valencia 1-1

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

swansea 4-1

Independent:

Chelsea 4 Swansea 1
By Ben Rumsby

Fernando Torres' mixed fortunes continued as he found the net before seeing red for an ugly challenge in Chelsea's comfortable Barclays Premier League victory over Swansea.
Sunday's defeat at Manchester United had seen £50million man Torres score for only the second time in his Blues career before producing one of the worst open-goal gaffes in Premier League history.
He scored today with another fine finish before seeing red for inexplicably diving in studs first on Mark Gower in between a Ramires brace, which was followed by Ashley Williams' consolation and a comeback goal for Didier Drogba.
But being down to 10 men for more than half a game for the second time in four days - Chelsea suffered the same fate in their midweek Carling Cup win over Fulham - was hardly ideal preparation for Wednesday's Champions League showdown in Valencia.
Torres' dismissal also meant a three-match domestic ban and ensured he would once again make headlines for the wrong reasons, despite beginning to repay his record-breaking transfer fee in earnest.
Frank Lampard starting on the bench today was also a talking point, although the midfielder played 76 minutes on Wednesday night.
He looked certain to start at Valencia, emphasising that, at 33, he was being held back more and more for the big games.
Chelsea's bid to close the five-point gap to United did not begin well, with the hosts outplayed by the visitors in the opening 15 minutes.
Raul Meireles volleyed over when well-placed and Ramires had a close-range shot blocked but Chelsea were failing to replicate the beautiful game Villas-Boas insisted they had produced last weekend.
Torres was also struggling to repeat his Old Trafford exploits, where his horror miss marred what was otherwise his best performance in a Chelsea shirt.
That changed in dramatic fashion in the 29th minute when Juan Mata chipped a ball over the top and Angel Rangel played Torres onside, allowing him to swivel and find the bottom corner.
Mata was needlessly booked for hauling back Rangel, with Williams close to converting the resultant free-kick.
But Chelsea's scintillating football finally arrived nine minutes from half-time when a sweeping breakaway saw Ashley Cole pick out Ramires, who drilled the ball through Michael Vorm's legs.
But Torres then undid all his good work when he was sent off three minutes later for a shocking tackle on Gower.
Referee Mike Dean had no choice but to show red for the challenge, despite it appearing more clumsy than malicious.
Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers, who enjoyed a pre-match ovation on his return to the club where he was reserve-team boss for four years, threw on Wayne Routledge for Leon Britton during the interval.
The visitors laid siege to the Chelsea goal after the restart as Meireles almost slid the ball into his own net, the livewire Nathan Dyer saw his shot deflect off John Obi Mikel and loop onto the crossbar, and Williams misdirected a header from the resultant corner.
A desperate challenge from Mikel prevented Leroy Lita converting Rangel's cross and the subsequent corner was headed goalward by Williams, only for Jose Bosingwa to clear off the line.
Dyer was booked for felling Anelka as Chelsea broke and Ramires also volleyed wide before Mata was withdrawn for Florent Malouda and the fit-again Danny Graham came on for Lita just before the hour mark.
Anelka almost scored a superb individual goal after being allowed to carry the ball 25 yards before unleashing a piledriver against the bar.
Chelsea began to cope with their man disadvantage, as they had against Fulham on Wednesday, forcing Swansea to introduce Stephen Dobbie for Dyer.
Garry Monk was booked for tripping Anelka 15 minutes from time and the 10 men made it 3-0 a minute later, Ramires too easily cutting inside Williams before passing the ball beyond Vorm.
Drogba made his long-awaited return from his sickening head injury for the final 11 minutes as Anelka was withdrawn.
Josh McEachran also replaced Ramires before Swansea finally netted in the 86th minute, the unmarked Williams heading home his first Premier League goal from Gower's free-kick.
Vorm saved well from Malouda, Williams went close to nodding in his second in stoppage time and Ramires dragged a hat-trick chance wide before Drogba turned on Malouda's pass and steered the ball beyond Vorm to add gloss to the scoreline.


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

Telegraph:

Chelsea 4 Swansea City 1

Andre Villas-Boas believes the media have an obsession with Fernando Torres, but the Spanish striker cannot keep himself out of the headlines at the moment.
Last week it was a sublime goal and ridiculous miss at Old Trafford. Against Swansea City, Torres was hero and villain, beauty and the beast, Jekyll and Hyde – choose your own cliché.
Torres scored one terrifiic goal and set up another to put Chelsea on their way to victory over the Welsh side, but then left his side playing with ten men for 50 minutes after a dreadful two-footed lunge on Mark Gower that brought a deserved red card. All of this took place in the space of ten minutes.
It meant Villas-Boas had a more anxious second-half than he would have liked and will now be without the services of his £50m striker for the next three league games.
It also ensured that most post-match conversations, in the pubs and on air, revolved around Torres once again. Yet it had all started so brightly for the Spanish striker.
Having scored his first goal of the season last week, he was off the mark within half an hour, opening the scoring with a stylish goal, made in Spain.
Juan Mata chipped a pass forward to Torres, who sharp as a tack, moved off his marker, took the ball on his chest and spun to fire a shot into the far corner of goal.
It got even better six minutes later when Torres took out three Swansea players with a pass from the halfway line that sent Ashley Cole away down the left. Cole swept the ball across for Ramires, raiding down the right, to take one touch before firing through the legs of goalkeeper Michael Vorm.
But then came a moment of madness from Torres that left his side, already with Frank Lampard dropped to the subs' bench, down to ten men. Gower had the ball on the halfway line, close to the touchline and certainly not in a threatening position. What prompted Torres to go flying in with both sets of studs showing is a mystery, but the conclusion of it was not. Torres was apologising for his action before almost sliding into the Swansea dugout.
Referee Mike Dean had no hesitation in showing the Spaniard a red card, giving Swansea a numerical advanatge.
The visitors knocked on Chelsea's door repeatedly after half-time, but the Blues stood firm. Nathan Dyer rattled Petr Cech's crossbar, John Obi Mikel made two vital blocks in front of goal, and Ashley Williams had a header cleared off the line.
But Chelsea broke quickly and Anelka also hit the bar before Ramires made it 3-0 after running on to Jose Bosingwa's through ball in the 76th minute.
Williams headed a late goal that was of little consolation to Brendan Rodgers, the former Chelsea coach, on his return to Stamford Bridge.
There was time for Didier Drogba to make a well-received return after recovering from the serious head injury he sustained against Norwich last month, and the striker made it 4-1 with a low shot in stoppage time.
But all the talk was about Torres – again.

