The Times
Frank Lampard lights up Chelsea
Joe Lovejoy at Stamford Bridge
CHELSEA celebrated their victory in stoppage time as if they had won the Premier League, and who knows? Frank Lampard’s decisive header, with 91 minutes on the clock, lifted his team into second place in the table, and they could trim Manchester United’s lead at the top to four points if they win again at Portsmouth on Tuesday.
At the final whistle Didier Drogba gleefully booted the ball into the crowd and Lampard and John Terry, the Chelsea goalscorers, embraced in recognition of another restorative result which makes it three wins out of three under Guus Hiddink’s revivalist management. Would it have spelled the end of Chelsea’s title hopes if it had finished 1-1? Smiling, Hiddink said: “I’m glad it’s an if and not a fact.”
Wigan thought they had gained a draw, which would not have flattered them, when Olivier Kapo equalised in the 82nd minute, but Lampard exemplified Chelsea’s never-say-die spirit in looping a header over Chris Kirkland after Michael Ballack had set him up from Terry’s long punt. The midfielder has now scored five times in his past seven league games and, with 15 in all, is set to pass the 20 mark in the season yet again.
Terry is no less important to the Blues’ cause, and talk of the captain leaving for Manchester City, in exchange for Robinho, was ridiculed after his opening goal, in the 25th minute, made him the highest scoring defender in Chelsea’s history, with 35.
Luiz Felipe Scolari, sacked last month, might have countenanced such a swap. The new regime most certainly would not. The fans would lynch anybody who dared to part them from their hero. Wigan, who have been punching above their weight under Steve Bruce, contributed in full to a competitive match, and continue to reflect great credit on their manager, who has had to cope with the sale of his two best players, Emile Heskey and Wilson Palacios, and was without the influential Antonio Valencia here. They had not conceded for over five hours when Terry finally beat Kirkland with a left-footed volley from 18 yards.
For most of the first half Wigan were the better team, and they would have had a commanding lead after 20 minutes but for a notable save by Petr Cech from Paul Scharner, and goalline clearances by Ashley Cole and Terry to thwart Titus Bramble and Kapo.
It was against the run of play when Chelsea took the lead, Terry scissor-kicking home from a central position on the edge of the penalty area for a goal that was an embarrassment for Emmerson Boyce. First he headed Lampard’s corner straight to his opposite number, then Terry’s shot parted his hair on the way in.
Chelsea then enjoyed a purple patch. Lampard, who was outstanding, might have scored twice before half-time. Drogba, who created the second of these, has been invigorated by the change of management and is back to something approaching his powerful, intimidating best.
In the second half he demanded a last-ditch clearance from Wigan’s best player, Bramble, with a crisp shot, then out-muscled both centre-halves in the same belligerent run. Inspirational stuff from the big man. It had the look of Hiddink’s third successive 1-0 win until, with 10 minutes left, Maynor Figueroa’s left-wing cross enabled Kapo to dart in front of Nicolas Anelka at the near post and steer the ball home at nudging range.
Roman Abramovich looked on, stony-faced, as time ticked away, then joined in the cavorting when Lampard, after holding off Mario Melchiot with what Bruce insisted was a foul, nodded the ball over Kirkland from eight yards. The Wigan manager was unhappy with the referee, Lee Probert, and entered the time-honoured plea that the big decisions always favoured the big clubs, but it was a classic case of poacher turned gamekeeper.
Bruce the Bruiser routinely got away with much worse in his playing days. “We deserved something and we didn’t get it,” he said. “The same thing happened to us at Old Trafford and Liverpool.” The £1m bonus question for Hiddink was: Can you still win the title? With a mischievous look, he said: “I’m rather realistic. We have to win our games — preferably more comfortably than we did today — and then ask my Dutch friend, Edwin Van der Sar, if he’ll have the ball in the back of his net to help us. I know him well, and I don’t think he will.
“Manchester United are in a good seat, but as long as there is the possibility for us, as long as it’s not decided, we’ll keep going. We showed that at Aston Villa last week and again today.” Ominously for Hiddink and Chelsea, Van der Sar is obliging nobody, having kept 16 clean sheets this season.
CHELSEA: Cech 6, Mancienne 5 (Quaresma 81min), Alex 6, Terry 8, A Cole 6, Kalou 5 (Belletti 75min), Mikel 6, Ballack 5, Lampard 9, Drogba 7, Anelka 6
WIGAN: Kirkland 6, Melchiot 6, Boyce 5, Bramble 8, Figueroa 6, Kapo 6, Scharner 6, Brown 5, Cattermole 6 (Rodallega 69min), N’Zogbia 6, Zaki 6 (Sibierski 90min)
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Telegraph:
Chelsea show last-gasp resilience again at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea (1) 2 Wigan Athletic (0) 1 By Jonathan Wilson at Stamford Bridge
Three games played, three games won by a single goal, and Chelsea are up to second. It would be deeply misleading, though, to suggest that Guus Hiddink has transformed his side. There was, rather, a deeply familiar feel about yesterday afternoon, as Chelsea huffed and puffed unconvincingly.
To their credit, they showed the character, having conceded late, to go on and steal a last-minute winner through Frank Lampard, but then his previous goal for the club had also been a last-minute winner against opposition they would have expected to brush aside, against Stoke in January.
The winner was not without controversy, with Steve Bruce, the Wigan manager, angered that the referee Lee Probert had not penalised Lampard for a supposed push on Mario Melchiot as he looped his header over Chris Kirkland. “The referee made a poor decision,” he said.
“Frank’s obviously got his hand on Mario’s back and turned him round as he’s gone to head it. He’s got that one wrong and it’s gone against us. We played very very well. But you need the referee to be strong and see what he sees and not get influenced, but it doesn’t seem to happen for little Wigan, which is very frustrating.”
