.Portsmouth, always a South Coast shipwreck waiting to happen, were soencouraged to find themselves still in the game at half-time that theycame out with a sailor\'s roll at the start of the second, only RobertHuth\'s alert challenge preventing Lomana LuaLua from giving them ashock lead.After Lampard\'s goal, Richard Hughes was an eyelash-width fromconverting the right-wing cross of Wayne Routledge. And althoughPompey manager Harry Redknapp will be delighted that his teamcontinued to show great spirit, a point was beyond a team so ravagedby injury that Norwegian centre-forward Azar Karadas had to play atcentre-half.Their final hope was extinguished when Gudjohnsen put Arjen Robbenthrough for a clear run on goal and an inevitable shot past DeanKiely.Finally, Chelsea fans, in funereal mood after defeat by Barcelona,",1]
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believing his team could cope without the midfield intelligence ofEidur Gudjohnsen and Claude Makelele, Mourinho was forced to send bothon after an hour to make some sense of a starting line up thatresembled one of those graffiti scrawls that passed for a Ranieri teamsheet.Chelsea started so poorly that Mourinho made a substitution after halfan hour, bringing on Damien Duff for left-back Asier Del Horno, whohad been on for longer when he was sent off against Barcelona inmidweek.Once again, Del Horno's removal carried some relief. In midweek itallowed him to escape the rack on which he was being stretched byLionel Messi; yesterday he endured some terrible verbal abuse fromMourinho.But it was only when Makelele and Gudjohnsen, the glue in theirmidfield, galloped into the action that Chelsea sparked. Within fourminutes of his arrival, Gudjohnsen, on the turn, flicked DidierDrogba's pass into the path of Frank Lampard in full stride. After twoearlier clumps over the bar, Lampard was in no mood to miss that one.Portsmouth, always a South Coast shipwreck waiting to happen, were soencouraged to find themselves still in the game at half-time that theycame out with a sailor's roll at the start of the second, only RobertHuth's alert challenge preventing Lomana LuaLua from giving them ashock lead.After Lampard's goal, Richard Hughes was an eyelash-width fromconverting the right-wing cross of Wayne Routledge. And althoughPompey manager Harry Redknapp will be delighted that his teamcontinued to show great spirit, a point was beyond a team so ravagedby injury that Norwegian centre-forward Azar Karadas had to play atcentre-half.Their final hope was extinguished when Gudjohnsen put Arjen Robbenthrough for a clear run on goal and an inevitable shot past DeanKiely.Finally, Chelsea fans, in funereal mood after defeat by Barcelona,
victory. A few of them managed a chorus of One Man Went To Mow, thoughwhy anyone would need to do so on their grass-less pitch is a mystery.Pompey\'s collection of odds-and-sods signings, many coming in afterRedknapp\'s reappointment just before last month\'s transfer window,finally looked as though they might have been introduced to oneanother. Yet Portsmouth are so far adrift at the foot of the tablethat the only bright spot for their fans is the prospect of renewingrivalry with Southampton in the Championship next season.Mourinho went into the game boasting his worst statistics in thePremier League, and if anything proved that statistics are littlebetter than lies, this was it. Chelsea had won just two of their lastthree league games, while boasting a run of just one defeat in 14games. How other Premier League managers would love to experience sucha poor run.Even so, as Chelsea, surely close to retaining the Premier Leaguetitle, seek success on two other fronts, Mourinho needs to restore hisreputation as a manager with a sure hand in team rotation. But he hasnot turned into the Tinkerman just yet.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The Sunday Times February 26, 2006Chelsea 2 Portsmouth 0: Lampard cheers up ChelseaROB HUGHES AT STAMFORD BRIDGETHE TIDE is running out for Portsmouth, but oh, how they gave Chelseaa run for their championship money for 65 minutes here. It was never aclassic, nobody touched the heights of Ronaldinho and Lionel Messilast Wednesday, but until Frank Lampard, nephew of the Portsmouthmanager Harry Redknapp, scored the decisive first goal, this was areal contest, a credit to the defiance at the foot of the Premiership.",1]
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found their voices as an anxious afternoon became another routinevictory. A few of them managed a chorus of One Man Went To Mow, thoughwhy anyone would need to do so on their grass-less pitch is a mystery.Pompey's collection of odds-and-sods signings, many coming in afterRedknapp's reappointment just before last month's transfer window,finally looked as though they might have been introduced to oneanother. Yet Portsmouth are so far adrift at the foot of the tablethat the only bright spot for their fans is the prospect of renewingrivalry with Southampton in the Championship next season.Mourinho went into the game boasting his worst statistics in thePremier League, and if anything proved that statistics are littlebetter than lies, this was it. Chelsea had won just two of their lastthree league games, while boasting a run of just one defeat in 14games. How other Premier League managers would love to experience sucha poor run.Even so, as Chelsea, surely close to retaining the Premier Leaguetitle, seek success on two other fronts, Mourinho needs to restore hisreputation as a manager with a sure hand in team rotation. But he hasnot turned into the Tinkerman just yet.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The Sunday Times February 26, 2006Chelsea 2 Portsmouth 0: Lampard cheers up ChelseaROB HUGHES AT STAMFORD BRIDGETHE TIDE is running out for Portsmouth, but oh, how they gave Chelseaa run for their championship money for 65 minutes here. It was never aclassic, nobody touched the heights of Ronaldinho and Lionel Messilast Wednesday, but until Frank Lampard, nephew of the Portsmouthmanager Harry Redknapp, scored the decisive first goal, this was areal contest, a credit to the defiance at the foot of the Premiership.
"No surprise, was it?" asked Redknapp, "That\'s Frank for you, give himone opportunity and he\'s always likely to score."At the final whistle, Redknapp turned, briefly dejected. "We took 22points from the last 10 games the first time I took Portsmouth intothe Premiership," he said. "We need that again. I\'m going home, butbefore you write it, I ain\'t committing suicide. My life\'s too good."This, we might have presumed, was much more to Jose Mourinho\'s liking:pulverising moderate opposition in the Premiership rather than tryingto cope with the quality of Barcelona. However, with Chelsea countingdown to the retention of the championship and with Portsmouthstruggling to escape relegation, we had a first half of virtualstalemate.Chelsea, for sure, were stale after Wednesday. Asier Del Horno, stillperhaps unnerved by the thought of Messi, was absent on the fielduntil, with barely half an hour on the clock, Mourinho\'s patience ranout. He pulled off the Spaniard, replaced him with Damien Duff, andplayed with only three at the back. However, Chelsea\'s other tacticalinnovation, deploying Joe Cole in the playmaker role behind DidierDrogba, wasn\'t working either.The ball never came to Cole, bypassing him on the wings and in theair. The focus was all about giving the ball as quickly as possible toDrogba.There is an art, as the Chelsea manager will tell you, to winning freekicks in a stagnant contest. Arjen Robben and Drogba were at it fromthe start, and some of their dives were all too easily fooling refereeMike Riley.For all Portsmouth\'s effort and the hint from time to time that LomanaLuaLua had the nimble footwork to elude John Terry on the ground, theyrarely threatened to score.And the champions? Their threat came from free kicks, or from ShaunWright-Phillips. His low crosses were too sharp for Drogba, but on 33",1]
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"No surprise, was it?" asked Redknapp, "That's Frank for you, give himone opportunity and he's always likely to score."At the final whistle, Redknapp turned, briefly dejected. "We took 22points from the last 10 games the first time I took Portsmouth intothe Premiership," he said. "We need that again. I'm going home, butbefore you write it, I ain't committing suicide. My life's too good."This, we might have presumed, was much more to Jose Mourinho's liking:pulverising moderate opposition in the Premiership rather than tryingto cope with the quality of Barcelona. However, with Chelsea countingdown to the retention of the championship and with Portsmouthstruggling to escape relegation, we had a first half of virtualstalemate.Chelsea, for sure, were stale after Wednesday. Asier Del Horno, stillperhaps unnerved by the thought of Messi, was absent on the fielduntil, with barely half an hour on the clock, Mourinho's patience ranout. He pulled off the Spaniard, replaced him with Damien Duff, andplayed with only three at the back. However, Chelsea's other tacticalinnovation, deploying Joe Cole in the playmaker role behind DidierDrogba, wasn't working either.The ball never came to Cole, bypassing him on the wings and in theair. The focus was all about giving the ball as quickly as possible toDrogba.There is an art, as the Chelsea manager will tell you, to winning freekicks in a stagnant contest. Arjen Robben and Drogba were at it fromthe start, and some of their dives were all too easily fooling refereeMike Riley.For all Portsmouth's effort and the hint from time to time that LomanaLuaLua had the nimble footwork to elude John Terry on the ground, theyrarely threatened to score.And the champions? Their threat came from free kicks, or from ShaunWright-Phillips. His low crosses were too sharp for Drogba, but on 33
headed goalwards from four yards, but was repelled by the right handof Dean Kiely.Mourinho was to make further and, this time, completely rationalchanges. On the hour, he replaced Cole with Eidur Gudjohnsen and, atthe same time, withdrew Wright-Phillips and asked Claude Makelele togive the midfield some direction and solidity.Within five minutes, the game was virtually over. Chelsea, for once,flowed like champions should and, when Drogba slipped the ball insidewith his left foot and Gudjohnsen stepped over it, Lampard producedthe power that buried the ball from the edge of the penalty area.Within moments however, Portsmouth should have equalised. WayneRoutledge, who had come on for Ognjen Koroman, bemused Duff, and, fromhis accurate cross, Richard Hughes, finding a gaping hole between thehulking Chelsea centre-backs, did not even manage contact, let alone afirm header, from just eight yards.In those two minutes we had ruthless evidence of what it takes to betop of the league compared with almost bottom.Twelve minutes from the end Sean Davis carelessly conceded possessionto Gudjohnsen and watched in abject despair as he set Robben free. TheDutchman finished the job unmercifully. For having the ability toscore when others were wasteful, Lampard was again man of the match.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ http://www.cfchistory.co.uk/forum/index.php",0]
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minutes, from a Robben free kick, Terry stole in behind the defence,headed goalwards from four yards, but was repelled by the right handof Dean Kiely.Mourinho was to make further and, this time, completely rationalchanges. On the hour, he replaced Cole with Eidur Gudjohnsen and, atthe same time, withdrew Wright-Phillips and asked Claude Makelele togive the midfield some direction and solidity.Within five minutes, the game was virtually over. Chelsea, for once,flowed like champions should and, when Drogba slipped the ball insidewith his left foot and Gudjohnsen stepped over it, Lampard producedthe power that buried the ball from the edge of the penalty area.Within moments however, Portsmouth should have equalised. WayneRoutledge, who had come on for Ognjen Koroman, bemused Duff, and, fromhis accurate cross, Richard Hughes, finding a gaping hole between thehulking Chelsea centre-backs, did not even manage contact, let alone afirm header, from just eight yards.In those two minutes we had ruthless evidence of what it takes to betop of the league compared with almost bottom.Twelve minutes from the end Sean Davis carelessly conceded possessionto Gudjohnsen and watched in abject despair as he set Robben free. TheDutchman finished the job unmercifully. For having the ability toscore when others were wasteful, Lampard was again man of the match.
