wigan 1-0

Independent: Malouda shows scrappy Chelsea how to win ugly Chelsea 1 Wigan Athletic 0

By Steve Tongue at Stamford Bridge

It was soporific stuff in the sunshine at Stamford Bridge, and with Wigan never quite capable of threatening an equaliser once Florent Malouda had broken through at last, the only interest centred on whether Fernando Torres, brought on as a substitute for the last half an hour, would break his own duck ahead of Tuesday's Champions' League second leg at Old Trafford. Frustratingly he could not, which means Britain's most expensive footballer will go there without a goal in 10 hours and 49 minutes for Chelsea, and more than 13 and a half hours all told, having last netted for Liverpool back in January. He still made one crucial intervention, however, according to Wigan's manager, Roberto Martinez, in impeding the visitors' goalkeeper,Ali Al Habsi, at the corner from which Malouda scored. "It was clear as day that he had his elbow in Ali's face," Martinez said. A neutral view was that Al Habsi should still have done better than his feeble flap, allowing Branislav Ivanovic a shot that was blocked before Malouda drove it in off another defender. After that, the crowd were roused from their stupor several times as Torres set off towards goal. Didier Drogba's cross towards him was too strong; a minute later his own bad touch let him down when apparently clear; and as Yossi Benayoun, another substitute, put him away, Emmerson Boyce brought off a timely interception. Most dramatically of all, with two minutes to play, Torres made a clever crossover run to take another Benayoun pass on his left foot 10 yards out and shoot strongly, only for Al Habsi to make his second fine save of an otherwise dreary afternoon. Chelsea's manager, Carlo Ancelotti,is understandably reluctant to say a word against a player already short of confidence, while admitting: "Everyone wanted him to score today. But we have to continue to have confidence in him. Maybe he will score the most important goals of our season." It had seemed likely that Torres might have been given a run from the start against the League's bottom club in the hope of recording that morale-boosting first goal. Instead, the bewildering implication must be that he will play from the start against United. Seeing Drogba limp off at the final whistle after taking a painful blow in the back will not have reassured any Chelsea followers, even if Ancelotti said he had a full squad to choose from, now including Alex and Benayoun; both reappeared in the second half after long absences, and John Terry was given a rare day off. Malouda, overlooked in the first leg last Wednesday, when Yuri Zhirkov was preferred, also staked a claim with an improved performance and settled nerves around the ground with his goal in the 66th minute, at which point Wigan were holding on with a degree of comfort hardly expected. They had lost their previous two meetings with Chelsea 8-0 and 6-0, so yesterday's margin says much about the champions' decline since those victories last May and in the second game of this season. Bottom or not, Wigan have improved since then, the worry for them being that as the League's lowest scorers – 29 goals in 32 games – they do not the firepower to save themselves in the last six matches, four of which are away from home. Martinez refuses to be downcast, insisting: "I'm extremely proud of the performance. We were brave, kept the ball well and defended really well. We've got 18 points to compete for and if we play the same as today we'll get enough. I feel the team's finally clicked and if the season started eight games ago I feel we'd have been in the top 10." It was true that his team moved the ball around nicely, but then they always have done. The lack of penetration is what has constantly undermined them. Hugo Roda-llega is the leading scorer with only seven goals, and his frustration was clear when Martinez substituted both him and Charles N'Zogbia, who had been given a positive role pushing up the left wing. They will watch the games involving Blackpool and Aston Villa with some anxiety today, hoping that pair do not pull any further ahead. Meanwhile, Chelsea, back in third place, will stay there unless Manchester City win at Liverpool tomorrow.

Attendance: 40,734 Referee: Howard Webb Man of the match: David Luiz Match rating: 5/10 ========================================= Observer:

Florent Malouda goal against Wigan papers over Chelsea cracks

Chelsea 1 Malouda 67 Wigan Athletic 0

Paul Doyle at Stamford Bridge Fernando Torres still has not scored for Chelsea but although he started on the bench, the Spaniard had a hand in the winning goal. Or rather, an elbow. In the 67th minute, Didier Drogba curled in a corner that David Luiz met at the near post, sending a looping header towards the far one. The Wigan goalkeeper, Ali al-Habsi, jumped to claim it, but with Torres's arm exerting undue pressure on him he could only flap at it. Branislav Ivanovic's attempt to bundle it over the line was thwarted, but Florent Malouda slammed the follow-up into the net from six yards to settle this scrappy game and ignite a debate. "It was clear as day that Torres had his elbow in Ali's face, impeding him," Roberto Martínez said. "I rate Howard [Webb, the referee] very much but that was the call of the day. We did not deserve to lose." Chelsea might not have deserved to win, for this was another laboured display. Catching Manchester United in the Premier League remains a remote possibility, but overtaking taking them in the Champions League is the priority and that reality was reflected in Ancelotti's team selection, with John Terry and Michael Essien omitted in order to preserve them for Tuesday's quarter-final second leg at Old Trafford. Torres did not start either, although it is open to speculation as to whether that was to rest him or to prove that Chelsea are more dangerous without their £50m striker. No such conclusion could be drawn from this game. Chelsea did start well and Drogba tormented Wigan throughout. He nearly set up a goal in the opening minute, rampaging down the right and cutting the ball back for Frank Lampard, who mis-hit his shot from eight yards, directing it towards Ramires to his left rather than at goal. Such was the Brazilian's surprise that he too botched his shot. Drogba forced a save from a free-kick moments later, and in the eighth minute he trapped a long pass before slipping the ball through to the overlapping Malouda, who shot tamely at Habsi from the edge of the area. Chelsea, having reverted to the 4–3–3 formation that fell out of favour when Ancelotti started trying to tailor the team to Torres, were looking more coherent than they had done during their disjointed defeat to Manchester United in midweek. But their fluency quickly faded. Wigan pierced their defence easily in the 10th minute as Charles N'Zogbia ran unattended through the middle to receive Hugo Rodallega's astute pass. Luckily for the hosts, N'Zogbia was incorrectly called back for offside. The knowledge that they could create chances seemed to solidify Wigan and Chelsea struggled to summon enough invention to infiltrate. Lampard was again peripheral. The hosts began to resort to route one and that nearly took them to their desired destination just before the break, when Drogba flicked on a Petr Cech punt and Malouda found himself face to face with Habsi, who foiled the Frenchman with a fine save. Ancelotti introduced Yossi Benayoun and Torres in a bid to stimulate his side and, in fairness, both made much better contributions than the players whom they replaced, Mikel John Obi and Nicolas Anelka. Torres looked sprightly and, beyond his controversial contribution to the goal, earned two chances to finally open his account for Chelsea. He finished feebly in the 87th minute, driving straight at Habsi after being put clean through. He could hardly be faulted one minute later, however, when he exchanged neat passes with Benayoun before aiming an artful clip over the keeper, only for Habsi to deny him with a superb one-handed stop. "His movement was good ... maybe he will still score the most important goals of our season," said Ancelotti, who described his team's overall performance as "not good, but enough". Wigan's performance was not bad, and not enough. But Martínez insists his side, whose only clear chance came when the substitute Franco Di Santo forced a good save from Cech, can clamber off the bottom of the table. "I am extremely proud of the performance. I am 100% sure that if we perform in that manner we will get enough to stay in this league" THE FANS' PLAYER RATINGS AND VERDICT

ROB HOBSON, CFCnet.co.uk If you saw just the first half hour of each half, you would have gone away feeling pretty miserable about this. It took the team a long time to get into the game: a few of them really looked pretty old and sluggish today, especially Lampard, Drogba and Anelka. Fernando Torres should have done better on a couple of occasions when he came on – but he did show glimpses of what he used to do.

The fan's player ratings Cech 7; Ferreira 5 (Alex 75 6), David Luiz 7, Ivanovic 7, Cole 6; Mikel 6 (Benayoun 46 7), Ramires 8, Lampard 6; Malouda 6, Drogba 6, Anelka 5 (Torres 59 6)

PAUL ASHBY, Observer reader Not a bad day – it's hard to get too upbeat about any defeat when you're in our position, but there were some really decent aspects to this. The defence was solid and al-Habsi was great again. But going forward we're still almost totally impotent – Di Santo was awful. It's fine being tight at the back and keeping possession, but as soon as this side goes behind you know there's no way back.