“Not a lot of contact,” was Hiddink’s verdict, and he pointed out that Ballack had probably taken just as much of a shove as he flicked the ball on for Lampard. He was more concerned with praising the “fighting spirit” of his side. “We reacted well,” he said. “But what I like to see is when you are dominating, to have the game killed.” It’s not entirely clear, though, when that period of domination was.
Chelsea certainly had the bulk of the chances, but it took them a while to assert themselves, and a five-minute spell of Wigan pressure in the middle of the first half suggested Chelsea’s problems run too deep to be solved in a week, even by a manager as charismatic as Hiddink. First Paul Scharner, laid through by a deft touch from Amr Zaki, saw his finish touched wide by Petr Cech. Then, more troublingly for Chelsea, the familiar fallibility defending dead-balls re-emerged.
An unmarked Titus Bramble was denied on the line only by a stretching Ashley Cole, and then it took a combination of Cech and Terry to deny Maynor Figueroa.
Given time, the anxiety might have germinated, but within three minutes Terry had scored his first league goal of the season. His leaping scissors-kick to meet Emerson Boyce’s headed clearance may have been uncharacteristic, but there was typical force behind the shot, and Boyce’s attempt to clear succeeded only in diverting the ball past Chris Kirkland.
Wigan remained bright, particularly down their left, where Figueroa and Charles N’Zogbia combined well, but it seemed they would be frustrated when Hiddink chose to withdraw Michael Mancienne. Juliano Belletti dropped in to right-back, but he hadn’t even touched the ball in his new position when he allowed Figueroa to cross, and Olivier Kapo stole across the near post to jab in.
It would be unfair to say it was undeserved, for Wigan’s enterprise had been impressive, and Titus Bramble, in particular, had been outstanding in an exemplary defensive display, but equally Chelsea would have felt deeply aggrieved had they not gone on to win. Bramble had made one stunning block from Didier Drogba, and Kirkland had pulled off excellent first-half saves from Mikel Jon Obi and Lampard.
In the end, though, the goalkeeper was caught in no-man’s land for Lampard’s winner. A win salvaged, and their title challenge still — just about — alive, but the more relevant fact for Chelsea is probably that they now look rather more secure in the Champions League places.
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Independent:
Lampard shows perfect sense of timing for Blues
Chelsea 2 Wigan Athletic 1: Last-gasp goal breaks Wigan hearts and moves Chelsea above Liverpool
By Steve Tongue at Stamford Bridge
Last April Emile Heskey stunned Stamford Bridge with an equalising goal for Wigan in the final minute that effectively ended Chelsea's hopes of winning the Premier League. Yesterday, although Heskey is long gone, they appeared to have pulled off a similar trick when Olivier Kapo scored nine minutes from the end, only for Frank Lampard to defeat them with a header right at the start of added time.
So Guus Hiddink, having overseen 1-0 victories against Aston Villa and Juventus, watched his new team produce something altogether more dramatic and move into second place in the table ahead of Liverpool. He has placed the necessary rocket underneath Didier Drogba, who has often looked jet-propelled in those three matches. Nicolas Anelka unselfishly worked the left flank again and behind that pair, Lampard was once again exemplary. Michael Mancienne, deputising for Jose Bosingwa in only his second start at this level, endured a difficult first 20 minutes like the rest of his team but settled down thereafter, even though he regards central defence and not right-back as his best position.
Wigan, 18th at the end of October, have risen to seventh place and are among the small group no longer worried by relegation. After losing Heskey and Wilson Palacios in the transfer window, they are nevertheless facing a tricky period and Kapo's goal was only the second in seven games, none of them won. Steve Bruce was delighted with the performance here and felt Lampard's goal should have been disallowed for a push on his former Chelsea team-mate Mario Melchiot. "You need the referee to be strong and not be influenced," he said. "We've seen it happen all the time against little Wigan."
Hiddink, who felt a penalty might just as easily have been given to Chelsea in the build-up, said: "We reacted well after the equaliser. Playing after a Wednesday game in Europe is always difficult and Wigan are a hard-working team who played decent football." They certainly did so in that early period, and the home side had to overcome a muted atmosphere and then a series of Wigan chances before exerting any control and taking an undeserved lead.
It was symbolic of the pressure they came under that both centre-halves, Alex and John Terry, received yellow cards in the first 20 minutes for heavy tackles and had to tread carefully thereafter. Florescent lime shirts flooded forward in a manner not expected of a team who had just played three successive goalless draws. Petr Cech saved from Paul Scharner, who was clear on goal, and from one of several corners Titus Bramble placed a firm header past the goalkeeper that Ashley Cole hacked off the line. Before the ball was cleared Maynor Figueroa forced Cech to save with his foot.
A surprising game was midway through its first half before Chelsea, and with them the crowd, suddenly came to life. In the 24th minute Wigan were caught out by a short corner on the left that allowed Lampard to take Cole's pass and cross into a crowded penalty area. Emmerson Boyce headed out straight to Terry, whose smart left-footed volley took a slight deflection off the unfortunate Boyce on its way past Chris Kirkland. OPT CUTThe captain will claim it as his 35th goal for the club, not least because that takes him past Peter Sillett's record as the highest scoring defender in Chelsea's history.
Before half-time the increasingly busy Kirkland saved from Alex, Drogba and Lampard. Bramble cleared off the line from Ballack, who was given offside, and then again from Drogba, who had made a fine run onto Lampard's pass. There were no clear chances for a long spell after that, which made the dramatic denouement all the less predictable as Wigan found a second wind. Scharner at the far post headed Figueroa's cross over the bar and Amr Zaki curled a 20 yard shot wide. Then Figueroa crossed from the left and Anelka, tracking back, was unable to prevent Kapo stealing in to score from close range.
There was still time for further heroics from Chelsea's England contingent, who have served them so well this season. Terry lofted the ball upfield and Lampard was far enough forward to send his header from Ballack's flick arcing gently over poor Kirkland.
