qpr 1-0

Independent:

QPR 0 Chelsea 1

Mata books Chelsea's passage as neighbours refuse to make a fuss
Not even a controversial penalty fans the flames as players avoid pre-match handshake and remain on best behaviour in wake of Terry-Ferdinand affair

GLENN MOORE LOFTUS ROAD

There was no handshake, and precious little football either, at Loftus Road yesterday as a promising FA Cup tie was suffocated by the controversy surrounding it. So determined were both teams to avoidfurther inflaming the tension provoked by John Terry's alleged use of racist language towards Anton Ferdinand in their last meeting that QPR even accepted with only moderate anger the highly dubious penalty award which settled the match in Chelsea's favour.
The spot-kick, converted by Juan Mata on the hour, was given after Daniel Sturridge fell dramatically to the floor after Clint Hill made mild contact with his back. QPR, who beat Chelsea here in thrilling circumstances in October, never looked like levelling and can now return to their relegation battle. For Chelsea, the next items on the agenda are a Premier League match at Swansea on Tuesday, and an appearance at west London magistrates' court for Terry on Wednesday, where he will be formally charged.
If Terry is being affected by the affair it is not showing on the pitch. Yesterday he produced an assured performance, albeit rarely put under pressure by a QPR side overly focused on defence. Ferdinand, whose performances after the incidents faltered, also played well, which was all the more creditable given he was sent a bullet in the post last week.
"I thought Anton conducted himself really, really well, not only this week but for a number of weeks," said Mark Hughes, the QPR manager. "It was important he faced what he had to face, and I'm pleased for him. He was right to be concerned by the content of the letter. I read it and it wasn't particularly nice."
Andre Villas-Boas was equally complimentary about Terry, who was abused throughout by the home support. The Chelsea manager said: "He had an excellent performance, very, very focused. Off-field events were out of his mind and he concentrated on events on the pitch."
Only once did the verbal taunts threaten to spill over into something more sinister, a fan throwing the match ball into Ashley Cole's back as Chelsea prepared to take a throw-in. The refer-ee, Mike Dean, intervened, asking the nearest steward to speak to the man involved. There were no arrests, then or elsewhere in the ground, for which both clubs and the FA will be grateful.
It may have helped that there was not much to get excited about for the game was dire, especially in a lifeless first half. QPR, despite the small capacity of Loftus Road, failed to sell out this west London derby, and the fans who stayed away made the right decision. Hughes has made great play of the fact he has given his new team greater organisation and yesterday he praised his players' work-rate and defensive discipline.
Yet QPR have lost the attacking intent they had under Neil Warnock and only twice exercised Petr Cech. Once was in the seventh minute of injury time, when he parried Luke Young's shot, the other, after 59 minutes, led indirectly to Chelsea's goal.
Shaun Wright-Phillips beat Cole on the right and fired in a rasping shot, which Cech parried perilously close to Tommy Smith. It fell instead to Ramires, who run deep into QPR territory. The move broke down but was resuscitated, and Mata crossed towards Sturridge. Hill nudged the striker in the back and he tumbled to the deck with enthusiasm.
"It was very harsh," said Hughes. "Mike Dean will be disappointed when he sees the decision he's given. He told Paddy Kenny he had to give it as [Sturridge] was going to head the ball, but that was not my view." Chelsea lost to a similar, if more obvious, penalty in October and Villas-Boas said: "We were treated unfairly then, maybe QPR were treated unfairly [today]."
Chelsea fielded a full-strength team and Villas-Boas confirmed afterwards that, with the Premier League title looking out of reach, he was aiming to win the FA Cup. His team produced, as he said, "a good solid display" but lacked panache. Fernando Torres looked to have regressed, Mata only occasionally influenced play and Sturridge continually turned inside, on to his favoured foot but into trouble.
Worryingly, Ramires, who did provide energy, departed on a stretcher late on. The QPR fans suspended hostilities and clapped him off. He was diagnosed with medial ligament damage, but Chelsea hope the Brazilian will be back within a month.
There was one effort on goal in the opening half and that followed a mistake, Mata testing Kenny with a fierce shot. The second half offered little more, with Chelsea largely happy to knock the ball around the back four and QPR, even after falling behind, usually prepared to let them.
With Heidar Helguson suffering a muscle injury, Joey Barton quiet and Akos Buzsaky finding the game rather harder than he had against Wigan last week, QPR lacked firepower.
Hughes will doubtless renew his efforts to add to his squad in the closing days of the transfer window. "The disappointment was that we were unable to build on our defensive platform and attack," he said.

QPR (4-4-2): Kenny; Young, Hall, Ferdinand, Hill; Mackie, Buzsaky (Hulse, 80), Barton, Wright-Phillips; Smith, Helguson (Macheda, h/t).
Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Ivanovic, Luiz, Terry, Cole; Ramires (Romeu, 79), Meireles, Malouda; Sturridge, Torres, Mata (Essien, 90).

Referee: Mike Dean.
Man of the match: Ramires (Chelsea)
Match rating: 3/10
Queens Park Rangers 0 Chelsea 1 (Mata, pen)

Spotlight on John Terry
So what happened to the handshake?
There was no formal handshake between the teams after QPR's players said they would refuse to shake hands with John Terry as a gesture of solidarity with AntonFerdinand. Terry did, however, shake the hand of Joey Barton the QPR captain at the coin toss, and those of the match officials. After the game, Barton (pictured) was again the only QPR player whose hand he shook.
How did the fans greet his first touch?
He was booed throughout by QPR fans, but as the match wore on the venom in the booing dropped. There was also a series of chants directed at Terry and his family, some too unsavoury to print. They included: 'John Terry, we know what you said'. The Chelsea fans cheered him.
Did he have any arguments with anybody on the pitch?
None whatsoever. The game was surprisingly bereft of confrontations between players.
How did he play?
Very well. If not quite flawless, Terry won the majority of his headers, tracked his man, won most of his tackles, generally distributed the ball well and made no serious errors.


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Observer:

QPR point fingers at Chelsea's Daniel Sturridge over decisive penalty
Jamie Jackson at Loftus Road

After the phantom handshake, this FA Cup tie barely lit up and had only one potential powderkeg moment, which was happily a good old-fashioned football incident: the disputed Juan Mata penalty that won the game.
On an incessantly sour and hostile afternoon, it was Daniel Sturridge who caused the one moment of on-field acrimony. When he went down close to Clint Hill in the area from a Mata cross just after the hour Mike Dean pointed to the spot. But the left-back's furious verbal volley at Sturridge, plus video replays, suggested that the forward had fashioned a swallow dive and – as Joey Barton of Queens Park Rangers continued to debate the matter with the forward – Mata stepped up to slot home.
"Cheat! Cheat!" was the livid cry from the home congregation, the latest choral offering in a tie peppered with the obscene chants and boos that can form the alternative soundtrack to John Terry's fine football career.
Both managers had their own takes on the game-turning moment. André Villas-Boas chose to harp back to Chelsea's 1-0 Premier League defeat here in October when both José Bosingwa and Didier Drogba were sent off and David Luiz conceded the penalty that allowed QPR the victory.
The manager said: "Well, they reacted angrily of course. QPR were not satisfied with the penalty, Mike [Dean] has given it, I think if you guys can recall it's very, very similar to the David Luiz/Heidar Helguson [incident] here – and you pointed the finger quite quickly at David Luiz for his mistake. We finished the game in the league here with nine men and [were] treated unfairly so maybe QPR this time got treated unfairly and we ended up winning the game."
Mark Hughes offered this view: "Obviously I'm disappointed with the decision on the penalty, it was very harsh on us, I felt.
"Mike Dean will be a little bit disappointed when he sees what decision he's given because I think he's said to Paddy Kenny that he had to give the penalty because the lad was going to head the ball in, which wasn't my take on it to be perfectly honest.
"I just felt Daniel Sturridge went down a little bit easy and unfortunately for us he's given the penalty which at that point I thought was probably one of our better periods in the game, when I think we just had a strike on goal and [Petr] Cech made a good save. Then, they went up the other end and the penalty was awarded. So we're disappointed we didn't get any reward, albeit we probably didn't do enough to win but we felt we could very easily have got the draw."
This was a markedly rose-hued perspective from Hughes regarding a side who were too agricultural in approach and who lacked any technical brilliance – the odd Shaun Wright-Phillips flourish apart – and the giveaway of this came in the Welsh manager's praise being littered with functional-speak.
"We worked exceptionally hard in terms of having discipline and making sure we have a good defensive shape, and we worked exceptionally hard this week on making sure we had a good platform to go in the opposite direction to create chances," Hughes said, before a smattering of home truth was offered: "In fairness, that was the only disappointment – that we weren't able to retain possession higher up the field after defending so well."
Luke Young had made the first mistake of many for QPR when a cleared Barton free-kick came to him and his attempted return of the ball to the Chelsea area found only Fernando Torres, near the D. The striker instantly passed to Mata and though this was short, Young compounded his initial error by sliding and failing to clear the danger.
This allowed the Spaniard to zoom down the inside-left channel at Kenny's goal before he let fly a shot that the keeper parried well.
The odd corner apart, this fourth-round match was then a generally and disappointedly insipid affair, Ramires – until he was injured – and the balletic zest of Fernando Torres offering the punters what entertainment there was.
More than once Torres drifted to the edge of the QPR area and executed a soft-shoe shuffle that seemed to pull enough space to him for him to produce a cross that was begging to be converted by a team-mate.
"The excellent positive today was our change from the first half to the second," Villas-Boas said. "We looked dominant during the whole game but maybe first half we were a bit one-paced. The amount of attack we created eventually got the penalty situation. It was a good solid display."
Near the end, Young unloaded a shot that Cech saved brilliantly with his legs. It would have secured the draw Hughes claimed would have been fair but the result was the right one.
Ramires's injury was serious enough that there were seven minutes of added time. The Chelsea midfielder may be out for a month with a knee injury apparently sustained when the ball struck him in the second half.

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Telegraph:

Queens Park Rangers 0 Chelsea 1
By Jason Burt, at Loftus Road

The Football Association cancelled the pre-match handshakes because of the maelstrom surrounding Anton Ferdinand and John Terry and, unfortunately, somewhere along the way the football appeared to have been cancelled also.
For an hour this was a spiky FA Cup fourth-round tie, a west London derby between bitter rivals with rancorous history, that somehow transformed itself into a turgid encounter of the most questionable quality.
Then there were two minutes in which the pulses raced and controversy reigned. QPR went close to scoring and then Chelsea took the lead through a penalty that simply should never have been given. And the tie then drifted to its end.
Chelsea will feel a sweet pang of revenge having lost the Premier League match between the two sides in October, by the same scoreline and through another penalty that they – with less justification – claimed should never have been awarded.
There was then, of course, the eruption of investigation and allegation surrounding what Terry was accused of saying to Ferdinand with the case now imminently in the courts.
Juan Mata’s cross, after a strong run by Ramires, was aimed towards Daniel Sturridge. The striker fell to the turf, however, with Clint Hill beside him and the QPR defender immediately remonstrated, accusing Sturridge of diving as he had also accused him of doing moments earlier.
To Hill’s horror, referee Mike Dean judged differently. The penalty was given and Mata scored. “Mike Dean will be very disappointed when he looks at that again,” said QPR manager Mark Hughes, choosing his words with care.
“I just felt Sturridge went down a little bit easily. Dean said he had to give it because the lad was going to head the ball.”
In truth, Mata’s cross was sailing over Sturridge and, in any case, there did not appear to be a push.
Joey Barton later observed Sturridge behaved as if he had stepped on a “landmine” and added that bad decisions are “ruining the game”.
But Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas could not resist pointing out that the last time Chelsea were here they also had two men dismissed and did not garner sympathy.
This win meant much to him and he is now ramping up the FA Cup as a competition his team can win.
Returning from their training camp in Mallorca, and without the injured Frank Lampard, Villas-Boas fielded his strongest available side, although they lost Ramires with a medial ligament problem that could rule him out for a month. QPR needed a striker, especially with Heider Helguson again departing injured.
There was no menace yesterday, beyond the stands, and even much of that was pantomime stuff, and precious little from Chelsea either with Fernando Torres taking two steps backwards – apart from a couple of clever runs – after the progress made in recent weeks. In the first period, little of note occurred beyond the odd registering of chants about Terry’s parentage.
It really was that uneventful. Chelsea had control but could not kill the game. Crosses were over-hit, passes misplaced, runs went unread.
Torres teed up Sturridge, after a fine dribble, but he blasted over and then, soon after, fell to the ground claiming a trip by Hill who was, not for the last time, furious with him.
Then Shaun Wright-Phillips burst into the area and hit a cross-shot that Petr Cech beat out and Jamie Mackie waved a leg at, when he should have driven it back into the net, wasting a glorious opportunity.
Chelsea broke away – and Sturridge 'won’ the penalty. Could QPR reply? It never appeared likely. There wasn’t the stomach from either club for a replay and the closest it came to being forced was deep into added time when the ball broke wide to Young whose half-volley was well-judged by Cech who pushed it away.
Terry and Ferdinand proved to be, probably, the game’s best two performers. Both defended immaculately with Terry unflappable – as he can sometimes be in cases of adversity – and Ferdinand imperious.
They both, also, studiously avoided each other at the final whistle with Ferdinand completing a circuit of the pitch to thank the QPR supporters – and Terry thumping his chest before the 3,000 visiting fans.
He hugged Sturridge also, in congratulation, much to the fierce annoyance of the QPR contingent. That final whistle felt like a relief. For everyone.

