Monday, November 29, 2010

newcastle united 1-1


Independent:

Hughton hails 'fearless' Carroll for adding to Chelsea turmoil
Newcastle 1 Chelsea 1

By Thomas Keppell at St James' Park

The mercury plunged below zero at an arctic St James' Park but the heat remains on Carlo Ancelotti and his out-of-sort champions. Given the mitigation of a makeshift defence, some doughty opponents and a start of nightmarish proportions, a case could be made for this being an encouraging point in hostile, freezing conditions.
Credit where credit is due, they dredged up spirit and resolve to recover from Andy Carroll's gift-wrapped sixth-minute opener, and were the team firmly in the ascendancy for much of the second half.
But however you spin this engaging, fiery draw, something about Chelsea just isn't right at the moment. Be it the loss of John Terry's buccaneering spirit or Frank Lampard's midfield sophistication, the momentum that catapulted them to the title last year appears to have vanished.
Knocked off their Premier League perch for the first time since 3 April, this was their chance to respond and banish some of the bad vibrations that have been emanating from West London this past month.
That they couldn't respond in time-honoured fashion raises fresh questions about Ancelotti's future.
To make matters worse, a post-match blizzard saw them scrambling for a bus after their flight back to London was cancelled. Grounded in every sense of the word.
Newcastle certainly deserved this point. Shorn of five first-team regulars and fielding a centre-half partnership made up of two players making their first Premier League appearances of the season, they were lively, spirited and inventive. Coming off their own nadir – a 5-1 defeat at Bolton – they looked keen to atone from the start.
Sensing a weakness in their opponents they pressed Chelsea high up the pitch, carving out a succession chances for their burgeoning England number nine, who lived up to the hype by causing continual problems for a lop-sided visiting defence throughout.
But their high-octane first half took its toll, and the Chelsea of old would have exploited weary Newcastle limbs. This being Roman Abramovich's Chelsea, a run of five Premier League games without a win leaves Ancelotti exposed to a Siberian blast much more serious that anything the North East's latest cold snap could hurl at him.
Waking to reports that Pep Guardiola was top of Abramovich's wish-list to replace him — speculation dismissed as "total nonsense" by Chelsea — Ancelotti needed a start bristling with conviction and menace. What he got was a team that all too easily prodded the self-destruct button.
As early as the second minute Newcastle could have drawn first blood — Steven Taylor directing a Wayne Routledge cross goalbound only for Petr Cech to parry the ball wide.
A warning, but one that Chelsea hadn't heeded. Bursting forward from midfield, Newcastle seemed to have lost momentum when Jon Obi Mikel checked the run of United's midfielder Cheik Tiote.
But Alex, clearly struggling with a knee injury, inexplicably rolled the ball past his goalkeeper and into the grateful path of Carroll, who swept home.
Chelsea's response came from the familiar boot of Didier Drogba, who hammered a close range shot against the side netting, and Nicolas Anelka, who saw his looping header hacked off the line.
Newcastle, though, stood firm until the stroke of half-time when Soloman Kalou twisted past Sol Campbell before firing a deflected shot past Tim Krul.
Cue the deluge? Sort of. Chelsea bossed the second-half possession but a couple of Drogba shots aside, failed to turn the screw on tiring opponents.
Even Kalou, their best performer here, miscued when presented with an open goal after wriggling past the otherwise indomitable Campbell in the 80th minute.
In fact, had it not been for Ashley Cole things could have been much, much worse. After a melee in the Chelsea box the ball was squeezed to Routledge, and his whipped, curling 25-yard shot was heading into the top right-hand corner of the goal until Cole headed clear.
By then they had run out of gas, and Newcastle's point had been proven.
Well clear of the relegation scrap and looking to have more than enough to stay up, it is a wonder why Chris Hughton has not been rewarded with a long-term contract. But, to his credit, he continues to let his team do the talking for him.
"It was a good point and it was the response I wanted — it was the only type of response we could have," Newcastle's manager said. "It wasn't like us to concede the goals we conceded against Bolton and I think we showed what we were made of out there."
Carroll, once again, was at the forefront of everything they did. Aside from his goal he delivered a performance that bristled with menacing intent, and when pressed into defensive duties at the end didn't let anyone down.
"That is Andy. He's not someone who is fearful of any opposition or individuals," Hughton said. "That's how he is at the moment.
"When you're in a confident mood and you're scoring goals that's how it should be. You should look forward to every game and you should think every game is an opportunity to score."
If only the same could be said about any of Chelsea's battle-weary troops.

Substitutes: Newcastle Ranger (Ameobi, 77) Unused Soderberg (gk), Perch, Kadar, Smith, Lovenkrands, Best. Chelsea Sturridge (Mikel, 80) Unused Turnbull (gk), Ferreira, Van Aanholt, Bruma, McEachran, Kakuta. Booked: Newcastle Guthrie, Tiote. Chelsea Ramires.
Possession Newcastle 43% Chelsea 57%. Shots on target Newcastle 3 Chelsea 13. Man of the match Carroll. Match rating 7/10. Ref A Marriner (West Midlands) Att 46,469


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Guardian:

Salomon Kalou and Andy Carroll score in Chelsea draw at Newcastle

Newcastle United 1 Carroll 6 Chelsea 1 Kalou 45
Kevin McCarra at St James' Park

It was a wintry trip to St James' Park for Chelsea and they then found problems in getting a flight home. Even so, the journey to come could be harder still.
Chelsea reached the top of the Premier League on 3 April and had remained there throughout each set of matches until now. There is no longer a view from the pinnacle, just the sight of Manchester United above them. While it is not so long since the team was engaged in one long spree, goals are currently rare.
The manager, Carlo Ancelotti, found a little comfort in watching his men score once here. That equaliser against Newcastle United in the 45th minute came about when Salomon Kalou took a pass from Florent Malouda and found the net with a shot that deflected off Danny Simpson.
Ten minutes from the close, the Ivorian hit the side-netting from an angle despite the fact that he was free of the defenders and goalkeeper Tim Krul. The Ivorian ought, indeed, to have put Chelsea ahead and the failure to do so was symptomatic of the frustration that besets the line-up.
Even so, this outcome was an improvement of sorts in the League. At least the side had a reply after being unable to come up with a goal in losses to Sunderland and Birmingham City. The latter case has turned out to be misleading because it had looked at St Andrew's, where the display was largely convincing, as if all that they lacked was a break.
There can be no such interpretation now. Ancelotti took solace from the knowledge that John Terry and Frank Lampard are about to return to training. The manager was still careful not to assume that the completion of their recovery will take place without a hitch.
It must be galling for the manager to know, too, that it is Lampard who needs more time to be his old self since the loss of his goals from midfield has robbed Chelsea of potency. The manager, like Newcastle, used a 4-4-2 formation, but did not get the impact from Malouda, an outright winger, that he sought.
The only venue Chelsea could approach happily is, for the time being, Stamford Bridge. The team arrived at St James' Park as a side that had lost its way in the League. Alex's personal sense of direction was also out of order in the sixth minute when he knocked a pass back wide of his goalkeeper, Petr Cech. Andy Carroll was commendably alert to the situation and pursued the ball to send Newcastle into the lead and record his ninth League goal of the campaign.
The advantage was heartening for a side missing defenders through injury or suspension and Chelsea's initial response was humdrum. Even a 36-year-old Sol Campbell, getting his first start in the League for Newcastle, would not have felt taxed while the visitors fumbled to find even a little fluency. There was momentum later. Chelsea made more of an impression as the first-half developed.
They summoned the will to pin down Newcastle as the match entered its last phase. Even so, Chris Hughton should be happy with this showing. His men had previously conceded nine goals in the League at home, but were markedly more secure in this match irrespective of the injuries that affected the back four.
This, it has to be borne in mind, is a club in its first season back in the top flight after relegation. Given the context, progress has been good. No thought has been given to adopting a precautionary approach.
Their tally of 16 League goals at St James' Park is, for instance, only one fewer than Arsenal's at the Emirates.. In the interest of fairness, it has to be agreed that Arsène Wenger's side has had one fewer League match at home. Newcastle outlook is that of a club seeking an impact rather than rummaging for the odd point here and there that would keep them dully alive in the top flight.
The accent had never been put intentionally on defence against the reigning champions even if the centre-half Steven Taylor was fit to play for the first time since January. Newcastle's dynamism was still being shown in a lively opening to the second-half, even if they were happy enough to restrict the visitors to a draw. It had not been a distinguished game. Fatigue could eventually be detected in both line-ups and the conditions were opposed to slick play. Chelsea, however, will not dwell on that.
Ancelotti has had a weekend in which there was speculation about his future. Considering the managerial turnover under Roman Abramovich, it would be sensible of him not to think that such talk is absurd just because the club is the reigning Premier League and FA Cup holders.
The spate of goals that has been reduced to a trickle is, to an extent, a faithful reflection of the reduction that has turned the team's flow of majestic form into a trickling stream that hardly bears Chelsea forward.


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Mail:

Newcastle 1 Chelsea 1: Salomon Kalou saves blue blushes but champions still can't find a win

Salomon Kalou spared Chelsea's blushes as the champions had to come from behind to claim a point at Newcastle.The Ivory Coast international fired home the equaliser in first-half injury time to prevent his side slipping to a third successive league defeat for the first time in 11 years.Andy Carroll had given the Magpies a sixth-minute lead when he capitalised on an error by Alex, and although the Londoners enjoyed the better of the game, they defended resolutely enough to deserve their point in front of a crowd of 46,469.

Newcastle full-back Jose Enrique, who also played his part in a superb defensive effort, paid tribute to Sol Campbell and Steven Taylor, who played in the absence of Mike Williamson and Fabricio Coloccini.Chelsea boost as Carlo Ancelotti reveals John Terry and Frank Lampard could be available next week'The two centre-backs played their first game and they played really well,' the Spaniard said.'Chelsea are a really good team, we played really well in defence. I think we deserved a draw today and we are really happy with that. We had to drop back, it's normal against this team. If not, we lose maybe 6-1.'Chelsea climbed into second place as a result, but have now taken just four points from their last five games.Chris Hughton will have been the happier manager after seeing his reshuffled defence keep the visitors at bay.Last Saturday's 5-1 defeat at Bolton had proved a sobering experience for the Magpies, whose promising start to the season has been dented by a return of just a single point from the last nine on offer.

In the circumstances, the prospect of champions Chelsea arriving on Tyneside desperate to avoid another damaging defeat was hardly an appetising one.Add to that the absence of key trio Fabricio Coloccini, Mike Williamson and Joey Barton through suspension, and the omens were not good.But with Campbell making his first league start for the club and Taylor playing a competitive game for the first time since January, Hughton's men got off to the perfect start, albeit with a helping hand from Alex.The Brazilian, whose visit to a wintry Tyneside may have come as something of a culture shock, and keeper Petr Cech, who had already clawed away a second-minute Taylor header, were on entirely different wavelengths as they closed on a seemingly harmless through-ball.But with Carroll hot on his heels, the defender stabbed it past Cech to allow the England striker to tap the ball into an empty net.The Magpies could hardly believe their luck, but as they snapped into tackles with midfielder Cheik Tiote in the thick of it following his return from suspension, they made life distinctly uncomfortable for the visitors.

However, Chelsea warmed to their task as the half wore on to dominate possession, and although the home defence were proving stubborn, they gradually started to get on top.Skipper Didier Drogba forced a fine reaction save from Tim Krul at the near post with a blistering 19th-minute drive, and full-back Enrique had to clear an Alex header off the line seven minutes later.As the Blues threw men forward, the Magpies threatened on the break with wide men Jonas Gutierrez and Wayne Routledge, in for injured captain Kevin Nolan, prospering sporadically, although the bulk of the traffic was in the opposite direction.Carlo Ancelotti's men flexed their muscles as the half-time whistle approached, and were convinced they should have had a 43rd-minute penalty for Tiote's clumsy challenge on Ashley Cole as he burst into the area.They got their reward in injury time when Kalou carved his way into the penalty area and fired into the bottom corner with the help of a deflection of Taylor's out-stretched leg.Chelsea returned in determined mood and might have increased their lead with 56 minutes gone when Drogba expertly controlled a long ball and fired in a firm left-foot shot on the turn which Tim Krul got down well to save.