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Observer :
Last-gasp Lampard proves Chelsea mean business again Chelsea 2 Terry 25, Lampard 90 Wigan Athletic 1 Kapo 82
Amy Lawrence at Stamford Bridge
Guus Hiddink has been around enough blocks to know that football can just as easily warm your heart as rip your guts out. In a gripping finale, Chelsea surrendered a lead delivered in breathtaking style by John Terry, and then wrestled back the points with a 90th-minute Frank Lampard header.
It was a compelling way for Hiddink to familiarise himself with Chelsea's penchant for late flourishes. "If the boys give me that guarantee, I can suffer on the bench for 90 minutes," he said. "But no one can give that guarantee in sport. I am satisfied for the win, but the way we gave away control in the second half was not super satisfying."
And there, in that typically shrewd response, was the difference between Hiddink and his predecessor. Not so long ago Luiz Felipe Scolari's blushes were saved by a stoppage-time Lampard strike against Stoke City. The Brazilian was happy and a bit of an emotional wreck. The Dutchman was analytical and cool.
Aside from results, he has made a notable difference in Chelsea's willingness to express themselves. Consider the way the captain was transformed into a strange and wonderful amalgam of himself and Robinho on a good day. No wonder Manchester City are reportedly so keen on buying him. They would, it seems, get two players for the price of one.
Terry gave Chelsea the lead in the 25th minute with a balletic, scissor-kick volley that was stunning in more ways than one. Centre-halves are not meant to play quite so prettily, and he was mobbed by his team-mates. Not many of them would dare to mention that his goal took a crucial nick off Emmerson Boyce, without which Chris Kirkland was well placed for the catch. The watching Roman Abramovich allowed himself a jovial laugh.
But in fairness, Wigan could have been 2-0 up by then. Paul Scharner, having got into a splendid position, shot too tamely to trouble Petr Cech. Then a double-chance at a corner saw Titus Bramble's powerful header hooked off the line by Ashley Cole, and a cross shot from Maynor Figueroa cleared up by Cech and Terry.
Chelsea had that air of confidence for most of the second half, and a re-motivated Didier Drogba would have caused some damage but for crucial tackles from the excellent Bramble and his accomplice Boyce. But Wigan's equaliser exposed a chink in Hiddink's tactical approach. Chelsea appeared confident of closing out their third successive 1-0 win, when Hiddink substituted his right-back to give Ricardo Quaresma 10 minutes' playing time.
Immediately Chelsea were exposed where their right-back should have been covering. Figueroa breezed past Quaresma and whipped in a delicious cross, Olivier Kapo appeared unmarked to strike, and Wigan thought that they had upset their more illustrious hosts for the second season in succession.
Steve Bruce complained that Lampard had climbed on Mario Melchiot to gain leverage for his winner. "The referee was 15 yards away and made a poor decision," he lamented. "It was a big shame because the team deserved to get something out of the match."
Naturally Hiddink was unperturbed, suggesting the referee could have given multiple penalties for both sides during a passionate conclusion, and preferring to concentrate on his players' reaction to a disappointing leveller.
Lampard ensured Stamford Bridge emptied in celebratory mood. They roared their approval as news flashed down of Liverpool's slip at Middlesbrough, which means they eased into second place on goal difference ahead of Rafa BenÃtez's side. Chelsea mean business again.
And what of the title? "It's rather realistic," mused Hiddink. "We have to win our games – hopefully more comfortably than this – and ask Edwin van der Sar if he'd like to have the ball in the back of his net. I know him and I don't think he is willing to do so. But as long as we have the possibility, we will keep going."
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Mail:
Chelsea 2 Wigan 1: Lampard's winner isn't kidding HiddinkBy Rob Draper
All around him, fans were celebrating and his staff were ecstatic. Yet Guus Hiddink, Chelsea's new manager, stood impassive, arms folded and grimfaced, a pose that has become familiar in the past 10 days. He is Sir Alf Ramsey reincarnated, in temperament at least, keeping his head when all round are losing theirs. Frank Lampard had just headed home a winner over Wigan in the 90th minute and Stamford Bridge had erupted in sheer relief. Not Hiddink, however. He makes encouraging noises about the commitment and the reaction of his players but he knows this Chelsea side need to improve - and quickly. 'I'm happy and satisfied for the win but the way we gave away control in the second half is not super-satisfying,' said Hiddink.
'I have to be happy but also critical. We have to improve tactically when we are on and off the ball. 'If the boys can always guarantee a last-minute win, then I can suffer for 90 minutes on the bench. But no one can give me that guarantee. What I like to see is that the game is killed when you're dominating in the first period.' Yesterday his side were labouring, stumbling towards another draw at home, the kind that became familiar under Luiz Felipe Scolari. Chelsea had the better of the game, the pick of the chances but had allowed themselves to be caught out in the final 10 minutes, thanks to slack defending. Yet as the fourth official held up the board that indicated three minutes of added time, John Terry played a long ball, hoping for once to outwit Wigan's excellent defensive partnership of Emmerson Boyce and Titus Bramble. Michael Ballack flicked the ball on and Lampard directed a header home to lift Chelsea to second in the table. But Chelsea were fortunate that referee Lee Probert did not rule out the goal because Lampard held Mario Melchiot.
Wigan manager Steve Bruce was right to be utterly dismayed, for his team deserved better after a fine performance. As for the title race, Manchester United remain seven points clear with a game in hand and Hiddink is no romantic dreamer. 'I'm rather realistic,' he said. 'That's to say we have first to win our games - and hopefully a little bit more comfortably than we did today. And second, we have to ask Edwin van der Sar if he would like to let the ball in the back of his net. I don't think he would be willing to do so. 'A stable team like Manchester United are in a good seat. But as long as we have a possibility, and as long as it's not decided, we will aim for it and that's what the team showed last week at Villa Park and today.' Wigan had the best of the opening chances and Paul Scharner should have put them ahead on 18 minutes when clear through on goal. A minute later Ashley Cole headed off the line from Bramble's header. 'Two chances in two minutes!' reflected Bruce. 'I don't think I've had two chances in the last two years here! But we didn't take them and we needed to.'
