Sunday, January 31, 2010

burnley 2-1



Observer:

John Terry's late header beats valiant Burnley

Burnley 1 Fletcher, S 50 Chelsea 2 Anelka 27, Terry 82
Paul Wilson at Turf Moor

He must have been expecting an uncomfortable evening, he must have known the whole country was watching and waiting to be critical, yet in the event Brian Laws' first home game in charge of Burnley was not going badly at all until John Terry robbed him of the limelight by scoring the winner eight minutes from time.
Sometimes it is impossible to believe these things are not scripted. Chelsea had been pegged back after taking a first-half lead and their forwards were starting to looked a bit ragged as they searched for a way through the home defence, until the captain went up for a corner and scored with a determined downward header.
It was genuinely no surprise, since Terry went about his business here as if nothing had happened. That took some doing, even for someone with a reputation for playing away. Facing down his detractors with an expression of stone, Terry endured the boos and kept Burnley's attack at bay before getting forward at the end to rescue his attack. The Turf Moor crowd did not hurl anything particularly witty or vindictive at the England captain in any case, and as Alastair Campbell turned up for a half-time presentation Terry might not even have been the most unpopular person on the pitch.
"He's had a great weekend, hasn't he?" Laws asked rhetorically. "But we were only minutes away from taking points off Chelsea and we can take a lot of positives from that. We showed them too much respect in the first half, but if we can keep the self-belief we showed in the second and stay solid, we can get out of trouble."
As well as scoring the winner John Terry demonstrated the defensive qualities that Alex lacks. Alex won only half of his tackles and lost the ball in key areas, while Terry not only made ten of the eleven tackles he attempted but the tackle he lost was harmlessly on the periphery of play. Chelsea were certainly not a class apart. They spent too much of the first half trying to hit long balls from their own half and generally failing to find Nicolas Anelka or Joe Cole in forward positions. Frank Lampard did hit an early chance over the bar and Anelka had a brief shooting opportunity that he uncharacteristically fluffed, but Chelsea showed little of the passing fluency and movement that had enabled them to make short work of Preston on their previous visit to the north west and demolish Birmingham at Stamford Bridge last Wednesday. Burnley moved the ball around better in the opening stages, and had just begun to create opportunities around the visitors' penalty area for Chris Eagles and Steven Fletcher when Chelsea suddenly pounced, as they are always capable of doing.
The move for the opening goal began with Petr Cech and ended with neat interplay between Chelsea's front three. After the goalkeeper had rolled the ball out, Joe Cole made progress down the right wing, before hitting a deep cross to find Florent Malouda cutting in from the left. With the Burnley defence pulled first one way then the other, it was a simple matter for Malouda to lay the ball back across goal for the unmarked Anelka to score his 12th goal of the season with a tap-in.
If Chelsea imagined they were in for an easy ride in the second half, they were quickly disabused of the notion when Burnley equalised with their first real attack of any note. The deftest of first touches allowed Fletcher to pluck Robbie Blake's lofted pass from the air and completely wrongfoot Alex, and though the defender briefly appeared to recover himself the ball broke kindly off Fletcher's chest and he controlled it again before beating Cech with an angled shot.
All Chelsea's missing urgency came back after that and they began to lay siege to the Burnley goal. Joe Cole headed in from an offside position and Lampard pulled a shot across the face of goal before Ashley Cole was denied a shooting opportunity when Clarke Carlisle got a firm foot in the way. The left-back made way for Deco shortly afterwards, Carlo Ancelotti evidently believing another attacking player might help win the game, before he realised his unflustered captain had the matter in hand. Whatever one thinks about Terry, managers will always rate what he does on the pitch.
"He's a fantastic player," said Ancelotti. "I never thought about not playing him, and I didn't even need to ask whether he was ready. He's a professional. This is his job."

---------------------------------------------------

Independent:

Terry discovers the benefits of playing away

Burnley 1 Chelsea 2: England captain shrugs aside storm of controversy to fire Chelsea four points clear with superb winner

By Steve Tongue at Turf Moor

Flawed character he may be, but for all the unwanted publicity down the years surrounding him and his ill-starred family, John Terry has never allowed his football to be affected. Apparently oblivious to all the fuss that followed the latest unsavoury allegations about his private life, he not only strolled through yesterday's game but even had the audacity and sense of drama to win it for Chelsea with a powerful late header.
The recently prolific Nicolas Anelka, surviving quite happily without Didier Drogba, had earlier scored his 12th goal of the season before a lapse by Alex allowed Burnley a first goal in four games under Brian Laws. The new manager felt his team showed the leaders too much respect before half-time and was pleased with their efforts. Overall, however, the feeling was always that Chelsea had at least one more gear to move into and the surprise was that they left it so late.
Carlo Ancelotti would have been entitled to displeasure had they not accelerated to a first away win in the League since the decisive 3-0 success at the Emirates in November. Now he and his squad can sit back and watch Arsenal and Manchester United – five and four points behind them respectively from the same number of games – do their worst today. "We played well in the second half and deserved the win," Ancelotti said. "John Terry is a fantastic player. Tonight he did very well. So I'm not worried. I don't want to talk about his personal life. I think everyone at the club supports him and his family."
There was no doubt about who was the centre of attention from the moment Chelsea's bus pulled into Turf Moor, with club officials declaring that Terry's problems were a private matter. He can only hope that Fabio Capello takes the same view. His name was greeted with raucous guffaws when the teams were announced, and boos at every touch later on, culminating in a yellow card when he put a foot – and an arm – wrong for the only time in the evening, blatantly blocking Robbie Blake.
Laws, welcomed on to the pitch for his first home game since succeeding the now reviled Owen Coyle, had brought Blake back to support Steven Fletcher. That pair would eventually conjure up the equalising goal, although that was almost the first time Chelsea's defence was disturbed.
For the first quarter of the game neither side had a shot on target. Indeed, as Anelka miskicked altogether when set up by Joe Cole, there was only one attempt on goal all told, which Frank Lampard sent into the stand housing Chelsea's subdued followers. Team and supporters came alive at last in the 26th minute. Petr Cech threw the ball out to Joe Cole who made good ground from inside his own half before chipping a diagonal pass just over Tyrone Mears' head for Florent Malouda. A simple low cross found Anelka criminally unmarked by either of the centre-halves and able to knock in his sixth goal in as many games.
So, as in their Lancashire sojourn last week, for the FA Cup tie at Preston, Chelsea went in leading at half-time without having exerted themselves. On that occasion they were able to add to the advantage immediately, killing the game with a second goal. Had Malouda's fierce drive a minute after the interval been a foot lower, local history would have repeated itself. Instead there was a price to pay as it was the opposition who scored. Blake knocked forward a pass that Fletcher touched first, still allowing Alex the chance to clear. The big defender failed to connect and Fletcher was able to reach double figures for the season with a smart finish.
Again the leaders roused themselves. Brian Jensen, rushing from his goal with no hope of reaching the ball, was lucky that when Anelka crossed and Malouda nodded on, Joe Cole had wandered offside before heading in. The goalkeeper did better in parrying Lampard's free-kick low down by a post. Terry, impressively solid, even joined the attack himself after one forceful interception, as did Ashley Cole, who was injured in the attempt and had to be replaced by Deco.
The captain would not be denied. He met Lampard's corner with a fine downward header inside a post that Burnley had foolishly left unguarded. At the final whistle, Chelsea supporters chanted Terry's name as Cech raced from goal to embrace him. Any team-mates concerned, as has been suggested, by his conduct knew whom they had thank for another win bonus.

Attendance: 21,131
Referee: Phil Dowd
Man of the match: Terry
Match rating: 7/10

--------------------------------------------------

Mail:

Burnley 1 Chelsea 2:
Shamed John Terry nods late winner to send Chelsea four points clear
By Rob Draper

With eyes staring coldly ahead, John Terry led his team into hostile territory at Turf Moor, fully aware the condemning eyes of the world were upon him.Yet with a nerve that is as impressive as it is chilling, he was able to deliver an immaculate performance before heading home a winner which could yet prove crucial in taking the Premier League title back to Stamford Bridge.For it is on freezing nights at venues like Turf Moor, when the game looks beyond you, that league titles are either surrendered or grasped.
And it is the brutal determination of players like Terry that makes the difference in such circumstances.Conducting an affair with the longterm girlfriend of a close friend and former club team-mate may well indicate a contemptible selfishness, but such callous insensitivity served Terry.His ability to perform at the level he did was extraordinary. For his team were struggling and Burnley were alive with dreams of at least securing a point against their exalted visitors.
Then came that 83rd-minute corner, a familiar routine, as Frank Lampard swung in a telling cross. True, Burnley neglected to mark the man of the moment, meaning that Terry’s task was easy, but when he thundered home the header in trademark fashion, he sealed a remarkable performance.He did, at least, have the decency not to celebrate, an indication that he has some self-awareness and realises that his unconfined joy is unlikely to be well received at present. But, for a man preparing for a period of unimaginable, if self-inflicted, scrutiny, the observable effect on Terry the footballer is undetectable.For his manager, Carlo Ancelotti, there had apparently never been a decision to make. ‘I never thought of not playing him,’ he insisted.
Ancelotti is clearly a good judge of the kind of animal his captain is. Even as he stepped out last night, Terry’s lifeless eyes were seemingly fixated only on football — and he was utterly prepared for what was to come.
And though Turf Moor did not disappoint, with jeers greeting his name and every touch, Burnley seemed to possess fans that cared more for supporting their own than abusing their opponents.After all, Terry’s peccadilloes were a mere sideshow to the grand announcement of Brian Laws, taking charge for his first home game as manager since the departure of Owen Coyle, and the debut of £1.5million signing Leon Cort.
The abuse of Terry was muted, except when he performed a cynical block on Robbie Blake, earning himself a yellow card. Only then did Turf Moor roar as one: ‘Same old Terry, always cheating!’Early jitters, including a dreadful slice from Alex and a mis-hit from Nicolas Anelka, suggested that Terry’s team-mates did not possess the equanimity of their captain.
Certainly, Burnley’s fans took some encouragement, roaring their team on with added zeal, but their players were unequal to the task. Hard though they battled, impressive though Andre Bikey was, they struggled to carve out genuine opportunities.

-------------------------------------------------------

NOTW:

