The Times
More stagger than swagger as Chelsea restore three-point lead
Chelsea 2 Portsmouth 1
Matt Hughes, Deputy Football Correspondent
Matt Hughes, Deputy Football Correspondent
Chelsea remembered how to win but Portsmouth showed even the lowliest of Barclays Premier League teams that the leaders can be beaten. The aura of invincibility that John Terry boasted about a few weeks ago has disappeared along with the mild winter.
Chelsea deserved to take three points as they dominated throughout, but they demonstrated enough vulnerability to give hope to Manchester United, who will see this scrappy performance as a sign of things to come when the African Cup of Nations begins next month.
Didier Drogba was out with a back injury last night, Michael Essien is still nursing a torn hamstring and John Obi Mikel and Salomon Kalou were both missing in action.
Thank heavens then for Nicolas Anelka and Frank Lampard, who scored goals in each half to edge Chelsea towards a first victory in five matches, which looked like eluding them during a panic-strewn second half, particularly after Frédéric Piquionne’s 50th-minute equaliser.
Anelka will have taken great pleasure from proving a point to Avram Grant, the Portsmouth manager. Grant signed Anelka for Chelsea when he was in charge at Stamford Bridge two years ago, but barely played the French striker.
Lampard’s winner will have brought some cheer to his father, Frank Lampard Senior, who lost his job as a coach at Reading yesterday with the departure of manager Brendan Rodgers.
Chelsea’s reliance on this pair of natural goal-scorers will only increase over the coming weeks.
Carlo Ancelotti acknowledged earlier this week that he could be sacked if he fails to win the Premier League or Champions League this season, though even if the club’s resident executioner is called into action for the fifth time in three years the Italian would hope for a better reception in the afterlife than Grant.
The Portsmouth manager’s welcome on his first return to the club was as warm as the weather, with a handful of boos piercing the half-hearted round of applause. Some Chelsea fans are clearly labouring under the delusion that they reach the Champions League final on a regular basis, rather than once in 104 years.
Grant’s status at Fratton Park is similarly ambiguous at present, though he has clearly stiffened Portsmouth’s resolve in just four matches in charge, despite the south coast club remaining bottom of the table.
His defensive tactics in selecting a side featuring five central midfield players, no wingers and just one striker, succeeded in stifling Chelsea for long spells, while the visitors occasionally threatened on the counter-attack.
Chelsea’s frustration at the wall of white shirts in front of them was growing before they took the lead through Anelka in the 23rd minute.
Alex was clearly determined to make an impact on his return from a groin injury, somehow skipping his way to the right by-line and crossing accurately for Anelka to sidefoot his eighth goal of the season.
The 29-year-old was played out of position on the right wing on the rare occasions he was selected by Grant and scored just one league goal for him, ironically against Portsmouth, so will have enjoyed providing a timely reminder of his finishing ability.
Chelsea’s relatively early goal exposed the one flaw in Grant’s plan, as with only one attacking player on the pitch and few others on the bench Portsmouth were left with nowhere to go. The siege of the Shed End continued for the rest of the first half, with Alex blasting a free-kick wide and Ashley Cole hitting the post.
But Portsmouth survived and fought their way back into the game. Piquionne had brought a good save from Petr Cech — who remains rather too eager to rush off his line at the first opportunity — before he was gifted a goal at the start of the second half. Ancelotti has attributed Chelsea’s ongoing defensive weaknesses to a mixture of poor concentration and rank bad luck rather than technical problems and, judging by Portsmouth’s equaliser, he may have a point.
Jamie O’Hara’s free-kick was fired straight at Kalou before taking a deflection off Cole’s back into the path of Piquionne, who could not miss from six yards out. Not for the first time this season Cech was helpless, although on this occasion he was utterly blameless.
Ancelotti responded by bringing on Joe Cole for the ineffectual Deco and replacing Mikel with Florent Malouda, though the initial impact was to spread panic amongst his players. Chelsea became unnecessarily anxious, not the best way to combat a packed defence.
The best they could muster for a long period was shots from distance, with goalkeeper Asmir Begovic making good saves from Branislav Ivanovic and Lampard from outside the penalty area. Just when it seemed Chelsea’s winless streak would extend to five matches for the first time in three years, Mark Wilson fouled Ivanovic in the penalty area in the 79th minute.
Following a rare miss from the spot against Manchester City 11 days ago Lampard made no mistake this time, firing his seventh goal of the season.
The previous occasion Lampard scored a penalty in front of Grant was in Chelsea’s thrilling 3-2 Champions League semi-final win over Liverpool, the high point of the Israeli’s reign. But the only certainty on an unpredictable night was that the former manager would fulfil his habitual role as a plucky loser.