Chelsea then awoke, John Mikel Obi forcing an excellent save from Chris Kirkland before the goal came on 25 minutes.
Lampard crossed into the six-yard area, Boyce headed the ball away but only to Terry on the edge of the area. The Chelsea captain's leftfooted volley was impressive but it was the deflection by Boyce that beat Kirkland.
The goal will go down as Terry's and his 35th for the club takes him past Peter Sillett, from the Fifties, as the club's highest-scoring defender. Lampard forced another sharp save from Kirkland in the 37th minute and Bramble was again required to clear off the line when Drogba finally managed to get past the Wigan keeper.
Yet Wigan kept coming and Scharner should have scored with a diving header after Maynor Figueroa provided an excellent looping cross. Four minutes later it seemed they had a point for their travails. Figueroa again provided the cross and Olivier Kapo stuck out a leg to deflect it in. They celebrated in the corner in front of their fans, though it turned out to be premature.
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NOTW:
CHELSEA 2, WIGAN 1 Frank Lampard lights up Blues From ROB SHEPHERD at Stamford Bridge, 28/02/2009
THINGS you expect to read: Frank Lampard pops up to grab a last-minute winner and all the glory.
Things you thought you’d never read: Titus Bramble was brilliant and deserved to be the hero.
By his standards Lampard had a nightmare, Titus Bramble played like a dream by his. Yet, as so often in sport, there are those who seem permanently blessed even on an off-day, while others are cursed when they have barely put a foot wrong.
Lampard is one of those who has that unerring capacity to deliver when the game seems up.
His last goal at the Bridge six weeks ago was a stoppage-time winner against Stoke which gave Phil Scolari a brief stay of execution.
Yesterday, just after the board had been raised displaying three added minutes, Lampard headed home to win the game and maintain the new momentum under Guus Hiddink.
It seemed Lampard got away with shoving Mario Melchiot in the process but them’s the breaks when you have the Midas touch.
Fears that Chelsea might slip out of the top four and so fail to qualify for the Champions League — unless they win it — have now eased.
These three points lifted the Blues into second place above Liverpool on goal difference and established more breathing space between themselves, Aston Villa and Arsenal.
Hiddink’s claim that Chelsea can catch Manchester United seems optimistic but it’s still not out of the question, as it surely would have been had Wigan held on to the draw having equalised in the 82nd minute.
It’s not as if Chelsea are suddenly playing so much better than in the last days of Scolari but the spirit and drive has returned. That has much to do with Didier Drogba, who was ridiculously cold-shouldered by Scolari.
But ultimately it was Lampard and John Terry, the players who carried the side when Scolari lost the support of others, that made the difference — spoiling what should have been a memorable day for poor old Bramble.
As a youngster at Ipswich, the burly centre-half was regarded as a top prospect. But he became a figure of ridicule during his time at Newcastle when he was branded Titus Shambles.
Yesterday he was more like a Titan, clearing one off the line, getting in block after block, winning most of the aerial battles and making sure the revived Drogba didn’t run Wigan ragged.
It was indeed tough on a Latics side who deserved a draw but now, according to boss Steve Bruce, will have their season defined over the next three games.
They are certainly not out of the relegation woods and the club may yet rue the decision to let Emile Heskey and Wilson Palacios leave.
The visitors’ start was as bright as their luminous lime-green shirts and they really should have capitalised on Chelsea’s early lethargy.
It was as if the euphoria of beating Juventus in midweek had sapped the sharpness that has returned since the arrival of boss Hiddink. Wigan striker Amr Zaki was quick to exploit the time and space on offer.
In the 15th minute, the Egyptian pounced on indecision by Alex and unleashed a fierce shot which was deflected just wide.
Three minutes later, Zaki produced an inspired back-flick to guide Melchiot’s pass into the path of Paul Scharner. In the clear, Scharner strode on with purpose but his confidence disappeared as Petr Cech rushed out and saved his feeble attempt. Then, in the 21st minute, Ashley Cole cleared an Emmerson Boyce effort off the line before Cech and Terry combined to keep out Maynor Figueroa’s cross-shot.
That scare seemed to wake up Chelsea and in the 25th minute they went in front. Lampard, who had barely had a decent touch and whose free-kicks would prove wayward all afternoon, suddenly created danger when he sent over a cross.
Boyce headed away but the ball fell to Terry on the edge of the area and he conjured up a Samba-style finish, lashing it home with a left-footed scissor kick.
Chelsea should have seized full control by the interval but Lampard wasted two great chances. Wigan kept plugging away, though, and they eventually got their reward eight minutes from time when Olivier Kapo outsmarted Nicolas Anelka at the near post and converted Figueroa’s low cross with a side-foot finish.
Muscles
But, once again, Lampard stole the show. Michael Ballack nodded on a long ball from Juliano Belletti, Lamps outmuscled Melchiot then strained the neck muscles to arc his header over Chris Kirkland.
Bruce complained: “I thought at the time Frank shoved Mario in the back and the replay confirms it. In those situations you need the ref to be strong but this sort of thing always seems to happen when you come to the big clubs.”
Bruce had a point but memorably he once scored two controversial headers during SEVEN minutes of stoppage time which enabled Manchester United to clinch their first title under Alex Ferguson.
Lampard’s lavish celebrations were as if Chelsea had actually won something. They may yet do under this regime — especially when you have a talisman like Lamps.
For Bramble, the only prize was Terry’s promise to swap shirts in the tunnel. But at least he can feel fit enough to wear it.