But it was the home side who went close six minutes later when Cech failed to deal with a towering cross and only succeeded in serving the ball up to Wayne Routledge on the edge of the box.The winger controlled neatly before blasting a volley towards goal, where Cole was perfectly positioned to head off the line.Chelsea threw everything they had at their hosts as time ran down and Drogba had a 77th-minute strike chalked off for handball, but Kalou could have won it three minutes later when Taylor, Campbell and Krul between them allowed the ball to fall to him beyond the far post, but he fired into the side-netting.Substitute Daniel Sturridge shot wastefully across the face of goal with four minutes remaining as the champions launched a late onslaught, but Newcastle were not about to surrender a hard-earned point.Of his return, Campbell said: 'We had to work hard and use the ball well. They're a great side, they came back to 1-1, but you can't beat it.'It's always nice to come back at home, whenever it comes you've got to take it and get on with it. I've been training hard, working hard, and it's great to be out there.'


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Sun:

Newcastle 1 Chelsea 1
By MARTIN BLACKBURN

CARLO ANCELOTTI will not be sorry to see the back of a nightmare November.
But if he looked ahead to December as he left freezing Tyneside yesterday, it would have sent a shiver down the Italian's spine.
Champions Chelsea have taken a disappointing four points from the last 15 available to relinquish top spot in the league.
In addition, Ancelotti lost trusted and popular right-hand man Ray Wilkins, while sporting director Frank Arnesen is also packing his bags in the summer.
And the Italian awoke on Sunday morning to widespread reports he could soon lose his job to highly-rated Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola.
But if the former Milan boss thinks things might get easier, he needs only look at the fixture list over the festive season.
Back-to-back fixtures with Tottenham, Manchester United and Arsenal are looming during what promises to be a season-defining month.
How badly they need their talismen John Terry and Frank Lampard back from injury going into those games.
At least Chelsea managed to stop the rot here after their shock defeats at the hands of Sunderland and Birmingham.
But this point will be cold comfort for Ancelotti as he sees old foes Manchester United two points clear at the top of the table.
The Toon should have been there for the taking after their own mid-season slump and with four first-team regulars missing.
They shipped five at Bolton last week and had two centre-backs in Sol Campbell and Steven Taylor who have played precious little football this season.
However, the Blues made their task all the more difficult by gifting the home team an early goal - and in the end they could not pull it round.
And it could have been even worse but for an amazing goal-line clearance in the second half by Ashley Cole - the least popular man on Tyneside.
Newcastle could have been ahead inside the first couple of minutes as the returning Taylor flicked a header goalwards.
Petr Cech made a sprawling save but could only palm the ball into the path of Shola Ameobi who disappointingly shot into the side- netting.
But the Toon Army did not have long to wait for their opener and it came in slightly comical circumstances.
Alex - playing his last match before a knee operation - did not look as he slipped a back-pass in the direction of Cech.
It went beyond the Czech keeper who was comfortably outpaced by Andy Carroll and the Toon striker had the easiest of his nine goals this season.
Chelsea have been keeping a close eye on the England new-boy but almost anyone in the stadium could have put that one in.
Going behind so early at a sub-zero St James' Park was the last thing the champions and their beleaguered boss needed.
Having lost their sporting director and top spot, it was shaping up to be another disastrous weekend for the Blues.
But at least the players showed they were prepared to roll up their sleeves and rallied for the remainder of the first half.
Didier Drogba was twice denied by keeper Tim Krul as Ancelotti's men pushed forward in search of an equaliser. Cole was being mercilessly taunted by the home crowd over his treatment of ex-wife and Geordie lass Cheryl Cole.
And they could have had another reason to dislike him when he went down under a challenge from Chiek Tiote in the box - but referee Andre Marriner was not impressed.
Chelsea had not been at their best but they got the equaliser they deserved right on half-time.
Florent Malouda created the opening with a delightful flick allowing Salomon Kalou a sight of goal. The Ivorian's shot would possibly have been saved by Krul but took a nick off Jose Enrique and found its way into the corner.
Early in the second half the Toon could have restored their lead as Wayne Routledge's cross was met by Carroll - but the forward's header lacked power.
A centre from the left by Enrique was only palmed into the path of Routledge by Cech and the former Fulham man did well to get his shot away.
It looked a goal for all the world but Cole got back to brilliantly head off the line - much to the home crowd's annoyance.
Defender Branislav Ivanovic went close to winning it for Chelsea with a header that was well saved by Krul.
But the biggest chance fell to Kalou. He chested down a cross by Nicolas Anelka and bundled his way through two defenders to find himself looking at an empty net.
But, from three yards out with a narrow angle, he could only scoop his shot into the side-netting leaving Ancelotti shaking his head in disbelief.
Sub Daniel Sturridge also wasted a chance as his shot dribbled wide after more good approach play by Drogba.
Home fans, who have seen their team slump after famous wins over Arsenal and Sunderland, were starting to fear the worst.
The final whistle was greeted with a big sigh of relief by the Toon Army - but more frustration for the champions.

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Telegraph:

Newcastle 1 Chelsea 1
By Henry Winter, Chief Football Correspondent at St James's Park

Chelsea remain trapped in a cold snap. Locked in winter’s icy embrace, the champions have struggled to four points out of 15 and cannot wait for the warming return of John Terry’s leadership, Frank Lampard’s goals, Michael Essien’s drive and for their attackers to take their chances.
Chelsea’s flight south was even snowed off, forcing Carlo Ancelotti and his squad to return home on the bus. It summed up their present travails.
Jokes about a coach replacement service inevitably circulated, although Ancelotti’s sanguine demeanour afterwards did not indicate a crushed man sloping towards the exit.
A Chelsea spokesman dismissed as “total nonsense” claims that the club have spoken to Pep Guardiola, who is in negotiations with Barcelona about a new deal.
Chelsea are, however, believed to have talked to Txiki Begiristain about following Frank Arnesen as sporting director.
Despite the off-field tensions inhibiting Chelsea in the wake of Ray Wilkins’s damaging sacking, they patently need the reassuring presence of Terry, Lampard and Essien to restore belief.
Essien should be back to face Everton next weekend, Terry is a possible but Lampard is deemed unlikely. Nerves are Chelsea’s new match day companions, a surprise given the experience of so many of their players and the usually positive nature of their manager.
Yet they have lost the swagger of champions, the aura of invincibility, as well as top spot in the Premier League. They are focusing more on combating opponents’ strengths than building a platform for their own.
Ancelotti was so concerned about Andy Carroll’s threat in the air that he changed formation, switching to 4-4-2 to give Chelsea bodies out wide to restrict the service towards Carroll.
The sight of the pony-tailed Geordie rising for the ball, timing his leap to tower above centre-halves such as Alex and Branislav Ivanovic, has become one of the signature images of the Premier League. Not that any balls needed to travel too high to come down with snow on.
Following admirable work by the St James’ Park groundsman and 200 willing spade-wielders, the ground was cleared of the white stuff.
Newcastle United are certainly made of the right stuff under Chris Hughton, whose name was chanted by the fans. Good displays could be found throughout his team.
Jose Enrique was the man of an admittedly average match, the model of defensive nous at left-back. With Fabricio Coloccini and Mike Williamson suspended, Hughton had pressed Steven Taylor and Sol Campbell into service.
Taylor had not played for 10 months while Campbell had managed only 67 minutes in the league this season before this. Both did well, although inevitably tiring. No matter.
If Carroll had been an outstanding centre-forward in the first half, he looked a useful centre-half when dropping back late on.
It could have been worse for Chelsea. Carroll terrorised Alex and Ivanovic in the opening stages, exploiting the hesitancy currently coursing through Ancelotti’s side with an early goal.
The errors began in central midfield, John Obi Mikel giving away the ball under pressure from Shola Ameobi and Wayne Routledge. Mikel did regain possession, working it back towards goal, but then Alex intervened, accelerating its journey.
Petr Cech was racing out and the ball, almost comically, bypassed him. As Chelsea’s keeper turned and attempted to give chase, the quick-thinking Carroll nipped in and slid the ball home.
Chelsea were stunned, struggling to deal with the commitment levels of Hughton’s players. Out wide, Routledge kept running at Ashley Cole, while Jonas Gutiérrez looked to get in behind Jose Bosingwa.
Some of their crosses caused real trouble, one hoisted delivery from Routledge bringing a header from Ameobi just over. Alex and Ivanovic soon began jumping together to deal with Carroll.
In the centre, Danny Guthrie and Cheik Tiote buzzed about, swamping Ramires, who again looked blown away by the speed and physicality of the Premier League.
Enjoying Ancelotti’s total support, the Brazilian did recover to vindicate his coach’s faith to an extent in a slightly improved second half.
Chelsea gradually overcame their grogginess, building slowly but surely, if not with the brio that defined their autumn movements.
Three minutes from the break, Florent Malouda sent Cole flying into the box, where he was clearly balked by Tiote. The hardy Chelsea faithful up in the icy gods joined the ants in blue below in screaming for a penalty. Andre Marriner waved play on.
Channelling their anger constructively, Chelsea stormed upfield again, Ivanovic carrying the ball over the halfway line. Salomon Kalou became involved, soon working the ball to Malouda and receiving the return on entering the box.
Checking on to his right, Kalou let fly with a low shot that clipped Danny Simpson, taking it past Tim Krul’s dive and in.
Newcastle hit on the counter in the second half, Carroll and the lively sub Nile Ranger going close, but the force lay mainly with Chelsea. With 10 minutes remaining, and Newcastle resisting stoutly, Ancelotti withdrew Mikel, sent on Daniel Sturridge, pulled Malouda back alongside Ramires and went 4-2-4.
Nicolas Anelka worked the left, Kalou the right while Sturridge began insinuating his way into the box, even snaking a left-foot shot wide.
By the end, Alex was hobbling around in midfield and Thursday’s knee surgery in Brazil cannot come soon enough. Chelsea themselves have not gone lame, but the champions need fresh legs


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Wednesday, November 24, 2010

msk zilina 2-1


Independent:

Malouda spares blushes as youthful Chelsea are unable to seize chance

Chelsea 2 MSK Zilina 1

By Mark Fleming at Stamford Bridge

Carlo Ancelotti's position at Chelsea will not be strengthened by performances such as this, a stuttering victory over the whipping boys of Group F. The manager has been undermined by the recent machinations behind the scenes at Stamford Bridge, with the sacking of his assistant Ray Wilkins and the promotion of chief scout Michael Emenalo to replace him.
However if Ancelotti wishes to wield more power within this most political of football clubs, he will need his team to play better and win more convincingly. They have lost three of their last four Premier League games, and visit Newcastle United on Sunday in dire need of turning results around.
This unimpressive victory over MSK Zilina proved little, except that Chelsea's squad desperately needs strengthening in January. Ancelotti has been made to work this season with the smallest squad in the Premier League, after owner Roman Abramovich decreed costs must be reduced and senior players were shown the door.
The Italian used the game to give greater experience to some of his younger, fringe players, but the exercise only served to highlight the limitations of those at his disposal, particularly during this testing period when John Terry and Frank Lampard are sidelined with long-term injuries.
Ancelotti handed a first start to the precocious 17-year-old Josh McEachran, tipped by many to be the finest product of the club's academy since John Terry broke through a decade ago. McEachran responded with a composed performance of maturity and assurance as the holding player, prompting Ancelotti to claim he is ready to graduate up to regular starts in the team. However it is too much to expect McEachran, who still needs to grow physically, to reinvigorate Chelsea.
Ancelotti said: "I think he can play every game. He was good defensively, won a lot of tackles. And, obviously, with the ball he's fantastic. He can play it short or long without problem. He played with personality and I'm happy with his performance. He has to grow, he has to improve, but he's ready to play."
Left-back Patrick van Aanholt also showed plenty of potential, striking the post with a thunderous left foot shot in the second half and generally giving a very decent impression of Ashley Cole. However Jeffrey Bruma, Gaël Kakuta and Daniel Sturridge did not manage to impose themselves.
Kakuta in fact was substituted at half-time by Ancelotti after the manager had spent much of the first 45 minutes bemoaning the French teenager's contribution. His contract is up in the summer, and the signs are that Chelsea are not too concerned at the moment about whether he leaves or not.
Chelsea started the game with seven changes on the pitch from the side that had lost 1-0 to Birmingham City last Saturday – and one important one off it. The much-maligned Emenalo had sat next to Ancelotti last weekend, but last night he was forced to shuffle one seat along and let Paul Clement, who works daily with Ancelotti on the training ground, occupy the favoured blue plastic chair next to the manager.
The trio watched helplessly as Chelsea produced one of the most inept 45 minutes of recent memory, or at least since their last home game, when they were tonked 3-0 by Sunderland.
Chelsea fell behind after 19 minutes, when a simple passing move by the Slovak visitors sliced through the heart of Chelsea's compliant defence. Babatounde Bello played a one-two with Zilina's captain Robert Jez before poking the ball first time past Chelsea's helpless goalkeeper Russ Turnbull. Instead of responding swiftly, Chelsea continued to flounder, and were fortunate not to go further behind when Tomas Majtan was allowed to cut in from the right. His shot however was comfortably saved by Turnbull at his near post.
Chelsea were booed off at half-time and, judging by the look on his face as he left for dressing room, Ancelotti tore into his team at the interval. The result was a far better second half, in which Chelsea hit the frame of the goal twice, and managed to squeeze out two goals from the 21 efforts on goal they created in the second 45.
Sturridge levelled from substitute Salomon Kalou's cross in the 51st minute but still Chelsea struggled. Didier Drogba's free-kick was palmed on to the post by Zilina keeper Martin Dubravka, and Van Aanholt's drive also hit the upright.
Florent Malouda finally gave Chelsea the win they craved with a close range finish from Drogba's header with four minutes remaining. It was scrappy, but gratefully received by Ancelotti. His team have a perfect five wins out of five in the Champions League, and are guaranteed to top Group F, but this was the least convincing of them all.
Ancelotti's record last season, his outstanding reputation as a coach, and his open, charming personality, are all reasons why Abramovich should stand by his coach through this tricky period. However the Russian is the most capricious of employers, as the likes of Jose Mourinho, Avram Grant, Luiz Felipe Scolari and Ray Wilkins have found to their cost. Victory, and an improved performance, at Newcastle is a priority.

Chelsea (4-3-3): Turnbull; Ferreira, Ivanovic, Bruma, Van Aanholt; Ramires, McEachran (Mellis 90), Malouda; Kakuta (Kalou h-t), Drogba, Sturridge (Anelka 74). Substitutes not used Hilario (gk), Mikel, Clifford, Sala.

MSK Zilina (4-5-1): Dubravka; Angelovic, Piacek, Pecalka, Gergel; Majtan (Poliacek 85), Bello, Guldan, Jez, Vladavic (Rilke 90); Oravec (Ceesay 64). Substitutes not used Krnac (gk), Leitner, Sourek, Zosak.

Referee R Schorgenhofer (Austria).
Attendance 40,266
Man of the match Van Aanholt.
Match rating 6/10.

Group F
Results so far Marseilles 0-1 Spartak, Zilina 1-4 Chelsea; Spartak 3-0 Zilina, Chelsea 2-0 Marseilles; Spartak 0-2 Chelsea, Marseilles 1-0 Zilina; Chelsea 4-1 Spartak, Zilina 0-7 Marseilles; Chelsea 2-1 Zilina, Moscow 0-3 Marseilles.
Remaining fixtures 8 Dec Marseilles v Chelsea, Zilina v Spartak Moscow

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Mail:

Chelsea 2 MSK Zilina 1:
Shaky Blues slip through as Sturridge and Malouda seal top spot
By Laura Williamson

Chelsea earned the point they needed to progress to the knock-out stages as group winners, but this was far from a knockout performance.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side salvaged a win with four minutes to spare but, with no disrespect to Slovakian opponents MSK Zilina, it was faintly embarrassing for the 86 minutes prior to Florent Malouda’s winner.
As Ancelotti admitted, they will not win the Champions League if the play like they did in the first half last night.
Just fab, Florent: Malouda slides in to complete Chelsea's late victory and maintain their perfect Champions League record‘It’s impossible,’ said the Chelsea boss.
‘Second half, we’ll have a chance. I was upset because we didn’t play well. We changed something in the second half, changed the intensity of play. This was the difference.’
After all the turmoil that has surrounded the club in the wake of Ray Wilkins’ shock departure 12 days ago, this was a match Chelsea desperately needed to win.
As Ancelotti said himself, his side needed to take control of a season that is threatening to unravel.
The Premier League champions may already have been assured of progressing in Europe but a convincing win would certainly have helped to end the worst run of the Roman Abramovich era.
Convincing, however, this was not, particularly against a side who lost 7-0 at home to Marseille in their last European outing.
Didier Drogba said: ‘We wanted to go back to winning ways. The manager made it clear that he is here and I think we have to focus on the games, on the results. We have to try to resolve our problems because we are not playing well.
‘Of course we miss Ray but the players are still the same. If we are losing it is not because Ray has gone, it is down to the players.’Injuries may have influenced his thinking, but Ancelotti made a bold decision to turn to youth to get Chelsea’s season back on track. He made six changes to the side that lost 1-0 at Birmingham on Saturday, sending out a starting XI with an average age of just 23.The youngest, 17-year-old Josh McEachran, made his full senior debut in a central defensive midfield role and was applauded off the pitch in stoppage time. He certainly held his own.
He was eager to receive the ball in attack, playing short and long passes with equal poise, and did his job defensively.Ancelotti said: ‘He showed his quality. He played with personality and I’m happy with his performance.
'He has to grow, he has to improve, but he’s ready to play.’
McEachran was culpable in the build-up to the Slovakian side’s 19thminute opener, but he was certainly not the only one. Chelsea simply stood back and watched Bello Babatounde play a neat one-two with captain Robert Jez before he dispatched a right-foot shot past Ross Turnbull.
Chelsea, a side who did not concede a League goal for more than 16 hours at Stamford Bridge, suddenly looked shaky.
Tomas Majtan was allowed to skip past Malouda before Turnbull parried the 23-year-old’s shot.
Ancelotti’s side were too slow with their passing and lacked intensity but, as the first half wore on, they at least began to create some chances. Sturridge was the liveliest, cutting in from the left and testing goalkeeper Martin Dubravka with a 32nd-minute effort.
But Chelsea were just not good enough. They lacked tempo and width. Boos rang out around Stamford Bridge after 45 minutes for the second match in a row.
Ancelotti responded by taking off Gael Kakuta, who has still yet to sign a new contract and did little to help his case last night, and sending on Salomon Kalou.
It changed the game. Now it was Zilina’s turn to stand and watch as Kalou delivered a cross from the left. Sturridge was the first to react, stabbing the ball in at the far post after 51 minutes for his second Champions League goal of the campaign.
The relief around Stamford Bridge was clearly audible. From then on Zilina were content to sit back and defend, trying their luck at set-pieces.
They had little choice in the matter, as Chelsea attacked with more inventiveness, desire and width — particularly through Kalou. Ramires came close with a long-range shot with the outside of his right boot and Drogba drew an excellent save from Dubravka with a 60thminute free-kick.
Branislav Ivanovic then headed over the bar after Jeffrey Bruma had retrieved the rebound and Patrick van Aanholt hit the post with a blistering 72nd minute effort.
When the winner came after 86 minutes, Chelsea had a familiar triumvirate to thank. A pass from substitute Nicolas Anelka was flicked on by Drogba and Malouda poked the ball from three yards out.
The old guard had, just about, saved the day.

MATCH FACTSCHELSEA (4-3-3): Turnbull 5; Ferreira 5,Bruma 5, Ivanovic 5, Van Aanholt 6;Ramires 5, McEachran 6 (Mellis 90min),Malouda 5; Kakuta 4 (Kalou 46, 7),Drogba 6, Sturridge 6 (Anelka 74, 6).Subs not used: Hilario, Mikel, Clifford,Sala. Booked: Ramires.

MSK ZILINA (4-5-1): Dubravka 6;Angelovic 6, Piacek 6, Pecalka 6,Gergel 6; Majtan 6 (Poliacek 86),Bello 6, Guldan 6, Jez 7, Vladavic 6(Rilke 90); Oravec 5 (Ceesay 64, 5).Subs not used: Krnac, Leitner,Sourek, Zosak.

Man of the match: Salomon Kalou.
Referee: Robert Schorgenhofer(Austria) 7.

=====================================

Guardian:

Chelsea fight back against Zilina to claim Champions League Group F

Chelsea 2 Sturridge 51, Malouda 86 MSK Zilina 1 Bello 19

Dominic Fifield at Stamford Bridge

Carlo Ancelotti must be tempted just to cling to the positives. Group F has been secured, Chelsea having claimed five successive wins at this stage of the Champions League for the first time ever, and the slump that had seen them suffer consecutive league defeats has been arrested. There, however, the plus-points end.
The cathartic, scintillating victory the club had so craved after two weeks of unwelcome political intrigue behind the scenes, and uncharacteristic toils out on the pitch, proved elusive, even against the competition's cannon-fodder. Chelsea even flirted with humiliation, trailing to a side who had previously mustered only nine shots on target and had been thrashed 7-0 at home in their last outing.
The win, secured late, brought relief but, on this evidence, respite may be temporary. The team that trots out at Newcastle United on Sunday will not include the six reserves who started here but, by then, Chelsea might even be third in the Premier League and playing catch-up for the first time this season.
It is the seniors who continue to labour in the absence of key personnel. "We have to try to resolve our problems because we are not playing well," admitted Didier Drogba, captain for the night. Nothing about the side right now suggests they have the same resilience or confidence which had thrust them clear at the top of the Premier League.
Perhaps this narrow success will prove to be a springboard for a return to form but, for now, it is the sense of unease fuelled by Ray Wilkins' sacking and the disappointment Ancelotti felt about it that persists. By selecting such a youthful side it felt, at times, as if the Italian was attempting to make a point to the club's hierarchy. This squad still feels paper thin, with so many older bodies cluttering up the treatment room. The young players, promising as they seem, are a long-term solution and not a short-term fix.
There was encouragement to be had in Josh McEachran's assured performance, but Gaël Kakuta was substituted at the interval after another ineffective display. However, it was the seniors in the starting line-up who should take most responsibility for the horribly slack tempo with which the team began.
Zilina might have arrived braced for a battering, but they sensed the home side's vulnerability. By the time Chelsea mustered their first effort on target half an hour had passed, and the Slovakians might have already been two ahead.
Ross Turnbull produced a save to deny Tomas Majtan after Patrick van Aanholt and Florent Malouda had obligingly parted, but he had already been beaten by then. Robert Jez and Babatounde Bello encountered scant resistance as they glided downfield exchanging passes, with the former duly dissecting Jeffrey Bruma and Paulo Ferreira for the Benin midfielder to collect. Bello's finish was crisply dispatched and a disbelieving hush settled over the arena.
Ancelotti was livid by the interval, his side's attempt at a riposte having spluttered to nothing. "I was upset because we hadn't played well," he said later. "We hadn't played with any intensity or tempo, and gave Zilina the opportunity to control their defensive position. If we play like that, winning the Champions League would be impossible. If we play like we did in the second half, we'll have a chance."
There was more urgency upon the restart, with Salomon Kalou pinned wide in a four-man midfield, but the lack of bite remained. Newcastle, as well as Manchester United and Arsenal, will take encouragement from that. The equaliser owed more to Zilina's deficiencies than the home side's prowess, Kalou's cross dribbling through a wrong-footed defence, with the Slovakians apparently anticipating better quality in the delivery. Daniel Sturridge, ignored at the far post, prodded in through the unfortunate Martin Dubravka's legs.
Thereafter it was as if Zilina suddenly became aware of both their surroundings and their shortcomings. Van Aanholt and Drogba thumped efforts against a post, the Ivorian's from a 25-yard free-kick and via Dubravka's fingertips, as the visitors retreated. The winner, prised out four minutes from time, saw Drogba nod down the substitute Nicolas Anelka's cross for Malouda to convert from close range. The relief was palpable, though Ancelotti hardly mustered a smile in response.
Tension remains and better opponents than Zilina might have exploited that vulnerability. The manager has grown weary of speaking publicly about his position, and is unable to reflect upon Wilkins' dismissal given ongoing legal proceedings over his former assistant's compensation package. "Of course we miss Ray, but the players are still the same," said Drogba. "If we are losing it is not because Ray has gone, it is down to the players. The manager has told us he is here and I think we have to focus on games, on the results."
Ancelotti retains the complete faith of his squad but unless performances improve, the perception that he has been fatally undermined will be allowed to fester. The situation calls for a statement of intent. It was not delivered here.