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

Mirror:

Chelsea 4-1 Swansea:
By Chris Hatherall

Fernando Torres once again pressed the self-destruct button on his Chelsea career.
The troubled Spaniard scored a sublime goal against Swansea but then got himself stupidly sent off, leaving fellow scorer Didier Drogba ready to snatch his place.
Drogba, finally back from a head injury, came off the bench to wrap up a comfortable victory that also featured two goals from midfielder Ramires and a consolation effort from Swans defender Ashley ­Williams.
Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas condemned Torres by declaring the red card a “good decision”.
But the manager was otherwise delighted with his side, saying: “It was a good performance with 10 men.
“The sending off I have nothing to say, it looks a good decision by the referee.
“But we never lost our will to attack and it paid off. It’s an important win for us after the defeat at Old ­Trafford. It showed good resilience to come back with a good result and good display.”
In contrast to his comments about Torres, Villas-Boas hailed Drogba’s return.
He said: “It was good to see Drogba back and to see him score. But the most important moment was the way he challenged the first ball.
“It was an aerial challenge and it shows the commitment of the player that he went for it. Maybe a different player wouldn’t have challenged with that commitment and drive.”
Torres, who thought he had turned his season around last week when he scored against United, only to then miss a sitter, must be wondering if he will ever get it right at Stamford Bridge.
He came out of the blocks flying and opened the scoring by chesting down a wonderful Juan Mata pass before turning to score with an excellent finish in the 29th minute. But just when it seemed ­everything was rosy he allowed adrenalin to get the better of him as he hurled himself into a terrible
two-footed challenge on Mark Gower on the halfway line.
The idiotic tackle came more out of enthusiasm than malice — but there was little doubt it was dangerous and referee Mike Dean had no choice but to show a red card. With only 39 minutes on the clock, Torres’s afternoon was over. It was a bitter blow for the former Liverpool striker who had scored in back-to-back games for the first time since November 2010.
And the only consolation for Chelsea was that by that time they were already 2-0 ahead; Ramires having drilled home a second in the 36th minute after good work from Torres and Ashley Cole. Torres now faces a three-match ban, and considering there is an international break later this month he will not play ­another Premier League match until October 29 against Arsenal – at the earliest...
The Spaniard will miss matches against Bolton away, Everton at home and QPR away — and may even face a battle to win back his place after Drogba took only 15 minutes to get back on the scoresheet in stoppage time. Yet Swansea, who started brightly, couldn’t make Chelsea pay for Torres’s stupidity.
The Swans started the second half at breakneck pace, hit the bar from a deflected shot by the excellent Nathan Dyer and then saw Williams’ header cleared off the line by Jose Bosingwa.
But 10-man Chelsea gradually regained control and Villas-Boas was confident enough to take off playmaker Mata to save him for the Champions League clash with Valencia in midweek.
And his afternoon was made even better when Ramires burst through to drill another goal under Michel Vorn with 14 minutes to go.
It was just reward for the Brazilian’s all-action display — especially as he was chosen ahead of Frank Lampard who was left on the bench.
Williams headed home a late Gower free-kick but Drogba — in action for the first time since August — ghosted in to make it 4-1 and rounded off a pretty ­satisfying day for the Blues. Even if Torres had done his best to ruin it.
VERDICT: In the end it was an efficient and tactically astute victory for 10 man Chelsea. Swansea never stopped playing attractive football but they were still second best.
***
THE BIG ISSUE: Should Villas-Boas ship £50million man Fernando Torres out on loan to try and recapture his form?
He may have been stupid to get sent off with a ­reckless challenge but Torres did enough in the previous 38 minutes to suggest he will still be a big player for Chelsea this season.
His goal was superbly taken and he played an ­excellent pass to Ashley Cole in the build-up to Chelsea’s second.
The Torres jinx struck again after that when he was rightly sent off for a two-footed lunge – but Chelsea would be mad to send him on loan and there is little chance of them doing so.
Andre Villas-Boas may fear that the Torres factor is overshadowing his team but the £50m striker has shown he still has the talent – will he be able to pick up the thread after a month on the sidelines while he serves a three-match ban?


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

Star:

CHELSEA 4 SWANSEA 1
By Gary Jones

FERNANDO TORRES' mixed fortunes continued as he found the net before seeing red for an ugly challenge inChelsea'scomfortable Barclays Premier League victory over Swansea.
Sunday's defeat at Manchester United had seen £50million man Torres score for only the second time in his Blues career before producing one of the worst open-goal gaffes in Premier League history.
He scored today with another fine finish before seeing red for inexplicably diving in studs first on Mark Gower in between a Ramires brace, which was followed by Ashley Williams' consolation and a comeback goal for Didier Drogba.
But being down to 10 men for more than half a game for the second time in four days - Chelsea suffered the same fate in their midweek Carling Cup win over Fulham - was hardly ideal preparation for Wednesday's Champions League showdown in Valencia.
Torres' dismissal also meant a three-match domestic ban and ensured he would once again make headlines for the wrong reasons, despite beginning to repay his record-breaking transfer fee in earnest.
Frank Lampard starting on the bench today was also a talking point, although the midfielder played 76 minutes on Wednesday night.
He looked certain to start at Valencia, emphasising that, at 33, he was being held back more and more for the big games.
Chelsea's bid to close the five-point gap to United did not begin well, with the hosts outplayed by the visitors in the opening 15 minutes.
Raul Meireles volleyed over when well-placed and Ramires had a close-range shot blocked but Chelsea were failing to replicate the beautiful game Villas-Boas insisted they had produced last weekend.
Torres was also struggling to repeat his Old Trafford exploits, where his horror miss marred what was otherwise his best performance in a Chelsea shirt.
That changed in dramatic fashion in the 29th minute when Juan Mata chipped a ball over the top and Angel Rangel played Torres onside, allowing him to swivel and find the bottom corner.
Mata was needlessly booked for hauling back Rangel, with Williams close to converting the resultant free-kick.
But Chelsea's scintillating football finally arrived nine minutes from half-time when a sweeping breakaway saw Ashley Cole pick out Ramires, who drilled the ball through Michael Vorm's legs.
But Torres then undid all his good work when he was sent off three minutes later for a shocking tackle on Gower.
Referee Mike Dean had no choice but to show red for the challenge, despite it appearing more clumsy than malicious.
Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers, who enjoyed a pre-match ovation on his return to the club where he was reserve-team boss for four years, threw on Wayne Routledge for Leon Britton during the interval.
The visitors laid siege to the Chelsea goal after the restart as Meireles almost slid the ball into his own net, the livewire Nathan Dyer saw his shot deflect off John Obi Mikel and loop onto the crossbar, and Williams misdirected a header from the resultant corner.
A desperate challenge from Mikel prevented Leroy Lita converting Rangel's cross and the subsequent corner was headed goalward by Williams, only for Jose Bosingwa to clear off the line.
Dyer was booked for felling Anelka as Chelsea broke and Ramires also volleyed wide before Mata was withdrawn for Florent Malouda and the fit-again Danny Graham came on for Lita just before the hour mark.
Anelka almost scored a superb individual goal after being allowed to carry the ball 25 yards before unleashing a piledriver against the bar.
Chelsea began to cope with their man disadvantage, as they had against Fulham on Wednesday, forcing Swansea to introduce Stephen Dobbie for Dyer.
Garry Monk was booked for tripping Anelka 15 minutes from time and the 10 men made it 3-0 a minute later, Ramires too easily cutting inside Williams before passing the ball beyond Vorm.
Drogba made his long-awaited return from his sickening head injury for the final 11 minutes as Anelka was withdrawn.
Josh McEachran also replaced Ramires before Swansea finally netted in the 86th minute, the unmarked Williams heading home his first Premier League goal from Gower's free-kick.
Vorm saved well from Malouda, Williams went close to nodding in his second in stoppage time and Ramires dragged a hat-trick chance wide before Drogba turned on Malouda's pass and steered the ball beyond Vorm to add gloss to the scoreline.