Frank Lampard lights up Chelsea
Joe Lovejoy at Stamford Bridge
CHELSEA celebrated their victory in stoppage time as if they had won the Premier League, and who knows? Frank Lampard’s decisive header, with 91 minutes on the clock, lifted his team into second place in the table, and they could trim Manchester United’s lead at the top to four points if they win again at Portsmouth on Tuesday.
At the final whistle Didier Drogba gleefully booted the ball into the crowd and Lampard and John Terry, the Chelsea goalscorers, embraced in recognition of another restorative result which makes it three wins out of three under Guus Hiddink’s revivalist management. Would it have spelled the end of Chelsea’s title hopes if it had finished 1-1? Smiling, Hiddink said: “I’m glad it’s an if and not a fact.”
Wigan thought they had gained a draw, which would not have flattered them, when Olivier Kapo equalised in the 82nd minute, but Lampard exemplified Chelsea’s never-say-die spirit in looping a header over Chris Kirkland after Michael Ballack had set him up from Terry’s long punt. The midfielder has now scored five times in his past seven league games and, with 15 in all, is set to pass the 20 mark in the season yet again.
Terry is no less important to the Blues’ cause, and talk of the captain leaving for Manchester City, in exchange for Robinho, was ridiculed after his opening goal, in the 25th minute, made him the highest scoring defender in Chelsea’s history, with 35.
Luiz Felipe Scolari, sacked last month, might have countenanced such a swap. The new regime most certainly would not. The fans would lynch anybody who dared to part them from their hero. Wigan, who have been punching above their weight under Steve Bruce, contributed in full to a competitive match, and continue to reflect great credit on their manager, who has had to cope with the sale of his two best players, Emile Heskey and Wilson Palacios, and was without the influential Antonio Valencia here. They had not conceded for over five hours when Terry finally beat Kirkland with a left-footed volley from 18 yards.
For most of the first half Wigan were the better team, and they would have had a commanding lead after 20 minutes but for a notable save by Petr Cech from Paul Scharner, and goalline clearances by Ashley Cole and Terry to thwart Titus Bramble and Kapo.
It was against the run of play when Chelsea took the lead, Terry scissor-kicking home from a central position on the edge of the penalty area for a goal that was an embarrassment for Emmerson Boyce. First he headed Lampard’s corner straight to his opposite number, then Terry’s shot parted his hair on the way in.
Chelsea then enjoyed a purple patch. Lampard, who was outstanding, might have scored twice before half-time. Drogba, who created the second of these, has been invigorated by the change of management and is back to something approaching his powerful, intimidating best.
In the second half he demanded a last-ditch clearance from Wigan’s best player, Bramble, with a crisp shot, then out-muscled both centre-halves in the same belligerent run. Inspirational stuff from the big man. It had the look of Hiddink’s third successive 1-0 win until, with 10 minutes left, Maynor Figueroa’s left-wing cross enabled Kapo to dart in front of Nicolas Anelka at the near post and steer the ball home at nudging range.
Roman Abramovich looked on, stony-faced, as time ticked away, then joined in the cavorting when Lampard, after holding off Mario Melchiot with what Bruce insisted was a foul, nodded the ball over Kirkland from eight yards. The Wigan manager was unhappy with the referee, Lee Probert, and entered the time-honoured plea that the big decisions always favoured the big clubs, but it was a classic case of poacher turned gamekeeper.
Bruce the Bruiser routinely got away with much worse in his playing days. “We deserved something and we didn’t get it,” he said. “The same thing happened to us at Old Trafford and Liverpool.” The £1m bonus question for Hiddink was: Can you still win the title? With a mischievous look, he said: “I’m rather realistic. We have to win our games — preferably more comfortably than we did today — and then ask my Dutch friend, Edwin Van der Sar, if he’ll have the ball in the back of his net to help us. I know him well, and I don’t think he will.
“Manchester United are in a good seat, but as long as there is the possibility for us, as long as it’s not decided, we’ll keep going. We showed that at Aston Villa last week and again today.” Ominously for Hiddink and Chelsea, Van der Sar is obliging nobody, having kept 16 clean sheets this season.
CHELSEA: Cech 6, Mancienne 5 (Quaresma 81min), Alex 6, Terry 8, A Cole 6, Kalou 5 (Belletti 75min), Mikel 6, Ballack 5, Lampard 9, Drogba 7, Anelka 6
WIGAN: Kirkland 6, Melchiot 6, Boyce 5, Bramble 8, Figueroa 6, Kapo 6, Scharner 6, Brown 5, Cattermole 6 (Rodallega 69min), N’Zogbia 6, Zaki 6 (Sibierski 90min)
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Telegraph:
Chelsea show last-gasp resilience again at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea (1) 2 Wigan Athletic (0) 1 By Jonathan Wilson at Stamford Bridge
Three games played, three games won by a single goal, and Chelsea are up to second. It would be deeply misleading, though, to suggest that Guus Hiddink has transformed his side. There was, rather, a deeply familiar feel about yesterday afternoon, as Chelsea huffed and puffed unconvincingly.
To their credit, they showed the character, having conceded late, to go on and steal a last-minute winner through Frank Lampard, but then his previous goal for the club had also been a last-minute winner against opposition they would have expected to brush aside, against Stoke in January.
The winner was not without controversy, with Steve Bruce, the Wigan manager, angered that the referee Lee Probert had not penalised Lampard for a supposed push on Mario Melchiot as he looped his header over Chris Kirkland. “The referee made a poor decision,” he said.
“Frank’s obviously got his hand on Mario’s back and turned him round as he’s gone to head it. He’s got that one wrong and it’s gone against us. We played very very well. But you need the referee to be strong and see what he sees and not get influenced, but it doesn’t seem to happen for little Wigan, which is very frustrating.”