=====================================

Star:

CHELSEA 2, MSK ZILINA 1

Chelsea's Daniel Sturridge and Florent Malouda spared the blues blushes
By Paul Brown


CARLO Ancelotti played his ‘get out of jail free card’ – and Daniel Sturridge and Florent Malouda did the rest.
One of the biggest shocks in ­Champions League history was on the cards when Babatounde Bello fired tiny Zilina in front on 19 minutes.
The Slovakian minnows are probably the worst team in the competition – but they went in at half-time ahead and good value for it.
So Ancelotti was breathing a huge sigh of relief when Sturridge finally got Chelsea going by scoring the ­equaliser in the 51st minute.
The Italian had just sent Salomon ­Kalou on as an emergency substitute and it was the Ivory Coast striker who set up the goal.
And another sub played his part late on as Chelsea snatched an 86th-minute winner through Malouda.
Nicolas Anelka, who replaced ­Sturridge in the 74th minute, crossed for Didier Drogba, whose header on was volleyed home by in-form French winger Malouda.
It’s been a week of drama and ­intrigue at Stamford Bridge, with ­Ancelotti forced to deny he was about to quit the club after the shock sacking of ­assistant Ray Wilkins.
But there was no denying Chelsea’s ­recent struggles on the pitch, where a run of three defeats in four Premier League matches had set alarm bells ringing.
The last time the Blues had lost back-to-back games like that was at the end of the 2005/06 season – when they had already won the title!
So the pressure was on for a return to winning ways, especially after their last home game, the embarrassing 3-0 thumping by Sunderland.
There was also the small matter of finishing top of Group F and ­guaranteeing an easier opponent in the first knockout phase. But however long and hard Ancelotti talked about how important that was in the build-up, he still saw fit to hand full ­Champions League debuts to three of his ­youngsters.
After all, Chelsea had beaten Zilina 4-1 in Slovakia back in September and they weren’t expecting much ­resistance from a team who are already out of the competition.
How wrong they were. Zilina took just 19 minutes to snatch a shock lead through Nigerian-born ­Benin ­international Bello and turn the Bridge into a ghost town.
The 21-year-old had never scored a Champions League goal before, but he made no mistake after receiving a neat through-ball from Robert Jez.
The centre of Chelsea’s back four has looked shaky in recent matches and that was the case again here, with ­Paulo Ferreira and Jeffrey Bruma all over the place.
But if you were expecting a quick-fire response, forget it. The Blues didn’t manage a shot on target until Didier Drogba headed tamely into Martin ­Dubravka’s arms on the half-hour.
Maybe recent events had unsettled last season’s Double winners more than anyone thought because they were ­lethargic and wide open at the back.
They could have been further behind when Tomas Matjan waltzed unopposed into the box and unleashed a shot which Ross Turnbull did well to parry.
And it was only when Sturridge cut inside and drew a fine full-length save from Dubravka at the other end that the home side began to threaten.
Malouda then wasted a free header from a Drogba cross before ­firing wildly over the bar from 25 yards. The ­pressure was building, but luck was certainly not with the Blues when Malouda watched a shot deflect ­wickedly off ­Stanislav Angelovic and drop inches wide of goal.
And the half-time whistle was met with little more than stunned silence by the home crowd, who couldn’t ­believe their eyes.
Zilina had gone into the game having ­managed fewer shots on target (nine) and ­conceded more goals (15) than any ­other side in the competition. They had even suffered the heaviest home defeat in Champions League ­history, a 7-0 ­defeat against Marseille earlier this month.
Yet they went into the break leading against the cream of English football.
Ancelotti knew it wasn’t good enough and threw on Kalou after the break.
It proved to be a stroke of genius as Kalou helped fashion Chelsea’s ­equaliser just six minutes later, with his bobbling cross reaching ­Sturridge through a crowd of bodies.
Sturridge scored his first Champions League goal against Zilina two months ago and made no mistake, tapping home at the far post from four yards. Chelsea began to turn the screw and Drogba was only denied from a free-kick by a spectacular save from Dubravka.
However, the visitors’ resistance was ­shattered late on when Malouda fired home, much to the relief of Ancelotti.

======================================

Sun:

Chelsea 2 MSK Zilina 1

By MARK IRWIN

NEVER mind the League Managers' Association, many more performances like this and Carlo Ancelotti will be calling the Samaritans.
On a night when the Chelsea boss needed a comfortable, straightforward victory to steady the Stamford Bridge nerves, he got a display which will stoke the fires of uncertainty.
Only a fool would walk away from a £6.5million-a-year contract. And the wily Ancelotti is certainly no fool.
But he knows he can never take his position for granted with a boss as unpredictable as Roman Abramovich.
And even a team at the top of the Premier League and safely through to the last 16 of the Champions League is no guarantee of job security at the Bridge.
Ancelotti might scoff at talk of a Chelsea crisis but nobody was laughing after this unconvincing effort.
Florent Malouda's 86th-minute winner was enough to secure first place in Group F but did not spare Ancelotti the embarrassment of another painful inquest.
And it does nothing to dispel the growing belief that all is not well at the home of the Premier League champions.
Virtually nothing has gone right for Chelsea since their mysterious decision to part company with assistant manager Ray Wilkins.
Three defeats in four games coming into last night's match represented the worst run of results since Abramovich took control seven years ago.
So it was probably a good job for all concerned that the ruthless Russian gave this one a miss.
The visit of the struggling Slovak champs should have given Chelsea the perfect opportunity to steady the ship.
Instead, it simply raised fresh questions about the club's ability to remain at the forefront of European football.
This was supposed to be the game when Chelsea's youngsters showed off the talent waiting in the wings. Instead they simply froze in the glare of the Stamford Bridge spotlight.
Jeffrey Bruma, Daniel Sturridge, Ross Turnbull and Patrick van Aanholt all failed to rise to the occasion of a rare Champions League chance.
Brazilian Ramires was once again anonymous in midfield and 17-year-old Josh McEachran struggled to make an impact on his first start for the club.
Zilina had arrived at Stamford Bridge still smarting from a 7-0 home thrashing by Marseille in their previous Euro match.
The Slovak minnows are on course to become the worst ever team to compete in the Champions League.
But that was no excuse for the arrogance of a painful first-half performance which will give Ancelotti sleepless nights for weeks.
If the Italian thought he had hit rock-bottom in the previous home game against Sunderland, goodness only knows what he was thinking when his team fell behind in the 19th minute.
For there was not a Chelsea challenge in sight when Babatounde Bello exchanged passes with captain Robert Jez before drilling his shot past the static Turnbull.
He could have driven a bus between the gap left by Bruma and Paulo Ferreira in the channel, with Ramires trailing in his wake.
The lack of communication between the players was just as alarming with Didier Drogba almost embarrassing Turnbull when he pulled his foot away from a Jez free-kick at the last moment. Turnbull was back in action again to beat out another low shot from Thomas Majtan as Chelsea threatened to implode.
It was a full half hour before Ancelotti's players woke up to the realisation that another defeat would not look too good for their under-pressure boss.
But it was not until Salomon Kalou was introduced as a half-time sub for the ineffective Gael Kakuta that the Blues finally seized the initiative.
The change had an almost instant effect and it was Kalou's 51st-minute ball across the six-yard box which was finally turned in at the far post by Sturridge.
It was a goal which knocked the stuffing out of Zilina, who sensed that their chance of glory was slipping away.
Drogba's free-kick on the hour was pushed against a post by Martin Dubravka and Van Aanholt also hit the woodwork.
But their winning goal did not arrive until four minutes from the end when Drogba headed down Nicolas Anelka's cross for Malouda to score.
It was a victory which maintains Chelsea's hopes of becoming the first team since Barcelona in 2003 to win all six of their group games.
But Ancelotti knows they will not go much further unless they get their act together - and quickly.

===============================================

Sunday, November 21, 2010

birmingham city 0-1


Independent:

McLeish toasts Foster as Chelsea problems mount
Birmingham City 1 Chelsea 0

By Phil Shaw at St Andrew's


Chelsea's blip is in danger of becoming a full-blown slump. The champions' standard still flutters on the Premier League summit, but it is looking increasingly ragged after Birmingham, third from bottom at kick-off, emulated Sunderland's win over them. Lee Bowyer converted their only scoring chance early on before they mounted a rearguard action in whichBen Foster answered criticsof his performance forEngland in midweek.
Foster's brilliance was largely responsible for Chelsea's failure to score for the fifth time in nine League fixtures – after the previous eight had delivered 38 goals – yet there was a desperation about Carlo Ancelotti's side from around the hour mark. They have now lost successive League games for the first time since May 2006, and three of the past four, while their schedule over the next month pits them against Tottenham, Arsenal and Manchester United. Chelsea finished the contest with Petr Cech marauding in the Birmingham 18-yard area. Their overwhelming territorial dominance led Ancelotti to claim it was not as worrying a setback as last weekend's; it was just that fortune had not favoured them.
"We didn't win because I think we were unlucky," the Chelsea manager said. "We played good football and had lots of chances, but we lost. As a performance, everything was ok. We just had one mistake when we lost a player [Bowyer] who ran into the box."
The announcement that Ray Wilkins, Ancelotti's former assistant, intends to take action for unfair dismissal did not, according to the Italian, "affect this moment". The injured John Terry and Frank Lampard were again absent, with Ancelotti adding: "We want them back, though we didn't miss them today because we didn't deserve to lose."
Alex McLeish was quick to praise Foster. "The criticism of him after the France match was harsh," the Birmingham manager said. "A goalkeeper can win you championships and keep you in a division and today he carried on the great, solid work he's done for us. We had to defend really stoutly, and we had a wee bit of luck, and there have been games we've deserved to win where we haven't."
Ancelotti was joined on the bench by Michael Emenalo, who has replaced Wilkins, and as if to honour the Nigerian Chelsea sported a lime-green strip similar to the Super Eagles' shirt. There was an African flavour to their initial ascendancy, too, one fine move seeing Salomon Kalou send his fellow Ivorian Didier Drogbain for a shot which theadvancing Foster saved.
Birmingham exposed Chelsea's soft centre with a 17th-minute goal against the run of play. Sebastian Larsson crossed for Cameron Jerome to outjump Paulo Ferreira and nod the ball into the path of Bowyer, who side-footed his first goal of the season.
This was the cue for a 73-minute siege, but after a chastening night at Wembley against France, Foster was defiance personified. Following a cross by Nicolas Anelka midway through the opening half, his diving, one-handed save from Drogba's sharp, downward header was brilliant.
The first half turned into a personal duel between Foster and Drogba and when the striker did beat him, with a glancing header from Florent Malouda's cross, the ball slapped the bar. In the second half, another fine save kept out a Branislav Ivanovic header.
Birmingham's resistance verged on illegality when Roger Johnson appeared to bring down Ramires as he surged into the box. The referee, Mark Halsey, ruled he had taken a bit of the ball first, and the injured Johnson, who needs to lose a limb before he will consider coming off, received treatment before resuming his place and using his aerial strength to keep Drogba and his cohorts at bay.