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

Observer:

Fernando Torres scores and is sent off but Chelsea beat Swansea City
Jamie Jackson at Stamford Bridge

On noting that Frank Lampard was on the bench, Fernando Torres might have felt relief that the midfielder's fortunes under André Villas-Boas were starting to overtake his own as the No1 Chelsea sideshow.That was before what Torres was about to receive in a match that pitted one José Mourinho managerial disciple (Villas-Boas) against another, Swansea City's Brendan Rodgers.
Regarding Lampard, the jury is out on whether he was rested ahead of Wednesday's Champions League trip to Valencia, or dropped for the (presumably) more dynamic Raul Meireles, chosen instead of the 33-year-old who saw another rival, Ramires, score twice.
Villas-Boas stated that the two hours played by Chelsea in their Carling Cup third-round penalty shoot-out win against Fulham on Wednesday caused him to make nine changes against Swansea, and Lampard was merely one of these. Yet the midfielder started that tie on the bench; a more instructive insight into the manager's view of the 33-year-old might be found in his removal at half-time in the 3-1 defeat at Manchester United last weekend.While the team-sheet for Valencia will be a fascinating read to see if Lampard features in Chelsea's toughest outing in the group stage, the opening half here featured a near-anonymous Swansea, and the good, the bad and the ugly from Torres, who continues to wake from his unwanted slumber only to find the sporting gods are still toying with him.On balance, he will probably take the red card he received from Mike Dean 10 minutes before half-time in payment for having earlier increased his tally to three for Chelsea since the £50m move from Liverpool to west London in January. But he seems to be working off some particularly heavy karma.For the 27-year-old, the bad arrived after 20 minutes, when he fashioned another of those moments that seem to bemuse him as well as any spectator.
On the edge of the visitors' area, the striker looked up and appeared ready to shoot or flip in a pass. But, instead, hesitation was followed by a meander back towards his own goal and, when he was dispossessed, the concession of a soft foul that came laced with frustration.If this suggested Torres was about to disappoint, what unfolded was more complex. Just before the half-hour, Juan Mata saw the Spaniard's clever left-to-right run inside the City area and dinked the ball into him; a chest-down, a swivel, then a sweet finish into the corner followed, and that was two in two games, following his strike at United last Sunday.If this was the good (or very good), Torres followed with more of the same, precipitating the move that ended in Ramires scoring Chelsea's second.
Having dropped inside his own half, Torres found Ashley Cole, the left-back crept forward, then slid the ball across midfield to the Brazilian. His shot was struck well, but passed under keeper Michel Vorm .Torres was flying. But now came the ugly. Near halfway, Torres launched both boots at Mark Gower and made contact. Out came Dean's red card, and off Torres marched, head down.Villas-Boas described the sending-off as a "pity". He added: "There is nothing [for Torres] to apologise for. The sending-off, I have nothing to say, it looks a good decision by the referee."
Swansea's manager, Brendan Rodgers, who was formerly on the staff as a coach at Stamford Bridge, said that Torres's poor start to his Chelsea career may be causing him to be over-enthusiastic: "I don't think he's a malicious player. He probably feels it's there to be won and he's trying to show his intention at the moment that he's fighting for everything."Ramires sealed the points by dancing past Ashley Williams – who added a late consolation for Swansea – and finishing. Then Didier Drogba, on for the first time since being knocked out against Norwich City a month ago, made it four.


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

Mail:

Chelsea 4 Swansea 1: Ramires at the double as Torres sees red after scoring opener
By ROB DRAPER

It's all about Fernando. Andre Villas-Boas believes that football reporters have an obsession with the trials and tribulations of his principal striker and yet, on a day when Frank Lampard was dropped, Didier Drogba scored on his return and Ramires scored twice, he still dominated the post-match discussion.
How could he not? For 40 minutes here he built purposely on his Old Trafford performance - that is, on the encouraging part of it rather than the open goal he missed.
He showed aggression and vitality, helping to set up Chelsea's second goal and netting their first, the first time he has scored in successive games for almost a year.
Then, seemingly overenthusiastic, he committed a dreadful challenge that earned him a red card after diving in two-footed on Mark Gower when the Swansea player miscontrolled the ball.
The challenge appeared to be a sign of his insecurity, as though he was trying too hard to prove that he is back to his best. In reality, he should have maintained his equilibrium because he was already proving his worth without resorting to such tackling.
'He's trying to show that he's fighting for everything,' said Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers. 'I don't think he's a malicious player. The ball got away from Mark Gower and he feels it's there to be won. It was more for the intent than the contact. Contact was minimal.'
Villas-Boas was sticking resolutely to his line that Torres is not a subject for discussion. 'Yes, it was a good performance for the team,' he said at least three times when asked directly about the Spain striker.
'No there's nothing to apologise for,' the Chelsea manager added when asked if Torres had said sorry to his team-mates for exposing them. 'He is disappointed to be sent off,' Villas-Boas added, though he had no complaint with the decision.
It was of little matter. Chelsea survived a brief second-half revival from Swansea to ease home comfortably. More to the point, Lampard, so long a Chelsea stalwart, has now started only one of the last four games, and in that he was substituted at half-time at Manchester United.
The future, it seems, is Fernando not Frank. This team are constructed around the strengths of Torres and subtly different to the power play that used to be represented by the old guard at Stamford Bridge.
Indeed, the names on the bench - Lampard, Florent Malouda, Drogba, even Salomon Kalou - were first-team regulars in different times, and Lampard and Drogba defined the team.
Yesterday, Raul Meireles operated in Lampard's role, suggesting Villas- Boas is looking for a more Latin flavour to his side. Juan Mata is the same. Specifically signed with Torres in mind, he is proving his worth.
After a fine start by Swansea, Mata enabled Torres finally to breach their defence with a ball over the back four on 30 minutes.
Torres took it down on his chest delightfully and finished emphatically. Torres looked confident, a man briefly comfortable in his role.
He won the ball decisively on 35 minutes, fed Ashley Cole, who moved the ball on for Ramires, who finished well.
The game should have been over, but Torres's challenge on 40 minutes, betrayed his continued nerves.
It allowed Swansea to challenge briefly, with a fine 15 minutes immediately after the restart, the best moment of which was Nathan Dyer's deflected shot which came back off the bar.
'That's the defining period of the game,' said Rodgers. 'They had to show that belief when we came out and we weren't in fear or intimidated. If we get the goal in that period there can be a wee bit of nervousness. But we didn't and conceded a poor third goal.'
Indeed they did. Jose Bosingwa played the ball in on 76 minutes and Ramires was allowed through on goal all to easily by Ashley Williams before finishing well.
Williams did atone for his error when he embarrassed Bosingwa, losing his marker from a 86thminute free-kick from Gower to score Swansea's consolation.
Williams went close again in injurytime but, by then, the old guard had taken control, with Malouda playing in Drogba, who was allowed to turn too easily and score the fourth.
Having been carried off unconscious here last month, it was a big moment for the Ivorian.
Villas-Boas said: 'The most important moment today for me, seeing Didier back, was the way he challenged for the first ball because it was an aerial challenge. Maybe a different player wouldn't challenge for it after missing so many days with concussion. That represents Didier as a player and person.'
Torres will be banned in the Premier League for a month so Drogba will get games. But the future is less clear for the old campaigners.

MATCH FACTS
Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole, Mikel, Mata (Malouda 59 mins), Meireles (McEachran 83), Ramires, Torres, Anelka (Drogba 79). Subs not used: Turnbull, Luiz, Lampard, Kalou.
Yellow cards: Cole, Mikel, Mata.
Red card: Torres.
Scorers: Torres (26), Ramires (36, 76), Drogba (90+4)
Swansea: Vorm, Rangel, Monk, Williams, Taylor, Britton (Routledge 46), Gower, Allen, Dyer (Dobbie 71), Lita (Graham 59), Sinclair.Subs not used: Tremmel, Moore, Bessone, Richards.
Booked: Taylor, Monk, Dyer.
Scorer: Williams 86.
Referee: Mike Dean.