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Mail:

QPR 0 Chelsea 1: A grubby, tawdry, ugly day... and the football matched the occasion
By PATRICK COLLINS

The abuse had pursued John Terry through the afternoon, and the screeches assaulted his ears as the final whistle sounded. He looked around for the only Rangers player likely to shake his hand, and Joey Barton obliged. Terry walked across to his own fans, flinging his arm around Michael Essien. Then he left the pitch, stroking the head of Daniel Sturridge.It was a curious display, one which carried the whiff of choreography. But then, it had been a curious day: grubby; depressing; one which aroused tawdry passions and ugly emotions. Amid it all, there was a football match of sorts. A desperately poor game involving two mediocre sides enduring a bad day. Chelsea, marginally the better, won it with one of the most dubious penalties Mike Dean has ever awarded.'Cheat! Cheat! Cheat!' screamed the QPR fans at Sturridge. It was one of the more genteel sounds that we heard. As for Rangers, they launched their most promising attack in the 97th minute, which says much about their sense of adventure and their level of performance. Both managers entered into the spirit of the occasion by spouting a stream of public relations platitudes. Chelsea's Andre Villas-Boas, who had delivered an impertinent lecture on the day before the match, when he insisted that everybody should shake Terry's hand for reasons of 'respect', now described the decision to scrap the handshakes as 'wise'.He also offered the view that 'emotions were kept low', suggesting that his command of English is less secure than we imagined. Mark Hughes, of QPR, was equally unconvincing. He thought the handshake decision was 'absolutely right', and came close to suggesting the whole affair had been concocted by the media. 'If it's not done in the right spirit, why do it at all?' he asked. He also thought that Terry had been 'very professional'.What he could not admit was his relief that Rangers were out of the Cup, so that they can now concentrate on saving themselves in the Premier League. Which is, of course, the reason for employing him. But you could not really blame him, since official candour was in short supply at Loftus Road yesterday. There was, however, no shortage of vile, clamorous, degrading insults from all sides of the ground. Most were aimed at Terry and almost all cannot be repeated here.The trite wisdom insists that the Chelsea captain thrives in such circumstances, that this kind of poison somehow brings out the best in him. It speaks of a thick skin and a strong character, we are regularly informed.It also speaks of a man who is not strong on sensitivity. The mildest accused him of the solitary vice, the most pernicious cited his family. On it went, over and over. You could see grown men standing and thinking of their next squalid ditty, the next gutter jibe. It felt like some ritual humiliation, like Celebrity Big Brother or one of those talent shows involving Simon Cowell. But Terry paid it no heed. Sometimes, he almost seems to court attention. He plugged on impassively, playing his mundane 10-yard passes, knowing that Rangers could offer nothing to discomfort him. His expression never changed. He has been there before, he knows how it works. 'Stand up if you hate John Terry!' came the chant. Everybody stood. Terry never noticed.Meanwhile, the 3,114 away fans, bored by the abject football, made an attempt to demean their humble surroundings. 'What a s***hole!' they sang. Meaning 'we've got an oligarch but you've only got a pauper of a multi-millionaire'.They were still singing by half-time, nothing of the remotest import having happened on the field. We waited a full hour for the goal, and it seemed curiously appropriate in its shabbiness. A rare Rangers initiative had broken down when Chelsea constructed their counterattack. The ball was worked swiftly forward, and Juan Mata lifted a hopeful cross. Clint Hill challenged with Sturridge, who fell with implausible drama. The linesman, in a relevant position, did nothing, but Dean was suitably conned. Mata's penalty was the most efficient accomplishment of the day. 'Anton, Anton what's the score?' chanted the sophisticates at the visitors' end. They chanted it repeatedly, as if sheer perseverance would make it sound witty. And that was about that, except for a worrying knee injury suffered by Ramires as he sought to block a drive, and a fine save by Petr Cech from the substitute Rob Hulse, with the match effectively over. 'One England captain, there's only one England captain,' chorused the visitors. And they are right, for the moment, at least. The Rangers fans responded with a fresh and fouler blast. The marketing men go to immoderate lengths to persuade us that the game has changed, that the bad days are far behind, that we are enjoying an elevated spectator experience. Sadly, that was not how it felt in West London yesterday, when Chelsea reached the fifth round of the FA Cup. And nobody seemed to care.

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Mirror:

QPR 0-1 Chelsea
By Paul Smith

John Terry was subjected to a torrent of abuse by QPR fans – but the Chelsea captain had the last laugh as a questionable penalty enabled his side to go through to the fifth round.
The controversial return of the Chelsea and England captain to Loftus Road had predictably dominated the pre-match build-up.
Terry is due in court in three days’ time charged with racially abusing QPR’s Anton Ferdinand during ­October’s bad-tempered league clash between the sides at the same ground.
Twenty-four hours before this game the situation was further inflamed when Ferdinand received a package containing a bullet.
Fears a pre-match handshake between the pair would light the touchpaper for an already explosive clash were allayed after QPR’s players collectively decided at an emergency meeting held on Friday night that no player would shake Terry’s hand.
But their planned show of solidarity was scuppered when both clubs and the FA decided to scrap the ­customary handshake to avoid inflaming the ­situation.
It was a decision supported by both managers.
Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas said: “I was ­informed of the decision about 45 minutes before the game.
“It was wise not to do the handshake because it could have had an effect on what happened in the crowd immediately afterwards.
“So the decision was a sensible one.”
Turning to the game itself, Villas-Boas added: “It was a good, solid display defensively.
“Since losing to Aston Villa, we’ve organised ­ourselves a bit better in defence and we’ve not ­conceded many goals. It’s repaying us and we look more solid now.
“Individually, it was an excellent performance from John Terry. He was very focused. He managed to get the off-the-field events out of his mind and concentrate fully on the game.”
Villas-Boas had little sympathy for Mark Hughes’ side over what appeared to be a soft penalty, converted by Juan Mata after Clint Hill was deemed by referee Mike Dean to have barged over Daniel Sturridge.
Villas-Boas said: “It was similar to the one [Heidar] Helguson won against us in the league. In that game we also finished the match with nine men.”
QPR boss Hughes said: “Cancelling the handshake was absolutely the correct decision. It was a question of avoiding a trouble situation.
“There was so much tension hinging on such a brief ­moment in time that it was clouding the issue.
“We had a meeting of management and players last night. Chelsea had their views and we all came to the same decision.”
Nonetheless, Terry didn’t escape unscathed. The home fans erupted with deafening boos when he emerged from the Loftus Road tunnel and, subsequently, every time he touched the ball.
When they weren’t booing Terry they goaded the ­defender with some unoriginal chants that had no impact on the centre-back whatsoever. Hughes added: “John’s a big figure in the game and I’m sure he gets booed at every away ground.
“He plays the same way. Headlines don’t affect JT and that was the same today. He was professional.
“And I thought Anton conducted himself really well. For him to come through that gave him great credit. He put in a tremendous performance.
As for the penalty decision, Hughes said: “I think Mike Dean will be a bit disappointed when he sees it again.
“I just felt Daniel Sturridge went down a little bit easily and he has given the penalty at a point that I thought was one of our better periods in the game.
“We worked exceptionally hard today on discipline and making sure we had good defensive shape.
“The only disappointment was that we couldn’t retain possession of the ball higher up the field.”
Chelsea dominated early on against an injury-hit QPR side missing at least five players.
But as poor as QPR were going forward, they were resolute in defence and managed to limit the Blues to a couple of decent chances in the opening 30 minutes.
It didn’t improve in the latter stages of the half either, as Chelsea’s inability to turn possession into chances irritated Villa-Boas in the dugout.
QPR seemed content to soak up pressure while there was no threat on their goal and at the break brought on Manchester United loanee Federico Macheda for Helguson. The change had little effect as Chelsea continued to take the game to QPR.
Chelsea were fast running out of ideas when Mata’s harmless ball into the QPR penalty area led to Hill being harshly adjudged to have bundled over Sturridge. But in fact Chelsea should have had a penalty moments earlier when Hill appeared to trip Sturridge.
Mata stepped up and put away the spot-kick, sparking wild celebrations in the away section of the ground.
QPR tried in vain to get back on level terms and Chelsea’s Ramires appeared to suffer a serious knee injury while attempting to block a shot in the 78th ­minute.
Chelsea stood firm during late pressure from the home side and Luke Young almost secured an undeserved draw for the hosts in injury time, only to be denied by a full-stretch save from Peter Cech.

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Sun:

QPR 0 Chelsea 1

JUAN MATA was spot on as Chelsea marched into the fifth round of the FA Cup.
With all the pre-match build-up focusing on Anton Ferdinand possibly snubbing Blues skipper John Terry, the traditional pre-match handshake was scrapped.
And the London derby never really got going until Daniel Sturridge took a tumble in the box, with Mata netting the resulting penalty in the 62nd minute.
As expected, Terry was jeered every time he touched the ball and was also the subject of numerous abusive taunts.
Chelsea fans refrained from using the notorious "Anton Ferdinand, you know what you are" chant, although they did sing "Anton, what's the score?" after the visitors took the lead.
Both sets of supporters cranked up the decibel level before kick-off but had little to cheer in a disappointing first half that saw only one shot on target.
That came after Mata, playing more centrally in the absence of the injured Frank Lampard, pounced on a Luke Young slip in the 12th minute and unleashed a 15-yard drive too close to Paddy Kenny.
Otherwise, the final ball from both sides was sadly lacking, resulting in a succession of speculative efforts that were well off target.
A fixture that had seen Chelsea reduced to nine men in October was also a more controlled affair and it was almost half an hour before Mike Dean brandished the first yellow card for a Shaun Wright-Phillips foul on Raul Meireles.
Ramires should have done better with great cutback opportunity after being released by a wonderful Mata backheel but neither side deserved to be ahead at half-time.
QPR threw on Federico Macheda for Heidar Helguson at the restart as Mark Hughes freshened up his attack.
But it was Chelsea who flew out of the blocks, with Fitz Hall booked for handball before Sturridge lashed over after great work from Fernando Torres.
The game finally exploded into life on the hour mark.
Petr Cech parried a Wright-Phillips cross just too far in front of the outstretched foot of Jamie Mackie and Chelsea surged down the other end to win a penalty.
QPR were furious at the award but Mata shrugged off the jeers to score, the midfielder celebrating with most of his team-mates in front of the visiting fans.
Ashley Cole was then carded for fouling Wright-Phillips before Chelsea lost Ramires to a serious-looking knee injury.
The midfielder appeared to twist his ankle blocking a shot and — after several minutes of treatment — was carried off on a stretcher to be replaced by Oriol Romeu.
By that point QPR had already thrown on Rob Hulse, who was denied a penalty in the dying minutes.
And there was a flashpoint deep into stoppage-time when Romeu was booked for diving in on Hulse, with Young almost snatching a draw when his 20-yard drive was parried by Cech.