Sunday, February 26, 2006
Monday, February 20, 2006
morning papers colchester fa cup
Guardian:Cole to rescue as Blues survive Colchester scareJon Brodkin at Stamford BridgeJose Mourinho was given 12 jars of jam before the game by hisColchester counterpart Phil Parkinson as a gift from one of the LeagueOne club's sponsors Tiptree but the Chelsea manager can hardly haveexpected such a sticky afternoon to follow. Not until Joe Cole curledin his second goal in stoppage-time could he relax and be sure histeam would progress at the expense of impressive opponents.If the quarter-final place goes to Chelsea, the majority of praisebelongs to Colchester. They not only led for nine fairy-tale minutesbut were the better team before the interval and clung on well underincessant second-half pressure to make a replay seem plausible untillate on.As it is, Chelsea can prepare for Wednesday's game with Barcelona withclear minds having avoided embarrassment. Mourinho has offered Barçathe chance to prepare at his team's Cobham complex tomorrow if theywant to keep the pitch here in the best possible condition. It cut upin the rain but Mourinho insisted it looks worse than it is. "The ballrolls at normal speed," he said.It was certainly no bar to a fluent move that culminated in Coleputting Chelsea ahead in the 79th minute. The goal was hardly a shockafter Chelsea created a series of openings but it seemed finegoalkeeping, good defending, a poor finish by Didier Drogba and a nearmiss might frustrate the Premiership champions. Wayne Brown wasexcellent at centre-back as Colchester hung on.It was a sign of Mourinho's dissatisfaction with his weakened team'sfirst half, and a compliment to Colchester, that he brought on FrankLampard and Cole at the interval and then Hernán Crespo to playalongside Drogba just after the hour. Such resources proved crucial asall three made an impact.Cole gave Chelsea far greater goal threat and drive as he broke from
tempo and accuracy of the passing, which had been awful, and Crespoalso helped tip the balance. It was his shot that Aidan Davisonparried into Cole\'s path for the England international to put Chelsea2-1 up.Chelsea needed this rise in vibrancy for they looked flat in the faceof Colchester\'s fearlessness and neat passing. After overcoming nerveswhich allowed the home team two early chances, one of which shouldhave been taken by Shaun Wright-Phillips, Parkinson\'s players took thegame to their opponents and dominated. They hit the post before goingahead through a Ricardo Carvalho own-goal.Richard Garcia\'s movement caused problems, Kevin Watson and Neil Dannskept Colchester ticking and the wide players Greg Halford and MarkYeates posed danger. Lassana Diarra struggled and Maniche lackedLampard\'s assertiveness. Both made way."At half-time the players felt it was enough; we had given them toomuch confidence," Mourinho said. "If you give time and space toplayers from other divisions they look like you," he explained. "Ifyou reduce the space, they have no time to think and feel underpressure. They have to chase . . . They finished with some exhaustedplayers but they should go home proud. They played with courage. Theycame to win and not go for a 0-0."Chelsea\'s regular wastage of possession in the first half must haveirritated Mourinho, as will the way a team showing nine changes wasperiodically opened up. There were alarms even before Yeates struck anupright from a Garcia cross and Colchester soon led. Garcia exchangedpasses with Halford, whose return sent the striker forward to providea cross which Carvalho turned into his own net.They might have extended their lead before Chelsea equalised from aset-piece. Carvalho flicked on a corner by the quiet Damien Duff and",1]
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deep, going close on two occasions before scoring. Lampard raised thetempo and accuracy of the passing, which had been awful, and Crespoalso helped tip the balance. It was his shot that Aidan Davisonparried into Cole's path for the England international to put Chelsea2-1 up.Chelsea needed this rise in vibrancy for they looked flat in the faceof Colchester's fearlessness and neat passing. After overcoming nerveswhich allowed the home team two early chances, one of which shouldhave been taken by Shaun Wright-Phillips, Parkinson's players took thegame to their opponents and dominated. They hit the post before goingahead through a Ricardo Carvalho own-goal.Richard Garcia's movement caused problems, Kevin Watson and Neil Dannskept Colchester ticking and the wide players Greg Halford and MarkYeates posed danger. Lassana Diarra struggled and Maniche lackedLampard's assertiveness. Both made way."At half-time the players felt it was enough; we had given them toomuch confidence," Mourinho said. "If you give time and space toplayers from other divisions they look like you," he explained. "Ifyou reduce the space, they have no time to think and feel underpressure. They have to chase . . . They finished with some exhaustedplayers but they should go home proud. They played with courage. Theycame to win and not go for a 0-0."Chelsea's regular wastage of possession in the first half must haveirritated Mourinho, as will the way a team showing nine changes wasperiodically opened up. There were alarms even before Yeates struck anupright from a Garcia cross and Colchester soon led. Garcia exchangedpasses with Halford, whose return sent the striker forward to providea cross which Carvalho turned into his own net.They might have extended their lead before Chelsea equalised from aset-piece. Carvalho flicked on a corner by the quiet Damien Duff and
Chelsea had been poor from open play. Wright-Phillips\' runs had toolittle end-product and the substitutes helped them take control.Drogba ought to have scored and Davison made sharp stops from Cole andCrespo before the breakthrough. Crespo drove forward and his shot wasdiverted by Davison for Cole to tuck in. It was game over when RobertHuth released Cole to loop in a fine shot.Mourinho said Asier del Horno will be fit for Barcelona, that Drogbashould be fine despite a late leg injury and he hopes Claude Makelelewill play. "We know from how difficult it was out there last year thatwe need to get a result here," Cole said. "I think we have the playersto do it. We have a lot of respect for Barcelona but we certainlydon\'t fear them at all."Man of the match Wayne Brown - The centre-back impressed with helpfrom his partner Pat Baldwin, making a series of brave interceptionsand blocks.Best moment Any one of a number of occasions when he came to histeam\'s rescue in the second half.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Telegraph:Chelsea are forced to shovel on the ColeBy Clive TyldesleyChelsea (1) 3 Colchester United (1) 1Colchester United were ahead for less than 10 minutes, but it was longenough to wonder if the FA Cup would ever see a bigger giant-killing.English football\'s biggest ever giants were not only trailing at hometo a team from the lower leagues, they looked devoid of answers to thehistoric question being asked of them.Lady luck: Richard Garcia and Kevin Watson celebrateNot until the final minute of a romping tie did Chelsea finally putColchester in their place, and only then with the introduction of",1]
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Ferreira put in the loose ball for his first Chelsea goal.Chelsea had been poor from open play. Wright-Phillips' runs had toolittle end-product and the substitutes helped them take control.Drogba ought to have scored and Davison made sharp stops from Cole andCrespo before the breakthrough. Crespo drove forward and his shot wasdiverted by Davison for Cole to tuck in. It was game over when RobertHuth released Cole to loop in a fine shot.Mourinho said Asier del Horno will be fit for Barcelona, that Drogbashould be fine despite a late leg injury and he hopes Claude Makelelewill play. "We know from how difficult it was out there last year thatwe need to get a result here," Cole said. "I think we have the playersto do it. We have a lot of respect for Barcelona but we certainlydon't fear them at all."Man of the match Wayne Brown - The centre-back impressed with helpfrom his partner Pat Baldwin, making a series of brave interceptionsand blocks.Best moment Any one of a number of occasions when he came to histeam's rescue in the second half.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Telegraph:Chelsea are forced to shovel on the ColeBy Clive TyldesleyChelsea (1) 3 Colchester United (1) 1Colchester United were ahead for less than 10 minutes, but it was longenough to wonder if the FA Cup would ever see a bigger giant-killing.English football's biggest ever giants were not only trailing at hometo a team from the lower leagues, they looked devoid of answers to thehistoric question being asked of them.Lady luck: Richard Garcia and Kevin Watson celebrateNot until the final minute of a romping tie did Chelsea finally putColchester in their place, and only then with the introduction of
more Coca-Cola League than Champions League.Mourinho said before the match that Colchester had been talking a goodgame and the League One side were true to their words. Theirenterprising young manager, Phil Parkinson, prowled the StamfordBridge touchline like he belonged, and his players followed hisconfident lead.They created the better first-half chances, and it took the arrival ofsubstitutes of the calibre of Frank Lampard, Joe Cole and HernanCrespo to restore reality. Cole, a half-time addition, scored twice inthe final 11 minutes to steer Chelsea through a skeleton bob run of atie and into the last eight."If we had pulled it off it would have been the all-time Cup upset,"Parkinson said. "The last thing I said to them before the game was toruffle a few feathers and let Chelsea know they have been in a game. Ithink it was their intentions to keep those lads rested for Wednesday.The fact that they brought them on indicated how well we had done."Chelsea\'s shadow defence was stretched beyond breaking point by theburgeoning belief of Richard Garcia, Mark Yeates and Co. Garcia\'srecent goal burst during Colchester\'s promotion push has forced hisname into the frame for Guus Hiddink\'s Australian World Cup squad, andhe terrorised Chelsea\'s international defenders with his game runningand willingness to shoot.A dangerous drive was diverted behind by Robert Huth, a dipping25-yarder just cleared the crossbar. Then, captain Karl Duguid floateda cross beyond the cover for Yeates to crash a shot against a post.A Colchester goal was overdue when it arrived. Garcia galloped atChelsea once more, racing diagonally to collect Greg Halford\'s returnpass before delivering a superb running cross that a sliding RicardoCarvalho could only guide into his own goal. "Easy," Colchester\'s",1]
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players that Jose Mourinho was saving for Barcelona. Chelsea lookedmore Coca-Cola League than Champions League.Mourinho said before the match that Colchester had been talking a goodgame and the League One side were true to their words. Theirenterprising young manager, Phil Parkinson, prowled the StamfordBridge touchline like he belonged, and his players followed hisconfident lead.They created the better first-half chances, and it took the arrival ofsubstitutes of the calibre of Frank Lampard, Joe Cole and HernanCrespo to restore reality. Cole, a half-time addition, scored twice inthe final 11 minutes to steer Chelsea through a skeleton bob run of atie and into the last eight."If we had pulled it off it would have been the all-time Cup upset,"Parkinson said. "The last thing I said to them before the game was toruffle a few feathers and let Chelsea know they have been in a game. Ithink it was their intentions to keep those lads rested for Wednesday.The fact that they brought them on indicated how well we had done."Chelsea's shadow defence was stretched beyond breaking point by theburgeoning belief of Richard Garcia, Mark Yeates and Co. Garcia'srecent goal burst during Colchester's promotion push has forced hisname into the frame for Guus Hiddink's Australian World Cup squad, andhe terrorised Chelsea's international defenders with his game runningand willingness to shoot.A dangerous drive was diverted behind by Robert Huth, a dipping25-yarder just cleared the crossbar. Then, captain Karl Duguid floateda cross beyond the cover for Yeates to crash a shot against a post.A Colchester goal was overdue when it arrived. Garcia galloped atChelsea once more, racing diagonally to collect Greg Halford's returnpass before delivering a superb running cross that a sliding RicardoCarvalho could only guide into his own goal. "Easy," Colchester's
over his head by Robert Huth in one desperate, grappling challenge.But of all the ways to concede a goal to Chelsea\'s all-stars, theequaliser arrived from a straightforward set-piece. Didier Drogba andCarvalho were falling over each other to reach Damien Duff\'s corner,and the ball found its way to the far post where Paulo Ferreira hookedin his first goal for Chelsea.Mourinho had seen enough, and couldn\'t replace the ineffectual Manicheand Lassana Diarra soon enough. This had become a job for the bigboys. Cole and Lampard\'s watching brief was over."When we gave them space, they played better than us," the Chelseamanager admitted. "If you give space to a lower team they can looklike you. If you don\'t, they have to run at your pace and there is nochance for them. We gave them too much confidence and it had to stop.We had no attacking midfield player."Lampard restored some order to a ragged midfield, and Cole increasedthe goal threat. The tide had turned and Colchester\'s veterangoalkeeper, Aidan Davison, was the busiest player on Mourinho\'s\'potato field\' in the closing quarter. He thwarted Cole and Crespo,while Drogba missed a glaring headed chance.The icing on the Layer Road cake of a lucrative replay was in sightwhen Davison spilled a speculative shot by Crespo and Cole pounced toscore. A wonderful curling shot by Cole in the final minute was harshon the visitors. If the favourites make it all the way to Cardiff,they will not forget Colchester in a hurry.Match detailsChelsea (4-3-3): Cudicini; Ferreira, Huth, Carvalho, Johnson; Maniche(Lampard h-t), Diarra (J Cole h-t), Essien; Wright-Phillips, Drogba,Duff (Crespo 63).Subs: Pidgeley (g), C Cole.Goals: Paulo Ferreria 37 Joe Cole 70 90Booked: Ferreira.",1]
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6,000 supporters taunted gleefully. Garcia's shirt was almost pulledover his head by Robert Huth in one desperate, grappling challenge.But of all the ways to concede a goal to Chelsea's all-stars, theequaliser arrived from a straightforward set-piece. Didier Drogba andCarvalho were falling over each other to reach Damien Duff's corner,and the ball found its way to the far post where Paulo Ferreira hookedin his first goal for Chelsea.Mourinho had seen enough, and couldn't replace the ineffectual Manicheand Lassana Diarra soon enough. This had become a job for the bigboys. Cole and Lampard's watching brief was over."When we gave them space, they played better than us," the Chelseamanager admitted. "If you give space to a lower team they can looklike you. If you don't, they have to run at your pace and there is nochance for them. We gave them too much confidence and it had to stop.We had no attacking midfield player."Lampard restored some order to a ragged midfield, and Cole increasedthe goal threat. The tide had turned and Colchester's veterangoalkeeper, Aidan Davison, was the busiest player on Mourinho's'potato field' in the closing quarter. He thwarted Cole and Crespo,while Drogba missed a glaring headed chance.The icing on the Layer Road cake of a lucrative replay was in sightwhen Davison spilled a speculative shot by Crespo and Cole pounced toscore. A wonderful curling shot by Cole in the final minute was harshon the visitors. If the favourites make it all the way to Cardiff,they will not forget Colchester in a hurry.Match detailsChelsea (4-3-3): Cudicini; Ferreira, Huth, Carvalho, Johnson; Maniche(Lampard h-t), Diarra (J Cole h-t), Essien; Wright-Phillips, Drogba,Duff (Crespo 63).Subs: Pidgeley (g), C Cole.Goals: Paulo Ferreria 37 Joe Cole 70 90Booked: Ferreira.