“Not a lot of contact,” was Hiddink’s verdict, and he pointed out that Ballack had probably taken just as much of a shove as he flicked the ball on for Lampard. He was more concerned with praising the “fighting spirit” of his side. “We reacted well,” he said. “But what I like to see is when you are dominating, to have the game killed.” It’s not entirely clear, though, when that period of domination was.
Chelsea certainly had the bulk of the chances, but it took them a while to assert themselves, and a five-minute spell of Wigan pressure in the middle of the first half suggested Chelsea’s problems run too deep to be solved in a week, even by a manager as charismatic as Hiddink. First Paul Scharner, laid through by a deft touch from Amr Zaki, saw his finish touched wide by Petr Cech. Then, more troublingly for Chelsea, the familiar fallibility defending dead-balls re-emerged.
An unmarked Titus Bramble was denied on the line only by a stretching Ashley Cole, and then it took a combination of Cech and Terry to deny Maynor Figueroa.
Given time, the anxiety might have germinated, but within three minutes Terry had scored his first league goal of the season. His leaping scissors-kick to meet Emerson Boyce’s headed clearance may have been uncharacteristic, but there was typical force behind the shot, and Boyce’s attempt to clear succeeded only in diverting the ball past Chris Kirkland.
Wigan remained bright, particularly down their left, where Figueroa and Charles N’Zogbia combined well, but it seemed they would be frustrated when Hiddink chose to withdraw Michael Mancienne. Juliano Belletti dropped in to right-back, but he hadn’t even touched the ball in his new position when he allowed Figueroa to cross, and Olivier Kapo stole across the near post to jab in.
It would be unfair to say it was undeserved, for Wigan’s enterprise had been impressive, and Titus Bramble, in particular, had been outstanding in an exemplary defensive display, but equally Chelsea would have felt deeply aggrieved had they not gone on to win. Bramble had made one stunning block from Didier Drogba, and Kirkland had pulled off excellent first-half saves from Mikel Jon Obi and Lampard.
In the end, though, the goalkeeper was caught in no-man’s land for Lampard’s winner. A win salvaged, and their title challenge still — just about — alive, but the more relevant fact for Chelsea is probably that they now look rather more secure in the Champions League places.
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Independent:
Lampard shows perfect sense of timing for Blues
Chelsea 2 Wigan Athletic 1: Last-gasp goal breaks Wigan hearts and moves Chelsea above Liverpool
By Steve Tongue at Stamford Bridge
Last April Emile Heskey stunned Stamford Bridge with an equalising goal for Wigan in the final minute that effectively ended Chelsea's hopes of winning the Premier League. Yesterday, although Heskey is long gone, they appeared to have pulled off a similar trick when Olivier Kapo scored nine minutes from the end, only for Frank Lampard to defeat them with a header right at the start of added time.
So Guus Hiddink, having overseen 1-0 victories against Aston Villa and Juventus, watched his new team produce something altogether more dramatic and move into second place in the table ahead of Liverpool. He has placed the necessary rocket underneath Didier Drogba, who has often looked jet-propelled in those three matches. Nicolas Anelka unselfishly worked the left flank again and behind that pair, Lampard was once again exemplary. Michael Mancienne, deputising for Jose Bosingwa in only his second start at this level, endured a difficult first 20 minutes like the rest of his team but settled down thereafter, even though he regards central defence and not right-back as his best position.
Wigan, 18th at the end of October, have risen to seventh place and are among the small group no longer worried by relegation. After losing Heskey and Wilson Palacios in the transfer window, they are nevertheless facing a tricky period and Kapo's goal was only the second in seven games, none of them won. Steve Bruce was delighted with the performance here and felt Lampard's goal should have been disallowed for a push on his former Chelsea team-mate Mario Melchiot. "You need the referee to be strong and not be influenced," he said. "We've seen it happen all the time against little Wigan."
Hiddink, who felt a penalty might just as easily have been given to Chelsea in the build-up, said: "We reacted well after the equaliser. Playing after a Wednesday game in Europe is always difficult and Wigan are a hard-working team who played decent football." They certainly did so in that early period, and the home side had to overcome a muted atmosphere and then a series of Wigan chances before exerting any control and taking an undeserved lead.
It was symbolic of the pressure they came under that both centre-halves, Alex and John Terry, received yellow cards in the first 20 minutes for heavy tackles and had to tread carefully thereafter. Florescent lime shirts flooded forward in a manner not expected of a team who had just played three successive goalless draws. Petr Cech saved from Paul Scharner, who was clear on goal, and from one of several corners Titus Bramble placed a firm header past the goalkeeper that Ashley Cole hacked off the line. Before the ball was cleared Maynor Figueroa forced Cech to save with his foot.
A surprising game was midway through its first half before Chelsea, and with them the crowd, suddenly came to life. In the 24th minute Wigan were caught out by a short corner on the left that allowed Lampard to take Cole's pass and cross into a crowded penalty area. Emmerson Boyce headed out straight to Terry, whose smart left-footed volley took a slight deflection off the unfortunate Boyce on its way past Chris Kirkland. OPT CUTThe captain will claim it as his 35th goal for the club, not least because that takes him past Peter Sillett's record as the highest scoring defender in Chelsea's history.
Before half-time the increasingly busy Kirkland saved from Alex, Drogba and Lampard. Bramble cleared off the line from Ballack, who was given offside, and then again from Drogba, who had made a fine run onto Lampard's pass. There were no clear chances for a long spell after that, which made the dramatic denouement all the less predictable as Wigan found a second wind. Scharner at the far post headed Figueroa's cross over the bar and Amr Zaki curled a 20 yard shot wide. Then Figueroa crossed from the left and Anelka, tracking back, was unable to prevent Kapo stealing in to score from close range.
There was still time for further heroics from Chelsea's England contingent, who have served them so well this season. Terry lofted the ball upfield and Lampard was far enough forward to send his header from Ballack's flick arcing gently over poor Kirkland.