The fan's player ratings Habsi 8; Alcaraz 7, G Caldwell 7, Boyce 7, Figueroa 7; McCarthy 7, Watson 6, N'Zogbia 6 (Di Santo 62 3), Cleverley 6, Diamé 5 (Moses 85); Rodallega 6 (Sammon 62 6) ==============================================

Telegraph: Chelsea 1 Wigan Athletic 0

By Jeremy Wilson, Stamford Bridge The goal drought has now extended beyond 12 hours and, for the first time, the absurdity of the situation even provoked a smile from Fernando Torres. Chelsea, after all, had scored 14 times in their previous two matches against Wigan and so, if their new £50 million signing could have hand-picked an occasion when he might finally break his duck, it would have been on Saturday. After replacing Nicolas Anelka in the 59th minute, he was presented with three clear chances. For the first, Torres failed completely to control the ball when played clear into space behind the Wigan defence by Branislav Ivanovic. He could then only muster a tame shot when his pace had taken him clear of the two centre-backs and, most agonising of all, Ali Al-Habsi also produced one of the saves of the season to parry his last-minute shot to safety. Torres had looked certain to score and the collective cry of anguish echoed all around Stamford Bridge. The player nicknamed 'El Nino’ simply grinned at being forced to accept that, once again, this would not be his day. There was also some consolation in his questionable involvement in Chelsea’s winner. With David Luiz heading Didier Drogba’s corner across goal, Torres jumped and impeded Al-Habsi, whose fumble was pounced upon by Florent Malouda. There was also some consolation in his questionable involvement in Chelsea’s winner. With David Luiz heading Didier Drogba’s corner across goal, Torres jumped and impeded Al-Habsi, whose fumble was pounced upon by Florent Malouda. “It’s a huge frustration,” said Roberto Martinez, the Wigan manager. “He had his elbow in his face — it was a clear as day.” It was a scrappy way to end a match which, while forgettable, may yet have a profound influence on both ends of the final Premier League table. “It was not a good performance but we won; three points and no injuries,” said Carlo Ancelotti, the Chelsea manager. “We need to play better against Manchester United on Tuesday. This is normal. To win at Old Trafford we have to play our 100 per cent.” Indeed, for long periods, this had the feel of an audition for their looming Champions League quarter-final against Manchester United. After accommodating both Torres and Drogba in Wednesday’s 1-0 first-leg defeat, Ancelotti reverted on Saturday to the 4-3-3 formation that has generally been preferred by every Chelsea manager since Jose Mourinho. He might be 32, he might be high maintenance and Chelsea may already have signed his long-term replacement, but it remains questionable whether there is a better main central striker in that system than Drogba. He began with real purpose, bursting clear down the right with Chelsea’s first attack before crossing for Frank Lampard who scuffed his shot across the six-yard box. Other than Drogba, the main moments of genuine quality during a plodding first-half were provided by Luiz, Chelsea’s adventurous new centre-back. Wigan were also not without their opportunities. Martinez remains admirably committed to attacking football and his two forwards, Charles N’Zogbia and Hugo Rodallega, ensured that the Chelsea defence had to be alert in the absence of John Terry, who was rested ahead of Tuesday’s match. Ancelotti quickly lost patience with Chelsea’s stodgy performance, bringing on Yossi Benayoun at half-time for what his first appearance in six months following knee surgery. It meant a further reshuffling of the system, with Chelsea reverting to 4-4-2 when Torres replaced Anelka. Martinez reacted by making his own attacking changes, replacing Rodallega and N’Zogbia with Franco Di Santo, the former Chelsea striker, and Conor Sammon. The reaction from Rodallega was one of petulance, stomping down the tunnel after flinging some wrist tape and a drink on the floor. Martinez claimed that he was “pleased” with Rodallega’s behaviour. “They should want to stay on — we are fighting for our lives,” he said. The substitutions did little to improve the fluency of either team and the winning goal was appropriately ragged. Ancelotti is convinced that Chelsea can now progress on Tuesday to a likely Champions League semi-final against Schalke. “We needed to win at Old Trafford [last season] to go to the top of the league and become champions and we won 2-1. With the same score again we would progress on Tuesday. We need to score one goal and, if possible, more. We have confidence.” That confidence can only rest on past deeds rather than the evidence of recent performances. ===============================================

Mail: Chelsea 1 Wigan 0:

Torres tests Roman's patience to the limit as Blues scrape win

By Patrick Collins

Roman Abramovich sat in his private box, staring down on the efforts of the team assembled by the power of his purse. It is said that the oligarch has spent the best part of £1billion on Chelsea, and £50million of that was invested in Fernando Torres.Now nobody is ever quite sure what Abramovich is thinking, since his habitual expression is that of an empty dinner plate. But it is safe to assume that if Torres was one of his custom-built yachts, then Roman might be having a word with the designer.Now that the prospect of a Premier League title has receded over the horizon, the chief interest at Stamford Bridge is the persistent inability of Torres to deliver the goals for which he was bought. Every conversation revolves around the man with the gauntly worried face, even when he spends most of the match on the bench, as he did against Wigan.For such an improbable fee, wonders are expected. Yet the more the man tries, the more abjectly he fails.His ability is not in question and his temperament has been tested on far bigger stages. But it will not happen for him. Once again, chances came, and once again his efforts only drew the best from an opposing goalkeeper.Indeed, his most effective contribution — in the view of the Wigan manager Roberto Martinez — was the elbow he allegedly planted in the face of that same keeper, Ali Al-Habsi, to allow Florent Malouda to score the decisive goal in the 67th minute. Time was when Chelsea would use games with Wigan as a kind of therapy. Last season, they poured 14 goals past them, eight at home and six away. Here, they were thankful for that single success.They worked with appropriate persistence, and in Didier Drogba they could offer a striker at the top of his game; brutally strong and endlessly resourceful. But Wigan worked as hard or harder, they defended rigorously and their heads just refused to drop. Martinez was ‘extremely proud’. He believed that Howard Webb made his biggest mistake on the biggest call of the match. The manager assured his listeners that he was ‘100 per cent sure’ of Wigan’s Premier League survival and, in truth, you could understand his optimism.For their part, Chelsea can carry little optimism into the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final at Old Trafford. Carlo Ancelotti acknowledged an indifferent performance, which he conceded would be wholly inadequate against Manchester United. He strives to maintain essential confidence, but the prospect of awholly unrewarding season is hanging over him, blankly unpromising, like the expression on the face of his employer. Important players, other than Torres, did not meet his standards. Ashley Cole was untypically indecisive, Nicolas Anelka was at his most infuriating, while Frank Lampard never came to terms with the match, never imposed his authority on midfield proceedings. An early goal might have yielded more promising results, and Malouda should have taken the chance he was given by Drogba in the eighth minute. But the shot was struck at the keeper and from then on, Wigan simply raised their workrate and backed their own spirited organisation. The chances fell almost exclusively to Chelsea, but they were spasmodic and tardily attempted. Yossi Benayoun was brought on for John Obi Mikel at the start of the second half and his energetic runninglifted the tone and authority of Chelsea’s play. But Wigan maintained that diligent defence, and through the playmaking efforts of Ben Watson, theyyielded nothing of note in midfield. Torres made his entrance, to surprising acclaim, in the 58th minute and Chelsea did what they could to construct the chance he must eventually take. But when the goal came it was scrappy and untidy. A right-wing corner from Drogba put the keeper under pressure. Torres may or may not have deployed a cunning elbow, as Martinez claimed. But the ball ran loose in the six-yard box, was beaten out a time or two then fell to Malouda, whose flailing hack squeezed it across the line.A couple of Torres runs lit up the rest of the match; the first involved a foot race with Antolin Alcaraz and a futile drive, the second, arranged by Benayoun, was perfectly driven and saved with thefingertips of Al-Habsi. The Chelsea crowd was remarkably understanding, although their patience might have been tested had Wigan managed to convert their late half-chances. If Torres should score an important goal at Old Trafford, then all will be forgiven. But at the moment, it seems a distant prospect. And the patience of Roman Abramovich is not without limit. =============================================

man utd 0-1

Independent:

Rooney strike leaves Chelsea's season hanging by a thread

Chelsea 0 Manchester United 1

By Sam Wallace at Stamford Bridge

Abused, charged, demonised, banned. It would be enough to finish most people off. Wayne Rooney? He appears to be thriving on it. As the establishment has closed in on Rooney over the last five days so, at last, we are starting to see the best of him. Last night his goal put Manchester United on course for the treble. Today comes the announcement on his appeal against a two-match ban for naughty language. Rooney the rebel is playing like Rooney again. He was the outstanding performer in a United team who are now favourites to win this Champions League quarter-final when it is concluded on Tuesday night at Old Trafford. They rode their luck last night, especially when the otherwise excellent Spanish referee missed a clear penalty when Patrice Evra brought down Ramires late on. But a familiar pattern is emerging – the pressure is on, and United are getting results. If Rooney is told today that his two-game ban stands – and even if the Football Association chose to extend it – the mood last night was that this United team will kick down any number of doors to get to where they want to be. History is not on Chelsea's side: only twice in the Champions League's history have a team lost the first leg of a knockout tie at home and gone on to reach the next round. As for Rooney, he has scored four goals since Saturday and 10 in his last 12 starts. If some would have him as a national pariah and poster boy for the decline of Britannia then it is a status he wears very lightly indeed. In fact, the way he slid on his knees in front of the Chelsea supporters last night, you might be moved to think he could not really care less. This was not a United team that came to Stamford Bridge to keep it tight for the second leg. They played some of their best football of the season in the first half and, when Chelsea came back at them after the break, the central defensive pairing of Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand was the telling factor. Ferdinand had not played since 1 February but he performed like he had never been away. The mediocrity that has blighted United this season was absent last night. Even Michael Carrick came out of his shell and out-shone Frank Lampard. The Chelsea man out-passed his United opponent by 62 to 34 but he did not strike a more telling ball than the one Carrick hit from right to left to Ryan Giggs on 24 minutes to make Rooney's goal. It was that kind of moment that Chelsea could not conjure. They left cursing the Spanish referee, Alberto Mallenco, who blotted an excellent display by missing Evra's lunge on Ramires in time added on at the end of the game. But Chelsea's problems ran deeper than that. They did not create enough either in the 4-4-2 formation in which they started or the 4-3-3 to which they switched as their need became more desperate after the break. There are big decisions facing Carlo Ancelotti come Tuesday, most notably whether Fernando Torres stays in his team for Old Trafford. He persisted with Torres to the end last night and was almost rewarded when the striker stretched Edwin van der Sar with a header in the 74th minute. But it was Didier Drogba who looked the more dangerous until he was substituted on 71 minutes. Torres was booked at the end of the game for the second of two crass dives. In the first half, he had looked as sharp as he had since he joined the club but there was a whiff of desperation about him by the end of the game. Dropping him would be a career-changing decision for Ancelotti. But then going out at Old Trafford would be a career-changing defeat. Before last night Ferguson had not won at Stamford Bridge since April 2002, including that most recent controversial defeat last month. The old boy got it right last night: the right formation, the right tactics, the right attitude. United broke through on 24 minutes. There was that beauty of a ball from Carrick which Giggs pulled out of the air and he then beat Jose Bosingwa in one stupendously skilful movement. For an old man he sure can shift. Giggs went into the box, took one look up and put it on a plate for Rooney to sidefoot in. Rooney had found himself the subject of two unforgiving challenges – the first from Michael Essien, the second from Ramires – before half-time. Harry Redknapp and Peter Crouch will have wished that they could have had a referee on Tuesday in Madrid with the outlook of Mallenco. He held off from booking anyone until Yuri Zhirkov raised a boot to Javier Hernandez on 35 minutes. Torres had flickered before then but in the second half it was more about Drogba. It was his cross that Ramires steered wide. It was Drogba's overhead kick that just missed. And it was Drogba who bullied Evra, easing the United full-back out of the way on two occasions around the hour mark. Yet when Ancelotti made the inevitable attacking change on 71 minutes – Nicolas Anelka and Florent Malouda on – it was Drogba who came off, not Torres. United had already lost Rafael da Silva to injury, which brought Nani into the game and meant the impressive Antonio Valencia was moved back to play at right-back. Chelsea changed to 4-3-3 and Ferguson followed suit. He brought on Dimitar Berbatov, moved Rooney to the left and Nani to the right and matched Chelsea's system. The pressure became most intensive towards the end but aside from Torres's header and then Evra's challenge on Ramires, United held their opponents at arm's length. The penalty appeal that was waved aside was a big call. There was a hint that Evra's challenge started outside the box but either way it was a foul. Ancelotti needs a bit of luck in that respect, but most of all he needs goals from Torres or someone else. Chelsea have to score at Old Trafford and there is an unmistakably daunting look about their opponents.

Ending the Bridge jinx

It was Manchester United's first victory at the Bridge for nine years. The last was a 3-0 league win on 20 April 2002. The goals then came from Paul Scholes, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer – and Denis Irwin was on the bench.

Man of the match: Rooney. Match rating: 8/10. Referee: A U Mallenco (Sp). Attendance: 37,915. ========================================= Guardian: Wayne Rooney proves the curse of Chelsea as Manchester United grab win Champions Lge Q/F, First Leg

Chelsea 0 Manchester United 1 Rooney 24

Kevin McCarra at Stamford Bridge

These are two clubs whose modern histories are entangled but Manchester United have made significant progress in separating themselves from Chelsea in the Champions League quarter-final. Considering that Sir Alex Ferguson's side was supposed to face an ordeal at Stamford Bridge, the victory was achieved with few histrionics. The fact that Wayne Rooney scored the goal was almost taken for granted, highlighting the return to form that has ended debate about his effectiveness, if not his occasional excitability before a microphone. This would not have been an authentic engagement between these clubs, all the same, if there were not some angst. Chelsea ought to have had the opportunity to level eventually but the Spanish referee, Alberto Mallenco, saw no penalty in stoppage time although Patrice Evra took Ramires rather than the ball. Moments later the official fished for his yellow card when Fernando Torres appeared to dive in his hope of a spot-kick. The Spain centre-forward is still to score for the club following the £50m transfer from Liverpool but it is not to be assumed that he must resort to underhand means to end the wait. With a quarter of an hour remaining, he rose to meet a cross by José Bosingwa with a fine header but Edwin van der Sar pawed it away and so showed his own quality. In principle a quarter-final in this tournament ought to be a clash of excellence but, when teams are so familiar with one another, the risk of deadlock is high. Although the tone of the action suggested parity, Rooney divided the sides. He now has seven goals from his past eight outings with the club. That impact is almost taken for granted but he had scored only twice for United from the opening of the season until the end of 2010. That was a supposed crisis that now has to be rebranded as a curio. Apart from the intrinsic trouble of repeating last year's 2-1 win at Old Trafford, Chelsea will be taking on opponents who have started to sense their own strength. Ferguson would have been appalled at times by the attrition rate but he did not embark on prolonged lamentation that would have undermined the confidence of those who would feel they were being selected only out of necessity. At present some United figures are getting back into condition and there was no indication against Chelsea that Rio Ferdinand, sidelined by a calf injury since 1 February, was any sort of convalescent. Much as the defender's reassuring presence was appreciated, Ferguson had selected a team with the means to attack. That approach had ended in defeat here in the Premier League last month but United had been unlucky after seeming in control for much of the evening. Once again the manager picked a pair of forwards in Javier Hernández and Rooney. Now, too, the visitors took the lead and, on this occasion, retained it thanks to better work in defence. After 24 minutes Michael Carrick swept a splendid pass to Ryan Giggs on the left, with the veteran controlling the ball and leaving Bosingwa for dead with one perfect touch before Rooney slotted the finish home off the inside of the post. It had been a masterful piece of work by United and nothing less than such a moment could have overcome the intense concentration of each team. Suddenly the scorn over the new contract provided for Carrick was quelled, for the time being at any rate. The mood was taut. Strained feelings were unavoidable in teams who have shared and made history in modern times. There is certainly a fixation with their encounter in the 2008 Champions League final. All the same, it is difficult to tell whether it is the players or simply those who keep asking about the penalty shoot-out who are obsessed with that night in Moscow. Talk of revenge is particularly odd since United did no more than win a match. Chelsea may have been desolate but they were not wronged. During the build-up to this encounter, Ferguson would have been sincere in the admiration he expressed for the Stamford Bridge manager, Carlo Ancelotti, while aghast at the idea of such a figure being sacked, but the comments also implied that United were pitted against a less stable club. Even so, the Chelsea players themselves could easily have been on solid ground in the 45th minute, had a Didier Drogba cross from the left not come off a post. When Lampard attempted to prod the ball home Evra was able to clear. Any benefit Chelsea took from the incident lay in the proof that it was feasible to break the visitors. The notion was bolstered soon after the interval when Ramires was free to connect with a Drogba cross but the header flew off target. The Ivorian who supplied the set-up work was also to be involved in a collision that saw Rafael da Silva carried off on a stretcher with United pulling Antonio Valencia back to the right of the defence and utilising the substitute Nani on the wing. Alterations may have been enforced but nothing could disrupt United on their way to victory. =========================================================