QPR: Kenny, Hill, Ferdinand, Hall, Young, Mackie, Buzsaky (Hulse 79), Barton, Wright-Phillips, Helguson (Macheda 46), Smith. Subs not used: Cerny, Orr, Derry, Ephraim, Onuoha.Booked: Wright-Phillips, Hall.
Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Luiz, Terry, Cole, Meireles, Ramires (Romeu 79), Sturridge, Malouda, Mata (Essien 90), Torres. Subs not used: Turnbull, Bosingwa, Lukaku, Cahill, Bertrand. Booked: Cole, Romeu. Goals: Mata 62 pen.
Att: 15,728
Ref: Mike Dean (Wirral).


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Express:

QPR 0 CHELSEA 1: JUAN MATA PENALTY STRIKE SINKS RANGERS

By Gary Jones

JUAN MATA'S hotly-disputed penalty helped Chelsea secure victory in a tempestuous FA Cup fourth-round tie at west London rivals QPR today.
A match that for an hour was completely devoid of the kind of flashpoints that marred October's Barclays Premier League meeting suddenly had one when Clint Hill was harshly adjudged to have bundled over Daniel Sturridge.
Mata stepped up to score the only goal of a game dominated by the reunion between Chelsea captain John Terry and Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand, neither of whom put a foot wrong following what had been the most combustible of build-ups.
The match itself was always going to struggle to live up to the drama that preceded it, which culminated in full body searches for fans entering the ground and the cancellation of the traditional pre-match handshake.
The former was prompted after police last night confirmed they were investigating allegations Ferdinand had received "malicious communication", although they refused to reveal whether it contained a bullet.
QPR's Rob Hulse was denied a penalty in the dying minutes
Ferdinand and Terry were spared having to shake hands with each other after the Football Association agreed the clubs did not have to undertake the traditional pre-match ritual.
Ferdinand had reportedly been agonising over whether to accept Terry's hand four days before the court case begins in which the Chelsea and England captain stands accused of racially abusing his fellow defender.
Terry denies the charge, which relates to an altercation between the pair in October's league clash at Loftus Road.
But that did not prevent him being jeered every time he touched the ball today, while he was also the victim of numerous abusive taunts.
Chelsea fans refrained from using the notorious "Anton Ferdinand, you know what you are" chant that they were warned would see them punished, although they did sing "Anton, what's the score?" after the visitors took the lead.
Both sets of supporters cranked up the decibel level before kick-off but had little to cheer in a disappointing first half that saw only one shot on target.
That came after Mata, playing more centrally in the absence of Frank Lampard, pounced on a Luke Young slip in the 12th minute and unleashed a 15-yard drive too close to Paddy Kenny.
Otherwise, the final ball from both sides was sadly lacking, meaning a succession of speculative efforts that were well off target.
A fixture that had seen Chelsea reduced to nine men in October was also a more controlled affair and it was almost half an hour before Mike Dean brandished the first yellow card for a Shaun Wright-Phillips foul on Raul Meireles.
Ramires should have done better with great cutback opportunity after being released by a wonderful Mata backheel but neither side deserved to be ahead at half-time.
QPR threw on Federico Macheda for Heidar Helguson at the restart but it was Chelsea who flew out of the blocks, with Fitz Hall booked for handball before Sturridge lashed over after great work from Fernando Torres.
But the game really exploded into life on the hour mark.
Petr Cech parried a Wright-Phillips cross just too far in front of the outstretched foot of Jamie Mackie and Chelsea surged down the other end and won a penalty.
QPR were furious at the award but Mata shrugged off the jeers to score, the midfielder celebrating with most of his team-mates in front of the visiting fans. Terry was a notable absentee.
Ashley Cole was carded for fouling Wright-Phillips before Chelsea lost Ramires to a serious-looking injury.
The midfielder appeared to twist his ankle blocking a shot and - after several minutes' treatment - was carried off on a stretcher to be replaced by Oriol Romeu.
QPR had already thrown on Rob Hulse, who was denied a penalty in the dying minutes.
And there was a flashpoint deep into stoppage-time when Romeu was booked for diving in on Hulse, with Young almost snatching a draw when his 20-yard drive was parried by Cech.

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Star:

QPR 0 - CHELSEA 1: CAUSING A STURR
By Tony Stenson

THERE were boos, chants, jeers and angry shouts of “cheat” at Loftus Road – but it wasn’t John Terry who was the target.
The QPR fans, who had been ­venting their angerat the Chelsea ­captain, turned their attention to Daniel Sturridge.
They were furious the striker went to ground too easily under pressure from Clint Hill – they were even more annoyed when referee Mike Dean awarded the controversial spot-kick.
Juan Mata scored it to give Chelsea the lead on the hour.
It looked harsh and the home support spent the rest of the game booing Sturridge and chanting “cheat, cheat” at the England star.
Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas claimed the ­penalty made up for decisions in the league game between the two sides earlier this season.
He said: “It was very similar to events in the league game when we finished with nine men and were treated unfairly.
“QPR reacted angrily to this one but the referee gave it.”
The Portuguese boss was also full of praise for his captain. He said: “I thought Terry was excellent. He kept his mind off all the pre-match events.”
The penalty was a pivotal moment in a game that was always going to contain drama.
Terry left Loftus Road knowing he had led Chelsea into the Fifth Round of the FA Cup.
His next big match is in court on Wednesday, to ­answer charges of racially abusing QPR’s Anton ­Ferdinand in a league match in October.
At least we were all spared the shake, or non-shake of the hand between Terry and Ferdinand.
The FA and police decided to allow both clubs to waive the usual pre-match niceties.
Terry was booed and barracked during the warm-up and it continued throughout the game.
You almost felt sorry for him and it’s a true measure of his mental strength that he stayed focused throughout.
There was a heavy police presence outside the ground and inside the atmosphere was hostile – but under control.
No one in Terry’s family was left ignored by tasteless taunts from three sides of Loftus Road.
But the skipper did what he has always done – he was the backbone of Chelsea’s defence.
At the other end, the visitors lacked a cutting edge. It wasn’t until the 35th minute that Raul Meireles, Chelsea’s best player, lashed their first chance over.
Fernando Torres played another minor role, while Mata, despite his goal, seems to have lost the magic he had earlier this season.
On one rare occasion, Torres threatened with a run that took him away from three defenders but he passed to Sturridge who blasted over.
Then the game changed in one controversial minute.
Hill was ajudged to have pushed Sturridge in the box and referee Dean awarded a penalty.
As the home fans hurled abuse at Sturridge, Mata comfortably steered his spot-kick past Paddy Kenny to give Chelsea the lead.
QPR boss Mark Hughes, upset the game’s big decision went against his side, said: “We’re disappointed by the penalty decision.
“The referee said the player was going to head the ball in the goal. I thought it harsh.”
Chelsea keeper Petr Cech saved from Luke Young in the seventh minute of added time – but the Blues saw it out to book their place in the Fifth Round. Just.

norwich 0-0

Independent:

Torres misses chance to end nightmare

Norwich City 0 Chelsea 0: Spanish striker substituted as Norwich hold out while Chelsea lose more ground to leaders

STEVE TONGUE CARROW ROAD

Under normal circumstances, Chelsea followers would not wish any ill fortune to the proud footballers of the Ivory Coast, but this morning they must be hoping that Didier Drogba's team suffer unexpectedly early elimination from the African Cup of Nations, allowing him to return to London at the earliest possible moment.
Drogba has indicated that he will come back to the capital rather than taking either a slow boat or fast plane to China, where riches are on offer. That is just as well, for yesterday's lively lunchtime encounter proved again that Chelsea cannot afford to wave him farewell on a permanent basis. The Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku may have provided a bright little cameo towards the end, but the images of the day were of the man he replaced, Fernando Torres, first poking wide a glorious chance from 10 yards as his manager cursed in frustration, then trudging to the sidelines to the inevitable Norfolk chants of "What a waste of money".
For Torres it is a matter of one step forward – as in last weekend's performance against Sunderland – and one backward, like yesterday; one acrobatic volley against the bar last Saturday and one toe-poke wide of a gaping goal here. The feeling would normally be that a goal would see him right, a sentiment widely expressed after he scored in successive League games in September and then added two in the same game against Genk a month later. Since then, however, there has been nothing, in 17 games for club and country.
Chelsea's Andre Villas-Boas, commendably supportive of his player even though he was not the manager – or owner – who signed him a year ago, said: "He tried really hard, we're very happy with his play. He's been doing excellent work for the team and it doesn't matter who scores."
Unfortunately, yesterday nobody scored, for the first time since the team's last away defeat, at Queens Park Rangers in October. There was also a calf injury to Frank Lampard, the extent of which is not yet known, which made it just as well that Michael Essien was able to come on as a substitute for the second successive week.
Lampard was forced off shortly before half-time, just as Chelsea were coming into a game they had been largely absent from until that point. Norwich passed the ball whenever they could get hold of it, and thanks to solid defending from the centre-halves Zak Whitbread and Daniel Ayala and, above all, a fine performance from the goalkeeper John Ruddy, kept a clean sheet for the first time since achieving promotion last May.
"They all put their bodies on the line and it's a huge point for us," their manager, Paul Lambert, said. "Two years ago we were playing Yeovil, Walsall and Stockport and now we're competing with Chelsea."
Compete they did, and take the lead they could easily have done twice before Chelsea got into gear. In the 10th minute Steve Morison – who was playing for Millwall when Torres was winning the World Cup – played in his striking partner Grant Holt, who turned perfectly past David Luiz before shooting just wide of a post. Closer to half-time, after Ruddy had pushed away Torres's one good effort,Bradley Johnson's shot took a deflection off John Terry that appeared to have wrong-footed Petr Cech, who was nevertheless able to hold the ball.
From then on, every clear scoring opportunity was Chelsea's. On the hour, Jose Bosingwa pushed forward to set up Torres, who from the penalty spot took aim and knocked his shot well wide. Villas-Boas turned away in frustration, but having already had to replace Lampard, waiteduntil the last quarter of an hour before sending on Lukaku and Essien. Ruddy proved unbeatable whoever appeared. He saved from Juan Mata, then from Ramires and again from Mata, though Mark Clattenburg did not see the touch and awarded agoal-kick. Perhaps the referee was dozing off after having so little to do. Incredibly, he did not need to award a free-kick in the whole of the first half, even for offsides.
Chelsea's defending, with David Luiz much improved against the physicality of Holt, justified Villas-Boas's assertion that it was not necessary to rush his new signing Gary Cahill into action. Cahill did not make the substitutes' bench either, because Branislav Ivanovic was "more versatile", but he is available for Saturday's Cup tie with QPR. Lambert, who had expressed his frustration at the difficulties of adding to a thin squad, will shortly complete the signing the Leeds United midfielder Jonathan Howson, who watched the game, as did Cahill. Arguably the new Canary was the one singing on his way home.

