Guardian:
Deco adds the gloss as Chelsea come from behind at Sunderland
Sunderland 1 Bent 18 Chelsea 3 Ballack 52, Lampard (pen) 61, Deco 70
Louise Taylor at the Stadium of Light
For the second time in four days Chelsea lulled opponents into a false sense of security, cruelly imbuing them with brief optimism before delighting at their eventual undoing. As against Hull City at Stamford Bridge last Saturday, Carlo Ancelotti's side fell behind fairly early on Wearside, huffed and puffed for a bit and then, bewitchingly, reminded everyone why they are so widely tipped to win the Premier League.
Steve Bruce, in charge of his first competitive game at the Stadium of Light, had cautioned that Sunderland faced an "ultimate test" and with Deco renascent in a quasi attacking role he was not wrong.
Bruce, though, should take considerable heart from a resolute first-half display which suggested his side will not be quite the soft touches they have so often proved in the recent past.
"There's no disgrace, no shame in being beaten by a very, very good team," he reflected. "We gave our utmost. In the end we just couldn't cope with the way Chelsea move the ball. We started well and the goal gave us hope but we were always going to run out of juice. They are a really top side and their new system is very difficult to play against."
Ancelotti did not disagree. "I'm very happy, we played very well," he enthused. "Sunderland were good in the first half, very strong defensively but then they got tired and found it more difficult to control our game."
At least the Wearsiders enjoyed a few minutes in the sun as, perhaps aware Fabio Capello was watching from the directors' box, Darren Bent sent Harry Redknapp the sort of message Twitter cannot replicate by scoring his second goal in two games.
Even better, Bent also had a hand in its creation, whipping in a cross which Lorik Cana flicked in Kenwyne Jones's direction. Although boxed in by Branislav Ivanovic and John Terry, the Trinidadian managed to turn and take a swipe at the ball, this effort deflecting off Terry's heel. Alert to the ricochet, Bent surged in front of his marker before directing his shot beneath Petr Cech.
All smiles at kick-off, Ancelotti was, by now, taut-faced. At this stage he was enduring the disturbing sight of seeing his slightly modified midfield diamond sustain a few nasty scratches, invariably inflicted by Bruce's feisty new central midfield combination of Cana and Lee Cattermole.
Soon, though, the tide turned. Chelsea began controlling the tempo and Cattermole performed wonders to clear Michael Ballack's goalbound shot off the line.
Suddenly Sunderland no longer looked so impressive on the counterattack and were now unable to assiduously close down the components of a newly dazzling diamond with Deco now glistening at its apex. Even so, Chelsea were still not fully extending Marton Fulop and Ancelotti presumably coaxed his gradually expanding English vocabulary into ticking-off mode during the interval. It was certainly a newly galvanised Chelsea which emerged for the second period.
Perhaps inspired by chants for Nicolas Anelka – controversially left on the bench all evening – the hitherto subdued Didier Drogba finally started putting himself about and went mighty close with a header shortly after Ivanovic's effort had nearly eluded Fulop from Lampard's cross.
Fully under the cosh, Sunderland had young Jordan Henderson – who initially at least gave Ashley Cole quite a game down Chelsea's left – to thank for bravely nicking the ball away from Cole just as the England full-back looked poised to level. But an equaliser was in the air and it duly arrived when Ivanovic flicked on a Lampard corner and Ballack, swivelling adroitly as the ball dropped, finally beat Fulop with a low shot which passed between the legs of Cattermole, guarding the line.
Sunderland were now struggling to get out of their own half and looking increasingly dizzy and disorientated. George McCartney, a weak link for Bruce at left-back, seemed particularly badly affected and conceded a blatant penalty after fouling Drogba. Lampard made no mistake from 12 yards, the strike putting him level with Jimmy Greaves in fifth place on Chelsea's all-time scorers' list with 132.