IT'S A LOTTI HASSLE BUT CARLO'S STILL SMILING

Burnley 1 Chelsea 2

By Steve Lillis


PICTURE Carlo Ancelotti sitting at home this afternoon in his swanky London pad, vino in one hand, Arsenal v Manchester United blaring out of his 52-inch flat screen and not giving a damn who wins.
Even John Terry's latest dodgy deed will be forgotten because whatever the outcome he knows Chelsea are the team to beat.
How can he be annoyed when the baddest boy in English football pops up to score the winner eight minutes from time and his players continue to show incredible resilience.
Great teams never know when they are beaten and Chelsea are becoming fully paid-up members of that club.
They are now four points clear at the Premier League summit.
And even Terry might be raising a glass at the end of the season if his late goal proves crucial in squeezing out Manchester United and Arsenal.
There were no smiles, no celebration, just a shrug for his team-mates when the England skipper, for now, headed home Florent Malouda's corner.
Ancelotti rarely drops his guard but when asked what he would prefer at the Emirates, he cockily bragged whatever occurred in today's tea-time tangle was a good result for him.
While the Italian will be unhappy with the headlines surrounding his skipper, he will close ranks and allow nothing to interfere with Chelsea's title march.
Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger and perhaps Roberto Mancini will make threatening noises about 'Coming to get you'.
They will be the noises their fans want to hear but even they must be wondering how to stop this blue machine.
Last month, there was a blip when they lost to Manchester City, dropped points against West Ham and Birmingham and needed two late goals to beat Fulham.
Chelsea might have deserved the win yesterday but you must afford some sympathy for Burnley after Steven Fletcher cancelled out Nicolas Anelka's opener.
Clarets fans are still spitting blood at Owen Coyle dumping them to join neighbours Bolton.
It has left Brian Laws to pick up the pieces in a season that is in a bigger freefall than Terry's reign as England captain.
Facing Manchester United away in your opening game and Chelsea in your first home encounter does little to help convince people you're the bloke to save the season.
Not surprisingly Laws, sacked by Sheffield Wednesday just seven weeks ago, has now lost all three league games since taking charge.
But that didn't stop the former Burnley defender getting a deafening reception from the Turf Moor supporters whose nails will be bitten to the skin come May.
Chelsea have 15 games to go and if they continue to race off leaving rivals spluttering dust, it will prove the latest scandal to haunt their skipper has not affected morale.
Burnley fans predictably booed Terry but roared every single challenge from their players and strangely adopted a 'No one likes us, we don't care' siege mentality.
But it didn't stop the Clarets being bamboozled by Chelsea's movement in the final third.
After the Stamford Bridge shenanigans of the last two days, the last thing Ancelotti wanted was a poor performance from his players - and they were hell bent on delivering the goods.
Frank Lampard should have taken advantage of the early momentum but blazed over from 15 yards after a delightful one-two with Anelka.
Lampard's miss brought even louder howls of derision than those being directed at his grey-faced skipper.
Ancelotti has demanded more from Joe Cole and he saw plenty of the ball, setting up Anelka who turned his cross wide.
The temperature would have chilled the bones of an Eskimo but the atmosphere was electric at one of football's traditional outposts.
Burnley's spirit might have rattled Manchester United, who were beaten here, but that seemed a distant memory when Anelka put Chelsea ahead on 27 minutes.
They made the goal look simple but it contained four moves that had the precision of a chess grandmaster.
Petr Cech picked out Joe Cole, his cross found Malouda who pulled the ball back for Anelka to finish crisply from five yards.
Ruthless football from a team who look like champions... on the field at least.
Terry got more GBH from the crowd in the 33rd minute when he was booked for a blatant shoulder charge on Robbie Blake.
Burnley were getting hold of the ball but were not holding on to it for long enough as Chelsea produced a succession of sweeping moves coupled with the occasional punt forward.
Ironically, when the Clarets did get in the opposing penalty area, Terry was always on hand to hoof it clear of danger.
Chelsea had been in complete control and even Burnley's raucous fans seemed resigned to defeat when Fletcher's 10th goal of the season stunned the Londoners.
Blake's 20-yard pass found Fletcher who made a prize chump of Alex before rifling a shot past Cech.
Chelsea hit back with Michael Ballack forcing a save from Brian Jensen and Joe Cole sending a looping header into the net, only to have it ruled out for offside.
At that point, Ancelotti must have been wondering whether his weekend was about to get worse as Laws' battlers dug deep.
Burnley fans might have been happy with a draw but not the new manager.
He signalled his intentions by replacing midfielder Kevin McDonald with striker Martin Paterson.
It was a brave move. Take away the top five or six clubs and there are not many other Premier League bosses who would be so audacious with 30 minutes left.
Burnley's back four were holding out heroically but, so often, it needed a last-ditch block to rescue them.
Jensen just about managed to beat out Lampard's free-kick and also held on to Alex's tame header.
The pace was incredible and if anybody thinks Burnley are certs for the drop, think again - despite this loss.
Yet Chelsea always looked the likely winners and there was an inevitability about their second goal.
But who would have backed Terry to be the man who broke hearts - he does that elsewhere.

--------------------------------------------

Telegraph:

Burnley 1 Chelsea 2
By Graham Chase at Turf Moor

For a while there was a sanctuary for John Terry as revelations about his private life were ignored amid headers and clearances, and he came up with a winner to move Chelsea four points clear at the top of the table.
Nicolas Anelka's goal was cancelled out by Steven Fletcher's effort but Terry headed in with eight minutes left to seal a crucial win that takes Chelsea four points clear at the top of the Premier League table ahead of the game between Arsenal and Manchester United.
Where Terry will watch that match, with who, and what those involved will make about further stories that will hog the newspapers on Sunday morning, only the England captain, who was roundly applauded by the travelling Chelsea fans, knows.
It can certainly be said that playing away has not been doing anyone at Chelsea much good at the moment, as Terry's late header earned Carlo Ancelotti's side their first away win since November.

They will look to improve that on Tuesday at Hull and Terry will be counting the hours until he gets to run out at the KC Stadium, not that the storm currently surrounding him seemed the effect the defender's performance although he was grim-faced throughout an afternoon that saw his every touch booed by the Burnley fans.
After being trailed by a cameraman for most his warm-up, rarely can Terry have been so keen to get a game underway and he even appeared to beckon referee Phil Dowd to get on with the pre-match coin toss.
Assistant manager Ray Wilkins claimed before the game that Terry has his "football head" on and that Chelsea's preparations had not been affected by the scandal despite paparazzi heading to Accrington, where
Chelsea stayed on Friday night, surely for the first time in the town's history.
His first touch was a mis-judged header as he attempted to clear Brian Jensen's hoof up-field and after Alex then sliced another attempt to get the ball away, Terry scurried back to block off Burnley players to allow Petr Cech to gather.

Terry continued to look comfortable and the visitors were in control of the early stages, though a scooped effort from Frank Lampard that flew over was all they had to show for it.
Burnley were as positive as always and looked like they might get somewhere with their quick, short passes around the Chelsea area but they rarely got beyond that
Just before the half hour, the visitors took the lead with a goal of some style.
Burnley could not get anywhere near the Premier League leaders as Petr Cech's quick throw allowed Joe Cole to break down the right and hit a cross-field pass for Florent Malouda to cross to Anelka, who touched in his 12th goal of the campaign.
Terry was cautioned for a barge on Robbie Blake after Stephen Fletcher tried to play his fellow striker past Chelsea's offside trap just inside the visitors' half, earning another chorus of "Same old Terry, always cheating" from the home support.

The Burnley goalkeeper Brian Jensen had to be alert to tear out of his box and head away a Branislav Ivanovic through-ball aimed at Anekla and Lampard dragged a low effort wide of goal from distance as Carlos Ancelotti's side continued to stroll through the period before half time.
Terry headed down the tunnel deep in conversation with Michael Ballack, who had his arm around his captain and the England player spent almost half a minute in relaxed conversation with Dowd before the second period started.

Malouda missed with a wild drive but the feeling of clam was shattered five minutes after the restart when Robbie Blake took a free kick quickly.
Alex failed to deal with the ball over the top and his attempt at a flick away bounced off Fletcher, who controlled and then drilled a low shot past Cech and the Turf Moor stands shook as they did when Blake's goal beat Manchester United here back in August.
Joe Cole had an effort ruled out for offside after Anelka and Ballack had been thwarted and Cole also dragged wide after a solid run down the right by Ivanovic.

Lampard's low free kick was pushed away by Jensen and Anelka's follow-up was hacked away by David Edgar and at the other end, Cech held an awkward long-range effort from Eagles.
Sensing an opportunity, Brian Laws, who was looking for his first win as Burnley manager, threw on Martin Paterson and Steven Thompson, but it was Terry that made the crucial contribution, rising highest to head in from Lampard's corner.

--------------------------------------------------

The Sunday Times

Chelsea sinner John Terry heads late winnerBurnley 1 Chelsea 2

Jonathan Northcroft, Football Correspondent at Turf Moor

CARLO ANCELOTTI could not have looked more dishevelled had he been John Terry’s marriage guidance counsellor, but at a time few in football want to speak up for the disgraced centre-half, the Italian did so, mounting a strong — and startling — defence of his player.
The revelation of Terry’s affair with the partner of his former close mate, Wayne Bridge, an England teammate regarded as one of the game’s “good lads”, has damaged Terry’s standing among other players. Yet Ancelotti denied there was any disquiet about Terry in the Chelsea squad, despite the fact that Bridge was a part of it until last January and has several friends, including Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole, within its ranks. “The players will never lose their trust in him [Terry],” Ancelotti said. He added that reconsidering whether Terry should captain Chelsea had never crossed his mind. “There is no discussion about this. I don’t know why you ask this.”

A tumultuous 48 hours for the Chelsea camp appeared to have put Ancelotti under strain. Nonetheless, he maintained all was okay at his club and came out with a remarkable claim. He denied Terry’s actions damaged Chelsea, who are keen — especially in key foreign marketing territories such as the USA and Korea — to portray themselves as a high-class, family club. “The professionalism of John Terry improves the image for the club. I am a manager and I only want to speak about his work. He is a fantastic professional.”

Of course others took a different view. Being football supporters, and blessed with caustic northern humour, the Burnley fans had a song. “Same old Terry — always cheating,” it went. Every time Terry touched the ball he was booed — except when he was whistled. Alastair Campbell, watching from the stand, was too far away for the defender to shout over and ask for advice on managing a media crisis. It was a new Labour spin doctor who came up with the idea that there are good days to bury bad news, but good news can also be buried. Yes, Terry scored, but set beside the moral storm engulfing him, despite Ancelotti’s best efforts, his football exploits appeared secondary.

At least he had the decency not to celebrate when he nodded Chelsea 2-1 up in the 82nd minute, an advantage they held to secure three points in a game unfancied opponents made awkward for them. It seemed predictable under sport’s perverse laws that Chelsea’s disgraced captain would emerge as their matchwinner. To steal a colleague’s line, it was like an episode of Footballers’ Wives. Burnley left Terry unmarked at a corner and he planted a header past Brian Jensen from 10 yards. Terry confirmed that he is a competitor of stiff character, even if as a pal and role model he is flimsy.

It was no coincidence, surely, that as the players waited in the tunnel before kick-off, the stadium DJ played Let’s Stick Together by Bryan Ferry. “And now the marriage vow is very sacred,” goes the song’s first line. But football — unlike matters involving personal judgment — is something Terry handles rather well and footballers often say that in times of stress playing becomes a release.

When Phil Dowd started the game, Terry probably exhaled in relief. Not that Burnley supporters wanted him to be salved. They booed his first touch and when, in the 33rd minute, he body-checked Robbie Blake, the jeering intensified. Dowd booked him and “Same old Terry — always cheating” was aired again.

Burnley’s players were not so good at making Terry’s environment uncomfortable. Brian Laws’ outnumbered midfield struggled to find their strikers and when Burnley did put together a sequence of pressure, they paid on the counterattack. Chelsea keeper Petr Cech hurled the ball to Joe Cole on the right touchline just inside his own half. Cole hit a gorgeous diagonal pass to the far side of the penalty area, where Florent Malouda volleyed back across goal and Nicolas Anelka scored his 12th goal of the season from close range.

Then, at last, Burnley found the right pass. Blake chipped forward to Steven Fletcher and, on the edge of the area, the tall Scot took the ball inside Alex with a delicious first touch. Fletcher spun round the Brazilian before striking an expert shot past Cech.
Leon Cort blocked a meaty Michael Ballack drive, Joe Cole nodded past Jensen but was offside, David Edgar cleared when Jensen spilled Lampard’s free kick and Clarke Carlisle made an outstanding tackle to thwart Ashley Cole. Then Terry had his moment of redemption — a brief one.