Norwich (4-4-2): Ruddy; Martin, Ayala, Whitbread, Naughton; Pilkington, Fox (Crofts, 79), Johnson, Surman (Bennett, 90); Holt, Morison (Jackson, 79).
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cech; Bosingwa, Luiz, Terry, Cole; Ramires, Meireles (Essien, 79); Lampard (Malouda, 37), Sturridge, Torres (Lukaku, 77); Mata.
Referee: Mark Clattenburg
Man of the match: Ruddy (Norwich)
Match rating: 7/10


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

Observer:

Norwich and John Ruddy stand firm to deny Chelsea and frustrate Torres
Amy Lawrence at Carrow Road

After the many hoots of mockery and chants about money and painful critiques that have trailed Fernando Torres since his move to Stamford Bridge, the Spaniard must have felt he had heard it all. Not quite. Having seen a chance fizzle out, it spoke volumes that the chant that floated over from behind the goal was sung without any irony: "We'd rather have Grant Holt".
Norwich's centre-forward, whom they could have bought 125 times over to reach the total price of the Torres transfer, is adored in these parts not just for his goals but also for his enthusiasm and endless chasing of causes. But his role here, as the match wore on and Chelsea began to press Norwich into a game of pure resistance, was to fall back and help out any which way.
André Villas-Boas, in his continuing defence of Torres, always entreats us to look at the bigger picture and see how his work for the team is appreciated. But however you choose to paint it, the inescapable fact is that Chelsea need Torres to score some goals. Just before the hour mark the crowd paused in anticipation of exactly that. Having controlled José Bosingwa's cross, the Spaniard picked his spot in the far corner but watched with dismay as the ball arced outside the post. It was a tantalising chance to end a run of 11 league matches without a goal. It was not long after that he was substituted.
Torres's drought remains a niggling problem for Chelsea, but it is far from the only source of their frustrations. They were sluggish and short of sparks of invention from midfield. It took them until midway through the second half to exert their authority on a hard working and enterprising Norwich team, and when they did a combination of careless finishing and the calm interventions of John Ruddy in goal ensured a shut-out.
The primal roar that greeted the final whistle from everybody in yellow was of the sort normally reserved for victory. Such are the standards to which Paul Lambert aspires, he was reluctant to say he felt triumphant. But he was delighted all the same with a first clean sheet this season, and a statement made against such a powerful adversary. "It is a huge point for us," he said. "Ruddy was excellent. The whole group put their bodies on the line when they had to."
They were gutsy, too. Norwich were eager to ruffle a few feathers, and the front pairing of Holt and Steve Morison caused some discomfort for Chelsea's backline. Early on, Holt latched on to Steve Morison's through-ball and wrongfooted David Luiz, only to steer his shot wide.
When Torres prowled forward only for a chance to fade away, the signs were there that it would again not be his afternoon. He then cruised into shooting territory and curled the ball goalwards with the outside of his boot. The excellent Ruddy dived to palm the ball away. Villas-Boas was obliged to make another defence of his misfiring striker. "We cannot be hypocrites and not take into account what he did last week when everyone praised him," he said. "We are looking for him to produce for the team and I am happy with the performance."
Chelsea began to turn the screw as the clock ticked on, seizing control and dominating possession. Juan Mata tested Ruddy on a couple of occasions, and the midfielders tried their luck. First Raul Meireles swept a shot just over the bar. Ramires then took aim with a piledriver that flew into Ruddy's midriff. Norwich's goalkeeper was equal to whatever Chelsea could summon, which in fairness was not that much.
All in all it was a disappointing day for Chelsea, who also lost Frank Lampard in the first half to a muscle tear in his calf. He went for an MRI scan to assess the extent of the damage. On the plus side Michael Essien got another run-out, and Gary Cahill, who wasn't selected, is expected to be ready to figure in the FA Cup game against QPR.
This was an opportunity for Chelsea to make some ground with the rest of the top five playing each other . "It could have been a good last opportunity to threaten for the title," admitted Villas-Boas. The manager scoffed at the suggestion that he should keep an eye on what is behind him in the league table, insisting, "No, I am not worried about finishing lower than fourth."
Norwich were entitled to savour a proud moment. Lambert tried to put the achievement into perspective: "Two years ago we were playing the likes of Yeovil and Stockport, with all due respect to them, and Chelsea have been in Champions League finals. That we are competing against them is incredible."
Late on Saturday night, Chelsea were drawn into another racial incident, after it emerged that some of their fans had allegedly been involved in racist chanting on a train back from Norwich.
A statement posted on the club's website said: "Chelsea Football Club is concerned to hear that a small number of fans travelling back by train from Norwich were alleged to be involved in racist chants and comment.
"We are working to help the relevant authorities identify those responsible and will take the strongest possible action should these allegations prove to be true.
"The club, like the overwhelming majority of our fans, strongly believe that all forms of discrimination are abhorrent and have absolutely no place in society."


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

Telegraph:

Norwich City 0 Chelsea 0: match report
By Duncan White, Carrow Road

Andre Villas-Boas keeps playing possum. On Boxing Day, the prognosis for Chelsea’s title challenge was dire and after defeat at home to Aston Villa on New Year’s Eve their prospects looked about as promising as those of a man paddling off into the North Sea in his canoe. Turns out, of course, that the Canoe Man was alive and well and living next door. And Chelsea were still secretly in the hunt. In fact this game was Chelsea’s final chance. Now it is definitely dead. Sort of.
“This could have been a good last opportunity to threaten for this title,” Villas-Boas said, before contradicting himself with a flicker of optimism. “We will have to see whether this has been a point gained or two points dropped.”
He went on to clarify that this really was it, however, but that this January concession would not affect his players’ attitude. “I have been saying it for quite some time,” he said. “It is nothing new. We have not found the winning consistency to make this a little bit more of a title challenge. There is not going to be any lack of ambition and motivation. You might speculate that we might not find the right motivation but there is always motivation when you play for a top club.”
There is, of course, plenty of the season to go and, as with villains in a horror film, Sir Alex Ferguson and Roberto Mancini will only rest when the credits start to roll. It is not over, as the stale cliché goes, until the fat lady sings.
Another cliché tells us that inside every fat man there is a thin man struggling to get out. Well, inside Fernando Torres there is a world-class goalscorer wriggling like hell, desperate to find the exit. This game was another fruitless struggle. If Chelsea’s title keeps being announced prematurely dead, then so is Torres’ emergence from his arid goalless trough. He has now gone more than 15 hours without scoring and was taken off after another impotent afternoon.
Just as at Sunderland, though, there were moments in which you recognised something of the old vim, in a weaving run from deep or in his improvised shot, with the outside of the boot, which drew a brilliant save out of John Ruddy.
There were, also, less dignified moments.Norwich had not kept a clean sheet in a single game this season and surely Carrow Road would provide fertile territory. Time and again, Torres was suffocated by Norwich’s central defensive pairing of Zak Whitbread and Daniel Ayala. The latter had doubtless had the fear of God put into him by his countryman during Melwood training sessions at Liverpool, but this was a very different story.
The replay moment came with an hour played. Torres had grown more and more frustrated as the game wore on but suddenly he had his chance. Jose Bosingwa had found some space on the right and his low cross worked its way to Torres’ feet. There was a moment’s pause as he trapped the ball. Surely a goal. But Torres toe-poked the ball past the near post.
“He tried really hard and he met with an excellent save from Ruddy in the first half,” Villas-Boas said. “His movement was sharp and effective and he was trying hard to get the goals he wants. He has persisted during all these weeks. We cannot be hypocrites and not take into account what he did against Sunderland after which everybody praised him for the arrival of his form.”
After an even first half, in which Norwich’s Anthony Pilkington was the outstanding performer, Paul Lambert’s side began to tire and Chelsea to dominate. Yet with Frank Lampard having left the field after 35 minutes with a torn calf muscle, Chelsea were short of players to exploit the gaps opening up. Lampard will undergo a scan to discover the severity of the tear.
When Chelsea did manage to get around the Norwich defence, they found Ruddy defiant and, when Juan Mata seemed finally to have beaten the goalkeeper, his shot clipped the outside of a post.
Most of Norwich’s best work had come before the break. Lambert had made his intentions fairly clear, dropping the impishly-inventive Wes Hoolahan for the barrel-chested battering ram of Grant Holt in partnership with the equally-imposing Steve Morison. Holt gave Petr Cech some moments of panic while Bradley Johnson’s shot, which deflected off John Terry, almost wrong-footed the Chelsea goalkeeper.
That Lambert had gone with both his powerful strikers made the decision to omit new signing Gary Cahill seem a little curious — Cahill has a great leap and is very competitive in the aerial challenge — but as Villas-Boas pointed out, there is no point throwing somebody in before they have “assimilated the basic principles” of the way he organises his team.
And David Luiz performed perfectly creditably alongside John Terry anyway.
While Raul Meireles should have been punished for handball on the edge of his own box and Norwich argued that Mark Clattenburg was overly-officious in not letting them take a quick free-kick – Holt putting Pilkington clean through – the final whistle was greeted as if this were a victory. It was a reward for the incredible work ethic of these Norwich players.


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

Mirror:

Norwich 0-0 Chelsea:
By Dave Smith

Norwich recorded their first clean sheet of the season to frustrate Chelsea and all but extinguish the Blues’ title hopes.
Blues striker Fernando Torres failed to find the target for the 11th game on the trot, and he squandered a couple of decent chances to end the drought.
Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas is playing down his club’s chances of competing with the Manchester giants for the Premier League title.
He admitted: “This could have been our last ­opportunity. It is not a bad point given Norwich’s form, but it’s not so good in terms of the title.
“We will have to wait and see what happens in the Sunday games. We created enough chances to win the game and we were dominant in the second half, but we just could not find the net.
“The players’ work rate was fantastic and they tried hard to get the winner, but couldn’t find it.” The ­Chelsea boss was keen to give encouragement to Torres.
He added: “He has had a major impact on our offensive game. We are not just looking for him to find the net, but to contribute to the team and he is doing that.
“He had good praise after the Sunderland game and he has been doing excellent things for the team.”
Passing and moving is the name of the game for Norwich and Chelsea, and it made for fascinating viewing as the game ebbed and flowed.
Chelsea were almost caught on the hop in the 10th minute when Canaries striker Grant Holt shot just wide.
Torres’ critics have been lining up to take pop shots at the Spaniard.
To his credit, though, Torres never stops working and continues to look more and more like his old self. It’s just that final touch which is missing.
Even though things weren’t going for Torres in an ­attacking sense, there was no doubting his desire to help out when they were on the back foot.
The marksman had one clear chance to end his barren spell but his tentative effort with the outside of his foot was turned wide by John Ruddy in the Norwich goal.
From the corner Daniel Sturridge hammered a shot over the bar, and it was beginning to look like one of those days for Chelsea. Even more so when, with just 35 minutes on the clock, Frank Lampard pulled up with a calf injury and limped off.
The England midfielder looked totally dismayed and frustrated as he left the scene. And Norwich kept battling.
Andrew Surman set up a chance for Bradley Johnson, whose shot was half blocked by John Terry before keeper Petr Cech cleared.
Juan Mata was beginning to have more and more of an influence on the game as the first half wore on and went close on two occasions just before the break.
But for all his hard work and endeavour, Torres was still lacking conviction in front of goal and he ­squandered a great chance on the hour-mark. There was a distinct lack of confidence in the strike he poked wide, prompting caustic chants of ‘what a waste of money’ from the Norwich fans.
The Canaries’ followers were howling for a penalty soon after, but ref Mark Clattenburg shied away from making another controversial decision.
There was certainly a hint of handball from Raul Meireles, who was then involved in a key moment at the other end of the field, firing over from the edge of the box.
Chelsea looked the more threatening in the closing stages and Ruddy was called on to make a couple of saves before, inevitably, Torres was substituted after 76 minutes, replaced by Romelu Lukaku.
In his absence Mata went close for the visitors and ­Ashley Cole also chanced his arm as Chelsea stepped up their bid for the winner.
But the Canaries held out for a draw which was celebrated like a win by the home fans.
Norwich boss Paul Lambert was full of praise for his men.
The Scot said: “They have earned the right to play against the best and I am delighted with what they have achieved. The fact we have our first clean sheet against such a top team is great.”