Danns, Watson, Yeates (Chilvers 73); Garcia (Williams 81), Iwelumo.Subs: Gerken (g), Izzet, Elokobi.Goal: Carvalho og 28.Referee: D Gallagher (Oxon)------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Independent:Chelsea 3 Colchester United 1: Colchester\'s flirtation with historyends after Cole late show bursts Cup balloonBy Glenn MoorePublished: 20 February 2006"We\'re proud of you" sang the 6,000 and they had every right to asColchester United yesterday pushed Chelsea harder than mostPremiership clubs have managed in the 20 months since Jose Mourinhoarrived on these shores.For eight minutes Phil Parkinson\'s League One side dreamt of etchingas deep a mark in FA Cup history as Dick Graham\'s team had whendefeating the then mighty Leeds United 35 years ago; for another 42they clung on to the lucrative and memorable prospect of hosting thePremier League champions and leaders at Layer Road.Ultimately their fairy tale was burst, like the several thousandyellow balloons their supporters brought with them. But like theballoons, which had to be dispatched by pitchfork-wielding Chelseatrainees after the match ball was lost amid a drift of them, they didnot go easily.It was an own goal, from Ricardo Carvalho, which put Colchester aheadafter 28 minutes but the nature of the goal should not be allowed toobscure the fact that it was deserved. Mark Yeates had already hit thepost. A moment\'s slack marking allowed Paolo Ferreira to level but itwas not until Jose Mourinho had supplemented his team with £35m worthof additional attacking talent that Chelsea edged ahead, Joe Coletaking advantage of an error by goalkeeper Aidan Davison. WithColchester bravely seeking an improbable equaliser Cole finally",1]
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Colchester (4-4-2): Davison; Duguid, Baldwin, Brown, White; Halford,Danns, Watson, Yeates (Chilvers 73); Garcia (Williams 81), Iwelumo.Subs: Gerken (g), Izzet, Elokobi.Goal: Carvalho og 28.Referee: D Gallagher (Oxon)------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Independent:Chelsea 3 Colchester United 1: Colchester's flirtation with historyends after Cole late show bursts Cup balloonBy Glenn MoorePublished: 20 February 2006"We're proud of you" sang the 6,000 and they had every right to asColchester United yesterday pushed Chelsea harder than mostPremiership clubs have managed in the 20 months since Jose Mourinhoarrived on these shores.For eight minutes Phil Parkinson's League One side dreamt of etchingas deep a mark in FA Cup history as Dick Graham's team had whendefeating the then mighty Leeds United 35 years ago; for another 42they clung on to the lucrative and memorable prospect of hosting thePremier League champions and leaders at Layer Road.Ultimately their fairy tale was burst, like the several thousandyellow balloons their supporters brought with them. But like theballoons, which had to be dispatched by pitchfork-wielding Chelseatrainees after the match ball was lost amid a drift of them, they didnot go easily.It was an own goal, from Ricardo Carvalho, which put Colchester aheadafter 28 minutes but the nature of the goal should not be allowed toobscure the fact that it was deserved. Mark Yeates had already hit thepost. A moment's slack marking allowed Paolo Ferreira to level but itwas not until Jose Mourinho had supplemented his team with £35m worthof additional attacking talent that Chelsea edged ahead, Joe Coletaking advantage of an error by goalkeeper Aidan Davison. WithColchester bravely seeking an improbable equaliser Cole finally
"I\'m extremely proud of the lads," Parkinson said. "We wouldn\'t haveenjoyed it if we hadn\'t given a good account of themselves but thelads did well." He added: "I said to the lads, \'Be confident, youdeserve this day. Act like you belong here\'. I told them to ruffle afew feathers. I wanted Chelsea to come off the pitch and say, \'We\'vebeen in a game\', and I think they did."They did indeed. "Colchester played with courage and they gave us agame," Mourinho said. "They finished the game with some playersexhausted but they can go home very proud of what they did."The Chelsea manager, who intimated that his team had been complacent,was unhappy with their first-half display: "When we gave them time andspace to think, they played well. They played good football, betterthan us. When we decided to put speed in the game they couldn\'t handleit."Carvalho and Michael Essien were Chelsea\'s only survivors from lastweek\'s 3-0 defeat at Middlesbrough. This was not, however, becauseMourinho had responded by axing nine players but because he wasresting most of his first-choice players ahead of Wednesday\'sChampions\' League tie with Barcelona. Yet while this was not afirst-choice Chelsea XI, such is the quality of squad that was largelyirrelevant. Robert Huth has played, this season, for Germany; Manichewas one of the best players at Euro 2004 and Shaun Wright-Phillipscost £24m in the summer.Yet Colchester, whose Cup run had began with a nine-goal romp againstAP Leamington, were not overawed. They started nervously and the gamecould have been over in the opening four minutes. Davison saved wellfrom Wright-Phillips, then Didier Drogba missed an overhead kick fromWright-Phillips\' cross.A neat turn and shot from Chris Iwelumo helped settle the visitors",1]
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underlined the gulf in class with a superbly taken injury-time third."I'm extremely proud of the lads," Parkinson said. "We wouldn't haveenjoyed it if we hadn't given a good account of themselves but thelads did well." He added: "I said to the lads, 'Be confident, youdeserve this day. Act like you belong here'. I told them to ruffle afew feathers. I wanted Chelsea to come off the pitch and say, 'We'vebeen in a game', and I think they did."They did indeed. "Colchester played with courage and they gave us agame," Mourinho said. "They finished the game with some playersexhausted but they can go home very proud of what they did."The Chelsea manager, who intimated that his team had been complacent,was unhappy with their first-half display: "When we gave them time andspace to think, they played well. They played good football, betterthan us. When we decided to put speed in the game they couldn't handleit."Carvalho and Michael Essien were Chelsea's only survivors from lastweek's 3-0 defeat at Middlesbrough. This was not, however, becauseMourinho had responded by axing nine players but because he wasresting most of his first-choice players ahead of Wednesday'sChampions' League tie with Barcelona. Yet while this was not afirst-choice Chelsea XI, such is the quality of squad that was largelyirrelevant. Robert Huth has played, this season, for Germany; Manichewas one of the best players at Euro 2004 and Shaun Wright-Phillipscost £24m in the summer.Yet Colchester, whose Cup run had began with a nine-goal romp againstAP Leamington, were not overawed. They started nervously and the gamecould have been over in the opening four minutes. Davison saved wellfrom Wright-Phillips, then Didier Drogba missed an overhead kick fromWright-Phillips' cross.A neat turn and shot from Chris Iwelumo helped settle the visitors
Johnson (who gave another poor display) but his cross-shot was turnedaway for a corner. A 30-yard shot by Garcia which dipped just overunderlined Colchester\'s growing confidence and they almost went aheadafter 21 minutes when Yeates ghosted on to Karl Duguid\'s deep crossand struck the far post from a tight angle.So it should not have been a surprise when Colchester went ahead. Yetit was, that is the nature of Chelsea\'s aura. Garcia, spinningCarvalho, laid the ball off to Greg Halford then broke into spacebehind Johnson, committing himself rashly towards Halford. The returnpass was perfect, Garcia\'s first touch less so, but he neverthelesswhipped over a dangerous cross which Carvalho, losing his footing inthe mud, turned past Carlo Cudicini.Had Colchester made it to the break a giant-killing may have occurred,but after Davison twice denied Ferreira the Portuguese full-back wasleft unmarked by John White to score his first goal in England afterDamien Duff\'s corner bounced off Carvalho\'s shoulder. "The goal killedus," said Wayne Brown.Frank Lampard, Cole and, soon after, Hernan Crespo, joined the contestand it became a siege. Drogba, Carvalho and Lampard missed, Davisondenied Cole and Crespo. Then Crespo was allowed to run unchecked,Davison spilt his shot and Cole tapped in. In injury time Coleadvanced unchallenged and whirled a 25-yard shot past Davison.Chelsea\'s thoughts now turn to Barcelona, Colchester\'s to Barnsley.Goals: Carvalho og (28) 0-1; Ferreira (36) 1-1; J Cole (78) 2-1; JCole (90) 3-1.Chelsea (4-3-3): Cudicini; Johnson, Huth, Carvalho, Paulo Ferreira;Maniche (Lampard, h/t), Diarra (J Cole, h/t), Essien; Wright-Phillips,Drogba, Duff (Crespo, 62). Substitutes not used: Pidgeley (gk), CCole.Colchester United (4-4-2): Davison; Duguid, Baldwin, Brown, White;",1]
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even if it hit the side netting. Then Richard Garcia broke behind GlenJohnson (who gave another poor display) but his cross-shot was turnedaway for a corner. A 30-yard shot by Garcia which dipped just overunderlined Colchester's growing confidence and they almost went aheadafter 21 minutes when Yeates ghosted on to Karl Duguid's deep crossand struck the far post from a tight angle.So it should not have been a surprise when Colchester went ahead. Yetit was, that is the nature of Chelsea's aura. Garcia, spinningCarvalho, laid the ball off to Greg Halford then broke into spacebehind Johnson, committing himself rashly towards Halford. The returnpass was perfect, Garcia's first touch less so, but he neverthelesswhipped over a dangerous cross which Carvalho, losing his footing inthe mud, turned past Carlo Cudicini.Had Colchester made it to the break a giant-killing may have occurred,but after Davison twice denied Ferreira the Portuguese full-back wasleft unmarked by John White to score his first goal in England afterDamien Duff's corner bounced off Carvalho's shoulder. "The goal killedus," said Wayne Brown.Frank Lampard, Cole and, soon after, Hernan Crespo, joined the contestand it became a siege. Drogba, Carvalho and Lampard missed, Davisondenied Cole and Crespo. Then Crespo was allowed to run unchecked,Davison spilt his shot and Cole tapped in. In injury time Coleadvanced unchallenged and whirled a 25-yard shot past Davison.Chelsea's thoughts now turn to Barcelona, Colchester's to Barnsley.Goals: Carvalho og (28) 0-1; Ferreira (36) 1-1; J Cole (78) 2-1; JCole (90) 3-1.Chelsea (4-3-3): Cudicini; Johnson, Huth, Carvalho, Paulo Ferreira;Maniche (Lampard, h/t), Diarra (J Cole, h/t), Essien; Wright-Phillips,Drogba, Duff (Crespo, 62). Substitutes not used: Pidgeley (gk), CCole.Colchester United (4-4-2): Davison; Duguid, Baldwin, Brown, White;
(Williams, 80). Substitutes not used: Gerken (gk), Izzet, Elokobi.Referee: D Gallagher (Banbury).Booked: Chelsea Ferreira.Man of the match: Duguid.Attendance: 41,810.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Times:Cole goals toll for ColchesterBy Matt HughesChelsea 3 Colchester United 1JOSÉ MOURINHO\'S PLAYERS HAD clearly not read his programme notes, inwhich he repeatedly professed his love of the FA Cup, as it took sometime for the message to get through. Having flirted with embarrassmentagainst Huddersfield Town and required a replay to see off Everton,the runaway Barclays Premiership leaders again struggled against lowlyopposition.If Chelsea played like this in the Premiership then the title race maystill be an interesting proposition. The first half was surely theirworst 45 minutes since Mourinho arrived at the club, and afterdeservedly falling behind they required two goals from Joe Cole in thefinal 11 minutes to spare their blushes.Mourinho had threatened to drop players who underperformed for themore glamorous business of entertaining Barcelona, but on the basis oftheir first-half performance he would be taking on the Spaniards atfive-a-side. The Portuguese had already swung the axe by making ninechanges to the team beaten 3-0 away to Middlesbrough and the loss ofblood seemed to go to his players\' heads.Not since the days of Claudio Ranieri\'s team-talks have there been somany blank faces at Stamford Bridge and Colchester took fulladvantage. With Richard Garcia and Chris Iwelumo offering mobility andmuscle up front, Chelsea\'s make-shift defence were unable to cope, adisorientation confirmed when Glen Johnson and Paulo Ferreira swapped",1]
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Halford, Danns, Watson, Yeates (Chilvers, 72); Iwelumo, Garcia(Williams, 80). Substitutes not used: Gerken (gk), Izzet, Elokobi.Referee: D Gallagher (Banbury).Booked: Chelsea Ferreira.Man of the match: Duguid.Attendance: 41,810.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Times:Cole goals toll for ColchesterBy Matt HughesChelsea 3 Colchester United 1JOSÉ MOURINHO'S PLAYERS HAD clearly not read his programme notes, inwhich he repeatedly professed his love of the FA Cup, as it took sometime for the message to get through. Having flirted with embarrassmentagainst Huddersfield Town and required a replay to see off Everton,the runaway Barclays Premiership leaders again struggled against lowlyopposition.If Chelsea played like this in the Premiership then the title race maystill be an interesting proposition. The first half was surely theirworst 45 minutes since Mourinho arrived at the club, and afterdeservedly falling behind they required two goals from Joe Cole in thefinal 11 minutes to spare their blushes.Mourinho had threatened to drop players who underperformed for themore glamorous business of entertaining Barcelona, but on the basis oftheir first-half performance he would be taking on the Spaniards atfive-a-side. The Portuguese had already swung the axe by making ninechanges to the team beaten 3-0 away to Middlesbrough and the loss ofblood seemed to go to his players' heads.Not since the days of Claudio Ranieri's team-talks have there been somany blank faces at Stamford Bridge and Colchester took fulladvantage. With Richard Garcia and Chris Iwelumo offering mobility andmuscle up front, Chelsea's make-shift defence were unable to cope, adisorientation confirmed when Glen Johnson and Paulo Ferreira swapped
defender guaranteed himself the busier afternoon, as Karl Duguid andGreg Halford pressed forward with relish.With Johnson having gone missing, Halford\'s long throw carved the homeside open in the eighteenth minute, with Garcia\'s cross leading to apanicky clearance when he should have shot. Four minutes later,Chelsea exposed themselves even further when Duguid cut in from theright and his floated cross eluded Robert Huth. For reasons best knownto himself, Ferreira opted to duck under the ball in the hope that itwould sail out of play, instead allowing Mark Yeates to shoot acrossgoal and onto the far post. Mourinho\'s face was a picture.Colchester\'s goal encapsulated perfectly Chelsea\'s failings in theprevious 28 minutes, being sloppy, comic and utterly unnecessary. Aswas the case all afternoon, the visiting team\'s build-up play wasneat, with Garcia laying the ball off to Halford, who returned thecompliment with an excellent pass to the Australian striker. Garcia\'spoor first touch appeared to have averted the danger, but with Chelseain such a generous mood it did not matter, Ricardo Carvalho needlesslysliding in to divert the cross into his own net.Emboldened by their surprise success Colchester pressed for a second,with Halford again finding space in the penalty area but shootingwide, but their lead lasted only nine minutes. In keeping with theirgeneral performance, Chelsea\'s equaliser was a scruffy affair, DamienDuff\'s corner from the left deflecting off Carvalho\'s shoulder andFerreira scoring his first goal for the club from close range.Having erred with his original selection, Mourinho sent on his bigguns for the second half, with Cole and Frank Lampard receiving thebiggest Chelsea cheers of the afternoon as they warmed up duringhalf-time. Their vice-captain\'s very presence seemed to calm his",1]
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flanks after only five minutes. By moving to the left the Englanddefender guaranteed himself the busier afternoon, as Karl Duguid andGreg Halford pressed forward with relish.With Johnson having gone missing, Halford's long throw carved the homeside open in the eighteenth minute, with Garcia's cross leading to apanicky clearance when he should have shot. Four minutes later,Chelsea exposed themselves even further when Duguid cut in from theright and his floated cross eluded Robert Huth. For reasons best knownto himself, Ferreira opted to duck under the ball in the hope that itwould sail out of play, instead allowing Mark Yeates to shoot acrossgoal and onto the far post. Mourinho's face was a picture.Colchester's goal encapsulated perfectly Chelsea's failings in theprevious 28 minutes, being sloppy, comic and utterly unnecessary. Aswas the case all afternoon, the visiting team's build-up play wasneat, with Garcia laying the ball off to Halford, who returned thecompliment with an excellent pass to the Australian striker. Garcia'spoor first touch appeared to have averted the danger, but with Chelseain such a generous mood it did not matter, Ricardo Carvalho needlesslysliding in to divert the cross into his own net.Emboldened by their surprise success Colchester pressed for a second,with Halford again finding space in the penalty area but shootingwide, but their lead lasted only nine minutes. In keeping with theirgeneral performance, Chelsea's equaliser was a scruffy affair, DamienDuff's corner from the left deflecting off Carvalho's shoulder andFerreira scoring his first goal for the club from close range.Having erred with his original selection, Mourinho sent on his bigguns for the second half, with Cole and Frank Lampard receiving thebiggest Chelsea cheers of the afternoon as they warmed up duringhalf-time. Their vice-captain's very presence seemed to calm his