Attendance: 24,357

Referee: Mark Halsey
Man of the match: Foster
Match rating: 6/10


===========================================

Observer:

Lee Bowyer's first-half goal clips the wings of profligate Chelsea

Birmingham City 1 Bowyer 17 Chelsea 0

Stuart James at St Andrew's

Carlo Ancelotti will take no pleasure from seeing his prediction come true. The Chelsea manager reminded everyone he forecast a month ago, when his players were sweeping opponents aside and looking untouchable at the top of the table, that there were more difficult times ahead. Whether the Italian could have imagined three defeats in four matches, however, is quite another matter.
This latest setback was nothing like as damaging as the humiliating defeat at home to Sunderland a week ago, but it was, all the same, another sobering afternoon for the champions. Ancelotti claimed his players will win the league if they reproduce the same level of performance over the remainder of the season, but what the Chelsea manager omitted to mention, as he reflected on his side's dominance against Birmingham, was that his players need to remember how to put the ball in the net.
For the fifth time in their last nine league games, Chelsea failed to score, and it is beginning to feel like a trick of the mind that the goals were flowing so freely earlier in the season. Chelsea were certainly not without their chances – they created at least 10 decent opportunities – but a combination of wastefulness, the woodwork and, most significantly of all, the outstanding form of Ben Foster helped Birmingham to record their first league win over Chelsea in 30 years.
Chelsea remain top of the table, ahead of Manchester United on goal difference, but there is a sense that things are unravelling on and off the pitch at Stamford Bridge. Ancelotti dismissed any suggestion that the furore surrounding Ray Wilkins's dismissal was affecting his players, but it is impossible to ignore that Chelsea have suffered back-to-back league defeats for the first time in four-and-a-half years in the wake of the assistant manager's sudden departure.
The only goal of the game arrived in the 17th minute, when Lee Bowyer punished some poor Chelsea defending to score his first of the season. The anticipated Chelsea onslaught followed but, not for the first time in recent months, Ancelotti's players were unable to peg opponents back. This was the 11th time in 12 matches that Chelsea have fallen behind and ended up losing, a damning statistic that says little for the players' powers of recovery.
"I was a good magician because one month ago, when everything was OK, I said a difficult moment will arrive. It's arrived and we have to be able to move quickly on," Ancelotti said. "We didn't win because I think we were unlucky. I don't have to say nothing to my team because everyone showed good spirit, good attitude and wanted to win. We played good football, we had a lot of chances but we lost. It's a difficult moment. But we don't have to lose confidence."
On another day, Didier Drogba would have scored a hat-trick. He was clean through in the sixth minute but Foster denied the Chelsea captain, and the Birmingham goalkeeper produced an even better save moments later, when he instinctively saved a point-blank header from the striker. Next up was a vicious free-kick from Drogba that Foster turned around the post before the Ivorian headed Florent Malouda's centre against the bar.
Salomon Kalou, Ashley Cole and Branislav Ivanovic also had chances to bring parity but none of the Chelsea players were able to show the same ruthless finishing Bowyer demonstrated in the first half. Running onto Cameron Jerome's knock-down from Sebastian Larsson's deep centre, Bowyer made the most of the freedom Chelsea afforded him and clipped a half-volley over the advancing Petr Cech. "A trademark Bowyer run," said Alex McLeish.
The Birmingham manager described Barry Ferguson as "imperious", although he also admitted Chelsea controlled the match from start to finish. "We had to defend stoutly. They had all the ball and some good chances," said McLeish, whose side have climbed up from the relegation zone to 12th place. "We got a wee bit of luck but we've had games this season that we deserved to win but didn't."
At least Arsenal's result, which saw the Gunners miss the chance to top the table, provided Ancelotti with some consolation. "It's a strange Premiership because there are a lot of opportunities to improve the gap [at the top]," he said. "We are losing the opportunity but other teams are [doing the same]. It will be a long race and it will be more difficult compared to last season. But if we are able to play like we did today, I think that we can win [the title]. The problem is to play every game like we did today."

THE FANS' PLAYER RATINGS AND VERDICT

KYM YPRES-SMITH, SmallHeathAlliance.com

It was quite a game today – a case of immense defence by a side who, to a man, were fantastic. From the moment Bowyer scored our soft goal they battered us – but it was obvious that Chelsea are out of sorts. Drogba was sulky and didn't look interested, and towards the end their defenders were getting very tetchy. But it was a fantastic performance by Birmingham. It was typical of how McLeish wants us to play – to think about the build-up, be careful, keep the ball and not make cheap mistakes. We were organised and very alert in defence. We're getting back to how we were last season.

The fan's player ratings

Foster 9; Carr 9, Johnson 9, Dann 8, Ridgewell 8; Larsson 8, Ferguson 7, Bowyer 8, Fahey 6; Jerome 7, Zigic 6 (Hleb 72 6)
NICK RICHARDS, Observer reader

The stats will show we peppered their goal, but for a club with our ambition it's not good enough to shrug this defeat off and say we were just unlucky. We're way off the form we need to be showing as title favourites; we're looking weirdly toothless and downbeat. You have to wonder what's going on behind the scenes after the Wilkins sacking. Mikel was our strongest player by a long way, but otherwise no one really stood out. Ramires was awful, and Drogba just wasn't in the mood. For them, Ben Foster was superb: he looked like a proper England keeper.
The fan's player ratings
Cech 6; Ferreira 5 (Bosingwa 65 6), Alex 6, Ivanovic 6, Cole 6; Ramires 4 (Sturridge 72 5), Mikel 7, Malouda 6; Anelka 6, Drogba 5, Kalou 5


====================================

Mail:

Birmingham 1 Chelsea 0:

Superb Foster keeps league leaders at bay after veteran Bowyer scores for first time in a year
By Malcolm Folley

Goalkeeper Ben Foster returned from England duty an inspired man at St Andrew’s yesterday to darken the gloom unexpectedly settling over Chelsea. As darkness fell, and a swirling mist rolled across Birmingham, Chelsea had suddenly become a club who have lost their way.A second defeat in six days, and their third loss in four matches, has decimated the dominance Carlo Ancelotti’s team had on the Premier League. Only goal difference keeps them above Manchester United.But this is a distortion of Chelsea’s state of health. It overlooks how comprehensively they overran Birmingham and ignores the possibilities that on a more fair afternoon, they might have been celebrating a win that would have placed fear into the hearts of rivals.
Michael Essien will be back from suspension to reclaim control of the midfield one match from now; and in a fortnight Ancelotti will again have Frank Lampard. John Terry’s back injury sidelined him after he missed the defeat by Sunderland at Stamford Bridge, but he is expected to be back sooner than first thought.
‘We will watch John day by day, while Frank should be ready in two more weeks,’ said Ancelotti. ‘They are important players but, if you look at the performance, we didn’t miss them today.’ Chelsea’s only misfortune was to meet Foster playing with such conviction, composure and maturity.Birmingham boss Alex McLeish, proud of not just his keeper but the work-rate of a team orchestrated by Barry Ferguson’s enthusiasm, said: ‘I’ve always stressed the importance of having a good goalkeeper. They can win you a championship but they can also help keep you in this division.’
There was not much wrong with Chelsea’s football or their spirit. But they came up against Foster, who showed no side-effects after being criticised for being beaten at his near post by Karim Benzema in England’s defeat by France in midweek.Salomon Kalou should have capitalised on Foster’s secondminute indecision when he failed to gather the ball in his six-yard box but, once he had survived that indiscretion, he proved to be a colossus. An early five-pass move involving Branislav Ivanovic, Ashley Cole, Florent Malouda and Kalou set Didier Drogba clear but, as the striker opened his body to place his shot, Foster smartly dived to his left to brilliantly deny him.The importance of Foster’s work was enhanced when Birminghamwent ahead. There was an unaccountable sloppiness about Chelsea when Sebastian Larsson delivered a cross from the right. Cameron Jerome won his aerial duel with Ivanovic and unmarked Lee Bowyer hooked the ball past Petr Czech. Worse was to follow as Foster continued his master-class.
A Nicolas Anelka cross was met with a powerful header by Drogba, but Foster deflected the ball around his near post. It was a save of exceptional quality. He then denied Drogba by diving to flick the striker’s 30-yard free-kick around the same post. And on the one occasion when Drogba got the better of Foster with another magnificent header, the crossbar denied him.
McLeish’s team withdrew into a compact shape to shield their lead after the interval. Yet Foster’s day was not quite over. Kalou appeared to have wriggled past him but, without the ball under full control, he was dispossessed by the keeper. Usually, strikers win games. Not yesterday. That honour went to Foster.

=================================

Telegraph:

Birmingham City 1 Chelsea 0 Lee Bowyer scored the only goal of the game as Birmingham inflicted Chelsea's third defeat in four games

By Jonathan Liew, at St Andrew's

At times Michael Emanalo, Chelsea’s new assistant manager, scarcely looked like he belonged in the dugout, such was the look of bewilderment on his face. He had better get used to it. He has a lot of work to do.
If Chelsea’s surrender against Sunderland last weekend was a seismic event, this fraught, maddening defeat at St Andrew’s was the aftershock. After three losses in four games, they still just about lead the Premier League, but the aura they wove over the first few weeks of the season has disappeared into thin air.
This was less of a capitulation than the Sunderland game, but once again their glittering front-line failed to deliver, and once again it was a defensive error that opened the door for Birmingham, allowing Alex McLeish’s side to lift themselves out of the bottom three.
The contrast between Birmingham City’s settled, almost resident, defensive unit and Chelsea’s improvised assembly was stark. It is now 10 games since Carlo Ancelotti named an unchanged back four, and what was apparent against Sunderland last Sunday was scarcely less so here. John Terry is being sorely missed.
Chelsea, meanwhile, could take little comfort in their own efforts when Birmingham took the lead. Sebastian Larsson turned unopposed and crossed from the right, and Cameron Jerome rose above Branislav Ivanovic to head the ball down.
With Alex dozing on his 18-yard line, Lee Bowyer slithered past him and into the area, where he thinned the ball over Petr Cech. It was a soft goal to concede; an unhappy parting gift from Alex before he undergoes knee surgery next week.
And thus began the 73-minute rearguard. As Chelsea advanced, Birmingham retreated. McLeish’s side have always been comfortable on the back foot, but they relied on Ben Foster to keep them ahead at the break.
First Didier Drogba was denied by a brilliant low grab. Next Ashley Cole’s stinging shot was saved. Then, having sighted Drogba’s daisy-cutting free-kick late, Foster did well to push it clear. Finally, Drogba managed to steer a header past Foster, but it clattered into the post.
It was turning into an immensely frustrating afternoon for Chelsea, who failed to hit their straps after the break but still enjoyed a number of chances.
Salomon Kalou glanced a header just wide, and was through on goal when Roger Johnson slid in desperately but just won the ball. It was a tackle matched in brilliance only by Mark Halsey’s decision to wave away Chelsea’s penalty appeals.
By the time Ivanovic’s header was parried with 10 minutes remaining, it was clear this was going to be Foster’s day. Birmingham defended with guts and brio, taking fierce pride in their work. Forward came Cech for the final corner, but to no avail.
Birmingham’s day, then, but one that could have repercussions for Chelsea’s entire season.