Chelsea (4-1-3-2): P Cech — B Ivanovic, Alex, J Terry, A Cole — J Obi Mikel (sub: F Malouda, 64min) — M Ballack, Deco (sub: J Cole, 58), F Lampard — N Anelka, S Kalou (sub: F Borini, 72). Substitutes not used: Hilário, R Carvalho, Y Zhirkov, P Ferreira.
Portsmouth (4-1-4-1): A Begovic — S Finnan, T Ben-Haim, M Wilson, H Hreidarsson — A Mokoena (sub: J Utaka, 85) — K-P Boateng, P Bouba Diop (sub: R Hughes, 60), H Mullins, J O’Hara — F Piquionne (sub: A Dindane, 71). Substitutes not used: J Ashdown, A Vanden Borre, H Yebda, N Belhadj.
Referee: M Clattenburg.
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Independent:
Lampard gets Blues off hook
Chelsea 2 Portsmouth 1
By Mark Fleming
A point made, if not quite a point taken. Avram Grant returned to his former club and saw his Portsmouth team give Chelsea a terrible fright, although in the end they were unable to hold on for an unlikely draw.
Grant still feels aggrieved that he was sacked as manager by Chelsea's owner, Roman Abramovich, after losing the Champions League final in a penalty shoot-out. He was given a lukewarm welcome from the Chelsea supporters before the game, but he could leave with his head held high.
Chelsea's defending was once again worse than shambolic. They conceded a soft goal in the 51st minute from Frédéric Piquionne that put the scores level, and were fortunate not to let in two more in the following 10 minutes as hesitation and panic became the order of the day.
As frustration grew among the fans in the blue seats, it was Frank Lampard who kept a cool head, putting his penalty miss at Manchester City behind him with a thumping finish from the spot that gives Chelsea their first win in five games and reinstates their three-point lead at the top of the Premier League table.
Carlo Ancelotti was a relieved man, despite Chelsea's shaky moments. "The only important thing was to win," the Chelsea manager said. "After four games without a victory, and when Portsmouth equalised, we didn't have confidence that we would win the game. We did a good job, but not a beautiful job."
Chelsea were missing Didier Drogba, who has a back injury, and had their leading scorer been fit to start, the game could have been dead and buried by half-time. Lampard, Nicolas Anelka, Salomon Kalou and Michael Ballack all went close before Anelka put Chelsea ahead in the 23rd minute. Alex was recalled to the side in place of Ricardo Carvalho in the hope he would bring greater defensive composure. But the Brazilian made his presence felt in attack, popping up on the right wing to centre for the unmarked Anelka to score.
It was a poignant moment for Anelka, who had been brought to Chelsea by Grant but then was rarely picked by a manager who admitted he did not rate him. Anelka is due to open talks on a new contract with Chelsea in the coming days, and two goals in his last two games can only strengthen his bargaining position.
The Portsmouth goalkeeper Asmir Begovic saved well from Lampard as Chelsea continued their steady pounding of the visitors' goal. But that all ended abruptly when Portsmouth snatched an equaliser.
Chelsea's crisis of confidence in defence was exposed six minutes into the second half. John Terry conceded a free-kick 25 yards from goal, which Jamie O'Hara fired into the Chelsea wall. The ball then ricocheted off Kalou and hit Ashley Cole before dropping kindly to Piquionne, who smashed the ball past Petr Cech with glee for his fifth goal of the season.
The goal sparked a remarkable spell for Chelsea, who became nervy and could have conceded two more in the next 10 minutes. O'Hara slipped past Terry and crossed for Kevin-Prince Boateng who dwelled too long on the ball, allowing Ashley Cole to tackle. Then Boateng got away from Terry but, with only Cech to beat, he lost his footing on the sodden turf and spooned his shot into the crowd.
Ancelotti rang the changes to try to wrest back the initiative, and it worked. Chelsea managed to pin Portsmouth back, and after 79 minutes the pressure told, with the right-back Branislav Ivanovic tearing into the Portsmouth penalty area only to be upended by Marc Wilson for a clear penalty.
Lampard stepped up, having missed his most recent attempt from 12 yards in the club's 2-1 defeat at Manchester City. If Lampard felt the pressure, he did not show it as he blasted his kick high into the middle of the goal.
"It was a pity because I didn't see how Chelsea were going to score," Grant said. He was, however, pleased with his side's overall performance. "We played well. We played against a team who are very strong at home. But they didn't create many chances and in the second half we had two big chances. But they scored a goal from no chance really. The result is disappointing but the performance was good."
Of the penalty, Grant said: "Of course it was a penalty. Marc is a very good young player but sometimes inexperience costs. He made a mistake but he is a very good player."
The goal meant that Grant lost a game at Stamford Bridge for the first time, as Chelsea never lost a home game during his eight-month reign at the club. Yet it also confirmed the club's perception that he is one of the game's nearly men.