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Observer :
Last-gasp Lampard proves Chelsea mean business again Chelsea 2 Terry 25, Lampard 90 Wigan Athletic 1 Kapo 82
Amy Lawrence at Stamford Bridge
Guus Hiddink has been around enough blocks to know that football can just as easily warm your heart as rip your guts out. In a gripping finale, Chelsea surrendered a lead delivered in breathtaking style by John Terry, and then wrestled back the points with a 90th-minute Frank Lampard header.
It was a compelling way for Hiddink to familiarise himself with Chelsea's penchant for late flourishes. "If the boys give me that guarantee, I can suffer on the bench for 90 minutes," he said. "But no one can give that guarantee in sport. I am satisfied for the win, but the way we gave away control in the second half was not super satisfying."
And there, in that typically shrewd response, was the difference between Hiddink and his predecessor. Not so long ago Luiz Felipe Scolari's blushes were saved by a stoppage-time Lampard strike against Stoke City. The Brazilian was happy and a bit of an emotional wreck. The Dutchman was analytical and cool.
Aside from results, he has made a notable difference in Chelsea's willingness to express themselves. Consider the way the captain was transformed into a strange and wonderful amalgam of himself and Robinho on a good day. No wonder Manchester City are reportedly so keen on buying him. They would, it seems, get two players for the price of one.
Terry gave Chelsea the lead in the 25th minute with a balletic, scissor-kick volley that was stunning in more ways than one. Centre-halves are not meant to play quite so prettily, and he was mobbed by his team-mates. Not many of them would dare to mention that his goal took a crucial nick off Emmerson Boyce, without which Chris Kirkland was well placed for the catch. The watching Roman Abramovich allowed himself a jovial laugh.
But in fairness, Wigan could have been 2-0 up by then. Paul Scharner, having got into a splendid position, shot too tamely to trouble Petr Cech. Then a double-chance at a corner saw Titus Bramble's powerful header hooked off the line by Ashley Cole, and a cross shot from Maynor Figueroa cleared up by Cech and Terry.
Chelsea had that air of confidence for most of the second half, and a re-motivated Didier Drogba would have caused some damage but for crucial tackles from the excellent Bramble and his accomplice Boyce. But Wigan's equaliser exposed a chink in Hiddink's tactical approach. Chelsea appeared confident of closing out their third successive 1-0 win, when Hiddink substituted his right-back to give Ricardo Quaresma 10 minutes' playing time.
Immediately Chelsea were exposed where their right-back should have been covering. Figueroa breezed past Quaresma and whipped in a delicious cross, Olivier Kapo appeared unmarked to strike, and Wigan thought that they had upset their more illustrious hosts for the second season in succession.
Steve Bruce complained that Lampard had climbed on Mario Melchiot to gain leverage for his winner. "The referee was 15 yards away and made a poor decision," he lamented. "It was a big shame because the team deserved to get something out of the match."
Naturally Hiddink was unperturbed, suggesting the referee could have given multiple penalties for both sides during a passionate conclusion, and preferring to concentrate on his players' reaction to a disappointing leveller.
Lampard ensured Stamford Bridge emptied in celebratory mood. They roared their approval as news flashed down of Liverpool's slip at Middlesbrough, which means they eased into second place on goal difference ahead of Rafa BenÃtez's side. Chelsea mean business again.
And what of the title? "It's rather realistic," mused Hiddink. "We have to win our games – hopefully more comfortably than this – and ask Edwin van der Sar if he'd like to have the ball in the back of his net. I know him and I don't think he is willing to do so. But as long as we have the possibility, we will keep going."
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Mail:
Chelsea 2 Wigan 1: Lampard's winner isn't kidding HiddinkBy Rob Draper
All around him, fans were celebrating and his staff were ecstatic. Yet Guus Hiddink, Chelsea's new manager, stood impassive, arms folded and grimfaced, a pose that has become familiar in the past 10 days. He is Sir Alf Ramsey reincarnated, in temperament at least, keeping his head when all round are losing theirs. Frank Lampard had just headed home a winner over Wigan in the 90th minute and Stamford Bridge had erupted in sheer relief. Not Hiddink, however. He makes encouraging noises about the commitment and the reaction of his players but he knows this Chelsea side need to improve - and quickly. 'I'm happy and satisfied for the win but the way we gave away control in the second half is not super-satisfying,' said Hiddink.
'I have to be happy but also critical. We have to improve tactically when we are on and off the ball. 'If the boys can always guarantee a last-minute win, then I can suffer for 90 minutes on the bench. But no one can give me that guarantee. What I like to see is that the game is killed when you're dominating in the first period.' Yesterday his side were labouring, stumbling towards another draw at home, the kind that became familiar under Luiz Felipe Scolari. Chelsea had the better of the game, the pick of the chances but had allowed themselves to be caught out in the final 10 minutes, thanks to slack defending. Yet as the fourth official held up the board that indicated three minutes of added time, John Terry played a long ball, hoping for once to outwit Wigan's excellent defensive partnership of Emmerson Boyce and Titus Bramble. Michael Ballack flicked the ball on and Lampard directed a header home to lift Chelsea to second in the table. But Chelsea were fortunate that referee Lee Probert did not rule out the goal because Lampard held Mario Melchiot.
Wigan manager Steve Bruce was right to be utterly dismayed, for his team deserved better after a fine performance. As for the title race, Manchester United remain seven points clear with a game in hand and Hiddink is no romantic dreamer. 'I'm rather realistic,' he said. 'That's to say we have first to win our games - and hopefully a little bit more comfortably than we did today. And second, we have to ask Edwin van der Sar if he would like to let the ball in the back of his net. I don't think he would be willing to do so. 'A stable team like Manchester United are in a good seat. But as long as we have a possibility, and as long as it's not decided, we will aim for it and that's what the team showed last week at Villa Park and today.' Wigan had the best of the opening chances and Paul Scharner should have put them ahead on 18 minutes when clear through on goal. A minute later Ashley Cole headed off the line from Bramble's header. 'Two chances in two minutes!' reflected Bruce. 'I don't think I've had two chances in the last two years here! But we didn't take them and we needed to.'