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Monday, November 15, 2010

sunderland 0-3



Independent:

Chelsea humiliated at home as makeshift side exposed by bold Bruce
Chelsea 0 Sunderland 3

By Sam Wallace

If the dismissal of Ray Wilkins last week was intended to show that Chelsea are still a ruthless, single-minded machine whose simple focus is upon winning football matches then unfortunately someone seems to have forgotten to tell Carlo Ancelotti's players.
They were swept aside yesterday as brutally as they dismissed their affable assistant manager and former player last week. A case of bad karma? Rather, it was a case of terrible defending by a makeshift Chelsea back four and the champions lacking the kind of momentum to make any impression.
Even amid the results of another surprising weekend in an unpredictable Premier League season, there are certain things you think you can rely upon. Chief among them is Chelsea winning at home in the League. The scale of Sunderland's victory can be explained thus: this was Chelsea's heaviest Premier League home defeat since Roman Abramovich bought the club in 2003.
For Ancelotti, this result can hardly be described as a crisis with his team still top of the Premier League but, after defeat at Liverpool last week, it did offer a dark warning of what this Chelsea team might look like if the wheels come off. Ashley Cole was all over the place – his wayward back pass gifted the third goal – and Ramires was so poor that his substitution drew the biggest cheer of the day.
Ancelotti needs the likes of Frank Lampard, Michael Essien and John Terry – a late withdrawal yesterday – back in the side as soon as possible. The smart money would say that when injuries heal and suspensions end, these two defeats will be regarded as blips on the season. Even so, there is no denying it has been a dreadful eight days for Chelsea.
The sacking of Wilkins is unquantifiable when it comes to results such as these but in the light of yesterday it does look as if it has rocked the boat unnecessarily. "Everyone is sad to see him go," wrote Terry in programme notes that were only just on-message. "Ray's been brilliant since he came in ... not only as a coach but as a man as well."
That said, there would not have been much even Wilkins could have done yesterday other than pat Ancelotti on the back and commiserate that sometimes you have days likes these. The last time Chelsea suffered a defeat as heavy as this in the League at home was to Manchester United in April 2002, some time before they were established as one of the European elite.
It could have been much worse for them if, as he should have been, Branislav Ivanovic had been sent off for tripping up the excellent Danny Welbeck as he bore down on the penalty area on 40 minutes. There was no final defender between the Sunderland striker and goal, and Ivanovic was fortunate to receive only a yellow card.
The central defensive partnership between Ivanovic and Paulo Ferreira was a disaster and why the Portuguese full-back was preferred to Jeffrey Bruma is a mystery. Ancelotti said he had "confidence" in Ferreira after watching him train – presumably that faith has since expired.
In all this, it should not be forgotten that Sunderland weighed in with a magnificent performance in a fixture in which they shipped seven goals last season. They pulled Chelsea apart with the kind of one-touch passing that Ancelotti's team have trade-marked. Above all, Welbeck lived up to the billing that Sir Alex Ferguson gave him when he tipped the 19-year-old to make the England squad for the last World Cup.
In the stands, Fabio Capello may have regretted leaving Welbeck in the Under-21s and he might also wonder, given the lack of available right-backs, why he left out Nedum Onuoha. On loan from Manchester City, Onuoha went around John Obi Mikel, Jose Bosingwa and Ivanovic before beating Petr Cech for the first goal.
Two weeks on from that crushing 5-1 defeat to Newcastle United, Steve Bruce's team find themselves in a very different mood and sixth in the Premier League. Their manager deserves much of the credit for an approach which he summarised thus "Sod it, let's have a go" – the philosophy behind playing two strikers in attack rather than the one opposition teams usually deploy at Stamford Bridge.
Bruce's reasoning was that so many teams come to Chelsea in fear of, as Bruce said, a "humiliation", that the home side have forgotten what it is like to play against two strikers. But for the plan to work you need two very good strikers and Welbeck and Asamoah Gyan filled those roles. The second goal was a beauty: from Bolo Zenden to Welbeck and Jordan Henderson, who played in Gyan on goal to score.
Cole had looked out-of-sorts all day and may be carrying an injury but he has not made a mistake like yesterday's since he gave the ball away for England against Kazakhstan two years ago. With three minutes remaining, he passed the ball back to Cech without looking and Welbeck moved in to score Sunderland's third.
Understandably, Didier Drogba did not look his best, although Ancelotti chose to replace Florent Malouda instead – a decision booed by the home fans. It all went wrong for the Chelsea manager and he will hope to forget yesterday in a hurry. Wilkins could tell him, however, that there are certain people at Chelsea who have much longer memories when it comes to remembering the bad days.

Match facts
Man of the match Welbeck Match rating 8/10
Possession Chelsea 47% Sunderland 53%
Shots on target Chelsea 7 Sunderland 9
Referee C Foy (Lancashire) Attendance 41,072

=================================

Mail:
Chelsea 0 Sunderland 3:

Black Cats spring surprise of the season with stunning win at Stamford Bridge to dent leaders

Matt Barlow

Strange goings-on at the top of the Barclays Premier League and never before has Ray Wilkins looked like such a tactical genius. Chelsea were destroyed by Sunderland, plain and simple. Nedum Onuoha, Asamoah Gyan and Danny Welbeck scored the goals and it would have been several more but for the brilliance of Petr Cech. Craig Gordon, meanwhile, barely had to make a save.
Steve Bruce deserves credit for storming Stamford Bridge and moving up to sixth a fortnight after humiliation in Newcastle, but it is Carlo Ancelotti's season teetering. The shock sacking of Wilkins last week, after a win over Fulham, may have had little technical impact on this defeat - the absence of John Terry, Frank Lampard and Michael Essien was a far bigger factor - but it rocked a club who were making serene progress at the top of the table. Manager Ancelotti opposed the move and captain Terry was upset, devoting a third of his programme notes to his sadness at 'an unexpected decision'. 'Ray was a great person to have around,' said Terry. 'He would pick you up when you were down.'
In which case, he will be missed this week. Chelsea have not been thrashed this soundly at home since Roman Abramovich bought the club. The last time was a 3-0 loss to Manchester United in April 2002.
Luckily for Ancelotti, Abramovich was absent. The Chelsea boss, a Double winner in his first season at the club, was jeered by the home crowd for taking off Florent Malouda, but cheered for removing Ramires 11 minutes later. The £18million Brazilian is not quite up to the pace of the English game. A win would have eased Chelsea five points clear of Arsenal at the top, but Sunderland fancied their chances of an upset against a skinny squad, with Ramires, John Obi Mikel and Yury Zhirkov starting in midfield. The trio who began the defeat at Liverpool a week earlier lacked the resonance of Lampard, Essien and Michael Ballack. Terry pulled out hours before kick-off, after a nagging sciatic nerve problem flared up on Saturday and worsened overnight. With Alex also injured, Ancelotti overlooked teenage centre half Jeffrey Bruma and paired full back Paulo Ferreira with Branislav Ivanovic. Last time they played together, they conceded three in a Carling Cup defeat at Blackburn. Yesterday they were torn to shreds by Welbeck, Gyan and Sunderland's midfield movement. Ivanovic's normal consistency evaporated and he was lucky not to be sent off for a cynical foul on Welbeck.
In recent years, when Chelsea have slipped, big personalities have saved the day. They were missing here, with Didier Drogba out of sorts after a bout of malaria. Sunderland were without Darren Bent, but seized the chance to dominate the champions. Cech made two terrific first-half saves from Welbeck within minutes. The first was exceptional, a strong left hand to a header from Onuoha's cross. He then spread his body to block a shot after Welbeck had raced on to Gyan's pass. Then came a double save. Cech denied Gyan in a one-on-one, then scrambled to block Kieran Richardson's attempt to squeeze the rebound in from a narrow angle.
No-one had got past him in the Premier League at the Bridge since John Carew's consolation during Aston Villa's 7-1 defeat in March. The shut-out had reached 916 minutes when Sunderland right back Onuoha, on loan from Manchester City, collected a clearance and danced past feeble challenges from Mikel, Jose Bosingwa and Ivanovic for a cool finish. Gyan scored the second soon after the break. His clinical finish matched the sweetest of passing moves, with the defence-splitter coming from Jordan Henderson, in a fine display for Fabio Capello ahead of his first England game.At a glance, there was little to satisfy Capello yesterday, with Terry forced out, still no Lampard, and Ashley Cole hobbling on his troublesome ankle before a lapse that gifted Welbeck the killer third in the 87th minute. But seven Englishmen started for Sunderland. Henderson, Richardson and Lee Cattermole were impressive. Titus Bramble, Michael Turner and Onuoha were solid in defence, as they were at Tottenham in midweek. Above all, Welbeck looked fresh and dangerous. With English strikers an endangered species, Capello could do worse than promote the teenager, on loan from Manchester United, from the Under 21 squad. Welbeck's first goal for Sunderland was simple, as Cole's pass to Cech went straight to him. Bruce's team pushed for more. Cattermole went close and it was Chelsea who were grateful for the final whistle.

MATCH FACTS
Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech 7; Bosingwa 6, Ferreira 5, Ivanovic 5, Cole 6; Ramires 4 (McEachran 69min, 6), Mikel 6, Zhirkov 5 (Kakuta 76); Anelka 6, Drogba 6, Malouda 6 (Kalou 58, 5). Subs not used: Turnbull, Van Aanholt, Bruma, Sala. Booked: Ivanovic.

Sunderland (4-4-1-1): Gordon 7; Onuoha 8, Turner 7, Bramble 7, Bardsley 6; Richardson 6, Henderson 7, Cattermole 7 (Riveros 90), Zenden 7; Welbeck 9 (Elmohamady 90); Gyan 8 (Malbranque 83). Subs not used: Mignolet, Angeleri, Da Silva, Adams. Booked: Turner, Bramble. Scorers: Onuoha 45, Gyan 52, Welbeck 87.
Man of the match: Danny Welbeck.
Referee: Chris Foy 6.
Attendance: 41,072.

====================================

Guardian:

Sunderland barrage destroys Chelsea
Chelsea 0 Sunderland 3 Onuoha 45, Gyan 52, Welbeck 87

Kevin McCarra

The shock must have been even greater than the shame. Chelsea are now suffering from an overload of disbelief. This, after all, was the first away victory of the season for opponents who were swamped 5-1 at Newcastle United a couple of weeks ago. Before anyone dwells on Chelsea's defects and mistakes it should be emphasised that Sunderland performed to a high standard, with a sharpness of passing and movement that distressed the losers.
Chelsea were disadvantaged by the absence of Alex and John Terry, who were, respectively, ruled out by a knee injury and a recurring nerve problem, but that does not amount to an explanation for the sluggish blandness. It felt as if the 28 goals previously amassed in the Premier League must have been the work of an entirely different batch of players.
The plain fact may be that there is less depth to Carlo Ancelotti's means than is supposed. With Ramires yet to make an impression since his £18m move from Benfica, Chelsea cannot avoid seeming depleted when Michael Essien and Frank Lampard are unavailable. Few had envisaged that Sunderland would appear the club of lavish means. They enjoyed excellent contributions from Nedum Onuoha and the devastating Danny Welbeck, who are on loan from Manchester City and Manchester United.
There was a verve and confidence about them and others that was not echoed anywhere in the Chelsea ranks. The closing goal of the afternoon epitomised the difficulty they had even to get within reach of competence. Ashley Cole's attempt to find his goalkeeper Petr Cech in the 87th minute instead invited Welbeck to score his first goal for the club. Once Chelsea get over the ignominy of it all they can start to wonder how they will guard their two-point lead in the table.
There is a jaded air about them and the loss at Liverpool last weekend was followed merely by a trying 1-0 win over Fulham at home. There was to be virtually no reaction once Sunderland assumed an overdue lead. Ancelotti's men's last loss here in the Premier League was a 4-2 beating by Manchester City in February and it is true that Chelsea did not allow themselves to be distracted as they went on to win the title.
It will take real persuasiveness to convince onlookers that such momentum will be re-established. The side is missing people like Terry and Lampard because, to some extent, the defender and the midfielder are hampered by wear and tear. The captain is not quite 30 yet but his body has sustained the degree of damage associated with a veteran. The whole line-up was to be affected by a power cut against Sunderland.
There was also a thought-provoking aspect to the game in the boldness shown by opponents who had two outright attackers and plenty of adventure from midfield. Steve Bruce's plan was pragmatic in its own way since the intention was to apply a stress that would make Chelsea buckle. Others will take note of the manager's scheme and ask themselves whether their squad might be capable of copying it.
The opener felt like a barrage. Cech saved first from Asamoah Gyan, after a cross from Welbeck, before denying Kieran Richardson. Nedum Onuoha, however, maintained the onslaught, going past Mikel John Obi and José Bosingwa before shooting home, with Branislav Ivanovic too late to intervene.
Chelsea had gone 916 minutes at home in the League without losing a goal, but others were inevitable here. Ivanovic, may have been lucky to receive a yellow card from the referee, Chris Foy, rather than a red when hauling down Welbeck five minutes from half-time.
The lead was extended in an entrancing manner in the 52nd minute. Welbeck combined with Jordan Henderson, who may make his England debut on Wednesday, and Gyan, a £13m signing from Rennes in the summer, converted the chance with complete confidence. Such composure was scarcely a surprise from a man who now has four goals from his last three matches.
It was a weekend when Arsenal were the one member of the top four to win. That does reinforce the suspicion of decline amongst the prominent clubs. Arsène Wenger's team are an exception since it will be almost impossible for them not to improve in view of the comparative youth in the line-up. Conversely, a lack of knowhow contributed to League defeats by West Bromwich Albion and Newcastle at the Emirates.
The evidence is, of course, mixed, with all four of England's representatives at the head of their Champions League groups. If the standard of opponent is less high on the domestic front, it may still be because there is a frenzy there that can be debilitating. Chelsea, at least, were weary and despondent long before the close.