Star man: Joe Cole (Chelsea)
Yellow cards: Burnley: Bikey Chelsea: Terry
Referee: P Dowd
Attendance: 21,131

Burnley: Jensen, Mears, Cort, Carlisle, Kalvenes (Edgar 35min), Elliott, Bikey, McDonald (Paterson 60min), Eagles, Blake (Thompson 72min), Fletcher

Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Alex, Terry, A Cole (Deco 76min), Ballack, Zhirkov, Lampard, J Cole (Sturridge 72min), Malouda, Anelka

Thursday, January 28, 2010

birmingham city 3-0


The Times

Chelsea go back to the top of the Premier League
Chelsea 3 Birmingham 0
Matt Hughes, Deputy Football Correspondent

If this is how their players respond, Chelsea would not object were the Africa Cup of Nations to be held every January.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side returned to the top of the Barclays Premier League with a victory as comfortable as it was predictable and they are likely to have stretched their lead to four points by the time Arsenal meet Manchester United on Sunday. The fact that United came close to exhaustion as a result of a little local difficulty last night was a bonus for them.
Any team finishing above Chelsea in May will surely be crowned champions. The impact of the Cup of Nations on a squad containing four Africans always looked to have been exaggerated by those hoping that they would flounder and in effect it has been minimal, other than the knee surgery that Michael Essien will have tomorrow. Chelsea have scored 17 goals and conceded only two in four matches this month, hardly the form of a side looking forlornly to Angola for inspiration.
If anything Chelsea’s position has been strengthened, because Ancelotti has developed a new way of playing in the absence of Didier Drogba, with Nicolas Anelka leading the line on his own and Joe Cole and Florent Malouda providing the width that has given them an added dimension. The France winger opened the scoring, but Cole missed several chances before Frank Lampard showed him how it should be done with a well-taken brace.
Lampard has been the main beneficiary of Ancelotti’s move to a five-man midfield, which has given him the freedom to run into space on the edge of the penalty area, and the manager may stick with the same system even when Drogba returns.
The Ivory Coast striker will be available for Saturday’s trip to Burnley, but may not be needed, because he was not required against a Birmingham City side who got going only in the second half. A first Premier League defeat since a similarly below-par performance away to Arsenal in October seemed inevitable from the moment that Malouda opened the scoring in the fifth minute.
“Our philosophy and aims won’t change: to play good football and win,” Ancelotti said. “We need Drogba back as he’s a fantastic player, but we will maintain the same system.
“We use all the pitch to attack and so Frank is able to run into the box and can score. I think he’s the best running midfielder in the world. He has this fantastic quality to time his run into the box.”
Chelsea’s movement was too much for Birmingham from the outset, with their 15-match unbeaten run coming to an abrupt end. The opening goal could scarcely have been more straightforward, a fact that made Alex McLeish’s face turn an even ruddier shade of crimson than usual.
Cole received the ball on the right flank, used his pace and skill to beat Scott Dann and Lee Bowyer before crossing from the right byline for Malouda to score his seventh goal of the season with a free header.
Birmingham improved thereafter, but unfortunately for the visiting team so did Chelsea. With Deco enjoying the freedom afforded by being employed at the base of a five-man midfield to spray the ball around at will, Chelsea were in complete control. Cole was particularly menacing as he swapped wings in the manner of Damien Duff in his pomp, but will have been disappointed with his end product, particularly because Ancelotti’s pre-match instructions had been for him to do more damage to opponents with the ball at his feet.
The England midfield player had a shot deflected wide off Stephen Carr, was denied by a good save from Joe Hart and won the corner that Ricardo Carvalho headed on to the post. As he seeks to prove he is worthy of a new contract paying £120,000 a week, Cole could not be faulted for effort.
Cole began the build-up to Chelsea’s second in the 32nd minute from the right and was in a prime position to witness a perfect demonstration of the art of scoring goals from midfield by Lampard. Michael Ballack helped Cole’s ball on to Lampard, with the England midfield player controlling it with his left foot before beating Hart first time with his right. If Cole could finish as clinically from the edge of the box, Chelsea would pay him anything he wanted.
Chelsea’s second-half dominance was even more pronounced. By the time that Lampard scored his thirteenth goal of the season from a ball by Malouda in injury time, only poor finishing had prevented a repeat of this month’s 7-2 rout of Sunderland. Ballack was the main culprit, sending a poor header straight at Hart and volleying wide from close range, but Cole also failed to capitalise on the many chances that came his way, much to Ancelotti’s frustration.
Ancelotti gave Cole his hand when he was substituted in the 81st minute and offered him praise afterwards, although he is likely to be sacrificed for Drogba when Arsenal visit Stamford Bridge in ten days’ time.
This frozen winter has been so kind to Chelsea that after five successive victories, they can begin to contemplate making changes.

Chelsea (4-1-4-1): P Cech — B Ivanovic, R Carvalho, J Terry, A Cole — Deco — J Cole (sub: Y Zhirkov, 81min), M Ballack, F Lampard, F Malouda — N Anelka (sub: D Sturridge, 89). Substitutes not used: R Turnbull, P Ferreira, N Matic, Alex, F Borini.

Birmingham City (4-4-2): J Hart — S Carr, R Johnson, S Dann, L Ridgewell — S Larsson, L Bowyer, B Ferguson, J McFadden (sub: Michel, 73) — C Jerome (sub: K Fahey, 56), C Benítez. Substitutes not used: Maik Taylor, G McSheffrey, F Queudrue, D Johnson, G Vignal.

Referee: S Bennett.

-------------------------------------------------------

Telegraph:

Chelsea 3 Birmingham City 0By Jason Burt

Birmingham City arrived at the Bridge with a painstakingly, proudly constructed record of 15 unbeaten matches. A wall of formidable resistance, surely? It met a wrecking ball.

Chelsea smashed them and, once more, sit handsomely on top of the Premier League pile. Lords of the manor. It was like a house of cards being disdainfully cuffed. And Joe Cole, dancing, jinking Joe on this form, was Chelsea’s ace in the pack. A diamond performance.
That will have pleased Franco Baldini, the watching England general manager, who had come to watch Joe Hart press his claim to an international call-up, only for him to be beaten twice.
That’s for the future. For now, it’s domestic matters and Chelsea are looking at home. The real deal. The December blues have gone. A new year, a new hope. And all this, all these goals – 16 in four matches - confidence and belief are being achieved without Didier Drogba.
Almost as remarkable as Birmingham’s run going into this encounter is the eyebrow-raising fact that manager Alex McLeish has been able to name the
same, unchanged starting XI for the last 10 of those games. This is a battle-hardened, well-drilled unit and one which, prior to the contest,
Carlo Ancelotti had expressed his concern about breaking down. “Compact” is the word often used to describe such teams but they were not that when, on six minutes, Chelsea struck.
The goal owed much to the skill of Joe Cole, working his way to the by-line down the right flank, easily past Lee Bowyer and standing the ball up precisely inside the six yard area for Florent
Malouda to simply head back across Hart and into the net. So much for fretting about breaking Birmingham down.
It was an all-too-easy concession for a team with their defensive resilience to permit.
Maybe it was too easy for Chelsea. For, then, three times Deco surrendered possession before Ashley Cole, returning from injury, did so only for Cameron Jerome’s shot to deflect off his strike partner Christian Benitez. With Petr Cech wrong-footed the ball, only just, cleared the crossbar.
Chelsea then went even closer. John Terry released Joe Cole and after his cross was blocked, the corner was swung in by Malouda. Terry met it, beating Roger Johnson to the ball at the far post, but his header struck the frame of the goal and the rebound was hooked away.
Soon after and Frank Lampard forced an alert save from Joe Hart with a first-time shot before the goalkeeper was diving to cover Joe Cole’s deflected drive.
By now, Chelsea were rampant. Ancelotti, understandably, had barely alerted his team from the one which had demolished Sunderland so comprehensively in their last home league game save for Ashley Cole’s return and Juliano Belletti injury.
On injuries, there was also a confirmation from Chelsea that Michael Essien will undergo an operation on his damaged knee ligaments in Paris on Thursday, although it does not alter his predicted return time of four-six weeks.
However, Ancelotti had altered his formation, back to a more fluid ‘box’ in midfield, with greater movement to try and drag Birmingham out of position.
It was working and, again, Hart was forced into a save, comfortably holding another Joe Cole effort. But it was wave after wave of attack.
The pressure told. And Joe Cole was, again, involved, skipping down the right before turning the ball inside to Michael Ballack who swept it on to Lampard.
The Birmingham midfield had stood off. Big mistake. Lampard steadied himself and fired a crisp, low shot across Hart and into the corner of the goal. Hart would have been disappointed to be beaten in that fashion, he appeared slow to react, even on such a greasy surface.
McLeish stood, shaking his head. His team had been unpicked, albeit by a team in rampant, relentless form and there own efforts at forward momentum were ponderous, hesitant. They had been ransacked inside the first-half.
It must have hurt McLeish. Certainly his team returned to the fray, after the interval, with more purpose but it was Chelsea threatening when, after a flowing sequence of passes Ashley Cole crossed for Ballack to head goalwards. There was direction but no power and Hart easily held on.
Ballack went closer, reaching a corner, and delicately lifting the ball goalwards only for it to sweep over the bar before Ashley Cole stubbed his shot weakly at Hart and Malouda fired wide with the goalkeeper stranded before Anelka’s curling effort struck Malouda.
Birmingham, however, sensed the opportunity to haul themselves back into contention and a gilt-edged chance fell to James McFadden. Clear on goal, he dragged his low drive wide.
They pushed on. A horrendous clearance by Ricardo Carvalho led to a rising toe-poke by Keith Fahey, which Cech clawed over. Chelsea had the final say.
Malouda broke away and slipped a pass to the onrushing Lampard who, easily, beat Hart with another low, assured shot. It was some display.


----------------------------------------------------

Independent:

Lampard cuts loose and sends Chelsea top
Chelsea 3 Birmingham City 0
By Mark Fleming

January was supposed to be a troublesome time for Chelsea with the absence of four key players at the Africa Cup of Nations but instead it has proved to be the perfect month for Carlo Ancelotti's side.
A dismissive victory over Birmingham City last night gave the Blues of London four wins out of four in 2010, and put them back on top of the Premier League table, one point ahead of Manchester United with a game in hand. The club have also refrained from signing any new players, which means Ancelotti will not have to come good on his promise to run naked around the club's training ground if any new players arrive. The only streak at Chelsea is a winning one.
A header from Florent Malouda and two strikes by Frank Lampard were enough to end Birmingham's remarkable run of 15 games unbeaten, which had stretched back to October.
Lampard took his tally to five goals from the four games since Ancelotti tinkered with his formation to accommodate the loss of Didier Drogba. Freed from his role on the left of a midfield diamond, Lampard has recaptured his form thanks to Ancelotti's decision to give the side greater width, in the form of Malouda and Joe Cole.
This was the Lampard of old, the man who has scored 143 goals for the club. With Malouda and Joe Cole rampaging down the flanks, the space has opened up for Lampard to take centre stage again. His two goals were vintage strikes from the edge of the area, his first teed up by Michael Ballack and the second following a pass by Malouda. One with his left, the other with his right. Lampard's rediscovered touch is good news for Fabio Capello, the England manager, in World Cup year; not so good for Chelsea's title rivals.
Chelsea's free-flowing style in the past month, which produced 17 goals in four games, has convinced Ancelotti not to change his formation when Drogba returns to the side for Saturday's trip to Burnley. "We need to have Drogba because he's a fantastic player and, with him, we can play the same football," Ancelotti said. "Our philosophy and aims won't change: to play good football and win. We'll maintain the same system."
A key part of that system was Deco, reinvented as the holding midfielder. Deco looks set to have a decisive role in the coming month, as Michael Essien is to have an operation in Paris tomorrow on a torn meniscus in his left knee and is unlikely to return before March. Deco may lack defensive stature but here he more than made up for it with his ability to maintain the pace of Chelsea's relentless attacks.
Joe Cole and Malouda also flourished against Birmingham, combining in the fifth minute to set Chelsea on their way with a goal of elegant simplicity. Cole dodged past Lee Bowyer down the right wing and lofted a cross to the goalmouth where Malouda rose to head in from three yards. Chelsea battered Birmingham for the majority of the game, hitting the post with a Ricardo Carvalho header before Lampard scored from Michael Ballack's pass in the 32nd minute.
Birmingham rallied late and James McFadden should have scored after 71 minutes, pulling his shot wide. In the dying moments Chelsea tore into Birmingham for a third goal. Deco found Malouda and the Frenchman moved the ball on to Lampard, who swung his left boot to complete another impressive victory.

Chelsea (4-3-2-1): Cech; Ivanovic, Carvalho, Terry, A Cole; Ballack, Deco, Lampard; J Cole (Zhirkov, 81), Malouda; Anelka (Sturridge, 88). Substitutes not used: Turnbull (gk), Ferreira, Matic, Alex, Borini.

Birmingham City (4-4-2): Hart; Carr, R Johnson, Dann, Ridgewell; Larsson, Ferguson, Bowyer, McFadden (Michel, 72); Benitez (Fahey, 56), Jerome. Substitutes not used: Taylor (gk), McSheffrey, Queudrue, D Johnson, Vignal.