Chelsea (4-1-2-1-2): Cech; Ivanovic, Terry, Alex, A Cole; Mikel (Malouda, 64); Ballack, Lampard; Deco (J Cole, 58); Anelka, Kalou (Borini, 72). Substitutes not used: Hilario (gk), Carvalho, Zhirkov, Ferreira.
Portsmouth (4-5-1): Begovic; Finnan, Ben Haim, Wilson, Hreidarsson; Boateng, Diop (Hughes, 60), Mokoena (Utaka, 85), Mullins, O'Hara; Piquionne (Dindane, 71). Substitutes not used: Ashdown (gk), Vanden Borre, Yebda, Belhadj
Referee: M Clattenburg (Co Durham).
Man of the match: Anelka.
Attendance: 40,137.
Meanwhile for Mrs Terry... Mrs T trots off
As husband John Terry was getting ready to tackle Portsmouth last night, down the road at Olympia his wife, Toni, was facing a test of her own, performing dressage in front of a demanding capacity crowd at the London International Horse Show.
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Telegraph:
Chelsea 2 Portsmouth 1
By Jason Burt at Stamford Bridge
Avram Grant last presided over an evening of deep frustration for Chelsea in the pouring rain a year and a half ago in Moscow. He nearly witnessed another on Wednesday night.
Only this time he was in the opposing dug-out. What a return of infinite satisfaction it almost was for the man sacked after Russia.
Instead a late penalty from Frank Lampard restored Chelsea’s three-point advantage at the head of the Premier League and secured a first victory in five matches.
Not that Carlo Ancelotti’s side were convincing. This was not the stuff of champions as they needlessly turned a would-be procession into a night of frayed nerves. In heavy weather they made heavy weather of it
There were seven changes for Portsmouth but not a whiff of a Wolves whimper.
Most of the alterations were enforced — illness and suspension — while some players were brought back having recovered from the virus that has swept the club.
Surely, anyway, Grant would not capitulate after being given such an obvious chance to show Chelsea they were wrong to dismiss him?
The reception afforded was polite enough even if it was peppered with a couple of boos — extraordinary in a way given this is the man who did, whatever the debate over his questionable input, take them to their first and, so far, only Champions League Final.
If that response was muted then Ancelotti certainly gained the reaction he wanted from his team. From the start at least.
They tore out of the blocks and seized the initiative. An early Nicolas Anelka shot fizzed narrowly wide before Salomon Kalou — included in place of Didier Drogba who was nursing a sore back — met Michael Ballack’s flick-on from a corner only to get under the ball and head over from just four yards out.
It forced Portsmouth back. Not that they showed much ambition. Grant had packed his team with toilers and asked them to defend the edge of the penalty area — or even deeper — and with little, or no, width.
Still Chelsea found it difficult or did until Anelka broke through. The goal followed a powerful run by Alex, fit and restored to central defence in place of Ricardo Carvalho, who forced his way into the area down the right and pulled the ball back.
The cross took a slight deflection but Anelka swept it into the net in one smooth movement, the effort glancing in off the near post. It was richly satisfying for Anelka who was signed by Grant, of course, for £15 million but felt misused by the then manager, often relegated to the wing and deprived of opportunities.
When Portsmouth did break and Frederic Piquionne fired in a low shot from outside the area, Petr Cech spilled it, albeit the conditions were wet and greasy, and the rebound fell to Hermann Hreidarsson as the defence froze.
The left-back should have scored, but was unable to get his foot around the ball and the chance was lost.
For Chelsea, Alex struck a free-kick, fierce enough, but wide and Lampard, making a 300th league appearance fot the club, almost squeezed a shot beyond Asmir Begovic — in for David James who was ill - as they again failed to exploit their clear superiority.
Ashley Cole went closer, collecting Lampard’s back-heel, checking back onto his left foot and striking a low shot across goal and just beyond the far post.
Ancelotti’s frustration grew. Chelsea’s pace lessened. And Portsmouth scored. A free-kick was conceded by John Terry and Jamie O’Hara struck it into the wall — it deflected off Kalou and then Ashley Cole and straight to Piquionne who drove his shot beyond Cech. It was outrageously fortuitous.
But it was also the 12th goal — out of 14 — in the league conceded by Chelsea from a set-piece.
Back came Chelsea. Begovic beat out Branislav Ivanovic’s drive and Ballack headed onto the roof of the net, but only Ashley Cole’s desperate tackle stopped Kevin-Prince Boateng.
The game had been turned on its head and Chelsea suddenly appeared panicky. They needed a slice of fortune and Marc Wilson gave it to them, sliding in rashly to bring down Ivanovic just inside the area.
Lampard smashed the penalty high beyond the goalkeeper and the relief was palpable.
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Guardian:
Avram Grant last presided over an evening of deep frustration for Chelsea in the pouring rain a year and a half ago in Moscow. He nearly witnessed another on Wednesday night.