Telegraph:

Chelsea 0 Manchester United 1 By Jason Burt, Stamford Bridge

Carlo Ancelotti had talked about Chelsea’s destiny to win the Champions League this season but there was only one man shaping fate on Wednesday night: Wayne Rooney. He has raged against fortune in recent days – in the past year, to be honest – but on Wednesday he was here, he was there, he was everywhere; and for the right reasons. This wasn’t about foul language this was about letting your football do the talking. This was about the player everyone wants Rooney to be and what he is capable of being. This was about cleaning up his act and cleaning up. Sir Alex Ferguson wanted an away goal and Rooney provided it to give United a grip on a place in the last four while loosening Ancelotti’s hold on his own position. This competition means everything for him and for his Chelsea future. Destiny calls. He cannot see his team drop out impotently and will have to provide a fierce challenge at Old Trafford next week. Is it beyond this team? Quite possibly so and if that is Roman Abramovich’s conclusion then the manager will go. Chelsea will argue that there was another man who played with fate, the referee Alberto Undiano Mallenco. The man from Pamplona faced a raging bull – well, an angry Italian – in Ancelotti after wrongly waving away penalty appeals when Patrice Evra sliced down Ramires in the 92nd minute. Given how the fates have conspired against Chelsea over the years in this competition they will feel another serious grievance although Ferguson brushed it aside abruptly, claiming it was the first decision which had gone his side’s way in seven years at Stamford Bridge. Seven is indeed a lucky number; although not for Ramires. There was a wonderful save from Edwin Van der Sar, also, stretching his 6ft five and a half inch frame to its full extension to twist and push out Fernando Torres’s header but this was another evening of disappointment for the striker, still yet to score a goal, and booked in the dying moments for a clear dive as he desperately tried to earn a penalty of his own. It brought a ringing rebuke from Ferguson that he was a diver. In truth, United were well worth this victory and it is remarkable how Ferguson squeezes performances at this time of the season out of players who have struggled previously. Michael Carrick would fall into that category as he controlled the midfield cleverly while Ji-Sung Park’s return has brought discipline. Ferguson was able to call on Rio Ferdinand, also, for the first time since Feb 5, and his experience counted alongside Nemanja Vidic, who was the formidable defender he can be. They even brushed aside the loss of Rafael to deploy Antonio Valencia at right-back in another sign of their durability. The problem for Chelsea was pace, or lack of it. They were simply unable to move the ball forward quickly enough and, as ever, Ancelotti is suffering the fate of many a Chelsea manager in trying to shoe-horn big-names into a starting XI. There was also the embarrassment of Didier Drogba feigning that Ferdinand had elbowed him when the United defender brushed his arm against the striker’s face. United’s goal came early and gave definition to their counter-attacking intent. Rafael regained possession and scampered into the Chelsea half, allowing the ball to run to Valencia who quickly rolled it back to Carrick. The midfielder swept it cross-field to Ryan Giggs and the key to the goal came as his superb first-touch took him away from Jose Bosingwa to cut the ball back. Rooney was there, opening his body to side-foot the ball in off the far post. The striker studiously ignored the cameras with his celebrations, but pointed one finger in the air and threw himself to the turf in delight. For Chelsea it was a soft concession and they struggled to provide a response. Drogba had already had a rising drive pushed over by Van der Sar while Torres had mis-timed a volley but they were being pushed back by their opponents. Incredibly they then almost scored with Drogba tricking his way past Rafael and crossing for Torres who failed to make contact but distracted Van der Sar enough for the goalkeeper to allow the ball to strike the far post and bounce back out. It fell to Lampard. Surely, on his 500th appearance, he would score? But the midfielder half-hit his half-volley. Even so, it would have been a goal had Evra not been there to turn it away. It would have given the scoreline an imbalance but Chelsea were gradually able to apply pressure. Ramires headed wide from another Drogba centre and then the striker sent an acrobatic overhead kick narrowly across goal before a headed clearance fell to Michael Essien, who volleyed low and past the post. It did not amount to a great deal of momentum and with Vidic, in particular, repelling the massing blue shirts the frustration of the home supporters grew. United rallied and snapped back, pressing higher up the field with Javier Hernandez working tirelessly up front to close down and harry and Rooney putting out fires all over the field – rather than being the man fanning the flames. Half-chances did fall to Chelsea but Van der Sar expertly held Lampard’s deflected free-kick and a weak shot from Branislav Ivanovic after a careering run. Then came the penalty claim but it wasn’t to be. United didn’t just have the goal; they had the clean sheet and the victory. ============================================ Mail: Chelsea 0 Manchester United 1:

Rooney the hero for Fergie as United claim advantage in quarter-final showdown

By Matt Lawton Chief Football Correspondent

Reporting from Stamford Bridge

It is on nights like this when these Manchester United players deliver.When Wayne Rooney reminds us why his employers took a sledgehammer to their wage structure to keep him.When Rio Ferdinand defies all logic and delivers a colossal performance on his first appearance in more than two months. When Edwin van der Sar throws himself across the six-yard box like a goalkeeper half his age. And when Ryan Giggs forgets he, too, is now getting on a bit and plays like the winger who once terrorised right backs across Europe. Even if they have an advantage in this fiercely contested tie because of a referee’s failure to spot a clear penalty for Chelsea in stoppage time, United deserved the precious away goal they takeback to Old Trafford. Just as they deserved their first win here at Stamford Bridge in nine years.They were terrific; as defiant as Sir Alex Ferguson has been in the face of so much criticism thesepast few weeks and as determined as ever, proving once again that success has not spoiled them; that they remain as hungry as a manager who at one point turned to United’s supporters and demanded they raise the decibel level another notch.No wonder Ferguson so adores Giggs. Whatever his secret, be it the yoga he practises to keep those aging muscles supple or the ultra-professional attitude that has allowed him to break all thoserecords, the Welshman is becoming something of a modern medical phenomenon. Ferguson deployed him in central midfield here, but the burst of speed he produced to race pastJose Bosingwa and deliver the ball that enabled Rooney to land that 24th-minute blow was amazing.Freakish almost.But Giggs was not alone in impressing. Not even close given the composure of Ferdinand, the class of Rooney and the enduring excellence of Van der Sar. The athletic dive he produced to push aFernando Torres header to safety in the second half was magnificent. The man is 40, for crying out loud. Chelsea, by comparison, were disappointing. They might argue they unleashed more shots on goal than their opponents and they will consider Alberto Mallenco’s mistake in missing Patrice Evra’s foul on Ramires further evidence that they are jinxed in this competition.Carlo Ancelotti is sure to feel the football gods are conspiring against him when he may need to win this competition to save his neck and, like his players, he was angry. But they fell short where Unitedstood tall. That one decent header aside, Torres produced another stuttering performance, memorable only for the dives that earned him one yellow card when it could have been two.While Didier Drogba worked tirelessly before Ancelotti took the surprising decision to hook him, rather than the Spaniard, the partnership with Torres struggled against Ferdinand and the equallyformidable Nemanja Vidic. In midfield, too, Chelsea lacked the required spark. Frank Lampard and Michael Essien competed well enough with Giggs and Michael Carrick but the only contribution of note from Ramires — prior, ofcourse, to the penalty claim — and Yuri Zhirkov were the challenges that earned punishment from Mallenco and had Ferguson raging.With the selection of Rooney and Javier Hernandez in attack, Ferguson intended to keep John Terry and his defensive colleagues busy, even if the selection of grafters in Park Ji-sung and Antonio Valencia on the flanks also suggested the United manager was playing it fairly safe.Ferdinand wasted no time in demonstrating Ferguson might have been preparing him all along forthis game, denying Torres with a superb interception. Chelsea saw Rooney as the danger man. There were naughty, studs-up challenges from Essien and then from Ramires, both of them leaving Rooney on the ground writhing in apparent agony. But that did not stop the England striker scoring with a fine first-time finish, initially thanks to Carrick’s diagonal ball but more so because of the brilliance of Giggs.It was astonishing, the sight of Giggs controlling Carrick’s 40-yard pass and accelerating beyond Bosingwa in one glorious movement before delivering the ball to Rooney. Positioned close to the penalty spot, Rooney calmly slotted his shot beyond the reach of Petr Cech and in off the far post.Further foul challenges followed — with Zhirkov picking up a belated first booking for a crunching tackle on Hernandez — as did the sight of Torres diving in desperation.And when Rafael came off second best in a collision with Drogba after the break, Ferguson was forced to make a change that put more pressure on Ferdinand and his colleagues. He had to move Valencia to right back and deploy Nani on the wing. Before that, Chelsea had gone desperately close to equalising. Having escaped the clutches of Ferdinand and Rafael, Drogba sent in a cross that missed an advancing Torres but also bounced beyond Van der Sar, off the far post and into the path of Lampard.He, in turn, did well to get in a shot when he was off balance but his effort was cleared off the line by Evra before Carrick blocked his second attempt. It was courageous defending, even if Chelsea could count themselves unfortunate.Nothing, however, compared to the sense of injustice in the dying minutes after Evra came in from the wrong side to take Ramires as well as the ball. It sparked ugly scenes at the end, Mallenco being shoved after booking Torres for diving. Ancelotti felt the need to order his players away from the official when the final whistle went — only for the Chelsea boss to then remonstrate himself, painfully aware now of the pressure he will be under next week.