Referee: S Bennett (Kent).
Man of the match: Deco.
Attendance: 41,293.

--------------------------------------------------------

Guardian:

Lampard takes Chelsea back to top after ending Birmingham City's run
Chelsea 3 Malouda 5, Lampard 32, Lampard 90 Birmingham City 0

Dominic Fifield at Stamford Bridge


Until now beating Birmingham City in a Premier League contest would not have constituted a statement of intent but, with this victory , Chelsea sent out a deafening message to their title rivals. Carlo Ancelotti's side returned to the top of the division, edging a point ahead of Manchester United and two of Arsenal, having barely broken sweat against the top flight's form team.
Chelsea's 35th successive unbeaten game at Stamford Bridge ended, in some style, Birmingham's 15-match undefeated sequence, which had stretched back to mid-October. The home supporters' only complaint was that, even at 3-0, the scoreline hardly reflected Chelsea's dominance, with Petr Cech redundant until the substitute Keith Fahey forced him into a fine save 13 minutes from time. A degree of profligacy was the hosts' only failing.
Ancelotti had pointed to a need to move the ball quickly, dragging opponents from their comfort zone in pursuit of possession, with his game plan reliant on the width provided by Florent Malouda and Joe Cole on either flank.
That much was achieved and Chelsea's attacking play was as exhilarating as it had been in the recent 7-2 demolition of Sunderland. Birmingham have more backbone at present than the Wearsiders, yet even they struggled to contain a rampant Chelsea. "There's no disgrace losing here," Alex McLeish, the Birmingham manager, said. "We were playing against a world-class side who have battered ­better teams than us."
Chelsea were a blur of subtle passing as they advanced into the attacking third and, when pressed, they used the long ball expertly to switch play. By the interval the visitors' unbeaten run was already condemned with the home side untouchable and enjoying a comfortable two-goal advantage.
The dynamism usually provided by Michael Essien, who will travel to Paris later this week to undergo exploratory surgery on his left knee, was not missed. The thrust was provided by a fluid ­midfield, the goals increasing the team's tally to 17 in the last four games.
There was encouragement to be had in the displays of the wingers. Malouda has flourished since his dismissal at St Andrew's in December, and it was the Frenchman who slid Frank Lampard away in stoppage time at the end to add gloss to the night with a thumped finish beyond the Birmingham goalkeeper Joe Hart. On the other wing, Ancelotti had urged Joe Cole to "show more quality on the ball" and was cheered to see the England international accelerate away from Lee Bowyer and beyond Scott Dann after five minutes before crafting an inviting cross that Malouda, peeling away from Stephen Carr, planted beyond the exposed Hart.
Cole's performance faded slightly as the game progressed – "He started well, but his performance was very good," Ancelotti said – but Chelsea were still irresistible. Lampard had proved as much with their second goal, cushioning Michael Ballack's squared pass some 20 yards out before firing a wonderfully precise shot that skimmed beyond the sprawling Hart, who was uncharacteristically slow to react, and into the far corner. Ancelotti said Lampard was "the best midfielder in the world at timing those runs into the box", with his personal goal tally now standing at 13 for the campaign.
Birmingham strained to disrupt Chelsea's rhythm, hope only flaring briefly when Fahey forced Cech to touch over the bar. Just for a fleeting moment Chelsea had appeared vulnerable. City have not endured a beating like this since the first few days of the Carson Yeung regime – their previous defeat had been at Arsenal at a time when it had appeared their priority this season would be a battle against relegation – and they will need to recover swiftly at home to fourth-placed ­Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.
McLeish hopes to add more strikers to his squad before next Monday's deadline, and Rangers' Kris Boyd could yet move to the Premier League. Chelsea's forward strength is also likely to be increased at the weekend, but from inside their own ranks. Salomon Kalou and Didier Drogba could return to the squad against Burnley at Turf Moor on Saturday. However, given this display, even Drogba, the club's leading scorer with 19, may find his selection far from certain.

--------------------------------------------------

Mail:

Chelsea 3 Birmingham 0: Carlo Ancelotti trades in diamond and hits the jackpot with three points
By Laura Williamson

If this was about making a statement of intent, Chelsea certainly delivered. Carlo Ancelotti’s side returned to the top of the Barclays Premier League table by ending Birmingham’s club record 15-match unbeaten run in emphatic style.
Birmingham may have held Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City to draws and can claim to have been the only side to have stopped Chelsea scoring in a game this season — in the 0-0 draw at St Andrew’s on Boxing Day — but there was no shame in the manner of Wednesday night’s defeat.
As Arsenal stumbled at Aston Villa, Chelsea were a team on a mission; intent on reclaiming the top spot after Manchester United sneaked, almost unnoticed, to the summit of the Premier League on Saturday.
In his programme notes, Ancelotti stressed Chelsea had ‘the opportunity to show why we were top of the league before Arsenal and Manchester United played their extra games’, emphasising ‘it is important that we return to the top as quickly as possible’.
The manager also disclosed he has joined in the table tennis tournament at the club’s training ground. It seems pool, the squad’s other pastime of choice at Cobham, isn’t quite to Ancelotti’s taste.
Back with the serious business, captain John Terry wasn’t shirking the pressure, either. ‘We need to show the mettle of champions,’ he declared in the programme.
With coach and captain making their intentions clear, it was no surprise that Chelsea began with such purpose.
Joe Cole and Florent Malouda, instrumental in providing width in the 7-2 mauling of Sunderland 11 days ago, returned to the starting line-up and combined to put the hosts ahead after just six minutes. Cole drove down the right wing to the by-line and crossed to Malouda, who headed in, unmarked, to give Chelsea the lead.
With Deco in a holding role, Frank Lampard and Michael Ballack just in front and Malouda and Cole hugging their respective touchlines, Chelsea gave Birmingham’s four-man midfield the runaround.
Birmingham boss Alex McLeish reverted to a five-man midfield when James McFadden was taken off in the second half, but the damage had been well and truly done.
McLeish said: ‘We were caught a little bit flat-footed and the first goal was too easy. But we played against a world-class side. They’ve battered better teams than us and we had chances at 2-0.
‘Chelsea are one of the favourites, never mind for the Premier League, but for the Champions League. It’s no disgrace for us to lose. I’m not disappointed with my players at all. They deserve enormous credit for the run they’ve been on.’
With Ashley Cole overlapping on the left, Nicolas Anelka dropping deep to win the ball and Joe Cole and Malouda exchanging flanks at will, you can understand Ancelotti’swillingness to abandon his favoured diamond formation for a style that encourages width.
Didier Drogba returns from Africa Cup of Nations duty today to find Chelsea have flourished without him and Ancelotti acknowledged: ‘We’ve done very well in January and I want to thank my team. They have done a fantastic job without the African players.’
Joe Cole was the orchestrator for his side’s second goal, charging once again to the right corner flag and cutting the ball back to Ballack, who squared it to Lampard.The England midfielder dispatched a right-foot shot into the bottom left-hand corner.
Ancelotti, again hinting Chelsea will continue in their more fluid formation, added: ‘Lampard is using good movement because we use all the pitch to attack. He’s the best running midfielder in the world — he can just run into the box at the right time to score.’
With half an hour gone and showing little attacking threat, Birmingham must have feared they would go the same way as Sunderland. But the visitors did not concede again until the final minute of the match, when Lampard scored his 12th goal of the season with a cool finish from Malouda’s pass.
The move had been started by Deco, who performed his more defensive role with great composure and discipline, just as he had in the FA Cup win at Preston last Saturday. Michael Essien, who has torn the medial ligament in his left knee and will be out for up to six weeks, will perhaps not be such a great loss after all.
Ballack went close at the beginning of the second half, aiming a tame header at Joe Hart after a deep cross from Ashley Cole, and the Germany captain then shot over from a Malouda cross.
McLeish was fuming when a Sebastian Larsson cross-field pass went out for a Chelsea throw-in, but could only fold his arms in frustration as Joe Cole surged past three Birmingham players to create an opportunity for Malouda to cut in from the right and shoot wide of the left post.
It was that sort of evening for the City manager. Barry Ferguson forced an acrobaticsave from Petr Cech late on, but Chelsea’s 17 attempts at goal — compared to just three for Birmingham — told their own story.
With Chelsea in this mood, one fears for their next Premier League opponents at Stamford Bridge. That is third-placed Arsenal, who visit on February 7. What a match that promises to be.

---------------------------------------------------

Sun:

Chelsea 3 Birmingham 0

IAN McGARRY at Stamford Bridge

Manchester and the Carling Cup may have stolen centre stage last night but it was Chelsea who roared into the Premier League spotlight.
The charge was led by midfield dynamo Frank Lampard, whose two goals helped take Carlo Ancelotti's side back to the top of the table.
A 3-0 victory over in-form Birmingham made progress look easy but this was a win built on hard work and forged from experience.
In the engine room, Lampard and Florent Malouda fuelled Chelsea's title tilt and provided the cutting edge.
They now lead United by a point and Arsenal by two - with a game in hand over both. It puts the Stamford Bridge team firmly in the driving seat.
More impressive, though, was a win which ended the country's best unbeaten run of the season.
Manager Alex McLeish had guided Birmingham to 15 games without defeat prior to last night's clash.
Furthermore, they were unlucky to take only a point from both United and Chelsea at St Andrew's.
So everything pointed to an uneasy evening for the home side but that did not account for the way in which the visitors defended.
After just five minutes, Joe Cole was allowed too much space on the right side by Lee Bowyer and his cross was inch-perfect.
Malouda was more than happy to collect the pass at the back post and his header was as comfortable as an old pair of slippers as it hit the back of the net. It was the perfect start and McLeish's side were visibly stung by the shock of conceding.
The combination of Scott Dann and Roger Johnson, which had withstood greater attacks than Chelsea's, looked unsure.
As Cole and Deco buzzed outside their area, the middle men screamed at their full-backs Stephen Carr and Liam Ridgewell
It didn't make a lot of difference.
Chelsea persisted and their desire to get back to the top of the league was even more evident just after the half hour.
Branislav Ivanovic carried the ball on the right before laying it back to Michael Ballack.
The Germany captain squared inside to Lampard, who picked his spot with brilliant precision to claim the second goal.
On the bench, McLeish held his head in his hands. Clearly everything he had told his team about defending had failed to make an impact.
Around Stamford Bridge, the shouts of frustration from the visitors' bench were audible over the cheers of the home fans.
Despite being the form team of the division, Birmingham seemed to leave their recent performances behind.
McLeish had a right to expect more from a team that beat Everton at Goodison in the FA Cup last weekend.
Unfortunately, all he got was more disappointment. James McFadden slashed a shot wide when he could have made a game of it. And Chelsea did not let up much in the second half either.
As much as Birmingham tried to break out, they always seemed to end up in their own half.
Joe Cole and Deco pressed on and passed the ball from the back with dangerous precision.
With so much quality throughout the team, making possession count was barely a chore for Chelsea.
And, just after half-time, Ashley Cole found himself with the kind of space and time most players only dream of.
He opted to lob a deep cross towards Ballack at the far post but keeper Joe Hart was in the mood to make this a contest over 90 minutes.
New midfield signing Michel came on and showed that he can bring some vision as Birmingham go forward - but there was no holding Chelsea back.
Lamps tapped in the third from Malouda's pass when the contest was already over to bring his own personal tally to four in his last three games.
On this form, trips to the North West to face Burnley and Hull over the next week look far less daunting than they might.
And the fact that Arsenal failed to capitalise in the first game of their crucial two-week period by drawing at Aston Villa made this result all the sweeter.
United can brag about reaching Wembley all they like but the cold truth tells a tale of Chelsea in the lead where it really counts.
No drama, no fuss, no problem. Chelsea are top - and on this form they look like they can stay there.