Now fully enjoying himself, Drogba headed over from close range before Deco – how did we doubt Ancelotti's selection? – shrugged off the substitute Grant Leadbitter and sent a shot curving in off a post after José Bosingwa's run and pass had cleverly confounded Bruce's back-line. Things were becoming so embarrassingly straightforward that even Andriy Shevchenko was granted a late cameo.
As the Ukrainian trotted on, the departing Deco was given a standing ovation by Sunderland fans. "It was a wonderful performance from Deco," Bruce acknowledged. "We just didn't know how to pick him up. It was as good a Chelsea display as I've seen for a long time. We just couldn't live with them."
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Independent:
Ancelotti's bandwagon cranks up
Sunderland 1 Chelsea 3
By Tim Rich
Carlo Ancelotti is perhaps best remembered on these shores as the manager who allowed a three-goal lead to disappear in a European Cup final. In contrast, his first three games at the helm of Chelsea have seen him engineer victory from losing positions.
This was, however, not quite the last-gasp effort that saw them snatch three points against Hull. Having gone behind to Darren Bent's second goal in as many matches for Sunderland, it was always likely, given their overwhelming level of possession, that Chelsea would recover.
Nevertheless, it required some cool finishing from Michael Ballack and Deco, who excelled in a way he rarely did for Guus Hiddink, plus a Frank Lampard penalty to restore the contest to pre-match expectations.
"You can lose the lead, it happens in football," said Ancelotti. "But it is important not to be afraid. We were behind but we had good control of the match and good possession – not a lot of shots but total control. Sunderland were very professional in defence in the first half. In the second half, they ran a lot."
After an opening-day victory at Bolton, this was a slice of reality for Steve Bruce's new regime. In his programme notes, the Sunderland manager was at pains to play down the importance of his Tyneside upbringing which might seem unnecessary until you realise that last night Ashley Cole was booed not because of the feckless way he has led his private life but the fact that he is married to a Geordie, the saintly Cheryl.
"It is no disgrace to say that sometimes you are beaten by a very good side," Bruce said. "I was never comfortable out there, not even when we were in front. A lot has been talked about the diamond formation that Chelsea play. All I can say is that it is very, very difficult to play against. There were times when it looked like we were down to 10 men. Ancelotti has won that way in Serie A and he has won that way in the Champions League and he is not going to change now. They are the real deal."
This match was turned by men whom Stamford Bridge have been slow to appreciate, Michael Ballack and Deco, the one lingering memento of what will come to be known as the Phil Scolari months. Both scored and while Ballack provided the discipline and reluctance to surrender the ball that saw Chelsea safe, the Portuguese sparkled in an elongated diamond.
Deco is good at beginnings; he excelled in his opening matches for Scolari but by the end of his first season in London he was named by Four Four Two magazine as the player most fans would have liked to have driven to the airport, presumably so he could rejoin Jose Mourinho at Internazionale. Last night, Ancelotti said he was opposed to any sale.
Against Hull, Ancelotti had confessed to feeling the need for a cigarette and the cravings would have returned the moment Bent pounced as Kenwyne Jones's attempt at a shot struck John Terry's boot and rebounded into his path. The striker will never forget the comment made by his former manager at Tottenham that his wife could have finished some of Bent's chances. Sandra Redknapp would have done well to put away that opportunity with such aplomb.
Had Lee Cattermole not blocked a thunderous volley from Ballack on the line, Chelsea would have levelled before the interval. The inevitable was coming, however, and although he had expected an equaliser, Bruce was frustrated that Ballack did so from a corner. Deco's coup-de-grace that rifled in off the post was as unsaveable as they come.
In between, George McCartney had accelerated the collapse by bringing down Didier Drogba, which gave Lampard a chance to draw level with Jimmy Greaves as Chelsea's fifth-highest goalscorer. A decade ago, Chelsea had come to Sunderland and been demolished 4-1 in the finest display the Stadium of Light has seen. In that afterglow of triumph, their then manager, Peter Reid, confessed to feeling like John Wayne.
Last night resembled one of Wayne's films. It was the Alamo out there.