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Sun:

Chelsea 0 Sunderland 3
By SHAUN CUSTIS

RAY WILKINS is too much of a gentleman to revel in this astonishing Chelsea drubbing. But for the rest of us on the outside looking in, there was an overwhelming feeling that the Blues got exactly what they deserved for having ruthlessly dumped their popular assistant manager last week.
The decision has done nothing for dressing-room harmony.
And it is no exaggeration to say that Audley Harrison put up more of a fight than Chelsea did.
The Blues had a 100 per cent home league record before yesterday, six wins out of six.
But the roof caved in as they suffered their biggest home league defeat since being beaten 3-0 by Manchester United in April 2002, before even Roman Abramovich took over.
These were also the first league goals conceded at Stamford Bridge since John Carew scored for Aston Villa last March and their first home defeat in the top flight since being beaten 4-2 by Manchester City nine months ago.
It was not the start promoted coach Paul Clement would have wanted as he stood by Carlo Ancelotti's side instead of Wilkins.
Ancelotti says he had a squad good enough to win the title and that when key players were missing, they had the quality in depth to cope.
He must be joking.
Chelsea were without their first-choice central defensive partnership of Alex and John Terry, the skipper having pulled out with a sciatic nerve problem. In midfield there was no Michael Essien or Frank Lampard.
In the middle of the back four, Paulo Ferreira and Branislav Ivanovic were pulled to pieces by the terrific twosome of Ghanaian star Asamoah Gyan and on-loan Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck.
In midfield for Chelsea, £18m Brazilian Ramires was woeful.
Sunderland were hammered 5-1 at Newcastle only a fortnight ago and back in January conceded seven in the corresponding fixture.
No one saw this coming, especially not the bookies, who rated Sunderland's chances of winning by this score at 250-1.
But Steve Bruce's side deserved it - make no mistake - and Petr Cech also had to make a number of cracking saves.
His stop to keep out 19-year-old Welbeck's header on 36 minutes was top drawer.
Then Gyan played a ball over Ferreira's head and Cech saved with his outstretched right foot from Welbeck again.
Sunderland kept on coming and Ivanovic was lucky to get only a yellow after tripping Welbeck as he raced towards goal. Bruce was going mad about that one.
On the stroke of half-time the visitors got their just reward and Ferreira was caught out again as he let Gyan through.
The Ghanaian's shot was parried by Cech and the keeper got up quickly to save Kieran Richardson's follow-up.
However, when the ball came back in, Ivanovic only headed out as far as Nedum Onuoha and the on-loan Manchester City defender went on a fantastic mazy run past Mikel, Jose Bosingwa and Ivanovic before tucking his shot into the corner.
By 52 minutes, Sunderland were two ahead thanks to another stunner with Welbeck feeding England new-boy Jordan Henderson, who played it first time to Gyan and he coolly slotted past Cech.
Cue a celebration dance for a fourth goal in three games by the confident striker.
Up front for Chelsea, Didier Drogba must have dreamed of such service.
Perhaps they should have got watching US tennis star Andy Roddick out of the stands. He is famous for his service.
Drogba revealed last week how he had been suffering from malaria and frankly it looked like his whole team had been infected.
Craig Gordon was virtually unemployed and it was no great surprise that Sunderland scored again three minutes from time.
Ashley Cole, usually so dependable, tried a ridiculous pass back to Cech and Welbeck nipped in to slip it into the far corner.
For Bruce it was his first Premier League win in London for six years and what a contrast to the battered figure who sloped away distraught from St James' Park after being destroyed by the enemy in that derby game.
The downside for Bruce is on this form there is no question of him getting Onuoha or Welbeck on the books permanently. They will be going back to Manchester.
You wonder how City and United can afford to be without them.

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Thursday, November 11, 2010

fulham 1-0




Independent:

Bittersweet return for Essien as suspension further depletes Chelsea

Chelsea 1 Fulham 0

By Mark Fleming at Stamford Bridge

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba played despite being diagnosed with malaria, but by the final whistle here last night it was his team-mate Michael Essien who needed someone to mop his fevered brow.
Essien, whose headed goal on the half-hour decided this game, lunged in with two feet off the ground to challenge Clint Dempsey in the 93rd minute and was reprimanded with a straight red card, even though he had already been cautioned. The challenge was both reckless and needless, and Essien will now be banned for three games, which will mean he misses Sunday's match against Sunderland at home and then two away fixtures at Birmingham City and Newcastle United.
With his headed goal, Essien put Chelsea's title challenge back on track, extending their advantage over Manchester United to four points; yet with his inexplicable lack of discipline, he has left manager Carlo Ancelotti with a major problem.
Essien, fit again after two seasons marred by terrible injuries and two games out with a toe injury, has been a key performer for Ancelotti's team, even more so given the prolonged absence of Frank Lampard. Ancelotti said last night that the midfielder should be able to return against Sunderland on but he will not be match-fit.
Ancelotti exonerated his player for the challenge, but said he wanted to study TV replays before deciding whether the club would appeal. "Maybe it was not a red card because Essien did a strong tackle but on the ball. There was not a risk on the opponent," he said. "I don't think he made a silly foul. He tried to do a tackle, he won the tackle. And I'm not sure it was a sending off. It would be a problem if we lose him for three games."
It certainly would, as Chelsea's injury problems are mounting. Drogba is suffering from malaria, Lampard is not fit and both Nicolas Anelka and Alex missed this game with niggling injuries. To make matters worse, their captain, John Terry, left the pitch limping with a back problem. All of which makes Essien's tackle all the more unforgiveable, as Chelsea can ill afford to do without a player who can make the impact he does.
This season has seen him play with more freedom and attacking purpose, released from restrictive holding role and given the chance to express his power in the opponents' half of the pitch. The Ghanaian demonstrated as much with his goal after half an hour.
Fulham failed to clear a free-kick fully and Salomon Kalou, wide on Chelsea's left, looked up to see Essien calling for it in the area. The Ivorian crossed and Essien, who is nicknamed "the Train" by his team-mates, arrived right on time ahead of Dickson Etuhu to head his fourth goal of the season.
Mark Hughes, the Fulham manager, was less than happy that referee Martin Atkinson had not stopped play before the cross came in, as Drogba was lying on the floor with an injury.
Hughes said: "That's a disappointment from our point of view. We were distracted by Drogba lying prone in the box. You still have to play to the whistle, so maybe we were guilty of expecting the referee to blow up. He didn't and we paid the penalty."
After a stuttering start, the goal gave Chelsea the confidence to put Sunday's 2-0 defeat at Liverpool behind them, and they created enough chances to have the game in the game by half-time. Kalou was their sharpest attacking threat, but he could not find the killer touch to put this derby beyond Chelsea's neighbours. Twice he fired shots wide of the Fulham goal, and when he did manage to hit the target, following a brilliant run at the visiting defence, his shot went through the legs of goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer but was cleared off the line by Aaron Hughes.
Fulham's Northern Ireland international also blocked a shot from Drogba, and Schwarzer made a fine double save to deny Florent Malouda and John Obi Mikel.
Fulham were disappointing, with their focus firmly on containing their west London rivals. Their best moments came late in the game when Dempsey let fly from 30 yards and Petr Cech dived full length to keep the scores level. Substitute Zoltan Gera also tested Chelsea's experienced keeper with a fierce volley.

Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Bosingwa (Ferreira, 88), Ivanovic, Terry, Cole; Essien, Mikel, Zhirkov; Kalou (Sturridge, 85), Drogba, Malouda (Ramires, 77). Substitutes not used Turnbull (gk), Bruma, McEachran, Kakuta

Fulham (4-4-1-1): Schwarzer; Kelly, Hangeland, Hughes, Briggs (Gera, 79); Davies, Murphy, Etuhu (A Johnson, 61), Duff; Dempsey; Dembele. Substitutes not used Stockdale (gk) Pantsil, Dikgacoi, Greening, E Johnson.

Referee M Atkinson (W Yorkshire).
Attendance 41,593.
Man of the Match Kalou.
Match Rating 5/10.


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Guardian:

Michael Essien sees late red as Chelsea overcome Fulham

Chelsea 1 Essien 30 Fulham 0

Dominic Fifield at Stamford Bridge

Chelsea have reclaimed some momentum at the Premier League's pinnacle, though rarely can a return to the old routine have felt so horribly disjointed. The champions spluttered their way to another home success here at their local rivals' expense, extending their lead at the top in the process, but with the gloss completely stripped by Michael Essien's crude two-footed lunge in stoppage time, which will earn such a key performer a ban.
Such is the fragility of Carlo Ancelotti's squad at present, even with Frank Lampard pencilled in to play some part against Sunderland on Sunday, that the loss of the Ghanaian for three matches may feel almost as significant as the capture of three points. Essien's energy had been missed in defeat at Liverpool last weekend and will be absent again against the Wearside club as well as for trips to Birmingham and Newcastle. This team were already lacking rhythm. Now they have denied themselves their dynamism, too.
While it had been Essien's header that had earned this victory, it was his ugly foul on Clint Dempsey almost four minutes into injury time at the end that marred this occasion. Fulham were frantic in their pursuit of an equaliser, with Chelsea increasingly anxious, when the midfielder jumped and planted both feet down in a challenge on the American.
That he did not crunch entirely into his opponent was irrelevant given that the referee deemed there to have been intent in the tackle. "The guy's jumped in with two feet, so it's a straight red," Mark Hughes said.
Ancelotti had yet to scrutinise replays of the incident when he appeared for his post-match briefing, with his instinct to consider an appeal unlikely to be followed through. "I don't like to judge the decision but Essien did a strong tackle but on the ball," the Italian said. "There was not a risk to the opponent. He went for the ball, the last ball of the game, an important ball. I don't think it was a silly foul, and I'm not sure it was a sending-off." That view may be tempered in the cold light of day.
Losing Essien at Birmingham and Newcastle will pose particular problems given Chelsea's relatively stodgy recent away form. At present, their challenge is being sustained by a perfect record at Stamford Bridge, even if their most scintillating football drained away back in the early autumn. They remain impregnable here. This was a ninth consecutive clean sheet at home in the league stretching back to March, a sequence that equals a club record set back in 1927, and was only really threatened in the closing stages when Petr Cech did wonderfully well to deny Dempsey and Zoltan Gera from distance.
Those saves caught the breath, and came with John Terry hampered by a sore back and Didier Drogba gasping for breath. The Ivorian could not have expected to play a full 90 minutes in the midst of a course of medication to eradicate the bout of malaria that has hampered him for a month. He is blunt at present, understandably given his inability to train fully, but was still an awkward opponent with whom Fulham had to contend. Arguably his better work was carried out in his own penalty area clearing set pieces. "He was tired," Ancelotti said, "but he'll be fit again quickly."
Few in this Chelsea team are currently at the peak of form or fitness. Essien had endured a mishmash of a performance, his passing horribly awry, as he returned after a toe injury. Yet, as the frustration started to mount on the half-hour mark, he found reward. Fulham's discipline wavered for a second, distracted by Drogba's slip and tumble in the penalty area. While defenders dawdled, Salomon Kalou had time to measure a cross unopposed which Essien leapt to convert with ease.
Hughes bemoaned the confusion over whether the ball should have been cleared into touch so that Drogba, apparently injured, could receive treatment. As it was, his team rarely seemed likely to pull off a first win in this arena in 31 years, even if they hinted at a point in the latter stages. Kalou, twice, might have added a second and Mark Schwarzer did wonderfully to deny Florent Malouda, yet a solitary goal proved enough. Chelsea, four points clear, have restored breathing space.