MATCH FACTS Chelsea (4-4-2):Cech; Bosingwa (Mikel 78min), Ivanovic, Terry, Cole; Ramires, Essien, Lampard, Zhirkov (Malouda 70); Drogba (Anelka 71), Torres.

Subs not used: Turnbull, Ferreira, Benayoun, Kalou.Booked: Zhirkov, Ramires, Essien,Torres.

Manchester United (4-4-2):Van der Sar; Rafael (Nani 51), Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Valencia, Carrick, Park (Smalling 90), Giggs; Rooney, Hernandez (Berbatov 78).

Subs not used: Kuszczak, Evans, Scholes, Gibson.Booked: Vidic, Van der Sar. Man of the match: Wayne Rooney. Referee: Alberto Mallenco (Sp). =========================================== Sun:

Chelsea 0 Man Utd 1

By SHAUN CUSTIS

YOU just knew Wayne Rooney would f****** score.

The United striker, who copped an FA ban for swearing into a TV camera at the weekend, did all his talking on the pitch this time to earn his side a vital edge in this Champions League quarter-final. But it was Chelsea doing the cursing at the end after they had a stone-wall penalty shout rejected when Patrice Evra lunged in on Ramires. If the TV men had shoved a camera and microphone in front of each Blues player at the same moment, there would have been 11 of them up on a charge this morning. It was a shocking decision by Spanish referee Alberto Mallenco although there was no argument that United had been the better side with Rooney's clinical 24th-minute finish following great work by Ryan Giggs proving the difference. Rio Ferdinand was also outstanding at the back for United on his return after two months out with a calf injury and midfielder Michael Carrick had one of his best games in a red shirt. Chelsea might have forced a draw before the penalty appeal but Frank Lampard - on his 500th appearance for the club - had a shot hacked off the line by Evra. And Edwin van der Sar, battling a groin injury, made a superb flying save to keep out a header from Fernando Torres. That effort apart, it was another miserable night for Torres who failed to justify his inclusion ahead of Nicolas Anelka. He has now gone 617 minutes for Chelsea without a goal. There is a rumour that the busy FA disciplinary department might charge Liverpool with bringing the game into disrepute . . . for nicking £50million off Chelsea. It was a surprise that Torres started and an even bigger surprise that Didier Drogba was subbed while the Spaniard stayed on midway through the second half. Drogba, who gave it everything, was as dumfounded as the rest of us when his number went up and not that of his strike partner. The Ivory Coast front-man so wants to win this competition, especially after he lost his head railing against injustice in the semi-final against Barcelona at the Bridge two years ago and got suspended for four European games. Drogba resisted the temptation to pile into the referee again last night, but he must have had to bite his tongue very hard. This result was not good news for Carlo Ancelotti's future prospects because owner Roman Abramovich has made the Champions League his priority and it is slipping away again. United had not won at Stamford Bridge for nine years but looked in the mood from the off. Both Michael Essien and Ramires tried to kick Rooney out of it but, after Drogba had a shot from wide on the right tipped over by Van der Sar, Rooney struck. Carrick played a 40-yard pass out to the left and evergreen Giggs took it on first time and burst past Jose Bosingwa. The Welshman took a quick look up and pulled the ball back for Rooney who steered his shot away from Petr Cech and in off the right post then went on a celebration run towards the corner flag. For one moment Rooney seemed to be heading in the direction of a TV cameraman behind the goal. But before he could get himself into even more trouble the United striker tumbled to the ground and raised his arms in delight. Sensible move for a change. United had the away goal boss Alex Ferguson demanded but the home side should have equalised on half-time. Drogba curled in a ball which was missed by Torres but still beat Van der Sar, only to hit the far post. Lampard followed up and seemed certain to score from close range but Evra brilliantly cleared off the line and United scrambled the ball away. Ancelotti's men had another chance just after the break when Evra fell over by the touchline and Drogba got away. The cross was good but Ramires made a mess of the header and guided the ball wide. Chelsea were playing better now and the ever-determined Drogba's overhead kick was not too far wide. It would have been nice to see Torres putting in the same effort as his hard-working team-mate. With 20 minutes left Ancelotti sent on Anelka and Florent Malouda, but incredibly Drogba was one of those who made way rather than Torres. The Spaniard did have a looping header superbly pushed away by Van der Sar. Then, in added time, Ramires got away and was bearing down on goal only to have his legs taken away by Frenchman Evra. Ref Mallenco was not interested and you wonder what an earth the fifth - or is that sixth - official was doing beside the goal. Just to rub it in, Torres went down in the area two minutes later and was booked for diving. Fergie said it was about time United got a break at Chelsea. The Blues would argue it is time they got a break in the Champions League. ======================================== Mirror:

Chelsea 0-1 Man United: Rooney on target as Torres nightmare continues

By Martin Lipton

Another victory, chiseled out rather than beautifully crafted. Another goal for the man who cannot stay out of the headlines, Wayne Rooney demonstrating his incalculable value with the goal that puts United on course for the Champions League semi-finals again. And as Chelsea moaned and groaned at the injustices of the world once more, another day in the continuing nightmare that is Fernando Torres’ Chelsea career. Where Rooney, it seems, cannot stop scoring, profiting from the time-defying brilliance of Ryan Giggs, Torres simply does not know where to start. Even when he does do the right thing, it will not work. Nine appearances, 618 minutes without a goal. While he was denied by a superb Edwin Van Der Sar save, the blatant dive that brought an injury-time booking said everything about his desperation. This was the sort of game Torres was bought for. Roman Abramovich sanctioned the £50million fee because he convinced himself the Spaniard would be the man to make the search for the Holy Grail successful at last. Yet with every passing game, Torres starts to look more and more like Abramovich’s most extravagant vanity purchase, even more than Andriy Shevchenko, whose arrival helped disrupt the seemingly relentless momentum of Jose Mourinho’s team. It seems clear that Carlo Ancelotti cannot take Torres off in a game that matters, aware of the retribution that could come his way. But if Chelsea’s hunt for silverware ends on Tuesday, as seems so likely now, then the Italian is surely a dead man walking in any event. The price of perceived failure at the Bridge is high. And if Torres is worth £50m, then what price would Sir Alex Ferguson put on Rooney’s head? Four days after turning the air blue at the other end of the District Line, Rooney - along with Spanish referee Alberto Undiano Mallenco - left Chelsea swearing in anger and pain. The injury-time decision of the whistler to ignore Patrice Evra’s blatant foul on Ramires, a nailed on spot-kick, was the talking point as far as the home fans and players were concerned. Yet even so, Rooney had already given United a priceless away goal and the decision that infuriated Chelsea meant his contribution earned United their first win in this corner of SW6 since 2002. Rooney may have demonstrated the negative side of his character with that snarling, four letter response to his hat-trick penalty at Upton Park. But that cannot and must not hide the talent that underpins everything, explains why Fergie will always defend his star asset. When Michael Carrick spotted Giggs lurking unmarked, wide on the left, with a superb cross-field ball that cut out the Achilles heel that is always Jose Bosingwa, Rooney was already on the move. Giggs exploded into the space, 10 years taken off his age in the blink of an eye, pulling back to find Rooney angling his body to steer side-footed in off the post. No abuse to the cameras this time, just an eskimo roll of triumph, the moment of conviction that summed up a performance that overflowed with that sheer brio, as Rooney dropped off to make the extra man in midfield and give United far more poise and balance. Chelsea did have chances. Rio Ferdinand, back after an 11-match break and looking as if he’d played every week, beat Torres at the near post, Didier Drogba’s shot was turned over the top and in first half stoppage time they should have been level. Drogba worked space away from Ferdinand and curled in. Torres lunged but made no contact as the ball ran through to hit the post and come back to Frank Lampard, starting to celebrate even as Evra cleared off the line. The second half was balanced, United - with Nani on for the crocked Rafael and Antonio Valencia the emergency right-back - playing on the counter as Chelsea pressed. Drogba, outmuscling Evra, crossed for Ramires to head wide, the muscularity of the African making Ancelotti’s decision to hook him rather than Torres with 20 minutes left even more inexplicable in football terms. Torres, pulling away at the far post to meet Bosingwa’s cross, might have vindicated Ancelotti when his fine header was clawed away by the diving Van Der Sar, who then held efforts by Lampard and Branislav Ivanovic. The real drama followed in stoppage time. Ramires, in behind Evra, was brought down by the Frenchman only for the referee to deem nothing wrong. Then Torres was cautioned for diving, Ramires pushing the referee and lucky to escape any sanction, the incidents adding to home fury. There was no salvation. United will be thinking of Schalke. Chelsea were left destitute. Torres remains in despair.