class finally began to tell. After Didier Drogba had headed wide froma cross by Duff, the England midfield player seemed intent on rescuingthe tie by himself, bringing a smart save from Davison after a mazyrun and firing just past the far post with a 30-yard thunderbolt.Colchester\'s increasingly busy goalkeeper also denied Hernan Crespo,as the boys from the barracks dug a deep trench in front of theirgoal.Unfortunately, they retreated too far, with their defensive wallfinally crumbling under incessant pressure. Having handled Drogba withrelative ease, the more cerebral Crespo provided more of a challenge.After being released by Lampard in the 79th minute, the Argentine\'sshot was spilled by Davison, Cole tapping in from close range.Having given so much, Colchester could not rouse themselves for afitting finale, suffering instead as the scoreline assumed a cruelsheen. As they prepared to receive a deserved standing ovation ininjury time, their tired defenders stood off the advancing Cole, whoprovided a goal more indicative of his abilities, driving into the topright-hand corner from 25 yards.Chelsea (4-4-3): C Cudicini — G Johnson, R Huth, R Carvalho, PFerreira — L Diarra (sub: J Cole, 46min), M Essien, Maniche (sub: FLampard, 46) — S Wright-Phillips, D Drogba, D Duff (sub: H Crespo,63). Substitutes not used: L Pidgeley, C Cole. Booked: FerreiraColchester United (4-4-2): A Davison — K Duguid, P Baldwin, W Brown, JWhite — M Yeates (sub: L Chilvers, 73), N Danns, K Watson, G Halford —R Garcia (sub: G Williams, 81), C Iwelumo. Substitutes not used: KIzzet, D Gerken, G ElokobiReferee: D Gallagher------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------http://www.cfchistory.co.uk/forum/index.php",0]
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befuddled team-mates, though Cole made the greater impact as Chelsea'sclass finally began to tell. After Didier Drogba had headed wide froma cross by Duff, the England midfield player seemed intent on rescuingthe tie by himself, bringing a smart save from Davison after a mazyrun and firing just past the far post with a 30-yard thunderbolt.Colchester's increasingly busy goalkeeper also denied Hernan Crespo,as the boys from the barracks dug a deep trench in front of theirgoal.Unfortunately, they retreated too far, with their defensive wallfinally crumbling under incessant pressure. Having handled Drogba withrelative ease, the more cerebral Crespo provided more of a challenge.After being released by Lampard in the 79th minute, the Argentine'sshot was spilled by Davison, Cole tapping in from close range.Having given so much, Colchester could not rouse themselves for afitting finale, suffering instead as the scoreline assumed a cruelsheen. As they prepared to receive a deserved standing ovation ininjury time, their tired defenders stood off the advancing Cole, whoprovided a goal more indicative of his abilities, driving into the topright-hand corner from 25 yards.Chelsea (4-4-3): C Cudicini — G Johnson, R Huth, R Carvalho, PFerreira — L Diarra (sub: J Cole, 46min), M Essien, Maniche (sub: FLampard, 46) — S Wright-Phillips, D Drogba, D Duff (sub: H Crespo,63). Substitutes not used: L Pidgeley, C Cole. Booked: FerreiraColchester United (4-4-2): A Davison — K Duguid, P Baldwin, W Brown, JWhite — M Yeates (sub: L Chilvers, 73), N Danns, K Watson, G Halford —R Garcia (sub: G Williams, 81), C Iwelumo. Substitutes not used: KIzzet, D Gerken, G ElokobiReferee: D Gallagher------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------http://www.cfchistory.co.uk/forum/index.php
tempo and accuracy of the passing, which had been awful, and Crespoalso helped tip the balance. It was his shot that Aidan Davisonparried into Cole\'s path for the England international to put Chelsea2-1 up.Chelsea needed this rise in vibrancy for they looked flat in the faceof Colchester\'s fearlessness and neat passing. After overcoming nerveswhich allowed the home team two early chances, one of which shouldhave been taken by Shaun Wright-Phillips, Parkinson\'s players took thegame to their opponents and dominated. They hit the post before goingahead through a Ricardo Carvalho own-goal.Richard Garcia\'s movement caused problems, Kevin Watson and Neil Dannskept Colchester ticking and the wide players Greg Halford and MarkYeates posed danger. Lassana Diarra struggled and Maniche lackedLampard\'s assertiveness. Both made way."At half-time the players felt it was enough; we had given them toomuch confidence," Mourinho said. "If you give time and space toplayers from other divisions they look like you," he explained. "Ifyou reduce the space, they have no time to think and feel underpressure. They have to chase . . . They finished with some exhaustedplayers but they should go home proud. They played with courage. Theycame to win and not go for a 0-0."Chelsea\'s regular wastage of possession in the first half must haveirritated Mourinho, as will the way a team showing nine changes wasperiodically opened up. There were alarms even before Yeates struck anupright from a Garcia cross and Colchester soon led. Garcia exchangedpasses with Halford, whose return sent the striker forward to providea cross which Carvalho turned into his own net.They might have extended their lead before Chelsea equalised from aset-piece. Carvalho flicked on a corner by the quiet Damien Duff and",1]
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deep, going close on two occasions before scoring. Lampard raised thetempo and accuracy of the passing, which had been awful, and Crespoalso helped tip the balance. It was his shot that Aidan Davisonparried into Cole's path for the England international to put Chelsea2-1 up.Chelsea needed this rise in vibrancy for they looked flat in the faceof Colchester's fearlessness and neat passing. After overcoming nerveswhich allowed the home team two early chances, one of which shouldhave been taken by Shaun Wright-Phillips, Parkinson's players took thegame to their opponents and dominated. They hit the post before goingahead through a Ricardo Carvalho own-goal.Richard Garcia's movement caused problems, Kevin Watson and Neil Dannskept Colchester ticking and the wide players Greg Halford and MarkYeates posed danger. Lassana Diarra struggled and Maniche lackedLampard's assertiveness. Both made way."At half-time the players felt it was enough; we had given them toomuch confidence," Mourinho said. "If you give time and space toplayers from other divisions they look like you," he explained. "Ifyou reduce the space, they have no time to think and feel underpressure. They have to chase . . . They finished with some exhaustedplayers but they should go home proud. They played with courage. Theycame to win and not go for a 0-0."Chelsea's regular wastage of possession in the first half must haveirritated Mourinho, as will the way a team showing nine changes wasperiodically opened up. There were alarms even before Yeates struck anupright from a Garcia cross and Colchester soon led. Garcia exchangedpasses with Halford, whose return sent the striker forward to providea cross which Carvalho turned into his own net.They might have extended their lead before Chelsea equalised from aset-piece. Carvalho flicked on a corner by the quiet Damien Duff and
Chelsea had been poor from open play. Wright-Phillips\' runs had toolittle end-product and the substitutes helped them take control.Drogba ought to have scored and Davison made sharp stops from Cole andCrespo before the breakthrough. Crespo drove forward and his shot wasdiverted by Davison for Cole to tuck in. It was game over when RobertHuth released Cole to loop in a fine shot.Mourinho said Asier del Horno will be fit for Barcelona, that Drogbashould be fine despite a late leg injury and he hopes Claude Makelelewill play. "We know from how difficult it was out there last year thatwe need to get a result here," Cole said. "I think we have the playersto do it. We have a lot of respect for Barcelona but we certainlydon\'t fear them at all."Man of the match Wayne Brown - The centre-back impressed with helpfrom his partner Pat Baldwin, making a series of brave interceptionsand blocks.Best moment Any one of a number of occasions when he came to histeam\'s rescue in the second half.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Telegraph:Chelsea are forced to shovel on the ColeBy Clive TyldesleyChelsea (1) 3 Colchester United (1) 1Colchester United were ahead for less than 10 minutes, but it was longenough to wonder if the FA Cup would ever see a bigger giant-killing.English football\'s biggest ever giants were not only trailing at hometo a team from the lower leagues, they looked devoid of answers to thehistoric question being asked of them.Lady luck: Richard Garcia and Kevin Watson celebrateNot until the final minute of a romping tie did Chelsea finally putColchester in their place, and only then with the introduction of",1]
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Ferreira put in the loose ball for his first Chelsea goal.Chelsea had been poor from open play. Wright-Phillips' runs had toolittle end-product and the substitutes helped them take control.Drogba ought to have scored and Davison made sharp stops from Cole andCrespo before the breakthrough. Crespo drove forward and his shot wasdiverted by Davison for Cole to tuck in. It was game over when RobertHuth released Cole to loop in a fine shot.Mourinho said Asier del Horno will be fit for Barcelona, that Drogbashould be fine despite a late leg injury and he hopes Claude Makelelewill play. "We know from how difficult it was out there last year thatwe need to get a result here," Cole said. "I think we have the playersto do it. We have a lot of respect for Barcelona but we certainlydon't fear them at all."Man of the match Wayne Brown - The centre-back impressed with helpfrom his partner Pat Baldwin, making a series of brave interceptionsand blocks.Best moment Any one of a number of occasions when he came to histeam's rescue in the second half.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Telegraph:Chelsea are forced to shovel on the ColeBy Clive TyldesleyChelsea (1) 3 Colchester United (1) 1Colchester United were ahead for less than 10 minutes, but it was longenough to wonder if the FA Cup would ever see a bigger giant-killing.English football's biggest ever giants were not only trailing at hometo a team from the lower leagues, they looked devoid of answers to thehistoric question being asked of them.Lady luck: Richard Garcia and Kevin Watson celebrateNot until the final minute of a romping tie did Chelsea finally putColchester in their place, and only then with the introduction of
more Coca-Cola League than Champions League.Mourinho said before the match that Colchester had been talking a goodgame and the League One side were true to their words. Theirenterprising young manager, Phil Parkinson, prowled the StamfordBridge touchline like he belonged, and his players followed hisconfident lead.They created the better first-half chances, and it took the arrival ofsubstitutes of the calibre of Frank Lampard, Joe Cole and HernanCrespo to restore reality. Cole, a half-time addition, scored twice inthe final 11 minutes to steer Chelsea through a skeleton bob run of atie and into the last eight."If we had pulled it off it would have been the all-time Cup upset,"Parkinson said. "The last thing I said to them before the game was toruffle a few feathers and let Chelsea know they have been in a game. Ithink it was their intentions to keep those lads rested for Wednesday.The fact that they brought them on indicated how well we had done."Chelsea\'s shadow defence was stretched beyond breaking point by theburgeoning belief of Richard Garcia, Mark Yeates and Co. Garcia\'srecent goal burst during Colchester\'s promotion push has forced hisname into the frame for Guus Hiddink\'s Australian World Cup squad, andhe terrorised Chelsea\'s international defenders with his game runningand willingness to shoot.A dangerous drive was diverted behind by Robert Huth, a dipping25-yarder just cleared the crossbar. Then, captain Karl Duguid floateda cross beyond the cover for Yeates to crash a shot against a post.A Colchester goal was overdue when it arrived. Garcia galloped atChelsea once more, racing diagonally to collect Greg Halford\'s returnpass before delivering a superb running cross that a sliding RicardoCarvalho could only guide into his own goal. "Easy," Colchester\'s",1]
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players that Jose Mourinho was saving for Barcelona. Chelsea lookedmore Coca-Cola League than Champions League.Mourinho said before the match that Colchester had been talking a goodgame and the League One side were true to their words. Theirenterprising young manager, Phil Parkinson, prowled the StamfordBridge touchline like he belonged, and his players followed hisconfident lead.They created the better first-half chances, and it took the arrival ofsubstitutes of the calibre of Frank Lampard, Joe Cole and HernanCrespo to restore reality. Cole, a half-time addition, scored twice inthe final 11 minutes to steer Chelsea through a skeleton bob run of atie and into the last eight."If we had pulled it off it would have been the all-time Cup upset,"Parkinson said. "The last thing I said to them before the game was toruffle a few feathers and let Chelsea know they have been in a game. Ithink it was their intentions to keep those lads rested for Wednesday.The fact that they brought them on indicated how well we had done."Chelsea's shadow defence was stretched beyond breaking point by theburgeoning belief of Richard Garcia, Mark Yeates and Co. Garcia'srecent goal burst during Colchester's promotion push has forced hisname into the frame for Guus Hiddink's Australian World Cup squad, andhe terrorised Chelsea's international defenders with his game runningand willingness to shoot.A dangerous drive was diverted behind by Robert Huth, a dipping25-yarder just cleared the crossbar. Then, captain Karl Duguid floateda cross beyond the cover for Yeates to crash a shot against a post.A Colchester goal was overdue when it arrived. Garcia galloped atChelsea once more, racing diagonally to collect Greg Halford's returnpass before delivering a superb running cross that a sliding RicardoCarvalho could only guide into his own goal. "Easy," Colchester's
over his head by Robert Huth in one desperate, grappling challenge.But of all the ways to concede a goal to Chelsea\'s all-stars, theequaliser arrived from a straightforward set-piece. Didier Drogba andCarvalho were falling over each other to reach Damien Duff\'s corner,and the ball found its way to the far post where Paulo Ferreira hookedin his first goal for Chelsea.Mourinho had seen enough, and couldn\'t replace the ineffectual Manicheand Lassana Diarra soon enough. This had become a job for the bigboys. Cole and Lampard\'s watching brief was over."When we gave them space, they played better than us," the Chelseamanager admitted. "If you give space to a lower team they can looklike you. If you don\'t, they have to run at your pace and there is nochance for them. We gave them too much confidence and it had to stop.We had no attacking midfield player."Lampard restored some order to a ragged midfield, and Cole increasedthe goal threat. The tide had turned and Colchester\'s veterangoalkeeper, Aidan Davison, was the busiest player on Mourinho\'s\'potato field\' in the closing quarter. He thwarted Cole and Crespo,while Drogba missed a glaring headed chance.The icing on the Layer Road cake of a lucrative replay was in sightwhen Davison spilled a speculative shot by Crespo and Cole pounced toscore. A wonderful curling shot by Cole in the final minute was harshon the visitors. If the favourites make it all the way to Cardiff,they will not forget Colchester in a hurry.Match detailsChelsea (4-3-3): Cudicini; Ferreira, Huth, Carvalho, Johnson; Maniche(Lampard h-t), Diarra (J Cole h-t), Essien; Wright-Phillips, Drogba,Duff (Crespo 63).Subs: Pidgeley (g), C Cole.Goals: Paulo Ferreria 37 Joe Cole 70 90Booked: Ferreira.",1]
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6,000 supporters taunted gleefully. Garcia's shirt was almost pulledover his head by Robert Huth in one desperate, grappling challenge.But of all the ways to concede a goal to Chelsea's all-stars, theequaliser arrived from a straightforward set-piece. Didier Drogba andCarvalho were falling over each other to reach Damien Duff's corner,and the ball found its way to the far post where Paulo Ferreira hookedin his first goal for Chelsea.Mourinho had seen enough, and couldn't replace the ineffectual Manicheand Lassana Diarra soon enough. This had become a job for the bigboys. Cole and Lampard's watching brief was over."When we gave them space, they played better than us," the Chelseamanager admitted. "If you give space to a lower team they can looklike you. If you don't, they have to run at your pace and there is nochance for them. We gave them too much confidence and it had to stop.We had no attacking midfield player."Lampard restored some order to a ragged midfield, and Cole increasedthe goal threat. The tide had turned and Colchester's veterangoalkeeper, Aidan Davison, was the busiest player on Mourinho's'potato field' in the closing quarter. He thwarted Cole and Crespo,while Drogba missed a glaring headed chance.The icing on the Layer Road cake of a lucrative replay was in sightwhen Davison spilled a speculative shot by Crespo and Cole pounced toscore. A wonderful curling shot by Cole in the final minute was harshon the visitors. If the favourites make it all the way to Cardiff,they will not forget Colchester in a hurry.Match detailsChelsea (4-3-3): Cudicini; Ferreira, Huth, Carvalho, Johnson; Maniche(Lampard h-t), Diarra (J Cole h-t), Essien; Wright-Phillips, Drogba,Duff (Crespo 63).Subs: Pidgeley (g), C Cole.Goals: Paulo Ferreria 37 Joe Cole 70 90Booked: Ferreira.