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

Express:

CHELSEA 4 SWANSEA 1: FERNANDO TORRES' HORRORS
By Clive White

For the second week running a piece of sublime skill from Britain’s most expensive footballer was followed by a mental aberration, only on this occasion it led to his first sending-off in English football.
Fortunately for Chelsea they were two goals to the good at the time, so a home win was never in much doubt.
The straight red card was out of character and as hard to explain as his open-goal miss against Manchester United the previous weekend.
Had Torres been enduring one of the kind of frustrating afternoons of which he has had many at Stamford Bridge since his £50million arrival from Liverpool in January, it would have been understandable.
Instead he was enjoying one of his better games for the club. He had opened the scoring with a delightfully-taken goal after 29 minutes and was looking bright enough to score a few more.
What made him launch himself at Mark Gower on the halfway line 10 minutes later with two feet and studs up is anyone’s guess. It’s questionable whether he made contact with the Swansea midfielder but the intent was there. Mike Dean, the referee, had no hesitation in sending him off.
And even Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas, who had spent much of the week venting his displeasure with the officials at Old Trafford, admitted that it “looked a good decision”.
Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers, who had recommended Torres to former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho when he was working at the Bridge five years ago, did offer an explanation for the Spaniard’s strange behaviour.
“I don’t think he’s a malicious player,” said Rodgers. “He probably felt the ball was there to be won and the moment and was fighting for everything.”
Chelsea had posed no threat to Swansea up until the moment Mata picked out Torres in space. Half a yard is all he needs and he turned to score with ease.
Torres also initiated the quick break which led to Chelsea’s second goal. A diagonal ball from Ashley Cole found Ramires, who took one touch before lashing it past Michel Vorm.
Had the Swans capitalised on some good early pressure, the extra man might have been a factor. As it was, Chelsea were just a little too good for them, as Ramires showed when he held off a half-hearted challenge from Ashley Williams to score again.
The Swansea central defender made partial amends with a well headed goal, but late substitute Didier Drogba had the final word with a neatly-taken goal in added time.

MAN of the MATCH: Ramires – The Brazilian went a long way to winning over doubting fans. In the absence of Lampard, Chelsea needed that sort of contribution from midfield.

CHELSEA: Cech; Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole; Mikel; Ramires, Meireles (McEachran 82nd), Mata (Malouda 59th); Torres, Anelka (Drogba 78th).

SWANSEA: Vorm; Rangel, Monk, Williams, Taylor; Britton (Routledge 45th); Gower, Allen; Dyer (Dobbie 71st), Lita (Graham 58th), Sinclair.
Ref: M Dean Att: 41,800


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

Sun on Sunday:

Chelsea 4 Swansea 1

FERNANDO TORRES went from hero to zero as he saw red against Swansea.
The Spanish hitman looked to have shaken off his shocking run of form at Manchester United last weekend.
And when he hit the back of the net for the second time in two matches, Chelsea fans must have been rejoicing.
But after Ramires had doubled the lead, Torres lunged in on Mark Gower and was instantly dismissed by referee Mike Dean.
The Blues were fortunate that it did not affect the result with Brazilian midfielder Ramires grabbing his second.
Swansea did grab a consolation in the 86th minute through Ashley Williams but Didier Drogba netted a late fourth in added time.
Stamford Bridge boss Andre Villas-Boas left Frank Lampard on the bench, preferring to play John Obi Mikel in midfield.
Nicolas Anelka also started ahead of Daniel Sturridge with Torres selected instead of Drogba, who had recovered from concussion.
Swansea named an unchanged line-up and dominated possession in the opening 15 minutes, without really troubling their hosts.
At the other end, Raul Meireles had a claim for a penalty waved away before he fired a volley over.
Ramires had a close-range shot blocked but Chelsea were hardly hitting the high expectations of their manager.
But that changed in the 29th minute when Juan Mata chipped over the top to Torres, who swiveled and found the bottom corner.
Swansea had been well-drilled until that point and, moments later, their offside trap just caught out Mata, who failed to finish anyway.
The winger was then needlessly booked for hauling back Rangel, with Williams close to converting the resultant free-kick.
But Chelsea's scintillating football finally arrived nine minutes from half-time.
A sweeping breakaway saw Ashley Cole pick out Ramires, who drilled the ball through Swans keeper Michael Vorm's legs.
But the Blues were down to 10 men when Torres undid all his good work when he was sent off three minutes later.
He dived in with both feet off the ground on Gower and Dean had no choice but to show red for the studs-first challenge.
Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers threw on Wayne Routledge for Leon Britton during the interval.
And the visitors laid siege to the Chelsea goal after the restart.
Meireles almost slid the ball into his own net, Nathan Dyer's shot deflected off Mikel onto the bar and Ashley Williams misdirected a header from a corner.
But Chelsea were always a threat on the break and Ramires volleyed wide before Mata was withdrawn for Florent Malouda.
Danny Graham came on for Leroy Lita just before the hour mark.
Anelka, now playing in a central role in the absence of Torres, sprinted 25 yards before unleashing a piledriver against the bar.
And with 15 minutes left on the clock, any faint hope of Swans comeback was over when Ramires burst forward into the box and slot home.
With a three-goal cushion, Villas-Boas gave Drogba a run-out in place of Anelka.
Williams' simple header from a free-kick gave the Swans fans something to cheer about.
But it was nothing more than a consolation as the Blues cruised to victory to keep up their incredible run of 63 matches unbeaten against promoted teams as Drogba hammered in the fourth.

Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole, Mikel, Mata (Malouda 59), Meireles (McEachran 83), Ramires, Torres, Anelka (Drogba 79). Subs Not Used: Turnbull, Luiz, Lampard, Kalou. Sent Off: Torres (39). Booked: Mata, Cole, Mikel. Goals: Torres 29, Ramires 36, 76, Drogba 90.
Swansea: Vorm, Rangel, Monk, Williams, Taylor, Britton (Routledge 46), Gower, Allen, Dyer (Dobbie 71), Lita (Graham 59), Sinclair. Subs Not Used: Tremmel, Moore, Bessone, Richards. Booked: Dyer, Monk, Taylor. Goals: Williams 86.
Att: 41,800
Ref: Mike Dean (Wirral).

fulham 0-0 aet 4-3 pens

Independent:



Chelsea 0 Fulham 0 (aet; Chelsea win 4-3 on penalties)

By Jack Pitt-Brooke at Stamford Bridge



For all of Andre Villas-Boas's insistence that he wants to impose a new philosophy at Chelsea, it was the strength of the old virtues which carried them past Fulham in the Carling Cup third round last night. Despite playing for 73 minutes with 10 men, their resilience and athleticism – an effort described by Villas-Boas as "super-human" – allowed them to have the better of two hours of goalless football, before their ruthlessness rewarded them with a penalty shoot-out success.

While Fulham had the game's best chance – Pajtim Kasami's penalty which struck the bar early in the second half – Chelsea created more, attacking with verve and daring even after Alex's dismissal. "To be with 10 men for 70 minutes and to create the most amount of opportunities and the best opportunities is something that's out of this world," said Villas-Boas afterwards. "It was very, very gratifying."

It was not until Fulham struck the bar from the spot a second time that Chelsea were delivered into the fourth round. Bryan Ruiz took the 10th kick of the shoot-out, needing to score to force an 11th, but his shot bounced off the bar, off the line, and then to safety.

Martin Jol, the Fulham manager, was not too downhearted, though. "A couple of months ago, I wouldn't have thought that my second XI could play a game like this against Chelsea," he said.

Villas-Boas's team selection reflected his mission of rejuvenation at Stamford Bridge. He has taken it upon himself to build a post-Jose Mourinho Chelsea, and last night he gave full debuts to Oriol Romeu, Romelu Lukaku and Ryan Bertrand, while Josh McEachran made his first start of the season.