Sunday, January 24, 2010

preston north end 2-0



Sunday Times

Nicolas Anelka sets Chelsea on way to victory
Preston 0 Chelsea 2

Jonathan Northcroft, football correspondent, at Deepdale


THE FA Cup revived Sir Alex Ferguson’s reign at Manchester United but his son Darren will have to make Preston come alive in the league. Chelsea, slick and ruthless, ensured there would be no upset here. This was only Ferguson’s second game in charge and Deepdale denizens dispersed with positives to consider after their team’s organised and occasionally enterprising display suggested their manager is already beginning to have an impact.
Chelsea, though, were hardly over-extended and assured their passage to the fifth round with 44 minutes still to play when Dean Sturridge scored to make it 2-0 after Nicolas Anelka had opened the scoring. “Professional” was how Ray Wilkins, Chelsea’s assistant manager, described his team’s performance.
After Anelka’s 37th-minute goal, two moments of Preston carelessness decided the final scoreline.
Two minutes after Anelka’s goal, Darren Carter was off balance and sent the ball corkscrewing wide from a few feet out. “It was one of those things and he’ll need picking up because we know it’s a bad miss,” Ferguson said. “If he’d scored we’d have been level at half-time.”
Preston’s second moment of player malfunction involved their defenders. Youl Mawene and Sean St Ledger were stalwart otherwise, but the back four was disorganised when John Terry was allowed an unchallenged header from a corner on 47 minutes. Andy Lonergan made a reflex save but the rebound fell to Sturridge, who lashed in his third goal in two FA Cup appearances.
Anelka, inset, was the star of the show. The Frenchman has grown so much this season that he performs as a winger, playmaker and finisher, depending on Chelsea’s need, and after spending the early part of the game creating for others, it was Anelka who took the scoring responsibility just when his side required a goal to confirm their superiority.
Preston lost the ball on the edge of Chelsea’s area. Yury Zhirkov moved it to Deco, who found Michael Ballack, and the German measured an expert pass to Anelka, who cut on to his right foot and shot from the edge of the area. Lonergan, who had kept Preston in touch early on, could only make a partial block and the ball careered off the goalkeeper high into his net.
The second half was straightforward until Ferguson switched to 4-4-2 and sent on Jon Parkin, a striker so tall and meaty he made Terry look like David Haye beside his Nikolai Valuev. Preston asked a few late questions and bad refereeing by Mike Dean also prevented Chelsea scoring more.
On Tuesday, Preston go to Peterborough and Ferguson will hope for his first win at his former club. Chelsea were too good, but he may get it.

Star man: Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea)
Yellow card: Preston: Hart
Referee: M Dean Attendance: 23,119

Preston: Lonergan 8, Hart 6, Mawene 7, St Ledger 7, Davidson 6, Sedgwick 6 (Mayor 72min), Chaplow 6, Jones 6, Carter 5 (Parkin 59min, 5), Wallace 5, Brown 6 (Mellor 72min)

Chelsea: Hilario 6, Ferreira 7, Alex 6, Terry 6, Zhirkov 6, Belletti 5 (Malouda 19min, 6), Ballack 7, Lampard 7 (J Cole 66min), Deco 6, Anelka 8, Sturridge 7

-------------------------------------------------

Telegraph:

Preston North End 0 Chelsea 2
By Rory Smith at Deepdale

A new manager, scion of a famous family, making his home debut against the FA Cup holders, the favourites for the Premier League title, in a year in which Manchester United and Liverpool have already found themselves embarrassed by lower league opposition.
Preston North End, and Deepdale, crackled with the magic of the cup. Chelsea, though, do not do romance, only victory.
Far from their imperious best, Carlo Ancelotti’s side simply did enough to swat Preston’s challenge aside, taking the lead in slightly fortuitous fashion through Nicolas Anelka before seeing Daniel Sturridge double it with the first attack of the second half. All hope extinguished and progression secure. The holders are on the march.
Preston can, at least, take solace from the fact that they put up more resistance than Sunderland proffered in the Premier League last week.
Darren Ferguson had highlighted on the eve of the game that such a fixture would give his new team a taste of life among the elite, the status he has been tasked with bringing to Deepdale. He will have seen enough to know the gap in quality is bridgeable.
True, Preston had to curb the attacking instincts usually associated with Ferguson’s - any Ferguson’s - sides. For long periods, they not only parked the bus, but jack-knifed a couple of articulated trucks in front of Andy Lonergan’s goal. Disciplined and determined, until Anelka struck, it worked.
The hosts even had a couple of early chances themselves, both Callum Davidson and Richard Chaplow calling Hilario, standing in for Petr Cech, into action.
Chelsea, as was to be expected, had all of the possession, all of the territory, the neater passages of play. Their threat, though, was fleeting.
Yuri Zhirkov’s exchange of passes frayed Lonergan’s nerves, and his shot stung his palms, but so dogged were Preston that their illustrious guests found their every move shadowed, their space reduced, their rhythm disrupted by the breath on the back of their necks.
Only twice did they pick their way through. The first, a tap in for Sturridge after Frank Lampard had played in Zhirkov, was ruled out as Mike Dean, rashly, called play back for a foul on Lampard in the build-up. Alex struck the free kick, fiercely, from 25 yards, but could only find Lonergan’s wrist.
Preston had no salvation from the second. Michael Ballack, tracked assiduously for much of the game, ghosted into space in midfield, no marker on his heels. He found Anelka, who cut inside and powered a shot through Lonergan’s legs. Lancastrian hearts sank.
FA Cup lore, though, dictates that the underdogs, no matter how Sisyphean their task, must be given one chance to overcome the odds. Preston are no exception. Just moments after falling behind, Chris Brown looked to have looped a header over Hilario, only for the Portuguese, all untucked shirt and shambling gait, to extend a fingertip. Darren Carter ballooned the rebound over the bar.
Chelsea were not likely to be so generous twice. Within a minute of the restart, Sturridge had bundled home from a corner. Whether and if were replaced by how many as the question of the moment.
Any more than two would have been harsh on Preston, but they were fortunate Chelsea found themselves in generous mood. Ballack went close, Anelka and Sturridge missed a pair of chances apiece. Joe Cole managed to waste three.
A glimmer of hope, of pride remained, but that was all. Chelsea’s serene, ominous progress continues.


----------------------------------------------------

Observer:

Chelsea leave Darren Ferguson still searching for first Preston win
Preston North End 0 Chelsea 2 Anelka 37, Sturridge 47

Paul Wilson at Deepdale

"Beast!" hissed the home crowd, respectfully, as the portly Jon Parkin was sent on to chase a two-goal deficit for the last half hour. "You fat bastard!" bellowed the Chelsea fans in the Bill Shankly end.
Not particularly romantic, granted, but you cannot make a fairytale out of every FA Cup mismatch. At least Darren Ferguson's second defeat in his short period in charge of Preston was nowhere near as grim as the DVD of Chelsea's 7-2 thrashing of Sunderland with which he has been torturing himself all week, and after taking on a virtually full-strength Chelsea team in his first home game the new manager's task can only get easier.
"Carlo wants to take the FA Cup ­seriously, and that's why we put out such a strong outfit," Chelsea's assistant manager, Ray Wilkins, said. "We are the holders, we value the competition and we want to hang on to the trophy."
Defensively, Preston just about held up, though once Chelsea made certain of victory with a second goal at the start of the second half a certain amount of urgency left their game and, it must be said, the stadium as a whole. It was the lack of attacking verve that flattened the cup-tie atmosphere.
Ferguson has taken over a solid, if not stolid, Championship side, but not one equipped to deliver upsets against teams of Chelsea's quality. When Burnley were in this division last season they looked hungry enough to eat Premier League opponents alive when cup competitions brought them together, and sometimes did. Preston just look well-fed, Lancashire hotpots to Chelsea's rucola with parmesan shavings, never more so than when Neil Mellor joined Parkin in a front row that would frighten a few rugby teams but made little impression on John Terry and Alex.
"We had chances, I thought my lads did fine," Ferguson said. "If we could have just turned round level, and we missed a good chance to do just that, it might have been a different game, but Chelsea are full of world-class players and they can strike at any moment. We can take heart from this, if we can just get that first win I can see us kicking on a bit."
Chelsea would have struck earlier than they did but had a perfectly good goal disallowed before they took the lead, Florent Malouda stabbing home Yuri Zhirkov's cross just as Mike Dean was blowing his whistle for a foul on Frank Lampard in the build up. "It was the wrong decision, but these things happen," Wilkins said. Michael Ballack was unable to profit from the free-kick, so perhaps feeling sheepish about failing to play advantage the referee awarded Chelsea another free-kick five minutes later for a slight obstruction, from which a crashing shot by Alex brought a save from Andy Lonergan.
Preston could not make the most of these let-offs, failing to put the ever ­nervous Henrique Hilário under any real pressure until they had gone a goal behind. Ironically, after doing most of the probing and attacking in the first half, Chelsea broke through when the home side gave them a rare ­opportunity to break on the counter. Chris Sedgwick had the ball pinched off his toes on the edge of the Chelsea area by Zhirkov, ­Ballack brought it through the middle and played in Nicolas Anelka, who beat Lonergan with a low shot that Sean St Ledger could only help into the net.
Briefly the home side threatened an equaliser, and might have had one had Darren Carter made a better contact in front of goal when Hilário could only palm away Chris Brown's header. The midfielder was in the right position for a follow up but found himself stretching for the ball and shinned it over the bar. That was to be Preston's only chance of getting back on terms because Chelsea scored again two minutes into the second half. Malouda swung over a corner, John Terry's header was stopped on the line, and Daniel Sturridge was first to pounce on the rebound for his third FA Cup goal of the season.
He could have had a couple more in the second half, as could Anelka and Joe Cole, though most of Chelsea's efforts lacked conviction and Lonergan was equal to the ones on target. The only opportunity for consolation that came Preston's way fell to Parkin in stoppage time, and he headed high and wide. More jeers from the Shankly end. Still, at least Burnley lost too.

------------------------------------------------------

Independent:

Ferguson no match for Chelsea this time
Preston NE 0 Chelsea 2: Sir Alex's advice unable to help Preston's new manager as Anelka and Sturridge see Cup holders ease through

By Steve Tongue at Deepdale

A misty Lancashire lunchtime and an opposing manager called Ferguson held no terrors after all for the FA Cup holders, who sauntered into the last 16 of the competition despite leaving out half a dozen of the players who had demolished Sunderland the previous week. For much of the time it must have felt like a training game in leafy Surrey as Chelsea knocked the ball around among themselves while doughty locals bellowed "hit him!" or "get stuck in!"
Preston, 17th in the Championship, had to get close enough first and rarely managed that. Darren Ferguson's new team were reduced mainly to counter-attacking, the irony being that Chelsea's opening goal from Nicolas Anelka came from just such a break of their own. They never lived as dangerously as Liverpool had done here in the third round a year ago, when Fernando Torres did not make the tie safe until the final minute. Yesterday Chelsea's second, from Dean Sturridge, arrived right at the start of the second half and effectively killed a game that was already looking destined for the grave.
Sir Tom Finney's proud old club now have only two wins in 13 games to their name, the start of that run having caused the panic-stricken sacking of Alan Irvine. His successor said he had consulted Sir Alex about Preston's potential but not about playing Chelsea. It was difficult to see what difference any further insight would have made, given the gulf in quality between the two sides and Ferguson Jnr was happy enough with his new team, who had suffered a 4-2 defeat in his first match at Bristol City. "No complaints," he said. "I thought we gave Chelsea a game. They're a fantastic team with world-class players. Our players had taken confidence from the first half but two minutes later the whole place is deflated."
He may want them to play more football but Preston's few opportunities tended to come from deep crosses beyond the far post. Not until John "Beats" Parkin came on after an hour did they go more direct. When Neil Mellor, once of Liverpool, joined him for the latter stages, it was like a heavyweight tag team charging at John Terry and Alex, who were only briefly discomfited.
"A very professional performance," said Ray Wilkins, doing media duty for Carlo Ancelotti. "We scored at good times in the game. Preston get the ball in the box with a bit of quality."
Chelsea's first goal followed a rare Preston attack. Deco took possession and fed Michael Ballack, who in turn put Anelka in to score his 11th goal of the season past a goalkeeper unsighted by his centre-half Sean St Ledger. That should have been the second goal but Mike Dean, the referee, had denied them 10 minutes earlier. Frank Lampard was clattered as he slid a pass to Yuri Zhirkov, whose cross was turned in by Florent Malouda as Dean whistled for the original foul. By waiting only a few seconds, the official could have allowed justice to be done.
Malouda was on at that early stage as a substitute for Juliano Belletti, who had injured a knee. Deco, having started wide on the left of a 4-1-2-3 formation, dropped back to become the holding man, but Preston rarely looked capable of taking advantage. Their what-if moment came just before half-time. The right-back Michael Hart lofted a long ball into the penalty area, where Hilario, not as tall a goalkeeper as Petr Cech, had to stretch to the full to push it out; Darren Carter could do no better than slice it high and wide.
Any encouragement that the home team and a capacity crowd could derive from a near-miss was squashed within two minutes of the restart. At Bristol City, Preston conceded three goals from set-pieces and now there was another; Malouda swung over a corner, Terry's header was pushed out by Andy Lonnergan and Sturridge, the scorer of two goals in the last round against Watford, grabbed another.
Chelsea were not inconvenienced by taking off Lampard and replacing him with Joe Cole, who is desperate for a run of games in World Cup year. There will be plenty more opportunities for him as Chelsea embark on a run of five games in 15 days.