Sunderland (4-4-2): Fulop; Bardsley, Ferdinand, Collins, McCartney; Henderson, Cana, Cattermole (Leadbitter, 59), Richardson (Reid, 84); Bent, Jones (Campbell, 59). Substitutes not used: Gordon (gk), Nosworthy, Edwards, Healy.
Chelsea (4-1-3-1-1): Cech; Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole; Essien; Ballack, Deco (Shevchenko, 86), Lampard; Kalou (Malouda, 76); Drogba (Sturridge, 84). Substitutes not used: Hilario (gk), Carvalho, Obi Mikel, Anelka.
Booked: Sunderland Richardson, Cana; Chelsea Ivanovic.
Referee: S Bennett (Kent).
Man of the match: Ballack.
Attendance: 41,179.
He's on fire
The disciplined Michael Ballack sparkled in the diamond and could have scored three.
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Mail:
Sunderland 1 Chelsea 3: Carlo Ancelotti's men roar back in style
By COLIN YOUNG
Tinkering with a Chelsea line-up is a dangerous occupation and could cost a man his job. Just ask Claudio Ranieri.
But Carlo Ancelotti is far safer at Stamford Bridge than Ranieri could ever be and the former AC Milan coach changed his system and his players at Sunderland to record a second win of the week.
It did not start well for the Chelsea manager, who ditched the diamond and fell behind to Darren Bent’s second goal of the season after just 18 minutes. But a formidablesecond-half fightback from the title hopefuls secured three valuable points against resurgent Sunderland.
Michael Ballack, who returned to the Chelsea starting line-up, cancelled out Bent’s opener seven minutes into the second half before Frank Lampard stepped up to open his account for the season from the penalty spot on 61 minutes after George McCartney had tripped Didier Drogba.
Portugal maestro Deco, who had orchestrated the inventive Chelsea play behind lone striker Drogba, scored the third 20 minutes from time with a wonderful diagonal shot off the inside of keeper Marton Fulop’s post.
It was a cruel defeat on hardworking Sunderland, who appear on early evidence to have made great improvements under Steve Bruce, but the new Sunderland boss will have few complaints.
Ancelotti could only watch in frustration as his side wasted early chances and things got worse when Sunderland took the lead.
The build-up had an element of good fortune to it, with John Terry inadvertently providing the assist when the ball clipped off his heel as he challenged Kenwyne Jones at the edge of the area.
The ricochet fell neatly into the path of former Spurs striker Bent who took one touch to compose himself and a second to sidefoot the ball under Petr Cech’s body.
Chelsea proceeded to miss a host of chances before half-time but Ancelotti remained loyal and patient and was duly rewarded.
He said: ‘I am very happy. We played well throughout. Even when we fell behind, we were in total control. Sunderland were very strong in the first half but they tired and it was more difficultfor them to control our play. ‘I changed the team because I trust my players and I wanted to rest some. I know we have quality in the other players and I want to use them and keep them all fresh.’
Salomon Kalou, Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, Deco and Michael Ballack wasted chances before the Germany captain, one of four who returned to the starting line-up,cancelled out Bent’s opener after 52 minutes.
George McCartney’s trip on Drogba on the hour allowed Lampard to score the 132nd goal of his Chelsea career, making him the club’s fifth highest goalscorer.
Portugal maestro Deco scored the third 20 minutes from time with a wonderful diagonal shot off the inside of Marton Fulop’s post. He was so good he was applauded by the Sunderland fans when he was substituted near the end.
Bruce said: ‘Sometimes you have to admit you have been beaten by a very, very good team, and there is no shame in that.’
SUNDERLAND (4-4-2): Fulop 6; Bardsley 6, Ferdinand 6 Collins 7, McCartney 7; Henderson 6, Cana 6, Cattermole 7 (Leadbitter 62min, 5), Richardson 6 (Reid 84); Bent 7, Jones 7 (Campbell 62, 5). Booked: Richardson.