While the opening spell did not exactly suggest that the pride of SW6 was at stake (there was barely a single tackle worthy of a derby), Chelsea's football was imaginative and enterprising. Romeu rewarded the trust put in him, looking utterly like a product of his Barcelona education. "He had an amazing game," said Villas-Boas. "His ability to receive the ball is something out of this world, his comfort with it is extraordinary."

Romeu, who started most of Chelsea's attacks while ending most of Fulham's, was stationed just in front of a well-advanced defensive line, so high up the pitch that the visitors' Orlando Sa twice nearly exploited it, but was denied both times.

Chelsea created enough good chances of their own, most of them down a left flank dominated by Betrand. The best, though, came when McEachran burst from midfield, only to have his shot turned in by the obliviously offside Daniel Sturridge, who immediately went off injured.

Goalkeeper Petr Cech did not emerge for the second half, having gone to hospital for a scan following a head collision, which revealed no injury. He was replaced by Ross Turnbull, who was immediately confronted by the drama which the first half lacked. Two minutes after the re-start Alex felled Kerim Frei in the box, and referee Chris Foy was compelled both to award a penalty and to send him off. Kasami could not convert.

In response, Villas-Boas introduced John Terry for McEachran. He switched to 4-4-1, and the first half pattern of play was reversed. Chelsea had to rely on counter-attacks, their most threatening weapon being the fearlessly charging Lukaku. Fulham, in contrast, started to play the delicate, precise football.

With neither team keen on adding 30 extra minutes to their schedules, the game opened up. First Turnbull tipped over brilliantly from close range before Zdenek Grygera had to scramble Lukaku's header from off the line.

As had been the case all night, though, the finishing did not live up to the approach play. Chelsea, powerfully improving as the game went on despite their disadvantage, had chances but could not save themselves the exertions of another short-handed half an hour.


Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech (Turnbull, h-t) ; Ferreira, Luiz, Alex, Bertrand; McEachran (Terry, 52), Romeu, Malouda; Sturridge (Lampard, 44), Lukaku, Kalou.Substitutes not used Mata, Drogba, Mikel, Bosingwa.

Fulham (4-4-1-1): Schwarzer; Kelly, Grygera, Senderos, Briggs; Kasami (Zamora, 79), Baird, Gecov (Sidwell, 90), Frei; Ruiz; Sa (Dembélé, 59).Substitutes not used Etheridge (gk), Riise, Kacaniklic, Halliche.


Referee C Foy (Merseyside).




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




Telegraph:


Chelsea 0 Fulham 0 (After extra time Chelsea win 4-3 on penalties)

By Jason Burt, at Stamford Bridge



Third-round Carling Cup ties with second-string teams are not supposed to be as dramatic as this, nor call on “super-human effort”. And they are not supposed to have the Chelsea manager talking about exorcising two ghosts for his new club so early in the campaign.

There was also the most arresting of finishes with a penalty shoot-out after the players had run themselves to a standstill through the 90 minutes and 30 minutes of extra-time, with Fulham's new £10.5 million striker Bryan Ruiz crashing his decisive spot-kick against the crossbar only for the ball to then bounce down and land flush on the goal-line. Did it cross? It didn’t appear to but in the confusion nobody was sure apart from referee Chris Foy and his assistants.

There was more drama. Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech was taken to hospital for a scan at half-time after complaining of dizziness following a collision during the first period of the game. That was all the more alarming given Cech’s history of head injuries, having suffered that stress fracture to the skull five years ago, but Andre Villas-Boas confirmed afterwards that the player had been given the all-clear and would be able to play this weekend.

There was a further scare with Daniel Sturridge limping off and fearing ligament damage to his knee but it is hoped that he is also not as severely injured as first feared.

Chelsea were also dealt a blow when Alex was sent off with a straight red card by Foy, having brought down the impressive Kerim Frei to concede a penalty. As if to act as a taste of things to come Pajtim Kassani’s kick struck the cross-bar.

The dismissal meant that Chelsea were forced to play for 70 minutes with 10-men but they pushed and probed and admirably kept trying to go forward with a courageous performance by teenager Romelu Lukaku, on his full debut.

Later there were superlatives — and a barb — from Villas-Boas. When asked about the fateful miss by Ruiz, and whether it had crossed the line, he said: “We (on the bench) just looked at each other and waited for the celebrations. The linesman was there so maybe this time the decision was right.”

That was in reference to his continuing irritation over the failure to pull up Manchester United for an offside first goal in Sunday’s 3-1 Premier League defeat and despite claiming that this competition was of far less importance to Chelsea he also knew that he did not want to experience back-to-back losses this early in his career at the club.

In addition to changes in personnel, there was another surprise on the Chelsea team-sheet — with Carlo Ancelotti named as the manager before a second version was hastily produced. There had been much talk of young players, and giving youth its head, and as well as Lukaku and Oriol Romeu and, in particular, Josh McEachran — before he was sacrificed — Chelsea still had Frank Lampard and John Terry on the field by the end.

Lampard missed his penalty in the shoot-out, Terry scored his and Chelsea won only their second such contest in their last nine attempts. Villas-Boas also pointed out that it was another Carling Cup tie that Chelsea had competed in with 10-men. That was the two ghosts laid to rest.

“You have had to put back your headlines and deadlines,” Villas-Boas said to reporters afterwards referring to the late finish. “Ten brave individuals played for 120 minutes there.” But Fulham were brave also. Jol fielded an even more altered line-up and said: “A couple of months ago I would not have thought my second XI would play this way against Chelsea.”

And play they did. This game offered fine build-up play and a whole host of chances for both teams. Sturridge eked out the first opportunity before his shot struck the side-netting and others followed.

Stephen Kelly recovered superbly to hook the ball away as Florent Malouda was picked out and shaped to shoot close to the penalty spot. Malouda then provided for Salomon Kalou who sent a header wide before Lukaku out-muscled Matthew Briggs. Schwarzer parried.

Not that Chelsea were invulnerable. Twice Ruiz wonderfully provided for his strike partner, Sa.

Kalou should have opened the scoring, with Lampard feeding him only for another effort to slam into the side-netting and then Fulham broke for Frei to earn the penalty. Chances continued with Lukaku setting off on two barnstorming runs, Schwarzer saving from his header and then Chelsea substitute goalkeeper Ross Turnbull blocking spectacularly from Terry’s deflection. Somehow it remained scoreless. And then came the penalties.


Match Details

Chelsea (4-1-4-1): Cech (Turnbull h-t); Ferreira, Alex, Luiz, Bertrand; Romeu; Sturridge (Lampard 44), McEachran (Terry 52), Malouda, Kalou; Lukaku. Subs: Mata, Drogba, Mikel, Bosingwa.Sent off: Alex. Booked: Lampard.

Fulham (4-4-2): Schwarzer; Kelly, Grygera, Senderos, Briggs; Kasami (Zamora 79) Baird, Gecov (Sidwell 90), Frei; Ruiz, Sa (Dembele 59). Subs: Etheridge (g), Riise, Kacaniklic, Halliche.Booked: Frei.

Referee: C Foy (Merseyside).




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




Guardian:


Ten-man Chelsea beat Fulham in Carling Cup shoot-out


Jamie Jackson at Stamford Bridge

André Villas-Boas's selection may suggest the Carling Cup is of minor importance but after his 10-man team won this entertaining tie on the penalty shoot-out, courtesy of Bryan Ruiz's missed fifth kick that smacked the crossbar and bounced close to the goalline, he will be content.
The 33-year-old knows that the greater his collection of silverware the more enhanced his prospects of stalling Roman Abramovich, the club's owner, from the moment that eventually comes to all Chelsea managers.