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

Mail:

Norwich 0 Chelsea 0:
Taxi for Torres! After more than 15 hours without a goal should Chelsea cut their losses?
By ROB DRAPER

The statistics have become wearily familiar. It is 919 minutes - more than 15 hours - since he scored for club or country and he has gone 16 games, including 11 Premier League matches, without a goal.
But raw numbers never do justice to the pathos of the situation. Only watching a dignified man, who once could claim to be among the world's best at his trade, trudge slowly from a football ground faraway from home as a gleeful mob chant 'What a waste of money!' can summon up the pitiful nature of Fernando Torres's plight.
In nine days' time we will register the anniversary of that sensational £50million move from Liverpool to Chelsea, which will provoke another flurry of debate as to whether this is the worst signing of all time.
Andriy Shevchenko's £31m move is beginning to look not such bad business after all and Garry Birtles' reputation is redeemed with every simple chance that Torres misses.
Yesterday's was not on the scale of the open goal he spurned in front of the Stretford End nor as poor as his slice from close range at Blackburn. But it was bad and no amount of decent movement and willing running can atone for that.
Chelsea dropped points in a game which Andre Villas-Boas said 'could have been a last opportunity for us to threaten for this title'. And Torres missed the simplest chance of the day, on the hour and from eight yards out.
Jose Bosingwa cut to the byline and pulled it back only for Torres to prod the ball wide with his toe. In mitigation, there was very little space to shoot as Daniel Ayala and Zak Whitbread rushed to close him down.
But he should have scored and, on the touchline, Villas-Boas exploded with frustration, clutching his head and turning away in despair.
Around Carrow Road, they roared at the reprieve but, in reality, there was little to celebrate, other than from a partisan point of view.
For watching Torres at present is like being a voyeur at an unpleasant reality TV show, as you view a man's confidence disintegrate before being invited to pass comment.
It is true, as Villas-Boas later said, that elements of his game remain admirable.
He forced a fine save from the superb John Ruddy on 27 minutes and who could forget the exquisite technique he produced last weekend to set up Chelsea's winner? But he had also preceded yesterday's miss with a wayward shot one minute earlier and there are too many times when he seems to cut wide and look for a pass where once he would have headed for goal.
'We can't be hypocrites and not take into account last week, what he did against Sunderland, when everyone praised him for his arrival of form,' said Villas-Boas.
'He couldn't find the back of the net but we are not looking just for that, we are looking for him to produce for the team.
'He has persisted during all these weeks. I think he collided with an excellent save from Ruddy in the first half but his movements again were sharp and effective. We're happy with his play.'
Others were culpable, too, and this game, an entertaining one given the lack of goals, had much more to it than the Fernando horror show.
Norwich started brightly and only a superb tackle by Ramires prevented Steve Morison scoring on seven minutes, while Grant Holt then beat David Luiz but pulled his shot just wide.
Luiz went on to redeem himself, coping admirably with the excellent Holt, having managed to keep £7m signing Gary Cahill out of the team. Indeed, Cahill did not even make the bench, with Villas-Boas saying he needs time to integrate.
It was the second half when Chelsea - and Ruddy - came into their own. In fact, Ruddy's finest save possibly came when denying Juan Mata from close range after a glorious sweeping move on 62 minutes. Florent Malouda, on when Frank Lampard sustained a calf injury after 36 minutes, drove a fierce, curling shot over and Ramires had a strike well saved by Ruddy.
Chelsea could break neither Ruddy nor his chief lieutenants, Ayala and Whitbread. It was a minor triumph for some, but not for Norwich manager Paul Lambert.
'I can understand people saying it's a terrific result, which it is, because two years ago we were playing Yeovil, Walsall and Stockport and, no disrespect to those teams, now we're competing with Chelsea, who have been in a Champions League final,' he stated.
However, the Scot prefaced that by saying: 'You don't want to draw. You want to win.'
Nevertheless, his admirable team are edging ever closer towards 39 points, so at least there was something to cheer. Just not for the most expensive player on the pitch.


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

People:

Norwich 0-0 Chelsea: Blues held as Torres draws another blan
by Dave Kidd

THERE are plenty of barn doors round these here parts – yet Fernando Torres still couldn’t hit one.
Norwich may have taken the Premier League by storm but they had yet to keep a clean sheet in any competition all season.
Send, then, for the most expensive striker in the history of British football and it was always a safe bet that little run would come to an end.
Torres works hard – he even pops up at left-back to make important tackles – but for £50million, Chelsea demand goals.
And as the anniversary of his move from Liverpool approaches, the Spaniard has netted just three times in the league and seems stifled by timidity in front of goal.
Lingering
Torres was presented with probably the best chance of the match just before the hour mark, but prodded wide from a Jose Bosingwa cross.
He has not scored in 11 Premier League appearances and was subbed for the raw Romelu Lukaku 13 minutes from time. Even the absence of Didier Drogba, on international duty, has failed to ignite him.
And Stamford Bridge boss Andre Villas-Boas admitted that his side’s failure to nail three points here, having dominated the second half, is likely to have extinguished any lingering title hopes.
They are left to cling on for fourth spot, and their record of being London’s top side for the ­previous seven seasons is under threat from Tottenham.
A point at Carrow Road is nothing to be ashamed about – although this was the first time Norwich have taken anything from a clash with a top-five side since their return to the Premier League. On the plus side for AVB, David Luiz came through with flying colours in what was billed as a potential battering from Grant Holt and Steve Morison, two strikers built like village blacksmiths.
Juan Mata sparkled at times but, without a goal-scorer to profit from his artful work, his efforts were in vain.
Frank Lampard limped off in the first half with a torn calf muscle – but Michael Essien is closing on full fitness, which will lift the Blues.
Norwich chief Paul Lambert dropped his most creative force in Wes Hoolahan and the home side were unable to provide enough ammunition for their barnstorming front two – both recruited from the Football League but boasting scoring records which shame Torres.
Norwich began brightly, Petr Cech saving Anthony Pilkington’s angled shot and Ramires blocking Morison’s effort from the rebound.
Holt then collected a pass from Morison, twisted past Luiz and shot narrowly wide.
Yet that was as bad as it got for the Brazilian, whose starting position is now under threat from Gary Cahill, and who was expected to struggle against the brawn of Norwich’s strike force.
When Torres was first sent clear of the Norwich defence by Mata, he dallied and fed Sturridge when he might have chanced his arm. The Spaniard’s best moment arrived on 27 minutes when he conjured a curling shot, forcing John Ruddy to tip it wide.
Lampard limped off soon after, replaced by the ineffectual Florent Malouda, and Norwich continued to threaten – a deflected Bradley Johnson effort and a cross-shot from Holt both forcing decent saves from Cech.
Mata continued to enchant, having a deflected shot smothered by Ruddy, then slipping past two defenders and firing over in first-half injury-time.
Banjo
The big moment arrived for Torres just before the hour, when Bosingwa picked him out with a low right-wing centre, but he failed to hit the target.
Even with his countryman Roberto Ayala blocking out a little daylight, Torres should have done better.
Norwich called for a penalty when Raul Meireles handled but the incident, missed by ref Mark Clattenburg, occurred just outside the box.
Meireles thumped a 20-yarder just over before Ramires and Mata both further stretched Ruddy.
Norwich were the happier side with the point but as the Chelsea bus meandered back through East Anglia’s rural landscape, none of the cow’s backsides would have twitched, even if Torres had wielded a banjo at them

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

Sun:

Norwich 0 Chelsea 0
By TOM BARCLAY

FERNANDO TORRES saw his Chelsea torment continue as he failed to score for a 15th successive game.
The Spaniard looked lively in this stalemate with Norwich but he missed a sitter in the second half and was substituted with the scoreline still level.
For Paul Lambert's side, it was another good result to continue their wonderful season back in the top flight while Blues boss Andre Villa-Boas was left frustrated.
Canaries keeper and man of the match John Ruddy said: "You know you are going to come up against a team who will create chances when you play Chelsea, but the game plan worked again and we've got a very good point.
"I had a torrid time last time (against Chelsea) but it was a great team effort from the lads today.
"As long as we're picking up points (the lack of clean sheets) it isn't a problem but clean sheets make that easier."
Striker Grant Holt added: "This is a massive result. We talked all week about getting tight and showing them wide and we managed to do that."
New Chelsea signing Gary Cahill was surprisingly left out of the squad as AVB revealed the ex-Bolton stopper has not yet "been integrated into the team system".
There was very little between the two sides in the opening stages with both teams moving the ball well.
Norwich's bruising double act of Steve Morison and Holt showed they can both play a bit too with ex-Millwall man Morison turning to play in Holt who shot just wide.
Torres had a much better game against Sunderland last week and looked sharp early on at Carrow Road too.
The Spaniard was a whisker away from finishing off a fine Blues move — started by an audacious bit of skill by David Luiz in his own box — but his curling effort was superbly tipped wide by Ruddy.
Bradley Johnson then had a tame shot from distance which almost fooled Petr Cech after a wicked deflection, but the Czech stopper got down well.
Juan Mata should have given Chelsea the lead on the stroke of half-time as he escaped a Norwich challenge and cut into the box only for to lift his shot over the bar.
And there was still time before the interval for the Blues to miss another good chance as Torres sent in an inviting cross for substitute Florent Malouda.
But the Frenchman, who had come on for the injured Frank Lampard, decided to wait for the ball to reach him instead of attacking it and the ball was cleared.
Astonishingly, there were no fouls in the first half but that was quickly put to rights as Morison took down Raul Meireles within 76 seconds of the restart.
Chelsea picked up the pace in the second half with Luiz firing in a shot from distance before Torres missed a sitter.
Daniel Sturridge got in down the right with a neat bit of skill and sent in a cross which Torres controlled before toe poking just wide from eight yards.
Mata came close moments later as Sturridge played him in down the left, but his firm shot at the near post was well stopped by Ruddy.
Chelsea were coming closer and closer to breaking the deadlock as Raul Meireles fizzed a shot over the bar and Ramires hit a sumptuous volley straight into Ruddy's arms.
Torres' nightmare was ended on 77 minutes when he was hooked for Romelu Lukaku.
The Spaniard has now failed to hit the back of the net for the 15th successive game — his worst run in England.
And the Belgian sub made an instant impact with a lung-busting run down right before Mata almost sneaked a shot in at the near post.
But ultimately Norwich managed to hang on for a share of the points as AVB rued his side's missed chances and two points dropped.

Norwich: Ruddy, Martin, Whitbread, Ayala, Naughton, Fox (Crofts 79), Johnson, Pilkington, Surman (Bennett 90), Morison (Jackson 79), Holt. Subs Not Used:Steer,Drury,Hoolahan,Wilbraham.
Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Luiz, Terry, Cole, Ramires, Lampard (Malouda 37), Meireles (Essien 79), Sturridge, Torres (Lukaku 77), Mata. Subs Not Used: Turnbull, Ivanovic, Romeu, Bertrand.
Att: 26,792
Ref: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear).

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

Express:

NORWICH CITY 0 - CHELSEA 0: FORGET THE TITLE RACE, CHELSEA
By Jim Holden

THE agony was etched on the face of Fernando Torres as he missed yet another shocking sitter in his season of despair.
He had stabbed wide from just eight yards when in the centre of the goalmouth and with clear sight of the net. Glory be, it was hopeless.
It was the kind of chance Torres buried with ease throughout his stellar career before joining Chelsea a year ago in a £50million transfer.
Now it’s the kind he always fluffs. At the moment scoring even the simplest goal seems completely beyond the Spaniard – and his nightmare howler midway through the second half yesterday cost Chelsea two valuable points in the battle raging between four clubs for the lucrative fourth place position that entitles entry to the Champions League. How are the mighty fallen.
It is not just Torres who is fading fast. So are Chelsea as a team, now unable to impose themselves on mid-table opponents and with every reason, like Arsenal, to fear where the season might be heading.
It is not towards a credible title challenge.
Manager Andres Villas-Boas claims he is unconcerned, saying emphatically: “No, I’m not worried about finishing lower than fourth.”
To which the only reasonable response is: Well, you should be.
The reality of Chelsea’s concern was clear in the way Villas-Boas reacted with raging disbelief on the touchline to that glaring miss by Torres which prompted inevitable chants of “What a waste of money” from the Norwich supporters.
The reality was on show again when the manager decided to substitute the Spanish striker rather than the equally ineffective Daniel Sturridge 15 minutes from time. The reason given – that Torres was “tired after trying very hard” – was as lame as can be.
Villas-Boas reckons Chelsea’s problem is merely “inefficiency” in front of goal – a failure to take chances. But it’s surely more than that. For most of this contest there was a lack of zip in the team’s play, sometimes a lack of intelligence, and certainly a lack of confidence. You could see that the first time Torres had a sniff of the ball in the Norwich penalty area in the 12th minute. He was half a yard clear in the box, and at his peak there would have been an instant decisive movement towards goal and a rasping shot.
Here he took the unselfish option, in reality the fearful option, and played a square pass in the hope of setting up Sturridge. It didn’t work. It was a cop-out.
The one time that Torres trusted his instincts and stabbed in a first-time shot, he was denied by a good save from Norwich goalkeeper John Ruddy.
Torres has now failed to score in his last 11 PremierLeague games, a drought that is more than three months long. He is scampering around in the most expensive wilderness in football history.
It wasn’t just the lack of a goal yesterday. The longer thematch went, the more visibly his confidence drained. It was a sorry sight. The substitution was a kindness when it came, and nobody in the ground expected anything else.
If the draw meant dismay for Chelsea, the final whistle was greeted with wild cheers by the home fans. They are still new enough to the Premier League to relish not losing to a major team.
For Norwich, superbly well-drilled by manager Paul Lambert, it was a first clean sheet of the season. They defended with diligence, and Ruddy confirmed his emergence as a goalkeeper of stature with some stout saves to keep out shots from Juan Mata and Ramires.
The home team had their opportunities in the first half, with Grant Holt forcing a fine leaping save from Chelsea keeper Petr Cech, who also reacted well to stop a deflected drive from Bradley Johnson.
“It was a huge point for us,” said Lambert afterwards.
“I thought we were excellent at the back, and there are no apologies from me for our strong defending in the second half. It’s encouraging to get a clean sheet against a team like Chelsea. We are improving with each game and getting used to the demands of the Premier League.”
A curiosity was that referee Mark Clattenburg did not whistle for a single foul in the first half. It reflected the desire of both teams to play decent football, but also the way careless passes from both sides surrendered possession too easily.
Chelsea had surprised some observers by leaving out new signing Gary Cahill, the England central defender. It seemed to give a spur to the much-criticised David Luiz, who played with style and strength to subdue Norwich dangerman Grant Holt.
A concern for Villas-Boas was Frank Lampard suffering a calf injury that could keep out the England midfielder for a few weeks.