Only this time he was in the opposing dug-out. What a return of infinite satisfaction it almost was for the man sacked after Russia.
Instead a late penalty from Frank Lampard restored Chelsea’s three-point advantage at the head of the Premier League and secured a first victory in five matches.
Not that Carlo Ancelotti’s side were convincing. This was not the stuff of champions as they needlessly turned a would-be procession into a night of frayed nerves. In heavy weather they made heavy weather of it
There were seven changes for Portsmouth but not a whiff of a Wolves whimper.
Most of the alterations were enforced — illness and suspension — while some players were brought back having recovered from the virus that has swept the club.
Surely, anyway, Grant would not capitulate after being given such an obvious chance to show Chelsea they were wrong to dismiss him?
The reception afforded was polite enough even if it was peppered with a couple of boos — extraordinary in a way given this is the man who did, whatever the debate over his questionable input, take them to their first and, so far, only Champions League Final.
If that response was muted then Ancelotti certainly gained the reaction he wanted from his team. From the start at least.
They tore out of the blocks and seized the initiative. An early Nicolas Anelka shot fizzed narrowly wide before Salomon Kalou — included in place of Didier Drogba who was nursing a sore back — met Michael Ballack’s flick-on from a corner only to get under the ball and head over from just four yards out.
It forced Portsmouth back. Not that they showed much ambition. Grant had packed his team with toilers and asked them to defend the edge of the penalty area — or even deeper — and with little, or no, width.
Still Chelsea found it difficult or did until Anelka broke through. The goal followed a powerful run by Alex, fit and restored to central defence in place of Ricardo Carvalho, who forced his way into the area down the right and pulled the ball back.
The cross took a slight deflection but Anelka swept it into the net in one smooth movement, the effort glancing in off the near post. It was richly satisfying for Anelka who was signed by Grant, of course, for £15 million but felt misused by the then manager, often relegated to the wing and deprived of opportunities.
When Portsmouth did break and Frederic Piquionne fired in a low shot from outside the area, Petr Cech spilled it, albeit the conditions were wet and greasy, and the rebound fell to Hermann Hreidarsson as the defence froze.
The left-back should have scored, but was unable to get his foot around the ball and the chance was lost.
For Chelsea, Alex struck a free-kick, fierce enough, but wide and Lampard, making a 300th league appearance fot the club, almost squeezed a shot beyond Asmir Begovic — in for David James who was ill - as they again failed to exploit their clear superiority.
Ashley Cole went closer, collecting Lampard’s back-heel, checking back onto his left foot and striking a low shot across goal and just beyond the far post.
Ancelotti’s frustration grew. Chelsea’s pace lessened. And Portsmouth scored. A free-kick was conceded by John Terry and Jamie O’Hara struck it into the wall — it deflected off Kalou and then Ashley Cole and straight to Piquionne who drove his shot beyond Cech. It was outrageously fortuitous.
But it was also the 12th goal — out of 14 — in the league conceded by Chelsea from a set-piece.
Back came Chelsea. Begovic beat out Branislav Ivanovic’s drive and Ballack headed onto the roof of the net, but only Ashley Cole’s desperate tackle stopped Kevin-Prince Boateng.
The game had been turned on its head and Chelsea suddenly appeared panicky. They needed a slice of fortune and Marc Wilson gave it to them, sliding in rashly to bring down Ivanovic just inside the area.
Lampard smashed the penalty high beyond the goalkeeper and the relief was palpable.
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Guardian:
Frank Lampard on spot to spoil Avram Grant's Chelsea return
Chelsea 2 Anelka 23, Lampard (pen) 79 Portsmouth 1 Piquionne 51
Dominic Fifield at Stamford Bridge
Some things never change. Avram Grant left Chelsea tonight with nothing other than sympathy to cling to and another Chelsea penalty to curse. The league leaders had re-established their advantage at the top here somewhat fortuitously at his Portsmouth side's expense. At least the last time the Israeli was dismissed from these parts there had been the promise of a pay-off to sweeten his exit.
It is almost 19 months since Grant took the Londoners to within one penalty kick of their first Champions League trophy in Moscow and, where that one was fluffed by John Terry, here the Israeli was left deflated by a conversion. Frustration had been welling in home ranks at Pompey's rugged resistance when, 11 minutes from time, Marc Wilson panicked and slid in crudely on Branislav Ivanovic to puncture his own team's chances of an unlikely point by sending the Serb plunging.
The spot kick was clear, and converted emphatically by Frank Lampard. The last time Grant witnessed the England midfielder scoring a penalty at Stamford Bridge had been in the second leg of the Champions League semi-final against Liverpool in the spring of 2008. He had sunk to his knees in delirious celebration on that occasion, with passage to Moscow beckoning. This time the 54-year-old was left with head hung and the potential ignominy of the Championship, rather than Champions League spoils, to come.