Regarding the result, the beaming Portuguese said: "I am very happy with the display. It was a super-human effort and very gratifying as Fulham just didn't lump it forward, and to be with 10 men for 70 minutes and to create the most and best chances is, for me, out of this world."
In a match that gradually caught fire Villa-Boas's team dominated as it moved into extra-time, but continued their frustrating dance of normal play when chances could not be finished. Then, after Frank Lampard and Moussa Dembélé had their penalties saved, the count finished at 4-3 to Chelsea, following Ruiz's skewed attempt, and despite the visitors' claim that this had crossed the line (it appeared not), Villas-Boas had a invaluable win.
This was achieved after Alex was sent off just after the break, when the Brazilian central defender was judged by Chris Foy to have fouled Kerim Frei, and Daniel Sturridge and Petr Cech were replaced because of injuries.

Regarding Alex, after the referee pointed to the spot and Pajtim Kasami crashed the first of the evening's penalties against Ross Turnbull's bar, Villas-Boas said: "He got a bit of the ball but most of the player," before giving the medical bulletin on Sturridge and Cech.
Sturridge, injured before the break after scoring a goal disallowed for offside, has a "strain in the knee ligaments but no pain", and could be available for selection on Saturday against Swansea. Cech, who brought back unwanted memories of the serious head injury he suffered when playing at Reading in October 2006, was taken off at half-time. "He went to the hospital for a scan and feels alright – he felt some dizziness but should be OK for Saturday," Villas-Boas said.

From the side that were beaten 3-1 at Manchester United on Sunday, the Portuguese had retained only Cech and Sturridge. Oriol Romeu, Romelu Lukaku and Ryan Bertrand were handed full debuts, with Cech asked to lead a team that had Lampard, John Terry, Didier Drogba and Juan Mata on the bench in case the tie veered off-message.
In the 18-year-old Lukaku Chelsea have acquired a 6ft 3in chunk of a young man who Villas-Boas admits is as an £18m "gamble". The hope is that he will show an ability to batter defences a la Drogba while powering home 15 to 20 league goals a season to continue the Ivorian's work when he finally leaves west London.
Lukaku suggested he can certainly do the first part with nonchalance in an appearance in which he barged over Matthew Briggs down the left, moved forward, then unloaded shot that Mark Schwarzer did well to save low down.
Preceding this had been a quiet opening in which the Belgian received scant service from colleagues who dominated but were only gradually stuttering into gear.

The first real opportunity fell to Florent Malouda, who surged from his midfield role into the area, where on controlling a high ball he fell to the grass under a challenge by Stephen Kelly, the visiting right-back. Foy, though, failed to be tempted by the Chelsea penalty claims.
After Cech did not emerge for the second half Turnbull was able to add a sixth Chelsea appearance to his CV, and the 26-year-old had barely drifted into position when he was welcomed to the game by having to face Kasami's penalty.
In his own weakened XI, Martin Jol selected Bobby Zamora, Steve Sidwell, John Arne Riise and Dembélé, of his usual starters, as replacements, probably minded that Europa League commitments mean there is only energy enough at the club for one cup run. And with Fulham third-bottom in the league, probably not even this.
The Dutchman introduced the first of these, Dembélé, on the hour, perhaps sensing that he might yet steal the win that would go down a treat with the Fulham support, from whom he requires goodwill.
He said: "A couple of months ago I didn't think a second XI could play a game like this." But Chelsea's second string still prevailed.




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




Mirror:



Chelsea 0-0 Fulham (aet, 4-3 pens):
Ruiz miss puts 10-man Blues through

By Darren Lewis



Third round ties in the Carling Cup are not supposed to be this pulsating.

What should have been a routine fixture between the might of Chelsea’s second XI and Fulham’s rag-tag and bob tails turned into a thrill-a-minute contest packed with drama.

"Superhuman" Chelsea earn gushing AVB praise after they win a thriller



The climax symbolised the closeness between the two sides as Bryan Ruiz’s decisive, missed penalty smacked the bar, fell plumb on the line and bounced away to safety.

And, yet again, Andre Villas Boas, the King of the cup competitions, had come out on top.

He’d had no right to do so, given that he had lost striker Daniel Sturridge just before half-time and keeper Petr Cech at the break, both to injury.

Villas Boas was then robbed of defender Alex just three minutes into the second half when Chris Foy produced a straight red for a foul on midfielder Kerim Frei.

It was then left to the 10 remaining Blues to keep out on a Fulham side that had grown in confidence throughout the match.

They were helped massively by the lack of composure shown by 19-year-old Swiss midfielder Patjim Kasami, who would surely have won this match had he scored with his 48th-minute penalty.

Instead, he smashed it impulsively against the bar to help Chelsea out of a huge hole and, once Villas-Boas had replaced young Josh McEachran with battle-hardened John Terry, that was that.

Both sides had had their chances in the first half. Florent Malouda dithered when he should have scored on 15 minutes and allowed Stephen Kelly to nick the ball of him.

Salomon Kalou missed with a free header three minutes later. Romelu Lukaku shot weakly at Fulham keeper Mark Schwarzer when he should have squared it to Sturridge on the edge of the box on 21 minutes.

And Kalou was guilty of yet another miss shortly after that, firing wide when he should have tested Schwarzer.

The irony of Ruiz’s decisive penalty miss was that he’d had a very good game having flopped on his debut against Blackburn.

Here, he was both inventive and inspirational with his two passes to set strike partner Orlando Sa free among the moves of the match.

Cech was at his quick-thinking best to prevent Sa scoring with his first opportunity while the former Porto frontman, who signed for Fulham on a free this month, shot into the side netting with his second chance as Cech closed down the space at his near post.

Sturridge appeared to put Chelsea ahead when he turned in McEachran’s cross six minutes before half time. But the effort was ruled out for offside and it appeared the striker had injured himself for his troubles, tangling with Kelly.

Worse was to follow as Cech and Sa collided as they went for a cross from midfielder Matthew Briggs. Cech was replaced at half-time by third-choice Ross Turnbull.

Former Middlesbrough man Turnbull was fortunate enough not to have to make a save from Kasami’s poor penalty. But he did pull off two stunning stops to keep his side in it.

The first was on 73 minutes from Moussa Dembele and the second, a reaction stop from a Kasami header, was equally as impressive.

Schwarzer topped them both, however, late on as he plunged to his left to keep out Lukaku’s header.

And during extra time Fulham enjoyed a large slice of luck as referee Foy failed to spot Philippe Senderos’ handball from Lukaku’s cross on 116 minutes.

It sent the contest into penalties and Chelsea hearts in mouths as Schwarzer saved brilliantly from Frank Lampard’s effort.

Especially with the Blues’ wretched run of losing seven of their last eight appearances in shoot-outs.

Bobby Zamora netted to put Fulham ahead. And the two sides then traded spot-kicks before Moussa Dembele missed at 2-2.

Kalou and Malouda responded to Baird’s effort to make it 4-3 before Ruiz’s effort ended the match.

Chelsea breathe again in this competition.

And, having lifted the Portuguese Cup and the Europa League title with Porto, Villas-Boas clearly takes EVERY competition he enters seriously.

Judging by the way he and his staff celebrated at the end, he wants to win this one as well.



Chelsea: Cech 7 (Turnbull 46, 7), Ferreira 6, Luiz 7, Alex 5, Bertrand 6, McEachran 7 (Terry 52, 5), Romeu 7, Malouda 6, Sturridge 6(Lampard 44, 6), Lukaku 7, Kalou 6.

Fulham: Schwarzer 9, Kelly 7, Baird 7, Senderos 7, Grygera 7, Gecov 6 (Sidwell 90+2), Kasami 5 (Zamora 78), Frei 6, Briggs 7, Orlando Sa 6 (Dembele 60, 6), Ruiz 7.