Danns, Watson, Yeates (Chilvers 73); Garcia (Williams 81), Iwelumo.Subs: Gerken (g), Izzet, Elokobi.Goal: Carvalho og 28.Referee: D Gallagher (Oxon)------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Independent:Chelsea 3 Colchester United 1: Colchester\'s flirtation with historyends after Cole late show bursts Cup balloonBy Glenn MoorePublished: 20 February 2006"We\'re proud of you" sang the 6,000 and they had every right to asColchester United yesterday pushed Chelsea harder than mostPremiership clubs have managed in the 20 months since Jose Mourinhoarrived on these shores.For eight minutes Phil Parkinson\'s League One side dreamt of etchingas deep a mark in FA Cup history as Dick Graham\'s team had whendefeating the then mighty Leeds United 35 years ago; for another 42they clung on to the lucrative and memorable prospect of hosting thePremier League champions and leaders at Layer Road.Ultimately their fairy tale was burst, like the several thousandyellow balloons their supporters brought with them. But like theballoons, which had to be dispatched by pitchfork-wielding Chelseatrainees after the match ball was lost amid a drift of them, they didnot go easily.It was an own goal, from Ricardo Carvalho, which put Colchester aheadafter 28 minutes but the nature of the goal should not be allowed toobscure the fact that it was deserved. Mark Yeates had already hit thepost. A moment\'s slack marking allowed Paolo Ferreira to level but itwas not until Jose Mourinho had supplemented his team with £35m worthof additional attacking talent that Chelsea edged ahead, Joe Coletaking advantage of an error by goalkeeper Aidan Davison. WithColchester bravely seeking an improbable equaliser Cole finally",1]
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Colchester (4-4-2): Davison; Duguid, Baldwin, Brown, White; Halford,Danns, Watson, Yeates (Chilvers 73); Garcia (Williams 81), Iwelumo.Subs: Gerken (g), Izzet, Elokobi.Goal: Carvalho og 28.Referee: D Gallagher (Oxon)------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Independent:Chelsea 3 Colchester United 1: Colchester's flirtation with historyends after Cole late show bursts Cup balloonBy Glenn MoorePublished: 20 February 2006"We're proud of you" sang the 6,000 and they had every right to asColchester United yesterday pushed Chelsea harder than mostPremiership clubs have managed in the 20 months since Jose Mourinhoarrived on these shores.For eight minutes Phil Parkinson's League One side dreamt of etchingas deep a mark in FA Cup history as Dick Graham's team had whendefeating the then mighty Leeds United 35 years ago; for another 42they clung on to the lucrative and memorable prospect of hosting thePremier League champions and leaders at Layer Road.Ultimately their fairy tale was burst, like the several thousandyellow balloons their supporters brought with them. But like theballoons, which had to be dispatched by pitchfork-wielding Chelseatrainees after the match ball was lost amid a drift of them, they didnot go easily.It was an own goal, from Ricardo Carvalho, which put Colchester aheadafter 28 minutes but the nature of the goal should not be allowed toobscure the fact that it was deserved. Mark Yeates had already hit thepost. A moment's slack marking allowed Paolo Ferreira to level but itwas not until Jose Mourinho had supplemented his team with £35m worthof additional attacking talent that Chelsea edged ahead, Joe Coletaking advantage of an error by goalkeeper Aidan Davison. WithColchester bravely seeking an improbable equaliser Cole finally
"I\'m extremely proud of the lads," Parkinson said. "We wouldn\'t haveenjoyed it if we hadn\'t given a good account of themselves but thelads did well." He added: "I said to the lads, \'Be confident, youdeserve this day. Act like you belong here\'. I told them to ruffle afew feathers. I wanted Chelsea to come off the pitch and say, \'We\'vebeen in a game\', and I think they did."They did indeed. "Colchester played with courage and they gave us agame," Mourinho said. "They finished the game with some playersexhausted but they can go home very proud of what they did."The Chelsea manager, who intimated that his team had been complacent,was unhappy with their first-half display: "When we gave them time andspace to think, they played well. They played good football, betterthan us. When we decided to put speed in the game they couldn\'t handleit."Carvalho and Michael Essien were Chelsea\'s only survivors from lastweek\'s 3-0 defeat at Middlesbrough. This was not, however, becauseMourinho had responded by axing nine players but because he wasresting most of his first-choice players ahead of Wednesday\'sChampions\' League tie with Barcelona. Yet while this was not afirst-choice Chelsea XI, such is the quality of squad that was largelyirrelevant. Robert Huth has played, this season, for Germany; Manichewas one of the best players at Euro 2004 and Shaun Wright-Phillipscost £24m in the summer.Yet Colchester, whose Cup run had began with a nine-goal romp againstAP Leamington, were not overawed. They started nervously and the gamecould have been over in the opening four minutes. Davison saved wellfrom Wright-Phillips, then Didier Drogba missed an overhead kick fromWright-Phillips\' cross.A neat turn and shot from Chris Iwelumo helped settle the visitors",1]
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underlined the gulf in class with a superbly taken injury-time third."I'm extremely proud of the lads," Parkinson said. "We wouldn't haveenjoyed it if we hadn't given a good account of themselves but thelads did well." He added: "I said to the lads, 'Be confident, youdeserve this day. Act like you belong here'. I told them to ruffle afew feathers. I wanted Chelsea to come off the pitch and say, 'We'vebeen in a game', and I think they did."They did indeed. "Colchester played with courage and they gave us agame," Mourinho said. "They finished the game with some playersexhausted but they can go home very proud of what they did."The Chelsea manager, who intimated that his team had been complacent,was unhappy with their first-half display: "When we gave them time andspace to think, they played well. They played good football, betterthan us. When we decided to put speed in the game they couldn't handleit."Carvalho and Michael Essien were Chelsea's only survivors from lastweek's 3-0 defeat at Middlesbrough. This was not, however, becauseMourinho had responded by axing nine players but because he wasresting most of his first-choice players ahead of Wednesday'sChampions' League tie with Barcelona. Yet while this was not afirst-choice Chelsea XI, such is the quality of squad that was largelyirrelevant. Robert Huth has played, this season, for Germany; Manichewas one of the best players at Euro 2004 and Shaun Wright-Phillipscost £24m in the summer.Yet Colchester, whose Cup run had began with a nine-goal romp againstAP Leamington, were not overawed. They started nervously and the gamecould have been over in the opening four minutes. Davison saved wellfrom Wright-Phillips, then Didier Drogba missed an overhead kick fromWright-Phillips' cross.A neat turn and shot from Chris Iwelumo helped settle the visitors
Johnson (who gave another poor display) but his cross-shot was turnedaway for a corner. A 30-yard shot by Garcia which dipped just overunderlined Colchester\'s growing confidence and they almost went aheadafter 21 minutes when Yeates ghosted on to Karl Duguid\'s deep crossand struck the far post from a tight angle.So it should not have been a surprise when Colchester went ahead. Yetit was, that is the nature of Chelsea\'s aura. Garcia, spinningCarvalho, laid the ball off to Greg Halford then broke into spacebehind Johnson, committing himself rashly towards Halford. The returnpass was perfect, Garcia\'s first touch less so, but he neverthelesswhipped over a dangerous cross which Carvalho, losing his footing inthe mud, turned past Carlo Cudicini.Had Colchester made it to the break a giant-killing may have occurred,but after Davison twice denied Ferreira the Portuguese full-back wasleft unmarked by John White to score his first goal in England afterDamien Duff\'s corner bounced off Carvalho\'s shoulder. "The goal killedus," said Wayne Brown.Frank Lampard, Cole and, soon after, Hernan Crespo, joined the contestand it became a siege. Drogba, Carvalho and Lampard missed, Davisondenied Cole and Crespo. Then Crespo was allowed to run unchecked,Davison spilt his shot and Cole tapped in. In injury time Coleadvanced unchallenged and whirled a 25-yard shot past Davison.Chelsea\'s thoughts now turn to Barcelona, Colchester\'s to Barnsley.Goals: Carvalho og (28) 0-1; Ferreira (36) 1-1; J Cole (78) 2-1; JCole (90) 3-1.Chelsea (4-3-3): Cudicini; Johnson, Huth, Carvalho, Paulo Ferreira;Maniche (Lampard, h/t), Diarra (J Cole, h/t), Essien; Wright-Phillips,Drogba, Duff (Crespo, 62). Substitutes not used: Pidgeley (gk), CCole.Colchester United (4-4-2): Davison; Duguid, Baldwin, Brown, White;",1]
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even if it hit the side netting. Then Richard Garcia broke behind GlenJohnson (who gave another poor display) but his cross-shot was turnedaway for a corner. A 30-yard shot by Garcia which dipped just overunderlined Colchester's growing confidence and they almost went aheadafter 21 minutes when Yeates ghosted on to Karl Duguid's deep crossand struck the far post from a tight angle.So it should not have been a surprise when Colchester went ahead. Yetit was, that is the nature of Chelsea's aura. Garcia, spinningCarvalho, laid the ball off to Greg Halford then broke into spacebehind Johnson, committing himself rashly towards Halford. The returnpass was perfect, Garcia's first touch less so, but he neverthelesswhipped over a dangerous cross which Carvalho, losing his footing inthe mud, turned past Carlo Cudicini.Had Colchester made it to the break a giant-killing may have occurred,but after Davison twice denied Ferreira the Portuguese full-back wasleft unmarked by John White to score his first goal in England afterDamien Duff's corner bounced off Carvalho's shoulder. "The goal killedus," said Wayne Brown.Frank Lampard, Cole and, soon after, Hernan Crespo, joined the contestand it became a siege. Drogba, Carvalho and Lampard missed, Davisondenied Cole and Crespo. Then Crespo was allowed to run unchecked,Davison spilt his shot and Cole tapped in. In injury time Coleadvanced unchallenged and whirled a 25-yard shot past Davison.Chelsea's thoughts now turn to Barcelona, Colchester's to Barnsley.Goals: Carvalho og (28) 0-1; Ferreira (36) 1-1; J Cole (78) 2-1; JCole (90) 3-1.Chelsea (4-3-3): Cudicini; Johnson, Huth, Carvalho, Paulo Ferreira;Maniche (Lampard, h/t), Diarra (J Cole, h/t), Essien; Wright-Phillips,Drogba, Duff (Crespo, 62). Substitutes not used: Pidgeley (gk), CCole.Colchester United (4-4-2): Davison; Duguid, Baldwin, Brown, White;
(Williams, 80). Substitutes not used: Gerken (gk), Izzet, Elokobi.Referee: D Gallagher (Banbury).Booked: Chelsea Ferreira.Man of the match: Duguid.Attendance: 41,810.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Times:Cole goals toll for ColchesterBy Matt HughesChelsea 3 Colchester United 1JOSÉ MOURINHO\'S PLAYERS HAD clearly not read his programme notes, inwhich he repeatedly professed his love of the FA Cup, as it took sometime for the message to get through. Having flirted with embarrassmentagainst Huddersfield Town and required a replay to see off Everton,the runaway Barclays Premiership leaders again struggled against lowlyopposition.If Chelsea played like this in the Premiership then the title race maystill be an interesting proposition. The first half was surely theirworst 45 minutes since Mourinho arrived at the club, and afterdeservedly falling behind they required two goals from Joe Cole in thefinal 11 minutes to spare their blushes.Mourinho had threatened to drop players who underperformed for themore glamorous business of entertaining Barcelona, but on the basis oftheir first-half performance he would be taking on the Spaniards atfive-a-side. The Portuguese had already swung the axe by making ninechanges to the team beaten 3-0 away to Middlesbrough and the loss ofblood seemed to go to his players\' heads.Not since the days of Claudio Ranieri\'s team-talks have there been somany blank faces at Stamford Bridge and Colchester took fulladvantage. With Richard Garcia and Chris Iwelumo offering mobility andmuscle up front, Chelsea\'s make-shift defence were unable to cope, adisorientation confirmed when Glen Johnson and Paulo Ferreira swapped",1]
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Halford, Danns, Watson, Yeates (Chilvers, 72); Iwelumo, Garcia(Williams, 80). Substitutes not used: Gerken (gk), Izzet, Elokobi.Referee: D Gallagher (Banbury).Booked: Chelsea Ferreira.Man of the match: Duguid.Attendance: 41,810.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Times:Cole goals toll for ColchesterBy Matt HughesChelsea 3 Colchester United 1JOSÉ MOURINHO'S PLAYERS HAD clearly not read his programme notes, inwhich he repeatedly professed his love of the FA Cup, as it took sometime for the message to get through. Having flirted with embarrassmentagainst Huddersfield Town and required a replay to see off Everton,the runaway Barclays Premiership leaders again struggled against lowlyopposition.If Chelsea played like this in the Premiership then the title race maystill be an interesting proposition. The first half was surely theirworst 45 minutes since Mourinho arrived at the club, and afterdeservedly falling behind they required two goals from Joe Cole in thefinal 11 minutes to spare their blushes.Mourinho had threatened to drop players who underperformed for themore glamorous business of entertaining Barcelona, but on the basis oftheir first-half performance he would be taking on the Spaniards atfive-a-side. The Portuguese had already swung the axe by making ninechanges to the team beaten 3-0 away to Middlesbrough and the loss ofblood seemed to go to his players' heads.Not since the days of Claudio Ranieri's team-talks have there been somany blank faces at Stamford Bridge and Colchester took fulladvantage. With Richard Garcia and Chris Iwelumo offering mobility andmuscle up front, Chelsea's make-shift defence were unable to cope, adisorientation confirmed when Glen Johnson and Paulo Ferreira swapped