Attendance: 23,119
Referee: Mike Dean
Man of the match: Anelka
Match rating: 6/10

---------------------------------------------------------

Mail:

Preston 0 Chelsea 2:
Nicolas Anelka and Daniel Sturridge strike as FA Cup holders sail past North End

Joe Bernstein

Like father, like son. On his home debut as Preston North End manager, Darren Ferguson found Carlo Ancelotti as awkward an adversary as dad Sir Alex might have predicted. Ancelotti once knocked Ferguson Snr out of a Champions League semi-final and came out on top again when Chelsea beat Manchester United 1-0 in the Premier League earlier this season. This time, it was young Darren who felt the Italian's ruthlessness with any romantic notion an FA Cup giantkilling wiped out from virtually the opening whistle. The Cup holders were strong, experienced, dominated possession and territory, and always set for the fifth round, particularly once striker Nicolas Anelka had fired them ahead after 37 minutes.
Preston's one fleeting moment of potential glory came on the stroke of half-time when Darren Carter had a great chance three yards out. He missed, the teams turned around and, straight from the restart, Daniel Sturridge poached a second. Ancelotti allowed assistant Ray Wilkins to speak for Chelsea after a victory that keeps them on course for a potential Treble and a third FA Cup triumph in four years. 'It was a very professional display from us. We put out a strong team and showed as holders we don't want to give the trophy up. I didn't see the great chance Preston had - Carlo was standing in my way! They tell me the lad should have scored but he didn't and we settled down again. We scored at good times in the game.'
Ferguson's players, whose run of poor form cost Alan Irvine his job last month, never looked capable of unsettling a Chelsea side that included John Terry and Frank Lampard. They hardly got out of their own half for 30 minutes and were fortunate referee Mike Dean failed to play advantage when Lampard was fouled and therefore ruled out Florent Malouda's strike seconds later that ended up in the back of the net.'We wish Mike had hung on for a few seconds,' chuckled Wilkins.No matter. Chelsea broke the deadlock soon after when Preston were made to pay for launching a rare attack of their own. Deco led the counter with a fabulous pass to Michael Ballack and he fed Anelka, the Frenchman firing his 11th goal of the season, with goalkeeper Andy Lonergan unsighted by his own defender Sean St Ledger.
Preston should have been level with the last meaningful attack of the half but after Hilario had parried a Chris Brown header, Carter scooped the rebound over.
'It was a bad miss and when they scored again, it killed us,' said Ferguson. 'Chelsea are a fabulous side. We had the ball in a good position and 10 seconds later they have scored the first goal. That's what they can do.'The tie was made safe after 47 minutes, when Terry headed a corner goalwards despite being held by Youle Mawene. Baptism of fire: Ferguson has lost his first two games in the Deepdale hotseat
Lonergan managed to block but was powerless as Sturridge, whose value was set at £6.5million by a tribunal following his move from Manchester City, poked it home. ‘We are pleased for Dan. It’s hard for our young men here when they have to get past players like Nicolas (Anelka) and Didier (Drogba) but he has talent and is working hard at it,’ said Wilkins.Captain Terry, who lifted the trophy in 2007 and again last year, said: ‘It is always an amazing day at Wembley which is why I am desperate to get there again.’Ferguson said Celtic had made a second enquiry for £3.5m-rated defender St Ledger but added: ‘They’re a million miles away with their valuation.’

------------------------------------------------------

NOTW:

CARLO'S SWAT SQUAD BRUSH ASIDE FERGIE LAD
Preston 0 Chelsea 2

By Martin Hardy


RELENTLESS. The swatting of Sir Alex's son on his home bow. The confidence in the stride towards a potential Double few have still to mention.
January, the month when the Africa Cup of Nations takes its toll on Carlo Ancelotti's men. Really?
No evidence still to back up that particular claim.
This was another reminder to Manchester United and Arsenal that Chelsea's groove remains the most consistent.
A timely reminder that, as Cup holders, they care enough to send out a team with backbone and strength. That they won't lose their crown on a beach in Brazil.
There was just one slip. One moment when the old Cup gave its usual opportunity to a budding hero.
Fancy it, Darren Carter? Fancy making a game of it? Sadly, he didn't.
It was not quite an 'and Smith must score' moment - a la the 1983 final when Brighton missed the chance to beat Manchester United. Has that bloke slept since by the way?
But on the stroke of half-time, Carter had the opportunity potentially to make his own little mark, to scare the flash southerners, to make them think. Yet from a yard, he could not manage it.
Michael Hart crossed deep from the right. Chris Brown for once emerged from the all-encompassing shadow of John Terry and Alex to loop a header to the far post that forced keeper Henrique Hilario to dive full stretch to fingertip the ball into the path of the Preston midfielder.
Even with Terry on the line, it was a dolly. From underneath the crossbar, with momentum carrying him forward, Deepdale braced itself for an equaliser, a chance to believe.
To go in at half-time level and with Ferguson ready to blow inspiration into their tightening lungs.
But Carter missed, striking the ball awkwardly with the inside of his right calf, watching in despair as Preston's and his own moment in the sun went skywards.
There was never a way to come back from that. A miss indicative of a glaring gulf in class. If Reading's win at Liverpool and Leeds' victory at Old Trafford have done but one thing, it is too sharpen the senses of those big boys still in the competition.
When the window of opportunity opens, at least hit the target, at least frighten the holders.
Ferguson junior knew its significance, admitting: "It was a bad miss."
His side were already behind by then, already blowing hard and realising with each double-quick pass, the gulf in front of them.
That was reinforced eight minutes before the interval, when they had the ball, when they could sense an opening.
But within a matter of seconds of Chris Sedgwick being dispossessed, Chelsea had their lead.
They broke with lightening pace, Michael Ballack finding Nicolas Anelka, who toyed with Youl Mawene before driving a right-footed shot through the excellent Andy Lonergan.
Blink and you could have missed it.
The change from end to end, from defence to attack. It should have deflated Ferguson's men.
But they should already have been behind, referee Mike Dean blowing a fraction too soon on the edge of the Preston penalty area when Mawene crashed into Frank Lampard.
Again, in seconds the ball had fizzed to Yury Zhirkov on the left, and then found Florent Malouda, who tucked his shot past Lonergan.
Dean's whistle had barely stopped blowing. He was unfortunate. Chelsea were showboating their speed. The warning could not be heeded.
The difference, for all the promptings of Richard Chaplow and the stoicism of Lonergan, was just too great.
Deep down at Deepdale, you have to acknowledge that even had Carter tucked away his chance, Chelsea had the firepower to react.
It may offer the Preston midfielder a crumb of comfort as he struggles to stop the moment repeating over and over in his mind.
His head, like those of his team-mates, had not cleared of his miss when Chelsea officially killed the game.
Less than two minutes had been played in the second half when Terry rose to head a Malouda corner goalwards. Lonergan again did his bit but Daniel Sturridge reacted quickest to score from close range. Game over.
Still, Anelka refused to relent, to take it easy. With 20 minutes remaining, another stirring run ended with Ballack holding his head in his hands as Lonergan reacted instinctively to tip the effort over his crossbar.
The French forward was unplayable.
Behind him, Terry and Alex were impregnable, Frank Lampard probed and Deco cantered.
And the introduction of Joe Cole, a player with something to prove as his contract ticks down, further turned the screw. He was here and there and everywhere, in pursuit of a goal, in pursuit of a new deal.
It was a harsh first day at the home office for Ferguson. He did not over do his introduction, no fists waving or centre spot bows.
His team were not put to the sword, that may well have been his prime objection for a struggling Championship side at quarter-to-one yesterday afternoon.
On the hour mark he had sent on Jon Parkin. A white flag going up. A big one.
The expanding Beast swapped shirts with Terry at the finish. The Chelsea captain could have put it up in a boat and with a tail wind, been home in double-quick time.
For the most part yesterday, as is increasingly becoming the norm for Ancelotti's men, it was plain sailing.

---------------------------------------------------


Sunday, January 17, 2010

sunderland 7-2


Sunday Times

Chelsea score a magnificent seven
Chelsea 7 Sunderland 2
Brian Glanville at Stamford Bridge

AS STEVE BRUCE, Sunderland’s rueful manager, forlornly admitted: “You can’t come to Chelsea without eight first-team players and hope to avoid disaster.” Though Sunderland might be said, with some irony, to have had the last word, or at least the last goal, knocked home almost at the climax of stoppage time by Darren Bent, overall they looked sadly invertebrate.
Bruce admitted that every time Chelsea attacked, they seemed likely to score. As Chelsea’s Italian manager, Carlo Ancelotti, emphasised — it was done without the team’s four African players, including Didier Drogba and the motor of the midfield, Michael Essien, both of whom are in Angola for the Africa Cup of Nations.
Many years ago, when asked why he did not recruit talent from below the Sahara, Ken Bates, then owner of Chelsea, said it was because African players were so frequently absent at international tournaments. So they were again, in a competition which takes place every two years rather than four — the habit of the World Cup and the European Championship. But yesterday you couldn’t see the difference.
Drogba, under the aegis of Ancelotti, has at long last formed a productive partnership with Nicolas Anelka. Yesterday, in his absence, Anelka played alone up front and was simply irrepressible. He scored a couple of goals and could have had several more, notably after four minutes of the second half when a ferocious right-footer from distance was pushed gallantly on to the woodwork by Marton Fulop, Sunderland’s besieged but defiant goalkeeper.
It was Anelka after eight minutes of the first half, set up by Juliano Belletti and Michael Ballack, who unlocked the floodgates, coolly dribbling wide of Fulop and guiding the ball into the open net. Anelka’s other goal came when Fulop, rushing out to oppose the second-half substitute Yury Zhirkov, could only push the ball to Anelka, who found the unguarded goal. In fairness to Fulop, he might have been distracted by the attempt of Daryl Murphy to intercept the ball.
“I think, maybe, the best performance of the season,” said Ancelotti. “We did very well. Started very well in the first minute. I’m very happy. It was important for us because we were without the African players. We could have had some problems, but the others played very well.” Not surprisingly, he praised Anelka: “Nicolas did very well today. He is a fantastic striker, the top striker.”
Fantastic, indeed, was the 17th-minute goal by the French attacker Florent Malouda, a glorious solo effort not from the left wing — his familiar habitat — but from a central position, in which he left Sunderland’s defence bemused and finished by scoring with his right foot, rather than his more familiar left The ears of Ashley Cole were burning, too. Cole, who had to come off at the break with an ankle injury, inflicted consistent damage down Sunderland’s right flank and scored a goal which his manager described as a “fantastic moment”.
That goal, Chelsea’s third, came midway through the first half when Ashley Cole, seemingly with little hope of making his way through a packed defence, skilfully twisted his way from the left past stopper Lorik Cana — playing out of position in midfield — and went on to beat the unfortunate Fulop. Then, it was a low cross on 34 minutes by Ashley Cole which gave Frank Lampard such an easy goal. Where, you wondered at that moment, was Sunderland’s central defence?
Ancelotti had praise, too, for Joe Cole, but for those of us who have watched this player since the days when he inspired West Ham United’s youth team, this wasn’t quite the Cole we have long admired.
This may have had something to do with his slightly indeterminate position, notionally on the right but frequently moving into the middle of midfield where, despite all his England caps on the flanks, he is surely at his best and most creative. Sometimes he tended to give the ball away too easily but there were sufficient clever touches and neat passes to make one hope that he will be given more time in the middle, where England still lack a genuine playmaker.
He could, in fact, have put Chelsea ahead in only the second minute when Malouda set him up but Cole’s shot was blocked point-blank by Fulop. Not that Chelsea’s own goalkeeper, Petr Cech, so often, perhaps unfairly, the butt of criticism this season, was given a day off. In the midst of this avalanche of Chelsea goals, Bolo Zenden, the much-travelled Dutch midfielder, got one back for Sunderland 11 minutes into the second half. Earlier, Cech had to come to Chelsea’s rescue when an untypical mistake by John Terry, who was rested for the second half, put the home goal in danger, but Cech was quickly off his line to block. Ballack, in the 52nd minute, and Lampard, in the last, completed the scoring.
“We had our backsides well and truly kicked. We couldn't get near them today, it was a procession, and we can only hope that we respond,” said Bruce. He had reason to lament his many absentees, three of whom were established centre-backs, but having said and acknowledged this, one had to record that the Sunderland team showed little commitment and resilience. Butchered to make a Chelsea holiday, you might say, but Chelsea for their part might ask, who needs the Africans?