Man of the Match: Schwarzer

Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside)




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




Sun:


Chelsea 0 Fulham 0
(aet, 90 mins 0-0, Chelsea win 4-3 on pens)

By MARK IRWIN


SO much for the brave new world of Andre Villas-Boas.

Chelsea's boss had promised that the Carling Cup would be all about the bright young kids knocking on the first-team door at Stamford Bridge.

But this heart-stopping victory was down to those familiar old virtues of grit, sweat and sheer bloody-mindedness.

And once again it was those dependable old stalwarts John Terry and Frank Lampard who provided the inspiration to see their team over the winning line.

In the end it came down to the width of the goal-line in a nerve-shredding penalty shootout.

Bryan Ruiz's spot-kick crashed down off the crossbar, on to the line and bounced back up to hit the bar AGAIN before flying to safety — settling the shootout 4-3 in Chelsea's favour.

But it was the home team's stubborn refusal to give way during the previous 75 minutes when reduced to 10 men which was the deciding factor.

Fulham should have settled the match long before extra-time.

Pajtim Kasami had already missed from 12 yards just two minutes into the second half, drilling his penalty against the bar after Alex had been sent off for tripping Kerim Frei.

The Brazilian's departure proved a blessing in disguise for Chelsea as it heralded the introduction of Terry.

And it was the captain, along with fellow veteran Lampard, who gave Chelsea the leadership to defy Fulham's numerical advantage. Villas-Boas had promised to use the Carling Cup to blood Chelsea's rich vein of young talent.

But only three teenagers made the starting line-up — and two of them were bought for £25million.

And by the final whistle the average age of the 'Boas Babes' was a far from youthful 26 years and four months!

Romelu Lukaku, Oriol Romeu and Josh McEachran were all handed their first starts of the season.

Frei, Orlando Sa, Chris Baird, Moussa Dembele and Steve Sidwell all had decent opportunities to break the deadlock for the visitors.

But it was Chelsea who first had the ball in the net after 39 minutes. McEachran's shot was heading in before Daniel Sturridge dived in to prod the ball over the line from an offside position.

That was to be Sturridge's final contribution as he limped off to be replaced by 33-year-old Lampard.

Just before half-time Petr Cech was involved in a collision with Sa.

For a brief moment it looked as though the Chelsea keeper had suffered another blow to the skull he fractured five years ago.

To everyone's relief, Cech was up on his feet and smiling after a few minutes of treatment. But he still failed to appear for the second half.

And two minutes after the interval Chelsea were down to 10 when Alex received a straight red card for tripping Frei in the area.

Sub keeper Ross Turnbull had not even touched the ball when Kasami took the penalty. And he did not get involved as the Swiss midfielder's kick cannoned off the bar.

AVB immediately sent on skipper Terry, 30, for McEachran to steady things at the back.

Lukaku, the Blues' Incredible Hulk, was denied by a magnificent reaction save from Mark Schwarzer and Florent Malouda ran himself into the ground as Chelsea found the physical resources to take the tie to penalties.

The very first spot-kick from Lamps was saved by Schwarzer, but Dembele was denied by Turnbull.

With sudden-death looming, up stepped Fulham's £10.6million Costa Rican international Ruiz to take the final penalty — and Chelsea were through.

Ruiz was convinced his effort had crossed the line but referee Chris Foy got it absolutely right.


DREAM TEAM

STAR MAN - ZDENEK GRYGERA

CHELSEA: Cech 6 (Turnbull 6), Ferreira 5, Alex 5, Luiz 5, Bertrand 6, McEachran 6 (Terry 6), Romeu 7, Malouda 6, Sturridge 5 (Lampard 6), Lukaku 7, Kalou 5. Not used: Bosingwa, Mikel, Mata, Drogba. Booked: Lampard. Sent-off: Alex.

FULHAM: Schwarzer 7, Kelly 6, Grygera 8, Senderos 6, Briggs 6, Kasami 5 (Zamora 6), Baird 7, Gecov 6 (Swidwell 5), Frei 6, Ruiz 7, Sa 6 (Dembele 6). Not used: Etheridge, JA Riise, Halliche, Kacaniklic. Booked: Frei.




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




Mail:


Chelsea 0 Fulham 0 (AET, 4-3 on pens):
10-man Blues through after ending penalty hoodoo

By SAMI MOKBEL


According to Wednesday night's team-sheet Carlo Ancelotti is still in charge at Stamford Bridge.

But that misprint was the last thing on Andre Villas-Boas’ mind as Chelsea ended their penalty shoot-out hoodoo — but were pushed to the limit by Fulham before Bryan Ruiz’s miss handed their west London rivals a place in the Carling Cup fourth round.

The Costa Rican’s spot-kick crashed on to the underside of the bar but the ball did not fully cross the line.

The striker was not the only Fulham player to endure penalty agony as Patjim Kasami missed from 12 yards in normal time before Moussa Dembele fluffed his shoot-out effort.

It was only Chelsea’s second penalty shoot-out win in nine and Villas-Boas said: ‘I was made aware of our record before the game by one of our players, so it’s nice to be able to break that. The fact we were down to 10 men makes that win very gratifying.’

Villas-Boas took his first proper look at £18million striker Romelu Lukaku, giving the teenage striker his first start since last month’s move from Anderlecht.

In addition to Lukaku, Josh McEachran, Oriol Romeu and Ryan Bertrand all started at Stamford Bridge.

Lukaku’s strike-partner, Daniel Sturridge, carved out the first chance of the night, his low strike from a tight angle ruffling the side netting.

Chelsea did not have it all their own way and they were indebted to Alex for an excellent challenge on Karim Frei two minutes later as the youngster burst though.

Three minutes later, everyone at Stamford Bridge caught a glimpse of why Chelsea spent two years chasing Lukaku.

McEachran stroked a beautiful pass to set his fellow teenager away down the right. Confronted with Fulham left-back Matthew Briggs, Lukaku bundled the young defender to the floor before hitting a low rasping drive that Mark Schwarzer did well to parry.

The whole landscape of the clash changed in the 48th minute. Kerim Frei was about to pull the trigger when Alex came through the back of him, resulting in a penalty to Fulham and a red card for the defender.No chance: Alex remonstrates with Peter Walton in vain after receiving his red card

No chance: Alex remonstrates with Peter Walton in vain after receiving his red card

However, any joy the noisy travelling support felt quickly ended when Kasami blasted his kick on to the bar.

Even with 10 men, Chelsea dominated possession and John Terry, on for McEachran, thought he had snatched victory 12 minutes from time when his header was cleared off the line by Chris Baird.

The extra 30 minutes were predictably cagey, with no one wanting to make the mistake that could their side the game. David Luiz and Florent Malouda both had half-chances before Steve Sidwell volleyed Stephen Kelly’s cross just over the bar in the 118th minute as the game went to penalties.

Lampard missed the first but Terry, David Luiz, Kalou and Malouda all converted as Chelsea edged through.



MATCH FACTS

Chelsea: Cech 6 (Turnbull 46, 7); Ferreira 7, Luiz 7, Alex 6, Bertrand 7; McEachran 6 (Terry 52, 7), Romeu 7, Malouda 6; Sturridge 6 (Lampard 44, 6), Lukaku 8, Kalou 6.
Subs not used: Mata, Drogba, Mikel, Bosingwa.

Red card: Alex

Fulham: Schwarzer 6; Kelly 6, Grygera 7, Senderos 6, Briggs 7; Gecov 6 (Sidwell 90), Kasami 6 (Zamora 79), Baird 7, Frei 7; Sa 6 (Dembele 59, 6), Ruiz 6.
Subs: Etheridge, John Arne Riise, Kacaniklic, Halliche.