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

Star:

NORWICH CITY 0 - CHELSEA 0: MORE PAIN FOR FLOP FERNAN-DOH!
By Peter Layton

CHELSEA missed a golden chance to close the gap on the leaders as Fernando Torres’ Premier League drought goes on.
The Spain striker has not scored in the league since he netted against Swansea on September 24 and Norwich stopper John Ruddy played a blinder to ensure his nightmare run continues.
Paul Lambert’s side kept their first clean sheet of the season to stop Chelsea from making up ground on Man City, United and Spurs, who all play today
Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas takes his team to Majorca this week for a bonding break – but it was Norwich who were supposed to get the tanning.
But brilliant Canary keeper Ruddy and his back four covered themselves in glory to rip up the script.
And £50million flop Torres found himself in the ­firing-line again after missing a 60th-minute sitter that should have wrapped up the points.
The striker had the goal at his mercy when right-back Jose Bosingwa’s cross fell perfectly at his feet – but he somehow scuffed wide from six yards.
If Torres can’t hit a barn door in Norfolk then he really has got problems.
AVB said: “Torres tried really hard and his movement was sharp. He isn’t getting the goals he wants but he is playing a major part in our performances.
“This could have been our last chance to challenge for the title, we will have to wait and see. But if the top teams win on Sunday then it will be a big margin for us to make up.”
Norwich boss Lambert said: “It’s very satisfying to get our first clean sheet, especially for Ruddy.
“But everybody put their bodies on the line and it was a huge point for us. Considering we were playing Stockport two years ago, it’s amazing that we are now competing with Chelsea.”
The Blues, chasing four successive wins for the first time under their Portugese boss, took complete control from the start and Norwich had to survive an early siege.
American central defender Zak Whitbread ­acrobatically cleared a dangerous Daniel Sturridge cross into the heart of the Canary box and Torres ­almost capitalised on a John Terry long ball from the back that had the Norwich defence fretting.
But the home side then almost cashed in on a swift sixth-minute counter-attack that saw right winger Anthony Pilkington bursting past England left-back ­Ashley Cole to the by-line.
Pilkington’s powerful cut back was only half cleared by goalkeeper Petr Cech but midfielder Ramires dived in bravely to deflect the ball for a corner with Steve Morison poised to pull the trigger.
The game was wide open with both teams looking to attack at every opportunity and Spanish midfielder Juan Mata then threatened with a left-foot volley inches over the bar from a Frank Lampard corner.
Torres was causing Norwich problems with his ­inventive runs and one stunning 27th-minute cameo suggested that the Spanish star was slowly getting back to his best.
The hitman darted inside Whitbread on to a pinpoint Ramires pass into the box and then speared an instant shot goalwards with the outside of his right boot that had Ruddy sprawling full length to fingertip the ball wide.
Chelsea then lost Lampard with what looked like a hamstring injury just after the half hour – a massive loss considering the Chelsea midfielder’s last four goals had all been match winners.
AVB simply sent on Florent Malouda though and the Blues barely missed a beat with Ruddy forced to save heroically at the feet of Torres and then make another crucial stop to deny Mata just seconds later.
After successive away wins Norwich were after three top flight victories in a row for the first time since 1993.
But the visitors continued to dominate after the break and Norwich were chasing shadows for most of the second half with Raul Meireles blazing over and Ruddy making saves from Mata, Ramires and Malouda.
But Torres’ miss was the killer and he has now gone an incredible 17 games for Chelsea and Spain without finding the net.


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

sunderland 1-0

Independent:

Lamps lights way for Chelsea again

Chelsea 1 Sunderland 0: England midfielder steals the glory with poacher's goal while terrific Torres rediscovers his touch

by Glenn Moore

When the Ivory Coast begin their African Nations Cup campaign against Sudan next Sunday, it is a reasonable bet that Fernando Torres will be hoping they win. Indeed, the Chelsea striker will be cheering them all the way to the final on 12 February.
Torres knows that for as long as Didier Drogba and his countrymen are in Africa, he will be playing centre-forward for Chelsea. Even if Ivory Coast are knocked out in the group stages, Torres is guaranteed at least five matches and this was the second. The knowledge appears to have relaxed him for yesterday we saw the Torres of old: running at opponents, taking them on, demanding the ball, scoring goals.
Ah, not quite. The last aspect, the most crucial one for a £50m striker, was not there, but Torres again hit the bar, and the shot that did so led to the only goal of the game. Frank Lampard was the scorer, his 181st for Chelsea, this one a somewhat fortuitous poacher's effort from a player who always seems to be in the right place at the right time.
That was in the 13th minute and it seemed to set Chelsea up for a routine win, their third in a row. But Chelsea cannot close games out the way they used to and Sunderland, as might be expected given their manager and their form, refused to go quietly. Busy, vibrant and resilient, they took the game to the London side and with better finishing would have gained the draw they merited.
"I'm very disappointed and frustrated," said Martin O'Neill, the Sunderland manager. "We had the best opportunities and we missed at least five and that's too many. Scoring goals is difficult, but it is not that difficult. A blundering full-back from four leagues below could have put a couple of those away."
There was also a strong penalty claim, Ashley Cole jumping into Nicklas Bendtner in the 58th minute. Phil Dowd, who seconds before had turned down a penalty appeal by Torres, waved play on. "It's a definite penalty," said O'Neill, who intimated that it was not given because it came so soon after the Torres incident. However, Torres should later have had a penalty when tripped by Phil Bardsley, but was booked for simulation.
Andre Villas-Boas was disinclined to discuss either incident, preferring to praise Torres. "His performance was good. He is getting a good run of games and finding form. He has all the team and fans behind him and it is good to see him picking up confidence. He hasn't been scoring, but he is getting nearer all the time." Torres has not scored in three months but Villas-Boas added: "I don't think he has to score as long as he helps the team to win games."
Chelsea were watched by Gary Cahill who passed a medical yesterday. He may start at Norwich next week for this was another of David Luiz's Jekyll and Hyde displays, the latter on display in the 93rd minute when he allowed Bendtner to run off him on to Connor Wickham's pass, only for the Dane to shoot wide.
That was Bendtner's third miss, he also put a header and a shot wide in the first half. James McClean wasted very good opportunities in the third minute when set up by Stephane Sessegnon, and 65th from Seb Larsson's cross; and Craig Gardner shot wide in the 89th minute.
Chelsea had chances, Torres and Juan Mata testing Simon Mignolet, but it was the old faithful who actually scored. From's Mata right-wing cross, Torres performed an acrobatic overhead kick. The ball hit the bar, the third time Torres has struck it with spectacular efforts in Chelsea's recent home games. It bounced down and Lampard, smartly changing his body shape, diverted the ball in for his ninth league goal of the season.
There was more good news for Villas-Boas with the return of Michael Essien, out all season with a knee injury, for the last 18 minutes. "It is great to see him back on the pitch," said Villas-Boas. The Ghanaian's drive and energy has certainly been missed.

Chelsea (4-1-2-3): Cech; Bosingwa, Luiz, Terry, Cole; Romeu; Meireles, Lampard (Essien, 73); Ramires, Torres, Mata (Malouda, 85).
Sunderland (4-4-1-1): Mignolet; Bardsley, O'Shea, Kilgallon (Turner, 45), Richardson (Wickham, 80); Larsson, Vaughan (Gardner, 70), Cattermole, McLean; Sessegnon; Bendtner.

Referee Phil Dowd.
Man of the match Torres (Chelsea).
Match rating 7/10.


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

Observer:

Chelsea's Frank Lampard claims winner to see off Sunderland
Amy Lawrence at Stamford Bridge

This was a game that promised changes afoot in Chelsea's makeup. Michael Essien was thrilled to make his long awaited return to the midfield heartland for the first time since May, Gary Cahill, his transfer imminent, watched with an excitable smile from the stands, and Fernando Torres looked like a brand new player – or more pertinently, an old player.
This was much more like the version that terrorised the Premier League in his Liverpool days. Torres did everything but score. The statisticians may be able to rack this one up on top of the goalless games that stretch back almost four months in the league, but it was a top-class display. His role in the matchwinner merited more than just a plain old assist, too, given that his work amounted for about 99% of the goal.
He lashed at Juan Mata's cross with a swivelling scissors kick, as spectacular in technique as in ferocity, only to see the ball rebound off the crossbar, hit Frank Lampard, and bounce in. While the Englishman lapped up the applause, the crowd knew who to thank for the goal and chanted for Torres.
Over the course of the game half a dozen chances came the way of Chelsea's No 9, and his sharpness of thought and willingness to shoot made him a constant threat. "He's getting a good run of games and finding inspiration and motivation. He hasn't been scoring but he is getting nearer all the time," said André Villas-Boas, the Chelsea manager.
But for all the possibilities of future improvements, Chelsea walked off mindful that a narrow victory over Sunderland had caused more than enough nervy moments. The fearless form recently instilled in the visitors by Martin O'Neill only missed finesse in the finishing department. "We missed at least five really good opportunities," said Sunderland's frustrated manager.
The first would have given them an early lead, in the fourth minute, when Stéphane Sessègnon ambled into the box with a fine mazy run, and James McClean could not quite make a clean connection with the goal at his mercy. The winger, 22, had another chance late in the game but sliced horribly.
Perhaps the occasion got to McClean. He was being watched by the Republic of Ireland manager, Giovanni Trapattoni, with a view to being integrated into the squad in time for the European Championship.
With Sunderland hunting an equaliser and Chelsea seeking some breathing space, the game could have tilted in any direction in a frantic period when Phil Dowd was confronted with three penalty appeals around the hour mark.
Torres was brought down by John O'Shea on the margins of the penalty area, then Ashley Cole crashed into Nicklas Bendtner's back and finally Torres attempted to jink between two Sunderland defenders and got caught by Phil Bardsley's knee. Dowd's only action was to book the Chelsea striker for the final plea – a poor decision.
Sunderland played with enough courage to ensure Chelsea were anxious about the outcome until the final whistle. The visitors mustered three late efforts that suggested they would not have been unlucky with a point.
"A blundering full-back from four divisions below could have stuck a couple of those in," said O'Neill. "When you consider Chelsea were overwhelmed at the end, we should try to press on. It just gnaws away we didn't get something from the game."
Funny, really. The difference in the end was finishing and yet the finish that made the difference was merely down to Lampard's knack for being in the right place at the right time.
That drew him level with Jimmy Greaves's 124 strikes in Chelsea's league goalscoring charts. Lampard has 181 in all competitions, 12 behind Kerry Dixon, with the all-time leading scorer, Bobby Tambling, on 202. "He will continue to threaten all remaining Chelsea records," Villas-Boas said, before confirming that Cahill had passed his medical at the club. "He should be our player soon," he added.
There was no disguising the manager's pleasure at the result. "It was an important weekend for us. We have shortened the distance to Tottenham, and increased the distance from Liverpool," he said.