He took what positives he could from defeat: a warm reception in the most part from the home fans, a valiant team performance from his new side and, almost, an unexpected point. "We closed them down, made sure they didn't create too many chances, and if the result was disappointing then the performance was good," said Grant. "The reception was touching. It made my heart warm that people respect the great year we had at this club (in 2007-08 under his leadership). But we are bottom, they are top, and you couldn't see a big difference."
Chelsea were aware of how uncomfortable it all felt. This victory may have curtailed a four-match sequence without a win, but it was a stodgy and, at times, desperate display. Denied Didier Drogba by a back injury, their forward line lacked muscle despite Nicolas Anelka's menace. At the back, they remain uncharacteristically fragile. The goal shipped to Frédéric Piquionne six minutes after the interval was outrageous, Jamie O'Hara's free-kick deflecting first from Salomon Kalou and then from Ashley Cole into the Frenchman's path, but it was the 12th goal from a set-piece among the 14 conceded this term.
Terry had admitted in his programme notes that the set-piece defending in Saturday's 3-3 draw with Everton had been "unacceptable". Pompey, too, might have prospered here in the driving sleet had they retained more composure in front of goal, with Carlo Ancelotti bemoaning a lack of communication between his own charges at times. On the break the visitors' threat was sporadic, Hermann Hreidarsson failing to convert from close-range after Petr Cech had parried Piquionne's attempt, and Tal Ben Haim flicking over the bar, but a combination of occasional vulnerability at the back and profligacy at the other end might have cost the hosts yet more points.
This was messy, but the inquest has been staved off with a chance to impose themselves – most likely with Drogba fit and fresh – at West Ham on Sunday. "We did a good job, not a beautiful job," said Ancelotti. "There were 15 minutes in the second half after they had equalised when we lost our composure. We were afraid of drawing the game and lost our idea to play. But we reacted well and, in the end, deserved to win. That was the most important thing: to win after four games without a victory."
The hosts might have capitalised more comfortably against a re-shaped Pompey line-up, with injuries and illness prompting seven changes from the draw at Sunderland, but Anelka's was the only reward taken from the early pressure. Kalou had nodded awkwardly over an empty net, unnerved by Steve Finnan's presence, by the time Alex barged his way beyond Wilson to the by-line and pulled back for Anelka to convert.
The Frenchman had scored only one league goal for Grant following a £15m move from Bolton, also against Portsmouth, and had ended up missing the last penalty in the Champions League final. Asmir Begovic's excellence kept him at bay thereafter, and might have earned the visitors their draw, until Grant endured his cruel finale.
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Mail:
Dominic Fifield at Stamford Bridge
Some things never change. Avram Grant left Chelsea tonight with nothing other than sympathy to cling to and another Chelsea penalty to curse. The league leaders had re-established their advantage at the top here somewhat fortuitously at his Portsmouth side's expense. At least the last time the Israeli was dismissed from these parts there had been the promise of a pay-off to sweeten his exit.
It is almost 19 months since Grant took the Londoners to within one penalty kick of their first Champions League trophy in Moscow and, where that one was fluffed by John Terry, here the Israeli was left deflated by a conversion. Frustration had been welling in home ranks at Pompey's rugged resistance when, 11 minutes from time, Marc Wilson panicked and slid in crudely on Branislav Ivanovic to puncture his own team's chances of an unlikely point by sending the Serb plunging.
The spot kick was clear, and converted emphatically by Frank Lampard. The last time Grant witnessed the England midfielder scoring a penalty at Stamford Bridge had been in the second leg of the Champions League semi-final against Liverpool in the spring of 2008. He had sunk to his knees in delirious celebration on that occasion, with passage to Moscow beckoning. This time the 54-year-old was left with head hung and the potential ignominy of the Championship, rather than Champions League spoils, to come.
He took what positives he could from defeat: a warm reception in the most part from the home fans, a valiant team performance from his new side and, almost, an unexpected point. "We closed them down, made sure they didn't create too many chances, and if the result was disappointing then the performance was good," said Grant. "The reception was touching. It made my heart warm that people respect the great year we had at this club (in 2007-08 under his leadership). But we are bottom, they are top, and you couldn't see a big difference."
Chelsea were aware of how uncomfortable it all felt. This victory may have curtailed a four-match sequence without a win, but it was a stodgy and, at times, desperate display. Denied Didier Drogba by a back injury, their forward line lacked muscle despite Nicolas Anelka's menace. At the back, they remain uncharacteristically fragile. The goal shipped to Frédéric Piquionne six minutes after the interval was outrageous, Jamie O'Hara's free-kick deflecting first from Salomon Kalou and then from Ashley Cole into the Frenchman's path, but it was the 12th goal from a set-piece among the 14 conceded this term.