Chelsea then awoke, John Mikel Obi forcing an excellent save from Chris Kirkland before the goal came on 25 minutes.
Lampard crossed into the six-yard area, Boyce headed the ball away but only to Terry on the edge of the area. The Chelsea captain's leftfooted volley was impressive but it was the deflection by Boyce that beat Kirkland.
The goal will go down as Terry's and his 35th for the club takes him past Peter Sillett, from the Fifties, as the club's highest-scoring defender. Lampard forced another sharp save from Kirkland in the 37th minute and Bramble was again required to clear off the line when Drogba finally managed to get past the Wigan keeper.
Yet Wigan kept coming and Scharner should have scored with a diving header after Maynor Figueroa provided an excellent looping cross. Four minutes later it seemed they had a point for their travails. Figueroa again provided the cross and Olivier Kapo stuck out a leg to deflect it in. They celebrated in the corner in front of their fans, though it turned out to be premature.
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NOTW:
CHELSEA 2, WIGAN 1 Frank Lampard lights up Blues From ROB SHEPHERD at Stamford Bridge, 28/02/2009
THINGS you expect to read: Frank Lampard pops up to grab a last-minute winner and all the glory.
Things you thought you’d never read: Titus Bramble was brilliant and deserved to be the hero.
By his standards Lampard had a nightmare, Titus Bramble played like a dream by his. Yet, as so often in sport, there are those who seem permanently blessed even on an off-day, while others are cursed when they have barely put a foot wrong.
Lampard is one of those who has that unerring capacity to deliver when the game seems up.
His last goal at the Bridge six weeks ago was a stoppage-time winner against Stoke which gave Phil Scolari a brief stay of execution.
Yesterday, just after the board had been raised displaying three added minutes, Lampard headed home to win the game and maintain the new momentum under Guus Hiddink.
It seemed Lampard got away with shoving Mario Melchiot in the process but them’s the breaks when you have the Midas touch.
Fears that Chelsea might slip out of the top four and so fail to qualify for the Champions League — unless they win it — have now eased.
These three points lifted the Blues into second place above Liverpool on goal difference and established more breathing space between themselves, Aston Villa and Arsenal.
Hiddink’s claim that Chelsea can catch Manchester United seems optimistic but it’s still not out of the question, as it surely would have been had Wigan held on to the draw having equalised in the 82nd minute.
It’s not as if Chelsea are suddenly playing so much better than in the last days of Scolari but the spirit and drive has returned. That has much to do with Didier Drogba, who was ridiculously cold-shouldered by Scolari.
But ultimately it was Lampard and John Terry, the players who carried the side when Scolari lost the support of others, that made the difference — spoiling what should have been a memorable day for poor old Bramble.
As a youngster at Ipswich, the burly centre-half was regarded as a top prospect. But he became a figure of ridicule during his time at Newcastle when he was branded Titus Shambles.
Yesterday he was more like a Titan, clearing one off the line, getting in block after block, winning most of the aerial battles and making sure the revived Drogba didn’t run Wigan ragged.
It was indeed tough on a Latics side who deserved a draw but now, according to boss Steve Bruce, will have their season defined over the next three games.
They are certainly not out of the relegation woods and the club may yet rue the decision to let Emile Heskey and Wilson Palacios leave.
The visitors’ start was as bright as their luminous lime-green shirts and they really should have capitalised on Chelsea’s early lethargy.
It was as if the euphoria of beating Juventus in midweek had sapped the sharpness that has returned since the arrival of boss Hiddink. Wigan striker Amr Zaki was quick to exploit the time and space on offer.
In the 15th minute, the Egyptian pounced on indecision by Alex and unleashed a fierce shot which was deflected just wide.
Three minutes later, Zaki produced an inspired back-flick to guide Melchiot’s pass into the path of Paul Scharner. In the clear, Scharner strode on with purpose but his confidence disappeared as Petr Cech rushed out and saved his feeble attempt. Then, in the 21st minute, Ashley Cole cleared an Emmerson Boyce effort off the line before Cech and Terry combined to keep out Maynor Figueroa’s cross-shot.
That scare seemed to wake up Chelsea and in the 25th minute they went in front. Lampard, who had barely had a decent touch and whose free-kicks would prove wayward all afternoon, suddenly created danger when he sent over a cross.
Boyce headed away but the ball fell to Terry on the edge of the area and he conjured up a Samba-style finish, lashing it home with a left-footed scissor kick.
Chelsea should have seized full control by the interval but Lampard wasted two great chances. Wigan kept plugging away, though, and they eventually got their reward eight minutes from time when Olivier Kapo outsmarted Nicolas Anelka at the near post and converted Figueroa’s low cross with a side-foot finish.
Muscles
But, once again, Lampard stole the show. Michael Ballack nodded on a long ball from Juliano Belletti, Lamps outmuscled Melchiot then strained the neck muscles to arc his header over Chris Kirkland.
Bruce complained: “I thought at the time Frank shoved Mario in the back and the replay confirms it. In those situations you need the ref to be strong but this sort of thing always seems to happen when you come to the big clubs.”
Bruce had a point but memorably he once scored two controversial headers during SEVEN minutes of stoppage time which enabled Manchester United to clinch their first title under Alex Ferguson.
Lampard’s lavish celebrations were as if Chelsea had actually won something. They may yet do under this regime — especially when you have a talisman like Lamps.
For Bramble, the only prize was Terry’s promise to swap shirts in the tunnel. But at least he can feel fit enough to wear it.
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