CHELSEA (4-1-2-2-1): Cech 6; Bosingwa 6, Ivanovic 6, Terry 7, A Cole 5; Essien 6; Ballack 6, Lampard 7; Kalou 6 (Malouda 76), Deco 8; Drogba 6 (Sturridge 84).
Booked: Ivanovic, Drogba, Kalou.
Man of the match: Deco.
Referee: Steve Bennett.
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Telegraph:
Sunderland 1 Chelsea 3:
By Jason Burt at the Stadium of Light
A personal landmark and a rescue mission for Frank Lampard. The midfielder drove Chelsea back into this encounter and also struck for the 132nd time – a goals tally that drew him level with Jimmy Greaves, the fifth highest scorer of all-time for Chelsea – as Carlo Ancelotti’s side produced a dazzling reversal and, eventually, a dazzling performance.
“In the history of the club he’s a very important player and we hope to help make him even more important,” Ancelotti said afterwards of Lampard. Certainly it was the kind of victory that may trigger something deeper for Chelsea who have, at times, appeared a little disjointed under their new manager, struggling with a new formation that was altered last night. Such are the standards that have previously been set. Out with the diamond; in with the Christmas tree.
There were presents also. Darren Bent’s goal in the first-half – his second in two games since his £10million arrival from Tottenham Hotspur – had resulted from slip-shod, if unfortunate, defending. It was also the third time this season – in three games – that Chelsea had fallen behind and had to rally to claw themselves to a vibrant victory.
“It was arguably as good a Chelsea performance as I have seen for a long time and you have to hold your hands up,” claimed Sunderland manager Steve Bruce who had admitted to trepidation about this fixture, his first home game in charge. “In the past we have played a Chelsea team in a 4-3-3 and they were predictable. He (Ancelotti) has won in Serie A and in the Champions League. Anyone who beats them will win the league.”
It showed the depths of belief they have, the talent and also, in fairness to Ancelotti, how good football can eventually wear down the most dogged of opponents, that Chelsea won so convincingly in the end. Maybe, also, after their impressive opening day win away to Bolton Wanderers it was a reality check for Sunderland.
If Lampard was Chelsea’s best player then Deco was the one who enjoyed the most dramatic turnaround. He was one of four changes made by Ancelotti following the disappointing performance against Hull City that was rescued by Didier Drogba’s late goal – although, as Bruce pointed out Chelsea did have 27 shots on target that afternoon – that also led to a tinkering of formation. Ancelotti said that the quartet who were left out, headed by Nicolas Anelka, were rested to avoid injury during a long season. But it wasn’t just rotation.
By the end Deco had also scored, the pick of the goals with a low, dipping cross-shot from 20 yards, and when he was substituted he was afforded an ovation from the home supporters. Bruce was equally complimentary. “Sometimes you just have to admit that you have been beaten by a very, very good team. There is no disgrace in that. We gave our utmost and in the end we could not cope with the way that Chelsea moved the ball,” he said. “Sometimes you take a beating.”
It didn’t look like that at the start. Lee Cattermole was snapping into tackles, Lorik Cana was running hard and Bent struck. He had set up the opportunity – ferrying the ball to Kenwyne Jones whose shot on the turn, on the edge of the area, cannoned off John Terry’s heel. It was fortunate that the ball ran straight to Bent but he had stayed on-side and unerringly tucked his side-footed shot beyond Petr Cech.
Chelsea were stung. They began to move the ball more crisply and a series of corners were gained. From one Salomon Kalou headed into the air, it dropped to Ballack who struck a full-blooded volley that was scrambled off the goal-line by Cattermole. Sunderland were throwing their bodies at everything - but were also retreating.
Chelsea stepped it up further with Lampard driving them on and Deco finally dictating matters. From one corner Drogba, the lone striker, headed powerfully over after Ballack’s flick-on while Lampard cleverly teed up Ashley Cole whose header was deflected. From that Lampard corner Branislav Ivanovic headed on and, at the far post, Ballack swept the ball low into the net.