Terry had admitted in his programme notes that the set-piece defending in Saturday's 3-3 draw with Everton had been "unacceptable". Pompey, too, might have prospered here in the driving sleet had they retained more composure in front of goal, with Carlo Ancelotti bemoaning a lack of communication between his own charges at times. On the break the visitors' threat was sporadic, Hermann Hreidarsson failing to convert from close-range after Petr Cech had parried Piquionne's attempt, and Tal Ben Haim flicking over the bar, but a combination of occasional vulnerability at the back and profligacy at the other end might have cost the hosts yet more points.
This was messy, but the inquest has been staved off with a chance to impose themselves – most likely with Drogba fit and fresh – at West Ham on Sunday. "We did a good job, not a beautiful job," said Ancelotti. "There were 15 minutes in the second half after they had equalised when we lost our composure. We were afraid of drawing the game and lost our idea to play. But we reacted well and, in the end, deserved to win. That was the most important thing: to win after four games without a victory."
The hosts might have capitalised more comfortably against a re-shaped Pompey line-up, with injuries and illness prompting seven changes from the draw at Sunderland, but Anelka's was the only reward taken from the early pressure. Kalou had nodded awkwardly over an empty net, unnerved by Steve Finnan's presence, by the time Alex barged his way beyond Wilson to the by-line and pulled back for Anelka to convert.
The Frenchman had scored only one league goal for Grant following a £15m move from Bolton, also against Portsmouth, and had ended up missing the last penalty in the Champions League final. Asmir Begovic's excellence kept him at bay thereafter, and might have earned the visitors their draw, until Grant endured his cruel finale.
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Mail:
Chelsea 2 Portsmouth 1:
Frank Lampard's late penalty spoils Avram Grant's return
Neil Moxley
Not for the first time in his career, Avram Grant had reason to rue the outcome of a Chelsea penalty as Frank Lampard proved he really is a man for all seasons.The manager who saw his finest hour snatched away in Moscow, when John Terry's slip cost Chelsea the 2008 Champions League final, was once again put through a spot-kick nightmare as cracks continued to appear in Carlo Ancelotti's masterplan.
This time, with Grant sat in the visitors' dug-out, there were no fluffed lines from Chelsea at the death. Lampard's winning penalty, 11 minutes from time, won't rank as a highlight of Ancelotti's first season in charge, but it could turn out to be hugely significant.Against the backdrop of a winless four-match streak, another set-piece equaliser conceded and the clock ticking down against the division's bottom team, Lampard's latest intervention could have an enormous bearing.Remember, too, that the England midfielder - the man who never misses - blotted his copybook recently when last asked a question from 12 yards at the City of Manchester Stadium.
So, all things considered, a victory without the talismanic Didier Drogba should not be scoffed at, particularly as Ancelotti's side left it late, without totally convincing anyone that they could land the killer blow.
However, cometh the hour, cometh Lampard. He has played through barbs for club and country.No hiding place for Frank when Mark Clattenburg pointed to the spot after an horrendous error of judgment by Marc Wilson. The Chelsea man stepped up and the points were counted.'We lost our composure for 15 minutes after their goal,' said Ancelotti. 'It became a difficult game for us. After that, we did OK. After four games without a win, the confidence was not there.
'But we showed a good reaction and closed the game down well. In the end, it was an important game to win. We did a good job, not a beautiful one.'It was possible to feel a shred of sympathy for Grant. Dumped unceremoniously after taking Chelsea to within a kick of being crowned the champions of Europe, revenge was on the cards here. It would have been all the sweeter, too, for the manner of the Pompey goal. It was a major fluke.A free-kick 30 yards out, after Terry had fouled Kevin-Prince Boateng, was taken by Jamie O'Hara. It did not have sufficient power to beat Cech, but deflected off Kalou's hand, into Ashley Cole's face and on to Piquionne.
The bounce favoured the forward and he lashed the ball into the roof of the net with relish. Twelve out of the last 14 goals conceded by Chelsea have now come as a result of set pieces.What started out as an uncomfortable blip now looks like turning into a nasty habit that is threatening to undermine Ancelotti's title chances.
Until then, however, Chelsea had been heading for a routine victory. After a few near misses, the opener arrived via an unorthodox source, although it was scored by an orthodox one.
For some reason, centre back Alex had loitered out to the right and he was near the corner flag when he worked the ball out of that tight spot.