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Mail:

Chelsea 1 Fulham 0:

Fit again Michael Essien the hero and villain as Blues bounce back in west London derby

By Matt Barlow

All the talk had been about the returning African and he did not disappoint.
A prowling performance, a red card and a goal. It was quite a night for Michael Essien.
All with a sore toe. Essien headed Chelsea into the lead in the first half and was sent off with a straight red in the fourth minute of stoppage time for a two-footed jump into a challenge on Clint Dempsey.
Of course, Didier Drogba was there, too, and he played every minute, a heroic effort in the week when he discovered his body had been suffering the effects of malaria for weeks.Drogba was nowhere near his destructive best and looked utterly exhausted by the end, hands on knees, breathing plumes of steam into the cold night.
But, in the absence of Nicolas Anelka, he made a vital contribution as Chelsea squeezed past their neighbours to extend their lead at the top of the Barclays Premier League to four points.
Carlo Ancelotti’s team were rarely fluent and, when they did find their best rhythm in the second half, they became wasteful in front of goal.
Fulham provided a scare in the closing minutes and Petr Cech had to work for another clean sheet. He has not conceded a goal at Stamford Bridge in nine Premier League games, equalling a new club record set in 1926/27.
But it was a good night for Ancelotti: a draw at Eastlands and a win at the Bridge with a depleted team after Sunday’s defeat at Liverpool was precisely what he had been hoping for.‘Four points is a good gap,’ said Ancelotti.‘Nothing is decided, but that’s a good gap. We’d like to stay there in that position. I said I was hoping for a draw in Manchester and I am a good magician. It was a good result for us.
‘It was a good performance. Drogba was tired. He has to train and it will take time to put him in the best condition.
‘He worked for the team and he was important at set-pieces and in the game. He tried to score, and his performance was good, but he was tired. He hasn’t trained at 100 per cent during his illness, but now he’ll be fit quickly again.’
There were times last night when Drogba looked beaten, breathing heavily, stopping in his tracks to force in lungfuls of air and running sluggishly but Ancelotti was grateful to have him leading the line.
There were also glimpses of his usual power, a burst of acceleration to escape his marker and a swerving free-kick which goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer scrambled around the post. When Chelsea took the lead on the half-hour Drogba was lying on the turf clutching the top of his thigh.
He had slipped as he jostled for position in the penalty area and needed treatment before he could carry on. As he was rolling around, Salomon Kalou collected the ball and swung in a cross from the left. Essien eluded Dickson Etuhu and appeared unmarked to head into the net.
‘We were distracted by Drogba lying prone in the box,’ said Fulham boss Mark Hughes.
‘You still have to play to the whistle, so maybe we were guilty of expecting the referee to blow up. He didn’t and we paid the penalty.
‘It’s confusing the way the game is viewed in terms of when players go down: are they faking, and do you kick the ball out? We had that in the second half when we had the ball in a promising position, and ended up having the ball put out near our goal-line.’
Like Drogba, Essien also looked laboured at times. This was his first game back after missing two with a toe injury but Ancelotti has also been careful to manage his match action recently, wary of the two serious knee problems in two years.He often limped around in midfield and picked up a booking early in the second half for a challenge on Dempsey which came in high and a fraction late. Then he was shown a straight red in stoppage time when he jumped two-footed into a challenge with the same player and faces a three-match ban.
Live wire Kalou made up for any energy deficiencies elsewhere. It was unfortunate he could not find a better finish to a fine run in the first half.
Schwarzer made an astonishing point-blank save to thwart Malouda, then climbed to his feet to save a sweet 20-yarder from John Obi Mikel.
Somehow the visitors were still in the game and they frightened their hosts with a late flurry. Cech was forced into an athletic stop to keep out a dipping strike from distance by Dempsey. Zoltan Gera then struck a ferocious volley from 20 yards to no avail.

MATCH FACTS

CHELSEA (4-3-2-1): Cech 7; Bosingwa 5(Ferreira, 89min), Ivanovic 7, Terry 6,Cole 6; Essien 7, Mikel 7, Zhirkov 6; Kalou 8 (Sturridge, 85), Malouda 7 (Ramires, 78); Drogba 7. Subs not used: Turnbull, Bruma, McEachran, Kakuta.Booked: Cole. Sent off: Essien.

FULHAM (4-4-1-1): Schwarzer 7; Kelly 6,Hughes 7, Hangeland 6, Briggs 5 (Gera,79); Davies 6, Etuhu 5 (A Johnson 61, 4),Murphy 6, Duff 5; Dempsey 7; Dembele 5. Subs not used: Stockdale, Pantsil,Dikgacoi, Greening, E Johnson.
Man of the match: Salomon Kalou.Referee: Martin Atkinson 6.

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Star:

WAY TOE GO FOR CHELSEA'S BAD BOY MICHAEL ESSIEN
By Danny Fullbrook

Chelsea 1, Fulham 0


MICHAEL Essien ­bounced back from a toe injury and made sure of the points for Chelsea – before being sent off.
The Chelsea midfielder’s thumping header in the 30th minute proved to be the only goal of their west London derby against Fulham.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side had stumbled and stuttered up until that point as any threat was snuffed out by Mark Hughes’ dogged and determined outfit.
But Essien changed all that with his goal before going from saint to sinner.
Didier Drogba was flattened in the area as Chelsea attacked, and his pole-axing may have distracted the Fulham defence.
Salomon Kalou crossed from the right and his effort was met by Essien who powered his header past a flat-footed Mark Schwarzer.
Fulham’s defending was dreadful and they practically gifted the opportunity to ­Essien – who missed Sunday’s defeat to Liverpool with a toe injury – on a plate.
Chelsea were looking to bounce back from the ­disappointment of that 2-0 loss at ­Anfield. And no doubt Blues coach Ancelotti thought they had the perfect ­opponents to play in Fulham.
The Premier League leaders’ near neighbours have not won away from Craven Cottage since the opening day of last season.
And they have not won at Stamford Bridge since 1979.
Chelsea were missing Alex with a knee problem and ­Nicolas Anelka with a bad back.
There was the bizarre fact that Didier Drogba was playing despite a bout of malaria.
The Ivory Coast hitman is not sure how long he has had it – and it could go back as far as the African Cup of Nations last ­January.
Fulham arrived at the Bridge without their first-choice ­full-backs.
Both Chris Baird and Carlos Salcido were injured against Aston Villa at the weekend, with the Mexican expected to be out for almost a month.
It meant that Fulham put in 19-year-old rookie Matthew Briggs at ­left-back for his first Premier League start.
Fulham came to spoil the game and it worked for the first half-hour as both sides really failed to muster a chance worth talking about.
There was a long-range shot from Briggs which Petr Cech held easily.
There was also a dangerous free-kick from Drogba that Mark Schwarzer did well to punch away from the danger zone.
But from the moment ­Essien scored, the floodgates seemed to open for Chelsea and they should really have added to their tally before the break.
The champions were now flooding forward confidently and it was Florent Malouda who had the next effort, only to see his shot after a decent run flash wide.
Fulham’s defence, which had been strong up until that point, was starting to be picked apart.
Malouda found space on the left in the 42nd minute and his low cross was met by a volley from Kalou.
But the African’s effort flashed over the crossbar. Even so, the ­Ivory Coast striker should ­really have scored a few minutes later.
Yuri Zhirkov found him with a terrific through-ball and ­Kalou got inside youngster Briggs.
As Schwarzer advanced to narrow the angle Kalou flashed his shot just wide.
Fulham then packed their midfield with five men and Chelsea swamped them.
In the second half the Fulham goalmouth was like the Alamo, with efforts from Kalou and Malouda denied by some ­last-gasp ­defending.
Drogba could not believe it when a shot was cleared on the line by Aaron Hughes.
But Essien’s night ended on a sour note when he was shown a straight red for a two-footed tackle on Clint Dempsey in the 93rd minute.


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Sun:

Chelsea 1 Fulham 0
By CHARLIE WYETT

MICHAEL ESSIEN has generally contained his dark side since swapping France for England. He earned himself a reputation for being a bit of a nutter during his spell at Lyon.
Then came his £24.4million transfer to Chelsea five years ago and with the odd exception - including an horrendous challenge on Didi Hamann - the Ghana midfielder has behaved himself.

Yet last night, after scoring the goal which helped Chelsea recover nicely from Sunday's defeat at Liverpool, Essien proved he remains a midfield marvel with a hint of menace.
While Fulham were threatening an unlikely draw when they should have been beaten out of sight, Essien lost the plot with a dreadful and dangerous two-footed tackle on Clint Dempsey.
We were deep into stoppage time and, while a challenge was needed to block the American, nothing like that was required.
Though booked earlier, he was deservedly handed a straight red card by referee Martin Atkinson - his second sending-off in a Blues shirt.
It was a shame, as his 30th-minute goal proved decisive and Chelsea equalled their club record of nine successive clean sheets at home.
Six of those have been this season and that is some effort considering they have been hit by a number of injuries.
Nicolas Anelka, Alex and Frank Lampard were absent for this latest clash.
Didier Drogba played for the first time since being diagnosed as having malaria but understandably looked way off the pace and rarely threatened.
Fortunately Salomon Kalou, despite wasting some decent chances, was a constant danger for Chelsea - ensuring a torrid Premier League debut for Fulham teenager Matthew Briggs.
This was a better performance compared to the 2-0 defeat on Merseyside but Chelsea are certainly capable of much better.
Yet when you consider they are four points clear at the top of the table, it is difficult to be too critical. Fulham started off defending well but Carlo Ancelotti's men were poor for the first 25 minutes.
Then after a couple of decent efforts they finally broke the visitors' resistance.
Fulham failed to clear their lines and the ball drifted out wide to the left where Kalou had spotted Essien as a runner.
Dickson Etuhu was guilty of not concentrating and of failing to get anywhere near the man he should have been marking but Essien still delivered an unstoppable close-range header past Mark Schwarzer for his fourth goal of the season.
With Drogba lying in a crumpled heap in the box, Fulham were clearly expecting the referee to blow his whistle but it never came - and they paid the price.
Kalou then missed two excellent chances just before the break as he continued to run Briggs ragged. In another attack, he found a way past both Briggs and Brede Hangeland and looked certain to score. H
is shot squeezed through Schwarzer's legs, only for Aaron Hughes to clear off the line.
Hughes then came to the rescue by blocking a goalbound shot from Drogba, after Schwarzer had fumbled, and incredibly Essien somehow missed the target from three yards from Branislav Ivanovic's driven low cross.
Yet credit to Fulham, who regrouped and went close to snatching a draw.
Dempsey delivered one stunning long-range effort and Petr Cech, having had little to do, did well to tip it over.
Moments later, Cech made another important block from a Zoltan Gera volley and Dempsey went close with an overhead kick.
But Dempsey's night would end in a stamp, while Fulham's abysmal away record simply continues on.
Their last win on their travels in the Premier League was back on August 15, 2009 and they have been triumphant on just four of their last 44 league trips.
That victory has to come soon - surely.

CHELSEA
Cech 7 Bosingwa 7 Ivanovic 7 Terry 7 Cole 7 Essien 7 Mikel 6 Zhirkov 6 Kalou 8 - STAR MAN Drogba 6 Malouda 7 Subs: Ramires (Malouda 78) 6, Ferreira (Bosingwa 88) 5, Sturridge (Kalou 85) 5. Not used: Turnbull, Bruma, Kakuta, McEachran. Booked: Essien, Cole. Sent off: Essien.

FULHAM Schwarzer 7 Kelly 6 Hughes 7 Hangeland 6 Briggs 5 Davies 6 Etuhu 6 Dempsey 6 Murphy 6 Duff 5 Dembele 5 Subs: A Johnson (Etuhu 65) 6, Gera (Briggs 79) 7. Not used: Stockdale, Pantsil, E Johnson, Dikgacoi, Greening

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