Yellow card: Frei.

Man of the match: Romelu Lukaku

Attendance: 37,632.

Referee: Chris Foy 6.




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




Star:


CHELSEA 0 FULHAM 0: (CHELSEA WIN 4-3):
CHELSEA BOSS ANDRE VILLAS-BOAS SPOT OF LUCK


By David Woods



CHELSEA finally broke their penalty shoot-out hoodoo in dramatic circumstances last night.

Fulham’s £10m signing Bryan Ruiz smashed the final spot-kick against the bar – but was convinced the ball had crossed the line as Chelsea players mobbed stand-in keeper Ross Turnbull.

It was only their second shoot-out victory in their last NINE attempts – including their Champions League Final heartbreak against Manchester United in 2008.

Frank Lampard missed Chelsea’s first penalty but David Luiz, John Terry, Salomon Kalou and Florent Malouda all netted.

Bobby Zamora, Steve Sidwell and Chris Baird scored for Fulham but Moussa Dembele and Ruiz missed giving Chelsea a 4-3 victory.

But Blues boss Andre Villas-Boas could be on his phone again today to have another rant about a ref.

Chelsea had Alex sent off in the 47th minute by Chris Foy, who awarded Fulham a penalty for his challenge on Karim Frei.

Replays showed the Brazilian centre-back got a slight touch on the ball as he slid in from behind after Ruiz teed up Kerim Frei.

Alex argued long and hard with Foy and also had a few sharp words for fourth official James Linnington as he left the pitch. Pajtim Kasami failed to take advantage though, sending his spot-kick against the bar.

Foy’s decision came a day after Villas-Boas revealed he had made an official complaint about the officiating during Chelsea’s 3-1 defeat at Manchester United on Sunday.

It added some fire to a west London derby – which also saw keeper Petr Cech pick up an injury after an accidental clash.

Both managers made sweeping changes from their weekend line-ups.

Chelsea started with just Cech and Daniel Sturridge from the team who took to the field at Old Trafford.

Martin Jol kept Mark Schwarzer, Chris Baird and Stephen Kelly from his side who fought back so well to draw with Manchester City on the same day.

But any Blues fan expecting a side full of kids was wrong with the only youngsters being Oriol Romeu, 19, Romelu Lukaku and Josh McEachran – both 18 – and Ryan Bertrand, who at 22 is hardly a rookie.

Alex showed all his first-team experience to produce a perfect slide tackle to dispossess Orlando Sa after the striker darted clear following a stylish pass from Ruiz in the 27th minute. An even better Ruiz ball, this time a lovely dinked chip, set up Sa again but this time he shot into the side-netting.

Lukaku showed good hold-up play to put in Malouda but he fired wide too.

Chelsea looked to have scored when McEachran surged through and cut a shot past Schwarzer.

It was not the cleanest of connections but looked sure to evade Kelly chasing back.

But Sturridge opted to prod in from close range, doing it from an offside position, and so denying his team-mate a first senior goal. He was also hurt by Kelly in the process.

He was replaced by Frank Lampard, who is certainly no kid at 33.

In the 43rd minute there was further worry for Villas-Boas when Cech and Sa clashed accidentally as the keeper dived full-stretch to claim a Briggs cross.

Cech, who fractured his skull at Reading five years ago, and Sa were soon up after treatment.

But Chelsea took no chances replacing their star keeper with Ross Turnbull at the break so they could make sure Cech was okay.

Then came the Alex controversy, with his sending-off forcing Villas-Boas to replace the luckless McEachran with Chelsea skipper Terry.

Fulham quickly had another appeal for a penalty when Frei went down in the box but it was turned down by Foy.




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




Express:


CHELSEA O FULHAM 0: TURNBULL SAVES CHELSEA HOPES

By Tony Banks



ANDRE VILLAS-BOAS is known as a man who pays phenomenal attention to detail. But even he could not have planned to win this tie by the mere width of a goal-line.

When Bryan Ruiz’s last penalty of the shoot-out slammed against the bar and then bounced down on to the line, Chelsea’s 10 men had ground out a battling, courageous victory on a night when it could so easily have all gone very wrong – indeed, they had lost seven of their previous eight spot-kick contests.

The Chelsea manager saw his team forced to play for 70 minutes last night with 10 men after Alex was sent off just two minutes into the second half. Fulham failed to make them pay as Pajtim Kasami missed from the spot – and it was more agony in the shoot-out.

Though Frank Lampard for once missed as a gripping tie reached its climax with the spot-kick contest, Mousa Dembele then saw his effort saved and Florent Malouda finally put Chelsea ahead before Ruiz, the £10.5million Costa Rican striker, fluffed his big moment.

Villas-Boas said: “That was a superhuman effort from 10 men for 70 minutes. I am very happy with my players.

“To be with 10 men for that long in a match and to create so many chances was phenomenal. We have broken two hoodoos. Chelsea never usually win shoot-outs and we always previously seemed to go out of the Carling Cup having a man sent off. That’s why this was special.”

In fact, the only worry of a gripping night for Chelsea was the head injury suffered by goalkeeper Petr Cech just before half-time. Cech, who still plays in protective headgear after fracturing his skull in 2006, was immediately rushed to hospital for scans, but given the all clear.

It was that kind of night. A game that started out as largely an experiment for both sides, each playing makeshift teams packed full of youngsters and fringe players, gradually turned into a gripping cup tie.

Villas-Boas gave new youngsters Romelu Lukaku and Oriol Romeu, who both joined in the summer, their first starts and also in his side were Josh McEachran and Ryan Bertrand.

That was not the only surprise on the team sheet – which still listed Carlo Ancelotti as the Chelsea manager. Four years to the week since Jose Mourinho left Chelsea, the latest incumbent of one of the hottest seat in football saw his team set about Fulham from the start.

Daniel Sturridge hit the side netting and then only a superb last-ditch challenge from Stephen Kelly denied Malouda.

Salomon Kalou guided a header wide and Lukaku showed his power as his fierce shot was pushed out.

Sturridge had the ball in the net but was ruled offside as McEachran carved open the Fulham defence again. And then the game changed. Karim Frei burst into the area and Alex chopped him down. The Brazilian was instantly sent off, but Kasami slammed the penalty against the crossbar.

A minute later, Fulham should have had another penalty, as Sa was pushed over in the area by Romeu, but this time referee Chris Foy waved away their claims.

So much for bouncing back quickly from the 3-1 defeat at Old Trafford last Sunday. Now it was a salvage job.

Fulham took charge, as Chelsea left Lukaku on his own up front. Malouda wasted a chance as he shot straight at Mark Schwarzer, but Fulham were sensing their moment and Turnbull had to be at his acrobatic best to deny first Dembele then Kasami.

Further chances came at either end and Steve Sidwell could have punished his old team in extra time but volleyed over. Then came the shoot-out and Ruiz’s moment of agony.

Fulham manager Martin Jol said: “We came so close to winning here for the first time in 32 years with our second team.”




Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech (Turnbull 46); Ferreira, Luiz, Alex, Bertrand; Romeu, McEachran (Terry 52), Malouda; Sturridge (Lampard 39), Lukaku, Kalou. Sent off: Alex 46. Booked: Lampard

Fulham (4-4-2): Schwarzer; Kelly, Grygera, Senderos, Briggs; Kasami (Zamora 60), Baird, Gecov (Sidwell 90), Frei; Ruiz, Sa (Dembele 59). Booked: Frei

Referee: C Foy (Lancashire).