Star man: Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea) Yellow card: Sunderland: Bardsley

Referee: C Foy Attendance: 41,776

CHELSEA: Cech 7, Ivanovic 7, Carvalho 7, Terry 7 (Alex h-t, 7), A Cole 9 (Zhirkov h-t, 7), J Cole 6, Ballack 7, Lampard 7, Belletti 7, Malouda 7, Anelka 9

SUNDERLAND: Fulop 7, Bardsley 5, Da Silva 5, Cana 5, McCartney 5, Malbranque 6 (Zenden h-t, 6), Henderson 5, Meyler 5, Murphy 6 (Campbell 71min, 5), Bent 6, Jones 5

-----------------------------------------------
Telegraph:

Chelsea 7 Sunderland 2
By Ben Findon at Stamford Bridge

Table-topping Chelsea raced to their most emphatic win of the season with an imperious destruction of an all-at-sea Sunderland.
Nicolas Anelka struck twice and Florent Malouda, Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard and Michael Ballack were also on target with Bolo Zenden and Darren Bent mustering Sunderland's consolations.
How Steve Bruce's side must dread the sight of Chelsea. They were crushed 5-0 in London last season and outclassed 3-1 at the Stadium of Light in August. They were lambs to the slaughter as Chelsea turned on the style once again.
The rout was underway within eight minutes, Anelka turning clear of an uncertain Lorik Cana, sprinting forward and stepping around goalkeeper Marton Fulop before rolling the ball home.
Sunderland had already been fortunate to escape when Joe Cole scuffed a shot at the Sunderland goalkeeper and Ashley Cole headed wide, and the tone of the afternoon was well and truly set.
Chelsea, despite being without their Africa Cup of Nations contingent, were two clear in the 17th minute.Malouda won the ball from George McCartney in the centre circle, skirted two ieneffective challenges and buried a shot from just inside the penalty area.
Six minutes later it was three, Ashley Cole showing delightful control, first to slip the ball passed Cana, then to curl it beyond Fulop.
Anelka should have scored again when put through by Juliano Belletti but no matter, within a minute Chelsea had fashioned a superb fourth goal. Anelka played in the overlapping Ashley Cole and his cross was met perfectly by Lampard, who slid the ball between a wrong-footed Fulop and the near post.
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti withdrew John Terry and the marauding Ashley Cole at the interval, sending on Alex and Yury Zhirkov, but there was no respite for Sunderland.
Anelka's powerful drive cannoned off the underside of the visitors' crossbar before, in the 52nd minute, an unmarked Ballack headed home from Joe Cole's free-kick.
There was a moment of respite for Sunderland when Stamford Bridge old boy Zenden, introduced as a half-time replacement for Steed Malbranque, scored a 56th-minute consolation but Chelsea were far from done.
Anelka claimed his second and Chelsea's sixth when presented with an open goal after Fulop's miscued punch in the 65th minute. Lampard registered another as the 90 minutes ended and Bent posted a footnote for Sunderland in the last seconds. Blue murder indeed.

--------------------------------------------------------

Observer:

Anelka stars in magnificent seven for Chelsea as Sunderland suffer
Chelsea 7 Anelka 8, Malouda 17, Cole, A 22, Lampard 34, Ballack 52, Anelka 65, Lampard 90 Sunderland 2 Zenden 56, Bent 90

Amy Lawrence at Stamford Bridge

This was supposed to be Chelsea in a moment of weakness.
Against opponents as subordinate as Sunderland they could even have left out a handful of Europeans as well as the Africans who are on international duty in Angola and still cruised to victory.
It was as if Steve Bruce sent out 11 cones. The invitation for Chelsea to enjoy themselves, express themselves and do wonders for their goal difference was accepted stylishly, as Carlo Ancelotti's men treated their audience to an exhibition. A 4-0 scoreline after 34 ­minutes actually flattered Sunderland. Absurd but true.
Nicolas Anelka was exceptional and has rarely looked so boyishly happy. Ashley Cole scored a solo goal of such distinction, and attacked with such marauding intent, that he was a contender for man of the match even though he played only 45 minutes before being withdrawn to protect an ankle knock. Florent Malouda's strike was not far behind in terms of individual skill.
Juliano Belletti excelled in the holding midfield role. It would have been a complete team performance had Petr Cech, John Terry and company had anything much to do.
"It sends an important message for us," Ancelotti said. "We can play without important players like [Didier] Drogba, [Michael] Essien, [Salomon] Kalou. Without the African players we could have had problems but I always said we have a fantastic squad and the players that came in did very well. Maybe it was our best performance this season."
It has not been a particularly onerous period for Chelsea, with only an FA Cup leg-stretcher against Watford to handle over the best part of three weeks. They were so invigorated this was the best possible advert for a winter break in England.
"We used this period very well, training without pressure, and we arrived at this game fit and with good motivation," Ancelotti added. They suffocated with possession, and finished with precision. It was an intoxicating mix.
Their prey were cowering from the off. With three centre-halves missing it was a wretched 90 minutes for a team who have conceded 18 goals in their last four meetings with Chelsea. "We simply couldn't cope," Bruce confessed. "Defensively it was inept. It is difficult to analyse after a hammering like that but for us to have eight big players missing is too many."
There had already been a couple of clear chances before Anelka opened the scoring seven minutes in. The velvet subtlety of Michael Ballack's touch, which transferred possession from ­Belletti's surge to Anelka's arcing run, did the damage. The France international was calmness personified as he ambled past the Sunderland goalkeeper and guided the ball in.
It felt suspiciously like game over as early as the 17th minute when Malouda threw some sunshine on damp London. It started when he picked up possession just inside the Sunderland half. Once he shrugged off his nearest marker he cantered, unchallenged, into the penalty area and steered the ball into the far corner of the net.
The exuberant Ashley Cole, virtually playing as a winger, was next to take up the baton. He tamed a lofted pass, left a bewildered Lorik Cana on his backside, and poked in a fabulous goal.
The outstretched foot of Marton Fulop prevented a fourth only temporarily, but Frank Lampard capitalised on more slack marking when he slid in Ashley Cole's tantalising cross.
Anelka's blistering shot suggested that whatever Bruce said at half-time was insufficient to limit the damage. Ballack glanced in the fifth from Joe Cole's angled cross, and Anelka swept in the sixth serenely. Lampard made it a splendid seven, converting with a firm header.
Chelsea blotted their copybook only when they allowed Sunderland to score twice, through Bolo Zenden and, in ­stoppage time, Darren Bent. It was hardly worth celebrating.
The fact that Ancelotti was able to jest that his players had enjoyed not one pre-match glass of wine, but two, said it all.

--------------------------------------------------------

Independent:

Anelka the star in magnificent seven-goal rout
Chelsea 7 Sunderland 2:
Weakened Black Cats made to pay heavy price as Blues issue notice of intent to their title rivals
By Steve Tongue at Stamford Bridge

Winners last weekend without playing – when Manchester United and Arsenal both stumbled – Chelsea barely needed to turn up either yesterday to earn some real points. Sunderland's depleted squad, back from a warm-weather break in Algarve found the leaders far too hot and must have wished they had stayed where they were.
This was men against bairns, and the bairns were four down in 34 minutes as Steve Bruce's fears in sending out a team missing four centre-backs as well as key midfielders became reality.
For Chelsea the absence of four players at the African Cup of Nations merely offered others the chance to emphasise their quality: notably Juliano Belletti as the defensive midfielder, and Joe Cole, back in his old Jose Mourinho position on the right of a three-man attack. What never happened under Mourinho was a scoreline like this; in those days Chelsea tended to declare once they were a couple of goals to the good. Roman Abramovich has demanded something more and Carlo Ancelotti seems capable of delivering. The tempo was maintained until the end even when victory was assured.
"When we move the ball quickly there's not a team that can touch us," John Terry said. They managed to do so even on a wet pitch and much stronger sides than Sunderland would have struggled to contain them. "Maybe the best performance of the season," Ancelotti suggested.
Bruce acknowledged: "It's hard enough coming here with a full-strength team but with eight missing, they were too good for us all over the pitch. Defensively we were inept. Every time they went forward they looked as if they'd score." That was certainly the case in the first half, although to be fair to the makeshift pairing of Lorik Cana and Paulo da Silva, the goals were excellent ones.
For the first, the ball moved from Belletti to Michael Ballack and on to Nicolas Anelka for a calm finish. That was eight minutes in. Nine more and Florent Malouda turned cleverly away from one challenge just inside the Sunderland half, eluded another and kept going before shooting in with his weaker (right) foot. The adventurous Ashley Cole, who had been screaming for a pass on that occasion, was soon in on the act, scoring the third with less than a quarter of the game played. John Terry curled a pass forward for the England back, who took it down beautifully, slipped Cana's sliding lunge and chipped over Martin Fulop.
The goalkeeper did manage a save with his legs when Anelka went clear on him but within a minute the Frenchman offered Ashley Cole a cross that Frank Lampard slid in on the volley. Four-nil, 33 minutes gone; Bruce stood in the technical area with arms folded, then looked at his watch as if willing the hands to move more quickly towards five o'clock. Aiming at damage limitation in the second half, he made one change, replacing the ineffectual Steed Malbranque with the former Chelsea man Boudewijn Zenden. Ancelotti took off both Ashley Cole, who had a slight knock, and Terry but if the personnel changed, the pattern remained much the same.
Belletti won a tackle in midfield, allowing Joe Cole, in as much space as he could have wanted, to cross onto the head of the unmarked Ballack for a fifth goal. Sunderland, against all expectation, scored one themselves when Kenwyne Jones, an object of admiration for several other clubs, won a header from George McCartney's punt forward and the ball dropped nicely for Zenden to record his first goal for the club. Celebration was minimal, possibly not so much out of respect for former employers as for fear of reprisals. They duly arrived within eight minutes, Fulop's error in failing to deal with Yuri Zhirkov's cross from the left giving Anelka his tenth goal of the season. The striker is clearly not missing Didier Drogba.
Last season Anelka scored a hat-trick in Sunderland's 5-0 defeat here and there should have been a repeat, but, five yards out, he was denied by Fulop's foot. Joe Cole headed against a post from no further out before two more goals in the last couple of minutes. Lampard headed in an Anelka cross and Darren Bent unexpectedly had the last word with a tap-in.
Ancelotti may have said he was not concerned about sending a message to Chelsea's championship rivals, but this was an emphatic statement, weakened opposition or not.
Sunderland, with only one League win in a dozen games, since Bent's "beachball goal" against Liverpool in October, need some of those absentees back on parade.
Attendance: 41,776
Referee: Chris Foy
Man of the match: Anelka
Match rating: 7/10