Sunderland soon cracked again. Drogba slalomed into the area from the right wing, beyond Cana and then George McCartney who stuck out a leg and foolishly brought the powerful striker down. The penalty was awarded and, as ever, Lampard drove it unerringly to gain Chelsea the lead. Sunderland looked spent and Deco capped the evening by easily ghosting away from Grant Leadbitter to score. “I feel we have a lot of quality,” said Ancelotti. To his relief, it eventually came to the fore.
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The Times
Chelsea hit back to take Premier League summit
Sunderland 1 Chelsea 3
George Caulkin, Stadium of Light
Carlo Ancelotti’s Chelsea are proving to be masters of deflation. For the third match in succession, the title favourites held the door open for their opponents before slamming it brusquely in their faces. First, Manchester United in the Community Shield, then Hull City and now Sunderland have seized the advantage and been brushed away for their impudence.
Ancelotti would doubtless prefer a little more comfort and, while it is too early to draw definitive conclusions about Chelsea’s ability, they have clearly lost none of their old resilience.
In recovering from Darren Bent’s early goal, Chelsea exhibited patience, cunning and, most impressively, sheer force of will. Michael Ballack, Frank Lampard and Deco inflicted the damage. It is the stuff of champions, although in terms of beauty, there is surely more to come. Ancelotti demonstrated some “Tinkerman” tendencies by switching four of his starting XI, but while the opening skirmishes were hesitant, Chelsea grew in confidence.
“It doesn’t concern me, because going behind can happen,” Ancelotti said, with a shrug. “In football, it’s important to get a reaction, to not be afraid, to maintain control of the game. We have done this in three matches now and we have been behind, but we always had good control.”
For the opening 20 minutes, when Lee Cattermole flew into tackles and Bent finished a move he had started with Kenwyne Jones by fending off John Terry and clipping a loose ball beyond Petr Cech, the Italian’s assessment would have been questionable.
Chelsea appeared startled by the raw nature of the challenge confronting them until they began churning relentlessly through the gears. Then Cattermole cleared off the line from Ballack, while Deco, full of probing and prompting, was at the fulcrum of everything positive.
By now permanent residents in their own territory, Sunderland’s desperate defiance could not endure. In the 52nd minute, Chelsea forced parity, with Branislav Ivanovic heading on a corner by Lampard for Ballack to knock the ball past Fulop.
Having broken Sunderland’s resilience, Chelsea proceeded to stamp upon it. Didier Drogba bullied his way into the 18-yard box with the ball clinging to his boots, where George McCartney’s hanging left leg brought an inevitable response: penalty, Lampard, 2-1. Lampard is now the fifth-highest goalscorer in Chelsea’s history, alongside Jimmy Greaves.
Drogba should have added gloss, heading Ashley Cole’s bouncing cross down and over, but it was fitting that Deco provided the coup de grâce. In the 70th minute, he squirmed around Grant Leadbitter, the substitute, and scored with a shot off the left post.
“He is very motivated to stay here,” Ancelotti said of Deco, who has been courted by Inter Milan. “He doesn’t want to go; we don’t want him to go.”
For Sunderland and Steve Bruce, the denouement was disappointing, although their transformation remains a work in progress. They, too, have much to consider if the top half of the table is to be a realistic ambition.
“Sometimes you just have to admit that you’ve been beaten by a very, very good team,” said Bruce, who confirmed that the signing of John Mensah on loan from Lyons was almost complete. “There’s no disgrace in that. We tried our utmost and gave everything, but we couldn’t cope with Chelsea and the way they moved the ball.
“You can see from that performance why Chelsea will be there or thereabouts. At times it seemed as if we’d had a man sent off. That’s how good they were.”
Sunderland (4-4-2): M Fulop — P Bardsley, A Ferdinand, D Collins, G McCartney — J Henderson, L Cana, L Cattermole (sub: G Leadbitter, 62min), K Richardson (sub: A Reid, 84) — D Bent, K Jones (sub: F Campbell, 62). Substitutes not used: C Gordon, N Nosworthy, C Edwards, D Healy. Booked: Richardson, Cana.