stoke 1-1

Independent:


Chelsea left adrift by fast-running Walters

Stoke City 1 Chelsea 1: Ancelotti's nine-game plan unravels at first hurdle as Stoke add guile to grit

By Tim Rich at the Britannia Stadium



All the sting from this fixture was drawn half an hour from the start in a flurry of goals at Upton Park. As they changed in the Britannia's dressing rooms, Chelsea would have known Manchester United were two down and the scenario paintedby Carlo Ancelotti that by winning their final nine games the championship could be retained was beginning to take flight.

By the time Chelsea began the warm-up, the electronic screen behind them was showing images, 10 feet high, of Wayne Rooney dragging the title ever closer to Old Trafford. And when the final whistle went and the screen relayed pictures of Stoke's manager, Tony Pulis, embracing his backroom staff it confirmed what most, deep down, at Stamford Bridge, already knew.

The first of those nine games had not been won and by striking the frame of Petr Cech's goal twice in the second half, Stoke demonstratedhow easily it could have been lost. Chelsea's season will come down to two enormous throws of the dice against United in the Champions League. Ancelotti did not concede the title but he has spent the last couple of months trying not to confirm that this was a race Chelsea were still in. "The gap is more open," he said with some familiar shrugs of his dark-suited shoulders.

Stoke away is one of the Premier League's defining tests. Arsenal and Liverpool have stumbled here, Manchester United have never dropped a point in the fierce, frenetic atmosphere of the Britannia and, until yesterday, nor had Chelsea.

In Pulis's words, they were a team who were prepared to exhaust themselves against the rock wall of Stoke's defence rather than save something for Wednesday night at Stamford Bridge. However, particularly on the wings, Stoke have begun to add some fluency and a little beauty to the granite. Watching Stoke is rather like living in a council house with a Canaletto on the wall and their opening goal was a thing of passion, perseverance and beauty.

Having picked up the ball on the left flank, not far from the halfway line, Jonathan Walters beat David Luiz and kept on running. The options began to stretch out before him, with Kenwyne Jones screaming for a pass, but Walters kept going, turned Michael Essien and then shot between him and the sprawling figure of John Terry to beat Cech at his near post.

The reaction was instant. Pulis reflected that "Chelsea pushed us into pockets and kept picking our pockets." However, it was not until Drogba became the first Chelsea striker to score since Fernando Torres' arrival in London, that they emerged with hard cash.

It was safe to assume that Drogba, who had been preferred to Torres as Nicolas Anelka's strike partner, had other things on his mind. The civil war in Ivory Coast is nearing its bloody, predictable climax and he had made a brief return to his homeland in the days before this fixture.

And yet Drogba played with freedom and sometimes brilliance. When Anelka took the ball and gave a brief glance up, he anticipated well before Danny Higginbotham where the chip would go. The result was a fierce, diving header that gave Asmir Begovic not the slightest chance. In the second half he turned and drove against the crossbar. Torres was eventually introduced – "to give us more presence in the box" in Ancelotti's words – but his play again looked drained of self-belief.

As they shook off Chelsea's shackles after the interval, Stoke seemed awash with it. Jermaine Pennant shot into Cech's boots, Marc Wilson sent a free-kick clattering against the crossbar and from the subsequent corner, Robert Huth struck it again.

Stoke are preparing for an FA Cup semi-final, their biggest game since the 1972 League Cup final when they overcame Chelsea at Wembley, and for both clubs this match was supposed to be an hors d'oeuvre. It was one Marco Pierre White would have been proud of.

Attendance: 27,508

Referee: Peter Walton

Man of the match: Drogba

Match rating: 7/10




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




Observer:


Stoke's Jonathan Walters makes Chelsea's slim title hopes vanish

Paul Wilson at the Britannia Stadium


Chelsea went down to an early goal, recovered, and sent on all their available attackers in search of the three points to keep their title hopes alive. There the similarity with Manchester United ended, however, and after accepting his side could not afford to drop any more points and retain a realistic chance of overhauling the leaders Carlo Ancelotti will now be able to concentrate on the Champions League.

For their part Stoke did not resemble West Ham either. They moved just a point nearer safety, after creating any number of chances to win a riotously entertaining contest, but most important they never looked like collapsing to defeat. They will be in the Premier League next season, and no one who witnessed this pulsating, eventful, ridiculously open game will have any complaints about that.

"It was always going to be difficult, but the gap is now even wider," Ancelotti said. "Clearly the Champions League is now our best hope of success because we are level with the other teams there, we don't have ground to make up. We can't be too disappointed, everybody knows to play here is not easy and both teams had opportunities. It was a really tough game."

After taking his first Premier League point off Chelsea, Tony Pulis was in equally magnanimous mood. "We could have won it at the end, but we shouldn't get blase," the Stoke manager said. "Chelsea deserve a lot of credit. They have a massive Champions League game coming up in a few days and their attitude was first class."

Stoke got off to an ideal start with a goal after just eight minutes. An impressive opener it was too, with Jonathan Walters beating David Luiz with surprising ease on halfway then running into the space vacated by José Bosingwa straying too far upfield on a Chelsea attack. Michael Essien made a valiant attempt to track back, only for Walters to calmly check round him then rifle a confident right-foot shot beyond Petr Cech.

The damage could have been worse for Chelsea when Kenwyne Jones got past John Terry with similar ease on the right, though the striker was unable to summon the same composure and decisiveness as Walters. Chelsea should have levelled when a long shot from Frank Lampard was only picked up late by Asmir Begovic, Nicolas Anelka being unable to react quite quickly enough when the goalkeeper dropped the ball at his feet.

No matter, Chelsea's equaliser soon arrived. Didier Drogba was still being jeered for being useless after putting a volley high into the Boothen End when suddenly he struck with elegant athleticism, getting across Danny Higginbotham to reach Anelka's cross and flick a header past Begovic. Fernando Torres, still awaiting his first Chelsea goal and unable to open his account from the bench, applauded in acknowledgement of Drogba's finish.

Chelsea stepped up the pace at the start of the second half, with Drogba hitting a post and another longe-range Lampard effort being beaten out by Begovic, though they were indebted to their own goalkeeper for preventing Jermaine Pennant scoring at the other end. Cech produced a good save with his feet, though with more time than he possibly realised Pennant might have gone for placement.

Torres came on for the last half-hour and almost scored with his first touch after one of his trademark turns to find space in the box, then he took a knock and spent the next 10 minutes a spectator as Stoke twice rattled Cech's bar on consecutive attacks. First it was Marc Wilson with a rising drive from a tapped free-kick, then Robert Huth with a header from a corner.