defender guaranteed himself the busier afternoon, as Karl Duguid andGreg Halford pressed forward with relish.With Johnson having gone missing, Halford\'s long throw carved the homeside open in the eighteenth minute, with Garcia\'s cross leading to apanicky clearance when he should have shot. Four minutes later,Chelsea exposed themselves even further when Duguid cut in from theright and his floated cross eluded Robert Huth. For reasons best knownto himself, Ferreira opted to duck under the ball in the hope that itwould sail out of play, instead allowing Mark Yeates to shoot acrossgoal and onto the far post. Mourinho\'s face was a picture.Colchester\'s goal encapsulated perfectly Chelsea\'s failings in theprevious 28 minutes, being sloppy, comic and utterly unnecessary. Aswas the case all afternoon, the visiting team\'s build-up play wasneat, with Garcia laying the ball off to Halford, who returned thecompliment with an excellent pass to the Australian striker. Garcia\'spoor first touch appeared to have averted the danger, but with Chelseain such a generous mood it did not matter, Ricardo Carvalho needlesslysliding in to divert the cross into his own net.Emboldened by their surprise success Colchester pressed for a second,with Halford again finding space in the penalty area but shootingwide, but their lead lasted only nine minutes. In keeping with theirgeneral performance, Chelsea\'s equaliser was a scruffy affair, DamienDuff\'s corner from the left deflecting off Carvalho\'s shoulder andFerreira scoring his first goal for the club from close range.Having erred with his original selection, Mourinho sent on his bigguns for the second half, with Cole and Frank Lampard receiving thebiggest Chelsea cheers of the afternoon as they warmed up duringhalf-time. Their vice-captain\'s very presence seemed to calm his",1]
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flanks after only five minutes. By moving to the left the Englanddefender guaranteed himself the busier afternoon, as Karl Duguid andGreg Halford pressed forward with relish.With Johnson having gone missing, Halford's long throw carved the homeside open in the eighteenth minute, with Garcia's cross leading to apanicky clearance when he should have shot. Four minutes later,Chelsea exposed themselves even further when Duguid cut in from theright and his floated cross eluded Robert Huth. For reasons best knownto himself, Ferreira opted to duck under the ball in the hope that itwould sail out of play, instead allowing Mark Yeates to shoot acrossgoal and onto the far post. Mourinho's face was a picture.Colchester's goal encapsulated perfectly Chelsea's failings in theprevious 28 minutes, being sloppy, comic and utterly unnecessary. Aswas the case all afternoon, the visiting team's build-up play wasneat, with Garcia laying the ball off to Halford, who returned thecompliment with an excellent pass to the Australian striker. Garcia'spoor first touch appeared to have averted the danger, but with Chelseain such a generous mood it did not matter, Ricardo Carvalho needlesslysliding in to divert the cross into his own net.Emboldened by their surprise success Colchester pressed for a second,with Halford again finding space in the penalty area but shootingwide, but their lead lasted only nine minutes. In keeping with theirgeneral performance, Chelsea's equaliser was a scruffy affair, DamienDuff's corner from the left deflecting off Carvalho's shoulder andFerreira scoring his first goal for the club from close range.Having erred with his original selection, Mourinho sent on his bigguns for the second half, with Cole and Frank Lampard receiving thebiggest Chelsea cheers of the afternoon as they warmed up duringhalf-time. Their vice-captain's very presence seemed to calm his
class finally began to tell. After Didier Drogba had headed wide froma cross by Duff, the England midfield player seemed intent on rescuingthe tie by himself, bringing a smart save from Davison after a mazyrun and firing just past the far post with a 30-yard thunderbolt.Colchester\'s increasingly busy goalkeeper also denied Hernan Crespo,as the boys from the barracks dug a deep trench in front of theirgoal.Unfortunately, they retreated too far, with their defensive wallfinally crumbling under incessant pressure. Having handled Drogba withrelative ease, the more cerebral Crespo provided more of a challenge.After being released by Lampard in the 79th minute, the Argentine\'sshot was spilled by Davison, Cole tapping in from close range.Having given so much, Colchester could not rouse themselves for afitting finale, suffering instead as the scoreline assumed a cruelsheen. As they prepared to receive a deserved standing ovation ininjury time, their tired defenders stood off the advancing Cole, whoprovided a goal more indicative of his abilities, driving into the topright-hand corner from 25 yards.Chelsea (4-4-3): C Cudicini — G Johnson, R Huth, R Carvalho, PFerreira — L Diarra (sub: J Cole, 46min), M Essien, Maniche (sub: FLampard, 46) — S Wright-Phillips, D Drogba, D Duff (sub: H Crespo,63). Substitutes not used: L Pidgeley, C Cole. Booked: FerreiraColchester United (4-4-2): A Davison — K Duguid, P Baldwin, W Brown, JWhite — M Yeates (sub: L Chilvers, 73), N Danns, K Watson, G Halford —R Garcia (sub: G Williams, 81), C Iwelumo. Substitutes not used: KIzzet, D Gerken, G ElokobiReferee: D Gallagher------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------http://www.cfchistory.co.uk/forum/index.php",0]
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befuddled team-mates, though Cole made the greater impact as Chelsea'sclass finally began to tell. After Didier Drogba had headed wide froma cross by Duff, the England midfield player seemed intent on rescuingthe tie by himself, bringing a smart save from Davison after a mazyrun and firing just past the far post with a 30-yard thunderbolt.Colchester's increasingly busy goalkeeper also denied Hernan Crespo,as the boys from the barracks dug a deep trench in front of theirgoal.Unfortunately, they retreated too far, with their defensive wallfinally crumbling under incessant pressure. Having handled Drogba withrelative ease, the more cerebral Crespo provided more of a challenge.After being released by Lampard in the 79th minute, the Argentine'sshot was spilled by Davison, Cole tapping in from close range.Having given so much, Colchester could not rouse themselves for afitting finale, suffering instead as the scoreline assumed a cruelsheen. As they prepared to receive a deserved standing ovation ininjury time, their tired defenders stood off the advancing Cole, whoprovided a goal more indicative of his abilities, driving into the topright-hand corner from 25 yards.Chelsea (4-4-3): C Cudicini — G Johnson, R Huth, R Carvalho, PFerreira — L Diarra (sub: J Cole, 46min), M Essien, Maniche (sub: FLampard, 46) — S Wright-Phillips, D Drogba, D Duff (sub: H Crespo,63). Substitutes not used: L Pidgeley, C Cole. Booked: FerreiraColchester United (4-4-2): A Davison — K Duguid, P Baldwin, W Brown, JWhite — M Yeates (sub: L Chilvers, 73), N Danns, K Watson, G Halford —R Garcia (sub: G Williams, 81), C Iwelumo. Substitutes not used: KIzzet, D Gerken, G ElokobiReferee: D Gallagher------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------http://www.cfchistory.co.uk/forum/index.php
Thursday, February 09, 2006
morning papers everton fa cup replay
The Guardian Jon Brodkin at Stamford Bridge Thursday February 9, 2006 Robben keeps his feet as Everton fall Both halves of Merseyside will be feeling the impact of Jose Mourinho this morning. No sooner had the Chelsea manager offered a testy riposte to Rafa Bentez's criticism of Arjen Robben than his players set about tearing Everton to pieces. It will have delighted Mourinho not only that Robben showed the more positive side to his game last night but that Shaun Wright-Phillips looked more like the carefree, confident player he signed. Chelsea were far too quick, strong and clever for a fragile Everton and this replay was effectively over by half-time, with the Premiership champions 3-0 ahead and strolling towards a fifth-round game at home to Colchester United thanks to a combination of impressive attacking and woeful defending. Mourinho's team still have a treble in their sights and here was proof that, after an indifferent spell, they are touching the heights again. Mourinho feels his team did not receive the credit they deserved for Sunday's victory over Liverpool because attention focused on the Robben furore, and took a swipe at Bentez in his programme notes. Liverpool's manager was heavily critical of Robben for falling to the turf after receiving a light push on the throat from Jose Reina, who was sent off. "Liverpool question the moral actions of our player but I do not remember them questioning anyone last May when the ball did not cross the line and the players of the attacking team were running to the officials putting pressure on them to give a goal," Mourinho wrote in reference to the Luis Garca goal against Chelsea which took Liverpool to the Champions League final. Interestingly, in an episode deepening the rivalry between the clubs, he did not defend Robben's actions. Robben deserved only praise for his efforts here, which included a well-taken opening goal from a move of high quality and constant thrusts or passes of danger. A Chelsea side missing a handful of regulars looking capable of scoring almost every time they attacked, it was impossible to reconcile Everton with a team who arrived on a nine-game unbeaten run. David Moyes' team were not helped by a bizarre ankle injury to Richard Wright in the warm-up, giving the third-choice Iain Turner a difficult debut. Wright was warming up in the goal in front of Everton's fans despite a large wooden sign requesting he use temporary nets close by. He moved the sign into the net and fell on it when he stretched to make a save, turning his ankle. For Wright, who injured himself almost three years ago after tumbling out of a loft, this was a bitter blow at a time when he hoped to re-establish himself. Moyes said an X-ray showed the goalkeeper did not suffer a break. Turner could not be faulted and saved Everton from heavier punishment. More experienced players let him down, including the full-back Nuno Valente, who was substituted at the interval as Everton were overwhelmed by a side passing at pace and with accuracy, mixing direct football with a more measured build-up. Frank Lampard was excellent in directing play and Robben and Wright-Phillips gave their opponents a difficult time with their pace and trickery on the flanks. The sight of Wright-Phillips playing with freedom and belief was encouraging. He has endured a tough time since his move from Manchester City and has started only 10 matches but here an improved performance was summed up when he eluded three opponents and was fouled by Valente to win the penalty from which Lampard made it 2-0. These were good signs for Chelsea and England, even if Wright-Phillips still sometimes took thw wrong option. No Everton player had a similar ability to take an opponent regularly out of the game and, after failing to turn promising early possession into chances, they quickly found the match beyond them. Robben put them ahead excellently, steering a shot past Turner after the influential Hernan Crespo collected a pass from Eidur Gudjohnsen on his chest and flicked it into his path. After making it 2-0, Lampard swung over a free-kick which Everton defended so awfully that the closest player to Crespo was a team-mate as he diverted in a near-post header. James Beattie, who left at half-time with a calf problem, wasted Everton's first chance not long before the interval. Though Moyes' players showed spirit in the second half, they still lacked a cutting edge and looked vulnerable. "The second half was a bit more like us," the manager said, though. "The first half wasn't." Mikel Arteta scored with a penalty after Robert Huth handled a James McFadden shot, but there was an Chelsea instant response with Huth's blocked free-kick falling for John Terry to blast in. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Independent : Chelsea 4 Everton 1: Wright-Phillips fires Chelsea's creative instinct By Sam Wallace, Football Correspondent Published: 09 February 2006 He managed to keep his counsel for three days, but on the fourth Jose Mourinho could hold back no longer. He launched a stinging riposte to Liverpool's condemnation of Arjen Robben last night and then his team set about savaging Everton. After beating Liverpool in the Premiership on Sunday, Chelsea have quelled the whole of Merseyside within the space of four days and, with a dazzling performance from Shaun Wright-Phillips, this time they did it in style. Colchester United of League One await in the FA Cup fifth round on 19 February, a novel way for the Premiership champions to prepare for the visit of Barcelona in the Champions' League three days later. Play like they did last night and Chelsea will not need to fear either lower-league Essex men or the pride of Catalonia. Their assistant manager Steve Clarke said afterwards that his club do not get the recognition their achievements deserve - last night was a performance with scarcely a blemish. Robben scored the first on 22 minutes, a beautiful piece of work that saw Hernan Crespo guide Eidur Gudjohnsen's long ball into the path of the Dutch winger. Robben was substituted after the hour and hugged by his manager before he departed down the tunnel, but even the Dutchman at his marauding best was eclipsed by Wright-Phillips who made his first start since 7 January and played his first-ever 90 minutes in a Chelsea shirt. In his programme notes Mourinho claimed the Liverpool manager, Rafael Benitez, had attempted to cover up his team's defeat by criticising Chelsea. Mourinho raged against the English press - "not in love with us" - and Sky television, but he stopped short of a direct defence of Robben, who went down after being pushed by the Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina, who was sent off. Instead, Mourinho pointed out that Liverpool had not complained when Luis Garcia scored the winning goal in the second leg of the Champions' League semi-final at Anfield in May - which was later shown not to have crossed the line. "Liverpool question the moral actions of our player," Mourinho said. "But I do not remember them questioning anyone last May when the ball did not cross the line and the players of the attacking team were running to the officials putting pressure on them to give a goal. Maybe we are living in two different worlds. But that's life and we have to live with it. The better we are, the more difficult it is." He gave ironic praise to Benitez for what the Chelsea manager saw as diversionary tactics after a defeat that effectively ended Liverpool's slim title hopes. "Great managers are intelligent," Mourinho wrote. "So after the game when they were well beaten by us he ... speaks about Reina, and talks the details out of the great game Chelsea have played." Reina may have considered himself unlucky, but he was certainly no worse off than last night's visiting goalkeeper Richard Wright, who injured himself in the warm-up and was replaced by the 21-year-old debutant Iain Turner. Wright had ignored a sign in the goalmouth asking him to practise in a temporary goal and, having moved it back, caught his ankle on it when he jumped for a cross. For a player who once lost his place in the Everton team after injuring himself falling out of his loft, it was a cruel blow but, having watched his replacement concede three goals by half-time, he may have felt that he had a lucky escape. Wright-Phillips tormented Everton's left-back Nuno Valente and he had dribbled past three defenders before the Portuguese international made a poorly timed challenge on the winger on 36 minutes. From the penalty spot Frank Lampard scored Chelsea's second before Everton's defence was motionless in the 39th minute when Lampard's cross was edged home by the gentlest of touches from Crespo's head. James Beattie made an appalling mess of the away side's best first half chance on 40 minutes when he was slow to trap a ball four yards out and hoofed his shot far over the bar. Everton claimed a goal back when Robert Huth handled substitute James McFadden's shot and Mikel Arteta slipped in the penalty on 71 minutes. The German international played a part in Chelsea's fourth when he rammed an artless free-kick into the Everton wall and the rebound fell to John Terry who volleyed home from inside the area. Clarke gave a feisty defence of his club's reputation, complaining Reina's original bad tackle on Gudjohnsen was "not even mentioned. We gave another high-level performance on Sunday and we didn't get the credit," he said. "There wasn't a lot talked about the football or that we had beaten one of top rivals." Today should at least be different. Chelsea (4-1-4-1): Cudicini; Johnson, Huth, Terry, Gallas; Essien; Wright-Phillips, Gudjohnsen, Lampard (Geremi, 79), Robben (Cole, 63); Crespo (Maniche, h-t). Substitutes not used: Cech (gk), Del Horno. Everton (4-4-1-1) Turner; Hibbert, Weir, Ferrari, Valente (Davies, h-t); Arteta, Cahill, Neville, Kilbane; Osman (Carsley, 83); Beattie (McFadden, h-t).Substitute not used: Naysmith. Referee: P Dowd (Staffordshire). ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Telegraph : Stylish Chelsea sail through By Henry Winter Chelsea (3) 4 Everton (0) 1 Often criticised for delivering only three-star wins, Chelsea put on a Ritz-like performance last night, showing pace, power and fabulous finishing to set up an FA Cup fifth-round meeting with Colchester United. For Arjen Robben, who set Chelsea on their way with a superb first, it was a sweet night after the furore over his tumble against Liverpool on Sunday. Another team from Merseyside, another push-over, this time an impressive one as Robben brushed Everton aside. On a dispiriting night for the visitors, Everton's cause had not been assisted by the injury sustained by Richard Wright in the warm-up. The keeper turned his ankle, and hobbled away to be replaced by Iain Turner. The promising young Scot, recruited for a nominal fee from Stirling Albion and present because of Nigel Martyn's thigh strain, could have wished for an easier place to make his Everton debut, and he was soon being bombarded. Three down by the break, it could even have been worse. Even before Robben came calling with such devastating effect in the 23rd minute, Turner was busy, reacting smartly to long-range efforts from Lampard, Wright-Phillips, Robben and Gudjohnsen. Far from fazed by the demands, Turner looked reasonably assured, although he was grateful to the typically determined Tony Hibbert for clearing Robert Huth's powerful header off the line. The pace and precision of Chelsea's movement was beginning to stretch and alarm Everton. Superb technical dexterity defined the hosts' opening goal, setting the scene for Chelsea's rampant superiority. The move was begun by Gudjohnsen, showing fine touch and vision to pick out another clever run from Crespo. The Argentine, lurking around the 18-yard line, met the ball with exceptional control, chesting it down and then flicking it into the path of Robben, the flowing Dutchman. The Shed was treated to more sumptuous skills unfolding in front of them: Robben accepted possession with a velvet touch and finished with a brutal touch, the ball fired across poor Turner. Robben's left foot is a remarkable weapon in Chelsea's well-stocked armoury. Now, to the Bridge's delight, it was the turn of Chelsea's other touchline flier to show. Wright-Phillips, enjoying a rare start, was a bundle of tricks and trouble for Nuno Valente, Everton's startled right-back whose substitution at half-time appeared an act of mercy by David Moyes. His speed having already accounted for Kevin Kilbane, Wright-Phillips raced into the box where he was caught by Nuno Valente. Everton were distraught, knowing all hope of continued FA Cup involvement had all but disappeared down the Thames. Phil Neville certainly knew what lay immediately in store as he tossed the ball to Lampard, like a condemned man handing an axe to the executioner. Lampard is used to playing the role from the spot, and drilled his low penalty to Turner's right. Lampard's capacity to breathe such vivid life into a dead ball was seen again before half-time. Lining up a free-kick on the left, the England international targeted the near-post with a fizzing delivery met by the subtlest of headed flicks by Crespo, a forward with an honours degree in reading the game. Crespo's 24th goal in 38 Chelsea starts encapsulated why he is such a feared predator: the blend of timing, thought, and deft technique again destroyed a defence. His finish contrasted with James Beattie's hopeless miss moments later, the Everton striker lifting the ball horribly over. It proved Beattie's final involvement, the striker being removed at half-time. So was Crespo, rested before the Barcelona assignment. Gudjohnsen, such a versatile footballer, pushed upfront as Maniche slotted into midfield. Within minutes Gudjohnsen was threatening, running on to Robben's wonderful pass, and being denied only by the alert reactions of Turner. Then came Robben, sprinting through and clearly caught from behind by Hibbert. Robben stumbled but stayed on his feet, but the danger passed. It was a clear penalty. Maybe Robben was paying the price for a reputation as a diver. Mourinho soon took him off, giving Robben a huge hug to remind the world of his appreciation. Everton came to life and they pulled one back 18 minutes from time. When James McFadden's shot was clearly handled by Huth, Mikel Arteta inflicted full punishment form the spot. Angered, Chelsea restored their three-goal cushion in spectacular fashion. Huth's free-kick was blocked but Terry latched on to the loose ball, smashing it into the net in style. Team details Chelsea (4-1-2-2-1): Cudicini; Johnson, Huth, Terry, Gallas; Essien; Gudjohnsen, Lampard (Geremi 79); Wright-Phillips, Robben (J Cole 63); Crespo (Maniche, h-t). Subs: Cech (g), Del Horno. Booked: Gallas. Everton (4-1-3-2): Turner; Hibbert, Weir, Ferrari, Nuno Valente (Davies, h-t); P Neville; Arteta, Cahill, Kilbane; Osman (Carsley 82), Beattie (McFadden, h-t). Subs: Naysmith, Anichebe. Booked: Nuno Valente, Cahill, Carsley. Referee: P Dowd (Staffordshire) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Times: Wright-Phillips takes chance to show off undoubted class By Matt Dickinson, Chief Football Correspondent Chelsea 4 Everton 1 ARJEN ROBBEN'S contribution was bound to be closely scrutinised last night, which probably explains why he kept his feet even when fouled in the penalty area. But the performance of Shaun Wright-Phillips may have had the wider significance. Not just for Jose Mourinho or Chelsea, who will require all of their fringe players as they continue to fight on three fronts, but also for England, who will need their full attacking artillery at the World Cup finals this summer. Admittedly against easily outgunned opponents in last night's FA Cup fourth-round replay, Wright-Phillips gave a reminder of his talent as well as his existence. If the winger could be accused of selfishness at times, it was hardly surprising given that he has hardly seen a ball for months. This was only his third start since November and his first full 90 minutes since his £21 million transfer from Manchester City. Mourinho gave him a kiss on the forehead as he walked off, although the winger should bear in mind that his next start is more likely to be against Colchester United in the fifth round than Barcelona in the Champions League. Chelsea are gathering the form and momentum to carry them through both diverse challenges and Everton were swatted aside with three goals in 17 first-half minutes. The visiting team's evening had got off to a troubling start when they lost Richard Wright before kick-off. The former England goalkeeper was deputising for the injured Nigel Martyn but tripped over a sign telling him that, because of the state of the pitch, he could not practise in the goalmouth. He once hurt himself stepping down from his loft, so this was not his most unusual injury. It left Iain Turner with about ten minutes to prepare for his debut. "Good luck. He's going to need it," the master of pre-match ceremonies said. As predictions go, it was as accurate as it was arrogant. Turner had picked the ball out of his net three times by half-time, but this was not a case of a young player being overcome with nerves. The Scotland Under-21 goalkeeper, an imposing 6ft 4in, acquitted himself impressively. He could do nothing about any of the goals, the first featuring an instant return to the headlines for Robben. Set up by a wonderful flick from Hernan Crespo, he stayed on his feet long enough to slip the ball past Turner. It did not wipe out his antics against Liverpool but provided a reminder that he brings flair to Mourinho's side. So, too, Wright-Phillips. Full of penetrative running, he created Chelsea's second goal when his dash through the penalty area was ended by a daft, crude foul by Nuno Valente. Frank Lampard was his usual composed self with the spot kick and four minutes later it was 3-0 as Lampard whipped a free kick towards the near post. Crespo, unmarked, supplied a feint touch with his curly locks to beat Turner. Chris Woods, Everton's goalkeeping coach, approached the 22-year-old as he made his way off at the interval, presumably to tell him that he was far less culpable than some more senior colleagues. James Beattie's only significant contribution had been to shoot comically high over the crossbar and, complaining of a calf injury, he made way at the break along with the hapless Valente. Mourinho also decided to tinker, although the withdrawal of Crespo was to give the striker a break, given that Didier Drogba is still required by Ivory Coast in the African Cup of Nations. With Eidur Gudjohnsen moving up front, Stamford Bridge prepared for the rout, but the next goal was to come at the other end when James McFadden's shot was blocked by Robert Huth's arm. Mikel Arteta dispatched the penalty. The goal provoked an instant response from Chelsea, who restored their lead when Huth's free kick was deflected to John Terry. The Chelsea captain's shot into the far, top corner was stunning in its ferocity. The scouts from Barcelona, and not just Colchester, had plenty to mull over. CHELSEA (4-3-3): C Cudicini G Johnson, J Terry, R Huth, W Gallas E Gudjohnsen, M Essien, F Lampard (sub: Geremi, 80min) S Wright-Phillips, H Crespo (sub: Maniche, 46), A Robben (sub: J Cole, 64). Substitutes not used: P Cech, A Del Horno. Booked: Gallas. EVERTON (4-4-1-1): I Turner T Hibbert, D Weir, M Ferrari, N Valente (sub: S Davies, 46) M Arteta, T Cahill, P Neville, K Kilbane L Osman J Beattie (sub: J McFadden, 46). Substitutes not used: G Naysmith, L Carsley, V Anichebe. Booked: Valente, Cahill, Carsley. Referee: P Dowd.