Chelsea (4-3-3): P Cech — J Bosingwa, B Ivanovic, J Terry, A Cole — M Ballack, M Essien, F Lampard — Deco (sub: A Shevchenko, 87), D Drogba (sub: D Sturridge, 84), S Kalou (sub: F Malouda, 76). Substitutes not used: Hilário, R Carvalho, J O Mikel, N Anelka. Booked: Ivanovic, Drogba.
Referee: S Bennett.
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Sun:
Sunderland 1 Chelsea 3
By MARTIN BLACKBURN at the Stadium of Light
FRANK LAMPARD wrote his name into the Chelsea record books - but for once the Blues hero
was upstaged.
The England ace joined Jimmy Greaves as the club's joint-fifth leading scorer as he chalked up his 132nd goal for the club.
But it was the performance of his fellow midfielder Deco that had the visiting fans - and indeed the home ones - talking on the journey home.
The England ace joined Jimmy Greaves as the club's joint-fifth leading scorer as he chalked up his 132nd goal for the club.
But it was the performance of his fellow midfielder Deco that had the visiting fans - and indeed the home ones - talking on the journey home.
The Portugal ace looked likely to quit West London this summer with Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan the probable destination.
However, boss Carlo Ancelotti has persuaded him to stay at Chelsea and, on this evidence, he could be set for a big season.
He bossed the middle of the park all night before firing a super 20-yard shot in off the post to put the seal on the Blues' night.
Nobody will be getting carried away - despite a standing ovation from all four corners - because the former Barcelona man began last term in similarly explosive form, then faded badly.
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce - whose Wigan team were beaten by Deco's wonder free-kick this time last year - could only smile ruefully at his "wonderful performance".
If Deco and Co carry on playing like this then Ancelotti's men will take some stopping this season. The Italian said: "Deco is working very hard - he is very motivated to stay here and play well here.
"This is an important season for him with the World Cup coming up in the summer. He is playing well for himself and for the team.
"He is staying here. He doesn't want to change clubs and we don't want him to go either."
It had all begun so brightly for Sunderland as they took an 18th-minute lead through Darren Bent's second in two games for his new club.
Kenwyne Jones saw his shot blocked on the edge of the box and it broke perfectly for Bent, who slotted in below Petr Cech.
Perhaps the £10million signing from Tottenham is better than Mrs Redknapp after all!
If there is one worry for Ancelotti in these promising early days, it would be that his team have gone behind in all three matches so far.
It happened against Manchester United in the Community Shield, against Hull on Saturday and again here - but on each occasion it has not mattered.
The early goal was to be as good as it got for the Black Cats.
Chelsea took control and could well have been level by the interval but Lee Cattermole blocked Michael Ballack's volley on the line.
Yet the Blues stepped up through the gears after the restart. Branislav Ivanovic and Didier Drogba both went close before the equaliser eventually came on 52 minutes.
Ivanovic got up to flick on a corner and Ballack was at the back post to squeeze it into the corner from eight yards. Chelsea were now completely in the ascendancy and they were ahead on 61 minutes after George McCartney sent Drogba tumbling.
There was no doubt it was a penalty and Lampard blasted the spot-kick low past Marton Fulop.
Drogba was left scratching his head as he nodded Ashley Cole's cross into the turf and watched it bounce over the bar soon after.
However, the third goal which gave the Blues breathing space was not long in coming. On 70 minutes, Jose Bosingwa slipped the ball inside to Deco. The schemer still had plenty to do but he jinked past a couple of defenders before blasting an angled 20-yard drive in off Fulop's post.
It capped a super show from the former Barcelona man.
Even the home fans applauded him when he was replaced by Andriy Shevchenko just before the end.
If Ancelotti can get Deco to play like this every week then he has a real player on his hands.
Bruce was glad to see the back of him though. He said: "I don't know what I've done to upset him.