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

Telegraph:

Chelsea 1 Sunderland 0
By Oliver Brown, Stamford Bridge

A hex hangs over Fernando Torres, and even this cultured exhibition of the lone striker’s art did nothing to lift it.
Here it was Frank Lampard who profited from the Spaniard’s rotten luck, staying stationary as his team-mate’s exquisite volley cannoned off the crossbar and in, courtesy of his shin.
The freakish strike proved enough for Chelsea to thwart a resolute Sunderland side, but only a goal of Torres’ sown could have satisfied a man who has still not scored in the league for almost four months.
Lampard could have applied few more straightforward, or unwitting, finishes to his 124 top-flight goals for Chelsea than the one that presented itself here.
Ambling into the penalty area, he found himself in precisely the right place as Torres thwacked the sweetest shot on to the bar, straight off Lampard and into the net.
Poor Torres. Here was his moment, with Didier Drogba otherwise engaged at the Africa Nations Cup, to assert his claims to lead the line. But toil as he did, he could not expunge the grim reality of a Premier League goal drought that has lasted since Sept 24.
He could be grateful for the surprising patience of the Stamford Bridge crowd as a succession of opportunities were spurned.
'Fernando Torres, Chelsea’s No?9,’ they cried, although the £50?million man has too often looked a troubled imitation of a Premier League centre-forward.
When he unleashed one low drive on the turn, watching the ball skid past Simon Mignolet’s far post by a fraction, he must have wondered if he would ever score again.
Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas was unconcerned, arguing: “His performance was good — he is getting a good run of games. He is finding inspiration, motivation, and finding form with all his team behind him. As for scoring, he is getting nearer every time.”
This was one instance where the result was all that mattered to Chelsea.
Barely credibly after their recent travails, they clung to the last vestiges of a title challenge, cementing their position in fourth. And for the second straight game, Villas-Boas had Lampard to thank for the critical intervention.
The friction between the pair is well-documented but when Lampard was substituted in the second half for Michael Essien, making his return after six months out with a knee injury, they at least looked each other in the eye.
There were flaws in Chelsea’s armoury here — not least the combustible David Luiz, who was booked for a daft challenge on Nicklas Bendtner — but they should acquire greater steel once the £7?million signing of centre-back Gary Cahill is confirmed today.
Cahill, who was sitting in an executive box after passing his medical yesterday morning, watched the team prevail in a tense performance that punctured the momentum of Martin O’Neill’s Sunderland.
The anguish was etched across O’Neill’s face as Sunderland’s late bombardment fell short, with Bendtner, Craig Gardner and James McClean all throwing away opportunities to seal a point.
While this was a game complicated by several penalty appeals, including one where Bendtner believed he had been bundled over by Ashley Cole, the manager could not disguise an exasperation with his strikers. “I know scoring goals is difficult, but it’s not that difficult,” he muttered. “A lower-league full-back from four divisions below could have scored one of those.”
Chelsea were fortunate to protect their lead. Indeed, if Bendtner were not possessed of such a clumsy first touch, then this tussle could have turned out very differently.
The out-of-form striker displayed a minimum of poise in Sunderland’s attacks and wasted an opening for a swift equaliser, dragging the ball inches wide from Stephane Sessegnon’s lay-off with Petr Cech beaten. McClean fared little better, denied only by Jose Bosingwa’s desperate saving tackle after more fine work from the dynamic Sessegnon.
Torres was unstinting in his work ethic, and there were howls of protest as he was booked early in the second half for diving, when John O’Shea seemed to have impeded him.
He appealed again when Phil Bardsley blocked his path with a clear trip, and frustrations began to simmer, with Lee Cattermole receiving a yellow card for an uncompromising body-check on Lampard.
Sunderland surged forward in waves in the final 10 minutes, with McClean’s cross producing a flap of a clearance from Cech and Gardner side-footing wide after a penetrating Sessegnon run.
Bendtner’s miss was the most glaring, as he lifted the ball over the net with only the Chelsea goalkeeper to beat, drawing a reaction of pure disgust from O’Neill on the touchline.
Villas-Boas exhaled in relief, even if the frustration of the luckless Torres was left to linger.


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

Mail:

Chelsea 1 Sunderland 0: Torres fails to score but he shines in victory
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER

For Fernando Torres, the goal famine persists. The Spaniard has now gone 14hr 2min without scoring, but this was an afternoon to forgive, at least in part, his past sins since his £50million, ill-starred transfer from Liverpool 12 months ago.
At last, Torres reminded Chelsea supporters why Roman Abramovich had felt compelled to make him the most costly player in the history of British football; even if memories now have to travel three months back in time to recall his last goal.
Yet, on another day, Torres's athletic, acrobatic volley, at the far post in the 13th minute at Stamford Bridge, would have been acclaimed as a candidate for goal of the season.
Instead, the ball struck Sunderland's bar with such velocity, as Torres twisted in mid-air to make contact with his right foot, that it had rebounded into Simon Mignolet's net off Frank Lampard without the England star having much knowledge of what happened.
Lampard took the plaudits from the crowd behind the goal - but this was a moment when the credit belonged to Torres.
The 27-year-old Spaniard was looking comfortable on the ball again and keeping it under control on the run, as we had been accustomed to witnessing through his years at Anfield.
Twice, he was involved in claims for penalties in the second half. On the first occasion, Torres might have gone down a mite too easily in the 57th minute.
Yet nine minutes afterwards he was unquestionably impeded inside Sunderland's area by Phillip Bardsley; however, rather than receive a penalty, referee Phil Dowd booked him for 'simulation'.
But if Torres had cause to be aggrieved, so did Martin O'Neill.
He has made a profound impact since being appointed manager of Sunderland, but luck deserted him at Stamford Bridge.
If he was dumbfounded the referee denied Nicklas Bendtner a legitimate argument to be awarded a penalty after he was clattered by Ashley Cole, shortly after Torres had been refused his first penalty appeal, O'Neill's frustration on the touchline when James McClean, Craig Gardner and Bendtner all wasted gilt-edged opportunities for his team, with two of them materialising in the dying moments, was evident to all.
He dropped to his knees, he spun on the spot.
He died a little death with each passing miss.
'In the second half we must have had five really good opportunities,' he lamented.
'I know scoring is difficult - but it's not that difficult. 'A blundering full-back, from four leagues down, could have stuck two of those in. When you consider how overwhelmed Chelsea's staff were to have won at the final whistle, you know we must have played all right. But it just gnaws away that we didn't get something out of that game.'
He had a case. The misses in front of goal from McClean, then Gardner and Bendtner, as the clock rolled over into injury-time, deserve to cause them sleepless nights. In the stand, David Milliband, a non-executive vice-chairman of Sunderland, must have viewed this afternoon as the worst instance of a miscarriage of justice since he was beaten to the leadership of the Labour Party by his younger brother, Ed.
Apart from returning to the North-East empty-handed, O'Neill's other disappointment was to lose centre back Matthew Kilgallon with an ankle injury.
Chelsea manager Andre Villas- Boas, in contrast, illustrated his jubilation at cutting the gap to third-placed Tottenham to six points by greeting his players as they left the pitch.
'We left the game on the edge,' he admitted. 'But it was a good performance, and an important weekend for us as it has shortened the distance to Tottenham.'
He was protective of Torres, the goal-shy striker, but with justification on this afternoon when the Spaniard did little wrong other than fulfil the part of his contract for which he is most handsomely rewarded.
'Fernando is finding inspiration, and motivation and there was a good solidarity from the fans for him,' said Villas-Boas.
'Of course, he hasn't been scoring, but he is getting nearer all the time.'
Pointedly, Chelsea's young Portuguese manager refused to yield to any suggestions that Torres cannot possibly be acclaimed to be at his best until he rediscovers the art of scoring.
'As long as he helps the team, we are happy with him,' he insisted.
The argument will always be deemed to be a spurious one - but Torres truly earned the right to have celebrated a goal with his fabulous volley that led to Lampard's match-winner.
In the best seats, Gary Cahill, whose £7m transfer to Chelsea from Bolton Wanderers will be completed on Sunday, was caught laughing, in sympathy, as the drums rolled for Lampard, not Torres in west London.


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


Mirror:
Chelsea 1-0 Sunderland
By Julian Bennetts

‘Fantastic Fernando’ exclaimed the headline in the Chelsea matchday programme.
Even by the Pravda-style standards of club ­propaganda, this was an absolute belter.
“It seems like a lot longer than one year since I arrived here,” said Torres.
You bet it does. And it seems a lifetime since he scored.
Actually, it is over 14 hours and counting.
Yet there was something about this display, something about his attitude, something about his body language, that suggested his Chelsea career – and the £50m-worth of baggage that came with it – might yet take off.
In the interview that accompanied the headline, Torres was much more realistic about his 12 months at the Bridge. Well, a touch more realistic.
“It has been a very hard year with a lot of change in both my personal and professional life,” he said, hinting at a struggle to settle into London life as well as into the peculiar politics of a Chelsea dressing room and into a formation that does not pivot around his singular talent. At times, it still looks a struggle. In his finishing, instinct has been usurped by panic, speed of thought has been overtaken by haste of mind.
But the jauntiness is returning to his game, the change of pace to flat-foot defenders was evident at times and textbook technique resurfaced in the form of the volley that led to Frank Lampard’s decisive goal.
He was unfortunate not to win two penalties and was wrongly sanctioned for diving by Phil Dowd.
(Dowd, incidentally, demonstrated the quality Premier League managers demand. Consistency. He was ­consistently poor.)
Torres is testing the maxim to its very limit but the ‘class is permanent’ line remains a lifebelt for him to cling to.
Martin O’Neill would certainly love someone of Torres’ calibre to lead the Sunderland line.
All of the qualities that O’Neill can squeeze out of a football team were evident in this Sunderland display.
Commitment almost demonic in its intensity – and not just from Lee Cattermole – allied to rigid organisation and tactical, if not always physical, ­discipline.
O’Neill even has Nicklas Bendtner labouring slavishly. No wonder. If the heat of his rhetoric matches his touchline pyrotechnics, the squad ­cannot fail to respond.
Precisely 32 seconds had elapsed before O’Neill – ­looking like a man at C&A alongside AVB’s man at D&G – had sprung out of his box.
Watching his technical area joust with Villas-Boas was like watching a Punch and Judy show without coshes.
The reason O’Neill suffered a setback yesterday was that his team fumbled for that touch of extra class that can undo one of the elite. Like the moment Craig Gardner sidefooted an easy chance wide or when Bendtner fluffed his lines – and failed to find it.
But, strange as it may seem, this was further evidence of the galvanising effect O’Neill’s appointment has had.
Right up until Dowd called time on his own forgettable display, Sunderland appeared to have a belief – if not the technique to realise it – that they would get something from the game. Progress under O’Neill will continue. Whether Chelsea will progress under Villas-Boas is still uncertain.
It was a fillip to welcome back Michael Essien but a negative move to send him on in place of Lampard.
Chelsea dropped deeper, invited Sunderland to the ­attacking table, and nearly choked on AVB’s tactics.
His celebration showed the importance of this win, of every win in his most important season as a coach.
Villas-Boas claims there is no unusual pressure on him. There is. There is ALWAYS unusual pressure at Chelsea.
A Fantastic Fernando would help relieve it and maybe, just maybe, he is finally coming into view.