---------------------------------------------------

Mail:

Chelsea 7 Sunderland 2:
Nicolas Anelka and Frank Lampard at the double as Black Cats humbled
Patrick Collins

When Chelsea's players gather at the close of their careers to talk about the days of distant glory, this is an afternoon which will come leaping to their minds.
An astonishing occasion, awash with resourceful passing, intelligent running and thunderous finishing. A match in which almost everything they attempted was delivered. And a result which was dramatic, but in no way flattering.
Some of the more honest characters might recall Sunderland's part in proceedings; the absence of challenge, the confusion of strategy, the meekness of surrender.
The sum of their failings made it embarrassingly easy for the side at the summit. No matter. The nature of the rout will linger long in Chelsea memories.It may even be recalled as the day the league was won.
The reaction of the respective managers was eloquent beyond words. Carlo Ancelotti spoke of 'the best display of the season'.
He praised his players for their attitude and skill. He lied that he allowed them not one, but two glasses of good red wine before the match. And he tried not to sound smug.
By comparison, Steve Bruce sounded like the accused at a show trial, pleading guilty to everything. 'We simply couldn't cope ... they were too good for us all over the pitch ... defensively we were inept ... anyone who finished above Chelsea will win the title'.
He concluded with a masterpiece of understatement: 'It was a very difficult afternoon.'
Indeed it was. And Chelsea made them pay for that ineptitude. Nicolas Anelka and Frank Lampard scored two goals apiece, Ashley Cole, Michael Ballack and Florent Malouda took the rest. And it could have been double. It could have been anything.
When they hit their game, Chelsea can sweep away the best of sides. They struck that form against one of the worst. Good as they were, it should never, ever be this easy.
The first half was embarrassingly simple for Chelsea. They played without care or challenge. They scored four goals, yet missed as many more. The whole affair resembled a third-round FA Cup tie in which the non-League side are overwhelmed by the occasion.
Sunderland could plead eight players were missing. But they could not make a case for even one of those who turned up. Nobody won a tackle, nobody came away with a 50-50 ball. They merely yielded.
Ashley Cole was awarded the freedom of the Bridge; careering down the left, infiltrating at will, enjoying the kind of space nobody dreams of in the Premier League. And he was not alone.
The surprise was that it took eight minutes to score. The odd chance had been squandered before Anelka was played into extravagant space and nudged the chance over the line.
Ten minutes later, Malouda collected at halfway and, with opponents backing off, he struck a successful drive from 20 yards.
Four minutes on, John Terry chipped a ball into the path of Ashley Cole, who lifted the chance beyond Marton Fulop. Bruce sat and squirmed. In 33 minutes, Ashley Cole played a seductive cross which Lampard bundled in.
Bruce emerged from his dugout for the first time. Amazingly, he was not waving a white flag.
So, four up at half time, Chelsea took off Terry and Ashley Cole and brought on Alex and Yuri Zhirkov, with Sunderland introducing Bolo Zenden for Steed Malbranque.
Nothing changed except the shirt numbers. Sunderland wore the expressions of men who wondered just how bad things might become. In 49 minutes they were given a hint, when Anelka's brutal drive struck bar and post before staying out.
But two minutes later a curving cross from Joe Cole was met by the head of an unchallenged Ballack. In 56 minutes, the visitors scored. Kenwyn Jones headed down and Zenden drove in the chance.He punched the air in celebration, then blushed at his cheek.
But Chelsea's sixth in 64 minutes restored sanity to the score. Fulop came to punch a cross, only for Anelka to collect the ball and batter it into an empty net.
Sunderland survived further punishment until the 90th minute when Lampard headed his second goal and Chelsea's seventh.
The visitors even scored a second in added time, Darren Bent hacking in a chance with Chelsea defenders halfway towards the showers. But it had been a rout, a genuine thumping.
The Premier League season has seen nothing like it. One doubts that it will.

--------------------------------------------------

NOTW:

ASHLEY'S GOT X-FACTOR CHELSEA 7-2 SUNDERLAND
By ANDY DUNN

ASHLEY COLE. You might have heard of him. Never know, you might even have seen him.
Not the tallest bloke, not the shortest. Doesn't say a great deal but once lost control of his motor. Something about a pay-rise.
Got him? Oh, yes. His wife's always on telly. Sits next to Simon Cowell.
Ah, that Ashley Cole.
Sunderland and Steve Bruce were clearly still oblivious.
Maybe after his 31st foray forward - and that was just in the first, and Ashley's only, half - they clicked.
But by then, the riot was in full swing. And it never stopped.
African Cup of Nations, Didier? Michael? Salomon? Jon Obi or Obi Jon or whatever way round your name is? Take as long as you want.
Have a holiday after it, you might need it. Don't rush back.
The real carnival is happening here.
Forget Nicolas Anelka scored twice - but remember his smile stretched from the first whistle to the last.
Acknowledge that Frank Lampard collected a couple - but dwell longer on a return to his cavorting, confident self.
Admire Florent Malouda's piece of scoring individuality - but see his vibrant display as the exorcising of all those frustrations he poured into print.
Nod your head in approval at Michael Ballack's textbook effort - but shake it while double-checking if this is the same German who has looked so functional for much of his time at Stamford Bridge.
But it was the 45-minute cameo from Ashley Cole that symbolised this gleeful romp.
He must lay a claim to being the Premier League's most consistent performer of the last decade.
He is certainly the player England can truly depend on.
But this was not Cole the dependable, Cole the dogged, Cole the defensive limpet. For 45 minutes, he was Ryan Giggs. The young, coltish version. The shirt-whirling-around-the- head version. And that typified Chelsea against a Sunderland team decimated, firstly by injury and suspension, secondly by a spirit of adventure that electrified the Bridge.
When I told Cole recently that he had scored 15 goals, he replied with some astonishment: "That many?!"
Well, now it's 16.
And this one was worth a dozen. John Terry caught the spirit by going all Glenn Hoddle and clipping a long-range pass into his team-mate's path.
Control, floor the defender with a look, turn, chip the keeper.
Yep, Ashley Cole. Recognise him now? Thought not.
His next contribution was to finesse a cross on to Lampard's boot for his first and Chelsea's fourth.
Cole's bravado was bolstered by two early Chelsea goals.
Chelsea's irregulars revelled in the chance to shine, Sunderland's stand-ins caved in at the first sign of Big Four class.
Among the eight missing for Steve Bruce were four centre-halves.
He fills a tracksuit now, Brucey. But he might have been better registering on the playing staff during the transfer window.
Thorntons don't have softer centres. In view of the novicey nature of his defence, it was surprising that Bruce opted for a generous dash of adventure.
And for a fleeting moment, it looked like Kenwyne Jones and Darren Bent might cause a stir.
From the moment Lorik Cana - the midfielder standing in at centre-half - stood with arm raised as Anelka cantered on to a Ballack pass and negotiated Martin Fulop as if he were a cone, Sunderland were in disarray.
The Frenchman tapped in before Malouda strode in unchallenged to smuggle No 2 into the bottom corner.
Even Lampard - subject of some of Florent's florid outburst recently - joined the congratulations.
It was that type of afternoon. All together, having a ball.
Bruce admitted every time Chelsea went forward, they looked like scoring.
Even when they didn't go forward, they looked like scoring.
Sunderland were that bad. Carlo Ancelotti joked later his players had enjoyed a couple of glasses of wine before the game.
Bruce had obviously treated his lot to a couple of gallons. Vin de terrible.
Only the strikers could escape censure. And particular censure must go to Steed Malbranque for not being the first person to ignore Ashley Cole.
At least after Cole and Lamps had put the party in full swing, Sunderland kept double figures at bay.
That achievement looked on the cards when Joe Cole joined the party previously hosted by his namesake when crossing for Ballack to nod in.
But Jones provided sub Bolo Zenden with a goal to interrupt normal service.
It was resumed when Anelka, magnificent but not moody all afternoon, turned Fulop's punch into an assist and then popped a cross on to Lampard's head to give Chelsea their first seven-goal league performance since the days of Jimmy Greaves.
Sunderland's man of the match - Mr A. Goalframe - rebuffed Anelka and Joe Cole and, in almost surreal fashion, the last meaningful action was a scrambled Bent number.
By then, Chelsea minds were probably turning to that vintage bottle Ancelotti had uncorked.
I hope they finished it. They deserved it.

-------------------------------------------------------

Star:
SEVEN GOALS FOR ANCELOTTI'S CHELSEA LEAVES SUNDERLAND IN THE COLD
By Paul Hetherington
Chelsea 7, Sunderland 2

THE last time Chelsea scored seven goals in the top flight was 50 years ago – a 7-1 win against West Brom when Jimmy Greaves scored five.
And Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti admitted last night: “I can’t remember when a team of mine last scored seven. "
"Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini said this week that he was happy for his players to have a glass of wine."
"Mine must have had two each before this game! I am very happy as we have given our best performance of the season. This was an important test because we were without four players who are at the African Nations Cup. "
“This proves we can cope without those important players, because we have a fantastic squad. We kept going, kept looking for goals because our philosophy is to play for the full 90 minutes.”
This was the first Premier League game for the league leaders since losing Drogba, Essien, Mikel and Kalou on a month’s international duty. But it wasn’t much of a test against a Sunderland side who were even more depleted through injuryand Michael Turner’s suspension.
Chelsea were 4-0 up at half-time through Nicolas Anelka, France team-mate Florent Malouda, Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard.
Ancelotti took off John Terry and scorer Cole at that stage, yet in the second half, Michael Ballack, Anelka and Lampard were on target as Chelsea completed a magnifi cent seven. Anelka’s goals followed the four he scored against Sunderland last season as Steve Bruce suffered his heaviest defeat as the Black Cats boss.
Sunderland spent last week in Portugal searching for warm weather to prepare for this demanding task. And Chelsea certainly made it hot for the Black Cats from the start. Joe Cole shot weakly at Marton Fulop, then Ashley Cole headed across the face of the goal when he should have scored – and that was in the first four minutes.
So it was no surprise when Chelsea raced into an eighth-minute lead. Sunderland, with eight senior players unavailable, appealed unsuccessfully for offside as Anelka moved on to Ballack’s pass, went round Fulop and slotted the ball home.
Sunderland’s absentees included four central defenders and their problems were exposed 10 minutes later when Malouda made it 2-0. The France wide player broke away from George McCartney before striking a low right-foot shot into the corner.
By the 22nd minute, it was 3-0 for the rampant Blues as Terry’s long ball picked out Ashley Cole, who brilliantly beat Lorik Cana before cleverly poking the ball home. And Lampard made it four in the 34th minute when Ashley Cole supplied the cross and Lampard slid in to finish from six yards.
After, it was just a question of how many for Chelsea. Sunderland keeper Fulop superbly turned an Anelka pile-driver on to the underside of the bar before Ballack made it 5-0 in the 52nd minute from a Joe Cole cross.
Four minutes later there was another goal – but this time it came from the visitors. McCartney crossed, Kenwyne Jones headed down and substitute Bolo Zenden found the corner against his former club – Sunderland’s first goal at Stamford Bridge for nine years!
But back Chelsea came and in the 65th minute, Fulop punched out a cross but only as far as Anelka, who reacted quickly to drive the ball home. That was goal number six and a seventh arrived in the last minute of normal time when Lampard drove home at the far post following a corner.
But at least Sunderland kept going and in added time, following a right-wing corner, Darren Bent poached his 14th goal of the season from close range. Bruce said: “It’s very diffi cult after you’ve been absolutely hammered to analyse anything but the bottom line is that defensively we were inept."
“I’m not looking for excuses but we need our big players fit and we had eight missing today. When we are without defenders like Turner, Ferdinand and Mensah and midfielders like Cattermole, Richardson and Reid it is too many.”

--------------------------------------------------