Wilson had been dragged there by the Brazilian and was soon left trailing as the defender ran along the by-line. Anelka pulled away from the near post and the defender's pass ended at the Frenchman's feet thanks to a deflection off Tal Ben Haim.Soon, the trademark doves were flying as Anelka celebrated sweeping the ball into the bottom corner for his eighth goal of the season.Piquionne had forced Petr Cech into a smart stop 10 minutes before the interval in Pompey's only real attack of note until that point. But the pattern changed five minutes into the second half when the visitors' lone forward struck.It brought a stinging response. Joe Cole was thrown on, as was Florent Malouda. Still no breakthrough came for an increasingly agitated home crowd. Branislav Ivanovic stung Asmir Begovic's fingers with a fierce drive, but his next contribution was to have a lasting effect.He pushed the ball forwards, inviting the tackle on a horribly slippery turf. Wilson needed only to be a fraction out with the timing of his lunge. He was more than a little late and the big defender was sent sprawling.Grant said: 'Marc is a young player and a very good one. But it costs to get that experience. It was a mistake and a pity for us because I couldn't see how Chelsea would score. The result was disappointing but the performance wasn't. It was top versus bottom but I couldn't see a big difference.'This was Grant's first time on the losing side at Stamford Bridge. For half-an-hour, there seemed every chance his record would stay intact. Then the nerveless Lampard stepped forward.
Match facts and stats Chelsea (4-4-2): Cech 6; Ivanovic 6, Alex 6, Terry 5, Cole 6; Mikel 5 (Malouda 64, 6), Deco 5 (Cole 58, 6), Lampard 6, Ballack 7; Anelka 6, Kalou 5 (Borini 71, 5).
Portsmouth (4-5-1): Begovic 8; Finnan 6, Ben Haim 6, Wilson 6, Hreidarsson 6; Boateng 6, Mokoena 7, Diop 6 (Hughes 60, 6), Mullins 7, O’Hara 8; Piquionne 6 (Dindane 71, 6).
Man of the match: Asmir Begovic.
Not for the first time in his career, Avram Grant had reason to rue the outcome of a Chelsea penalty as Frank Lampard proved he really is a man for all seasons.The manager who saw his finest hour snatched away in Moscow, when John Terry's slip cost Chelsea the 2008 Champions League final, was once again put through a spot-kick nightmare as cracks continued to appear in Carlo Ancelotti's masterplan.
This time, with Grant sat in the visitors' dug-out, there were no fluffed lines from Chelsea at the death. Lampard's winning penalty, 11 minutes from time, won't rank as a highlight of Ancelotti's first season in charge, but it could turn out to be hugely significant.Against the backdrop of a winless four-match streak, another set-piece equaliser conceded and the clock ticking down against the division's bottom team, Lampard's latest intervention could have an enormous bearing.Remember, too, that the England midfielder - the man who never misses - blotted his copybook recently when last asked a question from 12 yards at the City of Manchester Stadium.
So, all things considered, a victory without the talismanic Didier Drogba should not be scoffed at, particularly as Ancelotti's side left it late, without totally convincing anyone that they could land the killer blow.
However, cometh the hour, cometh Lampard. He has played through barbs for club and country.No hiding place for Frank when Mark Clattenburg pointed to the spot after an horrendous error of judgment by Marc Wilson. The Chelsea man stepped up and the points were counted.'We lost our composure for 15 minutes after their goal,' said Ancelotti. 'It became a difficult game for us. After that, we did OK. After four games without a win, the confidence was not there.
'But we showed a good reaction and closed the game down well. In the end, it was an important game to win. We did a good job, not a beautiful one.'It was possible to feel a shred of sympathy for Grant. Dumped unceremoniously after taking Chelsea to within a kick of being crowned the champions of Europe, revenge was on the cards here. It would have been all the sweeter, too, for the manner of the Pompey goal. It was a major fluke.A free-kick 30 yards out, after Terry had fouled Kevin-Prince Boateng, was taken by Jamie O'Hara. It did not have sufficient power to beat Cech, but deflected off Kalou's hand, into Ashley Cole's face and on to Piquionne.
The bounce favoured the forward and he lashed the ball into the roof of the net with relish. Twelve out of the last 14 goals conceded by Chelsea have now come as a result of set pieces.What started out as an uncomfortable blip now looks like turning into a nasty habit that is threatening to undermine Ancelotti's title chances.
Until then, however, Chelsea had been heading for a routine victory. After a few near misses, the opener arrived via an unorthodox source, although it was scored by an orthodox one.
For some reason, centre back Alex had loitered out to the right and he was near the corner flag when he worked the ball out of that tight spot.