"It was a wonderful performance by him - he just floated around. At least I only have to play them twice a season. Sometimes you have to hold your hands up and accept you were beaten by a better team. I thought Chelsea were terrific.
"When I looked at the fixtures, the last thing I wanted was Chelsea at home. Whoever beats them will win the league."
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Star:
CARLOS A LOTTI TO SMILE AT By John Wardle
CARLO ANCELOTTI was able to raise a smile at the final whistle – but this was far from Chelsea domination.
Two games and two wins means it’s all gone to plan so far for the Chelsea boss.
But the fact that the Premier League favourites had to come back from a goal down again will have been of some concern to the Italian.
This was not as dramatic as Chelsea’s season-opener, when Didier Drogba struck in injury time to give the Blues victory over Hull.
But if John Terry and Co remain sleepy at the back for the opening 20 minutes of games the title is unlikely to find it’s way back to Stamford Bridge at the end of the season.
With just 18 minutes played Darren Bent made it two in two games to back Steve Bruce’s faith in him.
Bruce splashed £10m in the summer and the former Spurs striker has already starting paying that back.
But it took until the 52nd minute for Michael Ballack to register Chelsea’s equaliser.
Their first-half display raised questions over the wisdom of several changes by boss Ancelotti.
The changes indicated he was unhappy with the level of performance in that last-gasp win over Hull on Saturday.
And he must have been equally disturbed by what he saw for the opening 45 minutes.
There had been suggestions he would keep the same side, but Nicolas Anelka, Florent Malouda, Ricardo Carvalho and John Obi Mikel were all dumped on to the bench last night.
Much of more this and Ancelotti will start to look like his Tinkerman predecessor Claudio Ranieri.
There were hints of Chelsea domination in the early stages when it seemed they may be simply too quick and inventive for Sunderland, whose midfield featured Jordan Henderson, a 19-year-old whose promise has been recognised by Bruce.
With Steed Malbranque failing a test on an ankle injury, the kid was called up ahead of Grant Leadbitter and Andy Reid.
And he was far from overawed as Sunderland, lacking Chelsea’s finesse, summoned enough energy and drive to subdue them after those awkward early minutes.
Bent sliced an early chance wide after his pace created space on the edge of the area but didn’t have to wait long for his first Stadium of Light goal for his new club.
Kenwyne Jones’ shot on the turn cannoned off a Chelsea defender and straight to Bent, who steered a crisp, low shot past Petr Cech.
Chelsea were clearly rattled by that. Their frustration mounted further as Deco fired wide in the 21st minute and Michael Ballack wasted the best of their limited opportunities with a shot high over the bar.
Chelsea, so adept at disposing of teams like Sunderland last season, were finding it just as difficult to handle their aggressive approach as they did Hull’s iron-willed attitude in their opening match.
Finally, though, towards the end of first half they managed some sustained pressure and only a goalline clearance by Lee Cattermole prevented Kalou drilling Chelsea level.
It was only one of many crucial contributions to the game by Cattermole, whose midfield energy and committed tackling set the tempo for Sunderland.
Ancelotti’s gestures illustrated his unhappiness at his players’ failure to locate their usual rhythm.
And nobody could doubt what his interval message to them would be – he had made changes before the game and wouldn’t wait long before making a few more.
Lampard, anonymous in the first half, soon powered in a long-range shot that was only narrowly wide of Marton Fulop’s post.
Henderson did well to clear Lampard’s dangerous cross at the expense of a corner.
Sunderland allowed Lampard’s corner it to reach Ballack and the German international hooked the ball inside the post from six yards. Now it was a different game. Chelsea were suddenly the team setting the pace and, with Sunderland struggling, even Bent found himself defending back on the edge of his own area.
The pressure told again when Drogba’s footwork tempted George McCartney into a rash tackle.
There were no complaints from Sunderland about the penalty awarded and Lampard’s finish from the spot was precise and clinical.
Deco’s effort, which appeared to take a deflection off Drogba, sealed the win on 70 minutes.
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