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

People:

Chelsea 1 - 0 Sunderland: Fernando Torres still can't find the net but Lampard seals the points
by Tom Hopkinson

IT’S not easy to sympathise with a man who pockets in a week what most on these shores earn in a decade.
But few inside Stamford Bridge would have begrudged Fernando Torres a right good moan last night as the Spaniard’s goal drought worsened.
The poor fella – all £170,000 a week of him – has not scored a goal since October, but he worked his socks off yesterday and will have drifted home wondering exactly what he has to do to get one.
Even when he produced the sort of effort which most thought was now beyond him – a picture-perfect volley – the ball rattled the bar, hit Frank Lampard on the shin, and only then trickled over the line.
And as Lamps wheeled away in delight, Torres was picking himself off the ground no doubt wishing he could catch that sort of break himself.
Not that Lampard will be too bothered because the goal was yet another milestone in his glittering Chelsea career.
It was his 124th in the league for the Blues, taking him third with England legend Jimmy Greaves in their all-time list of scorers.
Lampard’s flukey strike also served as yet another reminder to manager Andre Villas-Boas that he has an uncanny knack of scoring goals.
Not that there’s anything lucky about finding yourself in the right place at the right time, a point Villas-Boas himself was keen to make.
The Chelsea boss, who expects to complete the signing of Gary Cahill today, said: “Frank is always a player who times his arrival in the box amazingly well and it’s no coincidence he’s one of the best scoring midfielders in the world.”
And as long as Torres keeps taking up the positions he found himself in yesterday, the goals will start to come for him too.
Villas-Boas, who threw on Michael Essien yesterday for the midfielder’s first taste of action since July, added: “Fernando’s performance was good. He’s getting a good run of games now and he’s finding his motivation and inspiration.
“He’s finding his form. He has all the team and the fans behind him, and it’s good to see him picking up confidence.
“As long as he helps the team win games, we are happy with what he is doing.”
Torres did that the moment he met Juan Mata’s cross with a spectacular volley.
Simon Mignolet was beaten all ends up, but it thudded the bar, hit Lampard and rolled home.
Torres carved out several openings and was unlucky to see his efforts drift just wide. He was equally impressive in his link-up play. Not that it was all one-way traffic – Sunderland played their part in a pulsating game which ought to have had three penalties.
Referee Phil Dowd twice waved away appeals by Torres – wrongly booked for diving the second time – and denied Nicklas Bendtner after Ashley Cole clattered him. That was about a minute after Torres’s first appeal which perhaps played on Dowd’s mind.
Bendtner twice went close, as did Seb Larsson, and James McLean will have nightmares about one sitter he missed.
Manager Martin O’Neill said: “When you consider Chelsea were overwhelmed to have won the game then I suppose we take some sort of consolation.
“But it just gnaws away that we didn’t get something.
“I need to look at the other penalty appeals again but ours is a definite penalty.”
O’Neill, who took over from Steve Bruce last month, is not ruling out buying a forward and laid into his mis-firing strikers.
“Scoring a goal is difficult – but not that difficult,” he said.
“A blundering full-back could have stuck a couple of those goals in...from four leagues below.”


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Sun:

Chelsea 1 Sunderland 0

FRANK LAMPARD is back in Andre Villas-Boas' good books after he downed Sunderland.
Lamps knew little about his goal after the ball bounced off him and into the net after Fernando Torres' sublime acrobatic kick had thumped back off the bar.
But Blues boss AVB will care little for the technique after the England star's strike made it three straight wins in 2012.
Villas-Boas insisted earlier in the week that he has no problem with Lampard despite the player seemingly falling out of favour with the Portuguese.
The Stamford Bridge chief refused to get carried away with the goal celebration. But Lampard's form is clearly winning AVB over.
Chelsea breathed a sigh of relief inside the opening five minutes when Stephane Sessegnon was allowed to run through unchallenged, with Jose Bosingwa just doing enough to prevent James McClean pouncing.
David Luiz was booked for a poor challenge on Nicklas Bendtner, with Petr Cech fisting away Sebastian Larsson's powerful free-kick.
Lampard had already seen a shot blocked at the other end and Torres flicked a header wide before the pair inadvertently combined to give Chelsea a spectacular 13th-minute lead.
Torres smashed a sensational volley against the crossbar and the ball careered back off Lampard and into the net.
Terrible defending from a corner then forced Larsson to clear Lampard's hooked volley off the line as the home side held sway.
Phil Bardsley blocked a header from Torres, who was being given vocal backing by the Stamford Bridge crowd.
But they were almost silenced 10 minutes before half-time when Bendtner dragged Sessegnon's pass inches wide with Cech beaten.
Torres did the same at the other end after a neat turn 20 yards out before leaving Matthew Kilgallon in a heap following a seemingly innocuous aerial challenge.
Kilgallon stayed down and was eventually carried off on a stretcher in stoppage time, with Michael Turner coming on.
Sessegnon fired an early warning shot after the break when he drilled a volley straight at Cech.
Simon Mignolet kept out Torres' shot from a tight angle, Juan Mata volleyed the resulting corner over the top and Ramires failed to capitalise when Mignolet spilt Ashley Cole's cross.
Torres was convinced he should have had a penalty after going down under John O'Shea's challenge.
Bendtner thought the same at the other end seconds later after being bundled over by Cole but referee Phil Dowd disagreed on both counts.
But Dowd had no hesitation whistling and producing a yellow card when a frustrated Lee Cattermole clattered into Lampard as tempers frayed.
David Vaughan flashed a 30-yard strike narrowly wide before McClean missed an open goal in the 63rd minute, stabbing wide after a brilliant run and cross from Larsson.
Torres was denied another penalty claim when he was clearly tripped by Bardsley, Dowd rubbing salt into the wound by booking the striker.
Luiz produced a vital interception to rob McClean before Sunderland withdrew Vaughan for Craig Gardner.
Raul Meireles was soon cautioned for bringing down the new man, who was then joined on the field by Michael Essien, with scorer Lampard withdrawn.
Essien, returning after a long-term knee injury, skidded a 30-yard drive wide before Sunderland threw on Connor Wickham for Kieran Richardson.
Cole had to be alert to beat Bendtner to a cross as Sunderland poured forward in the final 10 minutes, during which Chelsea threw on Florent Malouda for Mata.
Cech got away with flapping at a McClean cross either side of a Meireles chip tipped over by Mignolet and a horrible shank from the same player.
Sunderland missed two glorious late chances to equalise, Gardner sidefooting wide after a great Sessegnon run and Bendtner lifting the ball over the bar with only Cech to beat.

Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Luiz, Terry, Cole, Lampard (Essien 73), Romeu, Meireles, Ramires, Torres, Mata (Malouda 85). Subs not used: Turnbull, Lukaku, Sturridge, Hutchinson, Bertrand. Booked: Luiz, Torres, Meireles.Goals: Lampard 13.

Sunderland: Mignolet, Bardsley, Kilgallon (Turner 45), O'Shea, Richardson (Wickham 80), Larsson, Cattermole, Vaughan (Gardner 69), McClean, Sessegnon, Bendtner.Subs not used: Westwood, Ji, Meyler, Elmohamady.Booked: Cattermole.

Att: 41,696
Ref: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire).

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Star:

CHELSEA 1 - SUNDERLAND 0: FERNANDO TORRES' SUPER SHOT HAS ELECTRIC LAMPS HOT TO TROT
By Harry Pratt

POOR old Fernando Torres.
It is highly unlikely the Spanish dud has ever struck a shot quite so sweetly in his career, let alone since his £50million Chelsea move.
A deep ball into the box after 12 minutes fell his way and Torres swivelled on a sixpence to produce an absolute peach of a scissor-kick strike.
You’d have put your mortgage on it bulging the back of Sunderland’s net or, at least, John Terry might.
But did it go in? Did it heck. It shuddered against the crossbar and there was lethal poacher Frank Lampard to greedily gobble up the scraps.
It was Lamps’ 124th league goal for the club he joined in 2001 and meant he had drawn level with legendary Jimmy Greaves when it comes to that hotshot chart at Stamford Bridge.
And as he turned away to celebrate another milestone, it was hard not to feel for Torres.
There he was on his knees shaking his head in disbelief, no doubt wondering when his luck might change. But credit maligned man as he went on to turn in a great all-round display.
One man who did not care a jot about the name on the scoresheet was Andre Villas-Boas.
Far more important for the Chelsea boss was that the early goal put his team en route to another three vital points.
This result keeps them in the driving seat to finish in the top four, just six points adrift of third-placed Spurs.
Villas-Boas was full of praise for Torres and the relentlessly prolific Lampard.
He said: “Torres’ performance was very good. You can see he is motivated and inspired by the games he’s getting and he has the fans and players behind him.
“He hasn’t been scoring but he’s getting nearer. I don’t think it matters when he gets his next goal, just as long as he is still helping the team to win.
“Frank is always a player who has amazing timing when he runs into the box.
“It’s no coincidence he’s one of the great scoring midfielders in world football. He will continue to threaten the Chelsea scoring records.”
Not long ago this fixture would have been deemed a home banker for Chelsea but then Martin O’Neill took over at Sunderland.
When the wily Northern Ireland miracle-worker took control of the Black Cats they were languishing in 18th place. Six league games and four wins later, they arrived in SW6 in tenth spot.
O’Neill, though, was still pulling his hair out after the game. He moaned: “We had five great opportunities and missed them all. That’s too many. Even a blundering full-back from four divisions below could have stuckthose away.
“We also had a definite penalty in the second half.”
It took just three minutes for the visitors to unzip the hosts’ fragile rear- guard. Stephane Sessegnon brokethrough only for his cross to evade James McClean by inches.
AVB’s men made the most of that escape as they led against the run of play after 12 minutes.
Torres might have gone home there and then as the writing was on the wall, this wouldn’t be his day.
Midway through the first half, his header was destined for the far corner until Phil Bardsley arrived to clear the danger.
Things got worse after the break as he was twice denied penalties, despite being hacked down by John O’Shea and Bardsley.
To compound his misery, referee Phil Dowd decided to book him for diving on the second incident.
Sunderland had a great penalty shout denied too after Ashley Cole bundled over Nicklas Bendtner.
During a nerve-shredding finale McClean squandered a sitter – as did Craig Gardner and Bendtner, as Chelsea clung on.

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Express:

CHELSEA 1 - SUNDERLAND 0: MARTIN O'NEILL'S HAIR-RAISER
By Colin Mafham

THEY call Sunderland the Black Cats, but any luck that is supposed to go with that tag deserted them good and proper yesterday.
They had high-flying Chelsea on the ropes but failed to deliver the knock-out blow by squandering at least two chances that manager Martin O’Neill claimed “a blundering full-back from four divisions below could have stuck away”.
O’Neill looked like tearing out what little hair he has left as the side he has transformed since taking over just weeks ago simply blew it.
“We missed five opportunities – and that’s just too many,” he moaned. “When you consider Chelsea were overwhelmed at the end, I am very disappointed not to get anything out of this game.”
But despite that O’Neill poured cold water on speculation that he could return to his former club, Aston Villa, for Emile Heskey to convert some of the chances his strikers missed yesterday. “I won’t be rushing out to get someone just because we missed those opportunities,” he said. “Getting a 20-goal-a-seaon striker would cost us £35 million anyway.”
In the meantime, if Gary Cahill had any doubts about joining Chelsea they will surely have vanished after just 13 minutes that, contrary to fable, proved mighty lucky for his new club – and Frank Lampard
Chelsea’s favourite son got what turned out to be their match-winner, but it was what Fernando Torres did before that which caught everyone’s eyes, never mind the watching Cahill’s.
The Spaniard met Mata’s cross with a spectacular mid-air volley that clattered the crossbar before rebounding off the unsuspecting Lampard into a net that had barely been threatened until then.
Given that it was nearly four months ago since Torres last scored in the league, you could forgive him for wondering what he has to do to find the net. But at least he looked a lot nearer his £50m best yesterday.
Lampard on the other hand went into the history books with his 124th league goal for Chelsea – the same as the legendary Jimmy Greaves.
But Sunderland are no slouches these days, and they really did deserve to cancel out that goal when an uncharacteristically industrious Nicklas Bendtner shaved the post with keeper Petr Cech beaten – a chance set up by the impressive Stephane Sessegnon.
If they suspected their luck had deserted them in that 13th minute, the Black Cats had it confirmed just before the break when Matt Kilgallon, thrown a lifeline by O’Neill after being frozen out by the previous manager, was carried off on a stretcher after falling badly under a Torres challenge.
Then referee Phil Dowd qualified for membership of the rogues’ gallery by denying three seemingly nailed-on penalty claims soon after the restart – the first after John O’Shea bundled Torres over, the second when Ashley Cole cynically pushed Bendtner in the back, and the third when Phil Bardsley tripped Torres.
The official saw the latter as a dive and duly booked the striker, but at least he got one thing right, doing what most referees do these days and showing Lee Cattermole a yellow card in between it all.
If their luck had been in rather than out, Sunderland should have had an equaliser when James McClean, another unheard-of who has benefitted from O’Neill’s arrival, missed his second sitter of the match after Seb Larsson set him up. If there was any justice the clear chances Craig Gardner and Bendtner missed near the end would have gone in and Sunderland would have got the three points they arguably deserved.
But if nothing else the fact that they got that close shows what a massive difference O’Neill has made. A relieved Chelsea knew that last night all right.
As Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas admitted: “It took an incredible effort to end Sunderland’s incredible run of form.