Wilson had been dragged there by the Brazilian and was soon left trailing as the defender ran along the by-line. Anelka pulled away from the near post and the defender's pass ended at the Frenchman's feet thanks to a deflection off Tal Ben Haim.Soon, the trademark doves were flying as Anelka celebrated sweeping the ball into the bottom corner for his eighth goal of the season.Piquionne had forced Petr Cech into a smart stop 10 minutes before the interval in Pompey's only real attack of note until that point. But the pattern changed five minutes into the second half when the visitors' lone forward struck.It brought a stinging response. Joe Cole was thrown on, as was Florent Malouda. Still no breakthrough came for an increasingly agitated home crowd. Branislav Ivanovic stung Asmir Begovic's fingers with a fierce drive, but his next contribution was to have a lasting effect.He pushed the ball forwards, inviting the tackle on a horribly slippery turf. Wilson needed only to be a fraction out with the timing of his lunge. He was more than a little late and the big defender was sent sprawling.Grant said: 'Marc is a young player and a very good one. But it costs to get that experience. It was a mistake and a pity for us because I couldn't see how Chelsea would score. The result was disappointing but the performance wasn't. It was top versus bottom but I couldn't see a big difference.'This was Grant's first time on the losing side at Stamford Bridge. For half-an-hour, there seemed every chance his record would stay intact. Then the nerveless Lampard stepped forward.
Match facts and stats Chelsea (4-4-2): Cech 6; Ivanovic 6, Alex 6, Terry 5, Cole 6; Mikel 5 (Malouda 64, 6), Deco 5 (Cole 58, 6), Lampard 6, Ballack 7; Anelka 6, Kalou 5 (Borini 71, 5).
Portsmouth (4-5-1): Begovic 8; Finnan 6, Ben Haim 6, Wilson 6, Hreidarsson 6; Boateng 6, Mokoena 7, Diop 6 (Hughes 60, 6), Mullins 7, O’Hara 8; Piquionne 6 (Dindane 71, 6).
Man of the match: Asmir Begovic.
Referee: Mark Clattenburg.
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Sun:
Chelsea 2 Portsmouth 1
MARK IRWIN at Stamford Bridge
IF Wolves' reserve team losing at Old Trafford merits a letter from the Premier League, this result deserves a whole book.
But this time it is the WINNERS who should be the subject of an inquiry.
For how the hell can the side leading the so-called strongest league in the world struggle so miserably against the team propping up the table?
At least Mick McCarthy's shadow side surrendered tamely against Manchester United.
Avram Grant also rested the majority of his team from the weekend, yet still had nearly enough to get a result.
For Grant, making his first return to the club who sacked him 19 months ago, this was the ultimate vindication of his managerial abilities.
For Carlo Ancelotti, who for almost half an hour was staring down the barrel of his fifth successive game without a win, it was confirmation of his growing concerns.
The Chelsea boss promised after Saturday's 3-3 draw with Everton that he would give his under-performing superstars the electric shock treatment and an order to get lost if they did not stop the rot soon.
Time to get out the cattle prod, Carlo, and tell a few of them to 'F*** off!'
For even Frank Lampard's 79th-minute penalty winner could not paper over the cracks starting to open all over Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea might still lead the table by three points from United but they look anything but champions right now.
This was as unconvincing a victory as it is possible to imagine against a team in such dire straits as Portsmouth.
Grant rested seven of the team which pinched a draw at Sunderland at the weekend, yet still gave his former club the mother of all scares.
Chelsea were again all over the place at the back and a bundle of nerves at every set-piece.
So it was hardly a shock that Portsmouth's 51st-minute equaliser came as a direct consequence of the Blues' failure to deal with a dead ball.
Jamie O'Hara's free-kick flew straight into the defensive wall, catching Ashley Cole by surprise as the ball cannoned off his head straight to the unmarked Frederic Piquionne. The grateful Frenchman could hardly believe his luck as he smashed his shot past Petr Cech.
Ancelotti hauled off the unconvincing Deco, Jon Obi Mikel and Salomon Kalou in quick succession. And this time the changes had the desired effect, as poor old Pompey finally cracked under the late pressure.
Branislav Ivanovic's charge into the danger area was halted by an ill-timed challenge from Marc Wilson. Lampard converted from the spot.
The England midfielder had missed his last effort from 12 yards in the defeat at Manchester City but held his nerve this time to get his team back on track.
And, at long last, Chelsea were able to hold on to their lead long enough to claim all three points.
They had already surrendered the advantage once after Nicolas Anelka had fired them ahead in the 23rd minute.
Grant always knew the Frenchman would score goals for Chelsea. What a pity he did not start a bit sooner.
It was Grant who brought Anelka to the Bridge in a £15million deal from Bolton in January 2008. But in his first season at the club the moody Frenchman managed just two goals for the man who signed him.
To make matters worse, it was Anelka's miss in the penalty shootout which helped condemn Chelsea to defeat by Manchester United in the Champions League final - and sealed Grant's fate.
Three days after the retreat from Moscow, Grant was sacked.
You could have put your house on Anelka scoring a goal to keep poor Pompey rooted to the foot of the Premier League table - and he did not disappoint.
Peeling off in a crowded area, he was perfectly placed to sidefoot home from Alex's pull-back for his eighth goal of the season.
What a way to mark his 100th appearance for Chelsea. What a way to show his gratitude to Grant.
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