Jones, Walters and Pennant all had chances for the home side before Chelsea came back and Drogba hit the woodwork for the second time, striking Begovic's bar with a shot on the turn. No one could fault the entertainment, though time was running out on Stoke's hopes of reaching 40 points and Chelsea's desire to stay in touch with the leaders. There was one heavy-legged breakaway by Torres when he tried in vain to play in Lampard, and Ricardo Fuller missed the best chance of all with a point-blank header in stoppage time, yet there was little to argue about at the end. A draw was fair.

"Both teams could have won, so the result was right for the game," Ancelotti said. "We just aren't so happy about it."


THE FANS' PLAYER RATINGS AND VERDICT


RICHARD MURPHY, Author: Stoke City On This Day It was a fantastic game of football, and one of our best performances since we've been in the Premier League. By the end I was disappointed that we didn't win it. For the last quarter of the game we were all over Chelsea, Cech rescuing them with a series of terrific saves – particularly from a header by Robert Huth that I thought was in. Early on, Walters scored a cracking goal but then I felt we sat back, and that's when Chelsea started getting on top of us. Huth and Shawcross played very well in defence while up front Jones is in form despite needing some goals.

The fan's player ratings Begovic 7; Wilson 7, Shawcross 8, Huth 9, Higginbotham 8 (Collins n/a); Pennant 8 (Fuller n/a), Whelan 7, Delap 7, Etherington 7; Walters 9, Jones 9


TRIZIA FIORELLINO, ChelseaSupportersGroup.net Chelsea started so slowly, virtually allowing Stoke to score first. David Luiz was responsible for the goal. We rallied after that but never looked like winning even after Drogba made it level. Cech was brilliant, pulling off two world-class saves, but perhaps the team as a whole have their eyes on the Champions League. Stoke always seemed to be first to the loose balls. They deserved their point. It was a big mistake on our part to take off Ramires, who is our central cog. It was a silly substitution. And Chelsea also began trying the long ball, which is pretty pointless against the kind of defenders Stoke have.

The fan's player ratings Cech 9; Bosingwa 5 (Ivanovic 6), David Luiz 7, Terry 8, Cole 8; Ramires 8 (Kalou 7), Essien 5, Lampard 6; Anelka 7 (Torres 7), Drogba 8, Malouda 6





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



Telegraph:


Stoke City 1 Chelsea 1:


By Rory Smith, Britannia Stadium



The broadcast Chelsea were forced to endure beforehand will have made their hearts sink. The video they will be forced to watch after this turgid display will make their bodies ache. The bruises that come with a typically pulsating visit to Stoke City will fade, though. It is the mental anguish of an afternoon which confirmed that their status as champions will soon pass which will be rather harder to dismiss.

It would be overly cynical, overly conspiratorial to suggest that every agonising second of Manchester United’s comeback at Upton Park was beamed on to the Britannia Stadium’s big screen simply to drain Carlo Ancelotti’s players of hope as they warmed up in its shadow.

That it will have made uncomfortable, dispiriting viewing, regardless of intent, is undeniable. Within eight minutes of kick-off, Chelsea were behind to Jon Walters’s strike; they fought back admirably to earn a frenetic point, but it will not be enough. Their chances of silverware now rest solely on the Champions League. The spectre of United haunts them there, too. Against Sir Alex Ferguson’s champions-elect, they have 180 minutes to save their season.

“We have a gap to close in the title race, whereas in the Champions League we are on the same level as all the other teams,” admitted Ancelotti.

“We were not thinking [about the title] and we are not thinking about it now. The gap is bigger than before, but we have to play our games, not think about United. We have to reach fourth place, first of all.”

After eight minutes here, even that seemed beyond them. Vignettes of Wayne Rooney rampaging through West Ham’s defence, the Premier League trophy fleeing Chelsea’s grasp, Ancelotti’s team were not simply devoid of hope. They were hopeless, lacklustre in possession, non-committal in the tackle. At the Britannia, at its baying best, such traits are tantamount to a suicide note.

Tony Pulis’s side might have gone ahead when Robert Huth headed over from a Jermaine Pennant corner; they did so a moment later as Walters, all menace and muscle, robbed David Luiz, marauded into the box, cut inside Michael Essien and blasted home.

The Brazilian, so feted for his early displays since his £23 million switch from Benfica, trotted back languidly as Walters raced away from him. He evidently knew he was in for a tough afternoon.

“I though Jon and Kenwyne Jones were fantastic,” said Pulis. Luiz is unlikely to remember either player’s display quite so fondly. The Trinidadian, at times, treated the Brazilian like a rag doll. The proverbial tricky afternoon in Stoke, the yardstick by which all imports are judged, was all too real for the darling of Chelsea’s fans.

His team-mates, though, are not so easily bullied. They battled their way back into the game - going close through Ashley Cole and Nicolas Anelka - before the Frenchman picked out Didier Drogba and the Ivorian, at full stretch, arrowed a header past Begovic.

That it should be that pair who combined for the equaliser will trouble Ancelotti; the Italian dropped Fernando Torres here, but will surely reinstate him on Wednesday night. Yet, for all that the Chelsea manager insisted the 30-minute substitute appearance made by Britain’s most expensive player brimmed with promise, he and Drogba continue to look like strangers.

Though the latter clipped the post early in the second half, both men spent much of the second period as observers, rather than participants. “We had the chances to win the game,” said Pulis. Always bashful, the Stoke manager was not exaggerating.

Pennant was denied by Petr Cech immediately after the break, before the Czech goalkeeper produced stunning saves to deflect efforts from Marc Wilson and then Huth on to the bar. Jones turned Luiz and fired wide, then headed past the post from a trademark Rory Delap throw.

Drogba, by far the most dangerous element of Chelsea’s expensive front line, still found time to hit the bar and Michael Essien saw an effort tipped over. Chelsea, though, did not deserve a winner; Stoke, who did, did not require one for the Britannia to erupt in delight at the final whistle.

Nor did they require one to confirm what Chelsea have, deep down, known for some time. There is a chant which the club’s travelling support are fond of, celebrating their status as champions. They have another six weeks to enjoy it. After that, it will transfer elsewhere.

After what they saw on the screen and then on the pitch in Stoke, even they will know that all hope has gone.




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




Mail:


Stoke 1 Chelsea 1: Potters dent wobbling Blues' fading title hopes

By Malcolm Folley



Chelsea's defence of the championship effectively came to an end on a balmy spring afternoon 35 miles south of Old Trafford yesterday.

No official surrender was signalled by Carlo Ancelotti but, as a manager who declared Chelsea had to win all nine of their remaining games, this was an untimely moment for the club to concede their first-ever Premier League points to Stoke.

Yet with West Ham's lunchtime capitulation, Sir Alex Ferguson's banishment to the directors' box at Upton Park looked to be the best seat in English football as Manchester United placed themselves over the hill and out of sight of Chelsea.

Eleven points separated the clubs last night and only a performance of outstanding athleticism from goalkeeper Petr Cech enabled Chelsea to earn even a point.

Ancelotti's mission for the remainder of the season has been simplified.

He has a two-match duel against Ferguson, beginning at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, to offer Chelsea's Russian proprietor Roman Abramovich the right to dream that he could yet lay his hands on the Champions League trophy at Wembley next month.

Nothing less can save Chelsea's season.

Not that Chelsea warranted criticism for their contribution yesterday.

No one had told the men in blue that, following United's comfortable victory, they were chasing a lost cause on a ground where Stoke are unbeaten in this calendar year.

No one had told them to preserve their energy or protect themselves from injury for the importance of their midweek appointment with United.

'Obviously, we are not so happy for the result, but it is right for this game,' said Ancelotti. 'We have to be objective. We have no injuries, we played for much of the game at our best against a team that is difficult to play against and we are in the best position to prepare for our first match with Manchester United on Wednesday.

'The gap between us is more open now, but we still have to play our games. But if in the title race we have to close a gap, in the Champions League we are at the same level as the other clubs left, so we have a chance to win it. I have to be happy my team were motivated today. Now we have to show our skills and best ability against United and we have 180 minutes to be successful.'

Ancelotti opted to play with Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka, assigning Fernando Torres a seat close to him on the touchline.

Even though he cost £50million, the Spaniard has learned the economics of the English game are still subservient to the pragmatic demands a manager places on performances and results.

After a run of 10 games without a goal, for club or country, Torres is a striker treading water.