Monday, February 06, 2006
morning papers Liverpool home
Times; Mourinho moves on to the formalities By Matt Hughes Chelsea 2 Liverpool 0 JOSÉ MOURINHO TREATED HIS musical hero, Bryan Adams, to a tour of Stamford Bridge recently, but last night found himself humming The Final Countdown by Europe. After sprinting away from the rest of the field, Chelsea have reached the finishing straight of the Barclays Premiership title race by the start of February. They still need eight more victories to secure their second successive title, although with a 15-point lead over Manchester United it is little more than a formality. On present form they will receive the trophy after a home game against West Ham United on April 9, a fitting reward for Frank Lampard, John Terry and Joe Cole, the Eastenders who have adopted starring roles in the West End. As Mourinho delighted in pointing out, this victory over the side threatening to become their closest rivals encapsulated all the qualities that make Chelsea such worthy champions; comfortable and clinical yet some way short of thrilling. This was their season in microcosm. "We need eight wins to be champions and after that it will be seven, six, five," Mourinho said. "We’re in the countdown. We want to win these games as soon as possible." Still bitter about last season’s Champions League exit and with José Manuel Reina’s late sending-off creating another controversy, Mourinho could not resist crowing about his head-to-head record against Rafael Benítez. The Portuguese has won all four of the league games he has contested against Liverpool and this season’s aggregate scoreline is a flattering 6-1. "After nine games against Liverpool in 1½ years we’ve lost one," he said. "The game proves we’re the best team in the country. This is a result and a performance that will help everyone to understand why we’re champions and are close to being champions again." Liverpool came into the game still harbouring genuine title aspirations, though for all their dramatic improvement under Benítez, the European champions remain a work in progress. Despite controlling much of the first half the threat to Petr Cech’s goal was minimal, with Chelsea content to strike on the counter. The source of their opening goal may have surprised many, but not Mourinho, who repeatedly sings the praises of William Gallas, surely one of the most underrated players in the Barclays Premiership. Such is his determination to incorporate the Frenchman into his side that he has played him in different positions in each of the past three matches, alongside Terry the one constant in an ever-changing back line. Given his excellent goal yesterday, a poacher’s finish in the six-yard box, perhaps he should consider giving Hernán Crespo a rest and moving him up front. Gallas has moaned about this dizzying rotation but seemed happy enough yesterday, running to celebrate with Mourinho on the touchline after giving his side the lead. After a typically classy start at right back he outwitted another utility player, Jean Arne Riise, ghosting in from the back post to meet Ricardo Carvalho’s knockdown from Frank Lampard’s corner . Liverpool had made the better start, with Peter Crouch giving Terry a torrid time, but the goal was a setback from which they never recovered. Joe Cole should have doubled Chelsea’s lead a minute later, shooting into the side-netting after dispossessing Stephen Warnock, and Crespo found the target just before half-time only to be ruled offside by Gavin Ward, the fresh-faced linesman. It proved to be only a temporary respite. Liverpool upped the tempo at the start of the second half, though their perspiration was not matched by sufficient inspiration, with Gerrard’s cross-field ball to the head of Crouch increasingly predictable. Chelsea have a greater variety of attacking options and, without using them to the full, still had too much for Liverpool. After injuries ruined the start of his season Arjen Robben is returning to his best, with only his finishing letting him down. Crespo was not to be denied for long, however, running on to Asier Del Horno’s through-ball in the 68th minute before applying a crisp finish. Didier Drogba may be missed, but with the Argentina striker adding his eleventh goal of the season, Chelsea are clearly coping. Robben had further opportunities, but his most notable contribution was to fly to the ground after the slightest contact from Reina, with the Spain goalkeeper being sent off. The Premier League should instruct the engravers to carve Chelsea’s name on to their trophy. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Telegraph: Crespo shines in Chelsea parade By Henry Winter at Stamford Bridge Chelsea (1) 2 Liverpool (0) 0 Twenty-one points clear of Liverpool, Jose Mourinho has the key to the door of another Premiership party in the pocket of his elegant overcoat. Fifteen points clear of second-placed Manchester United, Chelsea could well be travelling to their Easter fixtures on an open-top bus. Blue heaven: Hernan Crespo celebrates his goal This league victory, their 50th in 18 months under Mourinho's inspirational stewardship, showed why Chelsea will be champions again. John Terry, ready for every challenge, embodied the team's immense capacity for hard work. Hernan Crespo, full of intelligent movement, displayed the finisher's art that Liverpool lack. Added to William Gallas' first-half strike, Crespo's goal sent waves of frustration rolling through visiting hearts and minds. Xabi Alonso appeared more intent on settling old scores with Michael Essien and Frank Lampard than sweeping the ball around with his usual sumptuous ease. The gathering darkness enveloped Liverpool nine minutes from time. Pepe Reina, usually such a calm figure between the posts, came hurtling out and clattered into Eidur Gudjohnson, earning a deserved caution. Worse ensued. When Arjen Robben made some sly remark, Liverpool's Spanish goalkeeper raised his hands and gave the Chelsea attacker the lightest of pushes in the face. If Reina's act was inexcusable, Robben's reaction was disgraceful. The Dutch flyweight collapsed in a theatrical manner reminiscent of referee Paul Alcock in the Paolo Di Canio affair. If Chelsea want to be truly admired, rather than just respected, they have to eradicate such deceitful conduct as Robben's. He has too many qualities to stoop to such depths. Catching fire towards the end, when Robben tumbled and Reina walked, this game only smouldered in a scrappy opening period when Liverpool were the livelier. Sami Hyypia headed wide from a Steven Gerrard corner. Peter Crouch hinted at menace in the air, twice going close, but was mastered on the deck by Terry. Set plays looked Liverpool's most promising avenue. Chelsea's creative department was struggling to parade their wares. No wonder the home fans chanted the name of Gianfranco Zola, sitting next to Roman Abramovich. Sterility ruled, any attempts at fluid movement sticking in a pitch increasingly resembling the Thames at low tide. Fittingly, Chelsea's 34th-minute goal came from a defender at a corner, the hosts exploiting a lapse of concentration by Liverpool. When Lampard drilled in a corner kick from the right, Ricardo Carvalho redirected the ball in towards Gallas. John Arne Riise was supposed to be marking the French full-back but became distracted, allowing Gallas to hook the ball between Reina and Stephen Warnock. Liverpool were shaken, Chelsea stirred. The champions could have seized another within two minutes. Warnock sought to dribble away from Joe Cole but the Chelsea midfielder's persistence brought reward, the inexperienced Liverpool left-back caught painfully in possession. Cole's drive found only the side-netting. The Blues were now in the mood, with Crespo only fractionally offside as he tapped in a fumble by Reina. Liverpool's one unaddressed flaw under Rafa Benitez was soon seen again. They create chances but lack a serial finisher. After 50 minutes, Gerrard clipped in the most enticing of left-footed crosses that cried out for a finishing touch. With Robbie Fowler working on his fitness back at Melwood, and Benitez surely now ruing not bringing back Michael Owen, Liverpool were overly reliant on midfield for attempts on goal. No chance. Lampard, Essien and Claude Makelele stifled visiting surges. Crouch became as isolated as a remote lighthouse surrounded by miles of forbidding deep blue sea. The force was with Chelsea. Crespo's clever runs were dragging Carragher and Hyypia all over the place. Only brilliant awareness and agility saw Carragher head a cross clear as Crespo prowled. But the predator from the Pampas was not to be denied for long. After 68 minutes, Carragher headed out a Terry ball only for Asier Del Horno to lift the ball back in. Having stolen a yard, Crespo met the ball sweetly with his left foot, which he placed superbly across Reina and in. It was over bar the shouting. Chelsea fans began taunting Liverpool. "Have you ever seen Gerrard win the league," their fans inquired of the midfielder who twice spurned Mourinho'. "Where were you in Istanbul?" responded the travelling army. But this defeat, and confirmation of Chelsea's domestic dominance, will have hurt Gerrard. He stood by Jamie Carragher at the end and a pair of home-grown players must have wondered how they can catch Chelsea in the Premiership. Yesterday Mourinho's men slammed the door on any chance of any rivals crashing their pending Premiership party. • Man of the match: John Terry (Chelsea). ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Independent: Chelsea 2 Liverpool 0: Crespo's crushing form and Reina red card hit Liverpool By Sam Wallace, Football Correspondent Published: 06 February 2006 By the time that the Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina went straight through the legs of Eidur Gudjohnsen and then slapped Arjen Robben in the face to ensure a red card, the battle for Rafael Benitez's team was already lost, the Premiership title as good as decided. The true picture of the balance of power between these sides did not lie in a petty stand-off nine minutes from time, but the awesome details of Chelsea's dominance. The goals came from William Gallas and Hernan Crespo and they leave the Premiership champions 15 points clear of Manchester United in second place and 21 ahead of Liverpool. The European champions had their very last chance to slow the procession yesterday, but they ended simply adding their names to the long list of victims that have fallen by the way on Chelsea's march to the title. The ankle injury he was dealt against West Ham on 2 January meant that Michael Essien never made the trip to the African Nations' Cup in Egypt and, with Ghana now eliminated, he is eligible to play for his club side once again. But it was far too convenient not to arouse suspicion that as the tournament draws to a close, Essien yesterday made his recovery from fitness just in time to face Liverpool. Jose Mourinho will doubtless pass the credit to a medical department at Chelsea that is under intense pressure to rehabilitate players from injury as rapidly as possible - and the Ghana football federation will have little choice but to accept that verdict. The timing for them, however, will hurt the most. Essien came back into a team that has won just once in the three Premiership games they have played since his absence. The final part of a drama in four acts involving these two clubs this season - unless they meet again in the Champions' League - and there was precious little sign that either Rafael Benitez or Jose Mourinho were about to liberate their sides from their strict tactical regime. Only one striker committed to attack in either side and two midfields packed with muscle, it was Liverpool who held the balance of power right up to the Chelsea's first goal on 34 minutes. Peter Crouch was the man most likely to tip the game in Liverpool's favour, clattering into Petr Cech twice and, as is his way, full of apologies afterwards. Few strikers have the advantage of towering over John Terry when they wait for corner kicks and Crouch put the Chelsea captain under the kind of pressure to which he is not accustomed as well as bloodying the brow of Cech. Terry did enough in the 24th minute to unsettle Crouch when he lunged at Sami Hyypia's knock-back across the face of the goal although the England defender was not at his composed best. Alongside Chelsea's owner, Roman Abramovich, in the best seats at Stamford Bridge, was Gianfranco Zola. He wore a broad grin every time the camera settled on him, Abramovich looked more pensive. With good reason, because the impeccably drilled Liverpool team, constantly being reorganised by Benitez on the touchline, had locked Chelsea's two wingers, Joe Cole and Arjen Robben, in their own half. It was telling that when Cole finally broke free on the right and won a close decision on a corner that Liverpool's problems began and William Gallas scored 11 minutes before the break. From the corner, Ricardo Carvalho won a difficult header at the back of the area and the ball fell to Gallas six yards out who, with his back to goal, hooked the ball back and into the net. It was a blow that Liverpool scarcely deserved, and Stephen Warnock's slip two minutes later almost condemned them to defeat before the half was over. Cole seized on possession but, to the fury of Mourinho, struck his shot wide of the near post. On the stroke of half-time, Hernan Crespo had a goal disallowed for offside to howls of protest from his team-mates towards the linesman, Gavin Ward, who, in appearance, looked closer to the age of the ball-boys than the players. The official stood his ground and replays revealed his decision to be absolutely correct. Crouch failed to get on the end of a Gerrard cross and Cech pushed out a shot from the Liverpool captain, but as the away side's desperation increased it was Chelsea who strengthened their grip on the game. Robben went past Jamie Carragher, but Reina flicked his shot wide. In the 68th minute, Crespo timed his run on to the end of Asier Del Horno's flick and launched a perfectly executed volley into the far corner of Reina's net. At two goals down, Benitez had no option but to switch his side's taut defensive formation into a 4-3-3 attacking system. Chelsea swept them away. Damien Duff came on and then off with what looked like a strain to his leg. Then, on 81 minutes, Reina chased Eidur Gudjohnsen out to the right wing and launched a clumsy tackle. As he was called over by the referee, Alan Wiley, the Spanish goalkeeper thrust a hand into the face of Robben, who made sure that he exploited the moment for all it was worth. Down to 10 men, with Jerzy Dudek in goal, Liverpool crumbled. Only a fine saving tackle from Steven Gerrard stopped Robben as he broke into the area with one minute remaining. It was to the Liverpool captain that the home fans' taunts were aimed in the last few minutes of the game. Gerrard's Liverpool team may have made enormous progress under Benitez but they still have a distance to travel to catch Mourinho's Chelsea. Goals: Gallas (34) 1-0; Crespo (6 2-0; Chelsea (4-1-4-1): Cech; Gallas, Carvalho, Terry, Del Horno; Makelele (Diarra, 84); J Cole (Duf,f 74; Gudjohnsen, 79), Lampard, Essien, Robben; Crespo. Substitutes not used: Cudicini (gk), Huth. Liverpool (4-4-1-1): Reina; Finnan, Hyypia, Carragher, Warnock; Gerrard, Sissoko (Cissé, 74), Alonso, Riise (Garcia, 61; Dudek, 84); Kewell; Crouch. Substitutes not used: Morientes, Traoré. Referee: A Wiley (Staffordshire). Booked: Chelsea Essien; Liverpool Garcia, Alonso. Sent off: Reina. Man of the match: Carvalho. Attendance: 42,316 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Chelsea crush contenders as Reina sees red and Crespo walks the line Kevin McCarra at Stamford Bridge Monday February 6, 2006 The Guardian If it is a fine line that separates champions from contenders, then no one walks it with more precision than Hernán Crespo. The Argentinian once more showed the poise of a tightrope walker to stop himself from tumbling into an offside position as he clinched victory with Chelsea's second goal. The flag was wrongly raised against him a minute later as he netted again and, considering the delicate calibration with which he judges a run, officials must sometimes be tempted to take it on trust that he is exactly where he ought to be. Even if the striker had to spend much of the afternoon roving and waiting for his moment, he did add distinction to a moderate game. Chelsea will be happy to turn their backs on any debate about the exact level of their performance when they have shown, after three draws in all competitions, that they retain the knack of winning on the major occasions. Jose Mourinho's side, with a first clean sheet in seven fixtures, are now 21 points ahead of third-placed Liverpool and 15 in front of their notional pursuers Manchester United. The numbers are really important only to those who wish to estimate the date when the retention of the title will be confirmed. The visitors were in dishevelled condition at the close. The goalkeeper José Reina was sent off after an altercation in the 81st minute. He burst from his box to tackle the substitute Eidur Gudjohnsen from behind near the corner flag and the challenge was dangerous even though he made contact with the ball. In the squabble that followed the Spaniard turned back, in response to some comment, and gave Arjen Robben a rather gentle push in the face, the Dutchman keeling over as if assaulted. The behaviour constituted violent conduct and the red card from the referee Alan Wiley was not a surprise. It was a piece of indiscipline which conveyed the exasperation of a line-up which has a capable air but cannot capitalise on phases of domination. As in last month's defeat at Old Trafford, the humdrum nature of the Liverpool attackers was a severe limitation. With Robbie Fowler left out while he works on his fitness, imagination and sharpness were scarce. Though Petr Cech pulled off one fine block that denied Steven Gerrard an equaliser in the second half, his principal concern had been a facial cut which demonstrated the character of Liverpool's endeavours. They had no intention of being unsporting, but the players could do no more than set up challenges with the defenders and the goalkeeper when they lacked an elusive striker such as Crespo. A characteristic episode would see a strapping footballer such as Peter Crouch or Sami Hyypia stretching to skew a header off-target. Those denouements were tormenting for Liverpool since they had outplayed Chelsea in the opening 20 minutes. Claude Makelele was not disconnecting the visitors' attacks as he would later and Liverpool's bank of attacking midfielders got into position to feed off Crouch's lay-offs. The much-improved Ricardo Carvalho had to be vigilant to pull off key interventions. A subdued Chelsea endured and went ahead with a goal that rekindled the debate about Rafael Benítez's preference for zonal marking. Joe Cole won a corner on the right after 35 minutes and Frank Lampard fired it deep. The ball sailed over Hyypia and Carvalho knocked it down so that William Gallas could turn near the six-yard line and finish. Two minutes later Cole dispossessed Stephen Warnock, who presumed that he could turn with the ball. The attacker then shot into the side-netting from an angle, enraging Mourinho, who expected Cole to set up a team-mate with the selfless efficiency demanded of this side. Chelsea were close to extending their lead in the 43rd minute but Crespo, in an extremely rare lapse, was offside when he capitalised on Reina's fumbling of a John Terry header. Liverpool believed for a while that they could recover and Gerrard, in the 50th minute, beat Michael Essien and Gallas on the left before his low cross flew through the six-yard box. Crespo, though, was to end the contest. Jamie Carragher headed out a free-kick and Asier del Horno played a pass into the left of the area for the arch-predator. The angle was difficult and so was the bouncing ball, but the first-time shot into the far corner was flawless. Such technique came as a relief after some eagle-eyed decision-making by the linesman in the first half had threatened to make him the man of the match.
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