In comparison, Drogba showed himself to be at his combative best. His physical presence required Stoke's central defenders, Robert Huth and Ryan Shawcross, to be on constant alert.

But the shape of the game was determined as early as the eighth minute when Jonathan Walters outwitted David Luiz.

Walters squeezed past the Brazilian on the left touchline, then travelled almost half of the field before checking inside Michael Essien to beat Cech with a stinging shot.

But Anelka and Drogba combined to lethal effect to create a 33rdminute equaliser rich in imagination and clinical in execution.

Anelka's tantalising cross was read superbly by Drogba, who stole half a yard on Danny Higginbotham and met the ball with a header that left goalkeeper Asmir Begovic a spectator.

Drogba's overall contribution will have made it hard for Ancelotti to consider meeting United without him.

'It's a good period for Drogba,' admitted the Italian.

Torres was introduced in the 61st minute, but showed no real inclination that he might end his goal drought.

Drogba hit the bar late on, but only after Cech had made three fine saves.

But for all the keeper's defiance, there was a sense that Chelsea's pursuit of United had run its course.




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



Mirror:


Stoke 1-1 Chelsea:

By Simon Mullock


Carlo Ancelotti wore the look of a man who knew that it was all over.

Sure, the Chelsea manager said the right things as he contemplated the state of the title race, but there was a distinct lack of defiance in his broken English sound bites as the reality of falling 11 points behind Manchester United seemed to sink in.

The very fact that Ancelotti admitted that his team now has a better chance of winning the Champions League confirmed has accepted the inevitable.

After all, Chelseaface United in the first leg of a European Cup semi-final on Wednesday night.

Then there could be Inter Milan, Barcelonaor Real Madrid to contend with.

But Ancelotti conceded: “I think we now have a better chance of winning the Champions League now.

“I say this because in the title race we now have a big gap to close, while in Europewe are on the same level as the other teams.

“We cannot think about the lead United have. We couldn’t think about them before this game and we still can’t think about them.

“But we have an important game in the Champions League now and we must be happy to be involved in a game like this.”

Didier Drogba scored for the first time since open play since January to cancel out Jonathan Walters’ early opener for Stoke.

But in truth, it was Chelsea who were hanging on at the end as Tony Pulis did his big mate Sir Alex Ferguson a big favour.

As Chelsea’s players warmed up they were able to watch United produce a performance dripping with character, commitment and class on the Britannia Stadium’s big screen.

It would not have made pleasant viewing.

To be fair to Ancelotti’s men they also had to dredge up the same qualities the leaders had shown at Upton Park as the home side at times threatened to overwhelm them.

The way Walters created Stoke’s goal in the eighth minute was right from the first page of Pulis’ coaching manual.

David Luiz discovered the hard way that Premier League forwards are bred to chase lost causes when Walters took full advantage of a moment of hesitation by the Brazilian when Glen Glenn Whelan sent a hopeful pass down the left flank.

But Walters then illustrated he has guile as well as guts, cutting inside Michael Essien with a dip of the shoulder before bludgeoning a low shot past Petr Cech.

“We only score from a throw-in,” mocked the Stoke fans.

But their confidence was soon displaced by concern.

Almost immediately, Ashley Cole forced Asmir Begovic into a smart save when he was allowed to threaten with a downward header despite being a yard offside.

Then, when Frank Lampard connected sweetly with a textbook volley from 20 yards that was blocked by Begovic, it needed Danny Higginbotham to hack the loose ball clear before Nicolas Anelka could prosper.

The equaliser, when it came in the 33rd minute, justified Anceotti’s decision to pair Drogba with Anelka and leave £50million Fernando Torres on the bench.

Anelka detected that Drogba had pulled out wide onto the shoulder of Higginbotham as he collected possession with time and space 30 yards out.

And when the Frenchman clipped his cross towards the penalty spot, Drogba’s speed of mind and body saw him edge in front of his marker to score with the kind of header that strikers dream of.

Chelsea were beginning to look like the side that had threatened to turn the title race into a procession in the early months of the season.

They were lucky that referee Peter Walton didn’t punish Essien’s spiteful two-footed lunge on Jermaine Pennant with nothing more than an admonishing arm around the shoulder.

But when Anelka curled a shot just wide at the start of the second half, it seemed only a matter of time before the Londoners’ superiority was reflected in the score.

Stoke showed that they wouldn’t be taking any more backward steps with a flowing move that ended with Pennant shooting against the legs of Cech after both Walters and Jones had cleverly stepped over Matthew Etherington’s low cross.

But moments later, Essien and Anelka combined to send Drogba clear to bobble and angled shot against the outside of Begovic’s right-hand post.

Torres replaced Anelka just after the hour and immediately saw a shot blocked by Marc Wilson.

But the Spaniard never got another chance to bring an end to a scoring drought that has now stretched to eight games in a Chelseashirt.

Stoke, urged on by fans who thrive in times of adversity, somehow turned the blue tide.

Twice in the space of 30 seconds the home side shuddered Cech’s crossbar, although both times the Chelsea keeper excelled.

First, Cech went full length to divert Wilson’s thunderous long-range drive against the woodwork after the defender had marched onto Whelan’s short free-kick.

And the Czech intervened again by flinging out a hand to tip Robert Huth’s far-post header onto the bar from Etherington’s corner.

Luiz struggled throughout with the pace and power of Walters and Jones - and Terry didn’t fare much better alongside him.

Jones brushed aside both of Chelsea’s central defenders with contempt only to shoot to too high.

Then Cech did well to nudge away Etherington’s header despite having Walters stood in his eyeline in an offside position.

Jones header one of Rory Delap’s trademark long throws wide before Chelseaseemed to realise that the clock was beginning to count down on their title challenge.

Drogba shivered Begovic’s crossbar with a thunderous shot on the turn.

And then Essien had a rising drive turned over by the Stoke keeper.

But it was the home side that could have won it deep into six minutes of injury time when Ricardo Fuller’s header drifted just wide.




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



People:


Stoke 1-1 Chelsea: Brave Potters dent Blues title hopes

by Steve Bates



FORGET the popular slur that Stoke are a one-trick pony, with long-throw expert Rory Delap their only ­weapon.

And forget the jibe that you need boxing gloves as well as shinpads at the Britannia Stadium.

Above all, though, forget the ­far-fetched notion that Cheslea can win the title this season.

Because on a day of high drama in the Premier League, Stoke delivered the fatal blow to Chelsea’s over-blown hopes of catching Manchester United, who dramatically won at West Ham earlier in the day.

And the Potters did it with a display that shattered every stereotype chucked at them since they ­bustled their way back into the big time.

Sure, boss Tony Pulis makes certain they maximise their strengths at set- pieces but Stoke matched the Blues for football yesterday, no question. And they should have won.

A point was no good to Carlo Ancelotti, who declared before the game that his stars have to be perfect if they are to run down United’s title lead.

But today that lead stands at a ­whopping 11 points and Ancelotti conceded that even a game in hand will not do Chelsea any good. The main concern now for the Italian is to lift his players for Wednesday’s titanic collision with Sir Alex Ferguson’s stars in their Champions League quarter-final at Stamford Bridge.

Because, make no mistake, this was the day Chelsea’s title dream died.

“We have no fear!” screamed the front-page headline on Stoke’s ­programme – and, boy, were they right. This was an heroic display by Pulis’ stars and clear evidence why the Premier League is more competitive than ever.

Stoke’s pulsating second-half ­performance was as good as you will see from a so-called small club against a top-four side like Chelsea. But for the brilliance of Petr Cech, Ancelotti’s men would have lost.

Four times after the break, as Stoke boldly pressed for a winner, Cech made fabulous saves. He pushed the ball on to the bar from Marc Wilson’s free-kick and a Robert Huth header, and used his feet to deny Jermaine Pennant and Matthew Etherington.

In the end, honours were even but the moral victory was Stoke’s.

Chelsea must have felt deflated after watching United storm back at Upton Park as they went through their ­pre-match warm-up routine. The big screen showing United’s remarkable revival was just a few yards away as they did their stretching and drills,

Just in case they had not grasped the magnitude of losing a golden ­opportunity to close the gap further on United, the stadium announcer made sure in a bid to give Stoke’s stars an added lift.

It proved a morale-sapping blow for Chelsea, who knew there was no margin for error in the title battle.

But Stoke delivered another kick in the teeth with just seven minutes gone.

Huth had already served notice of a tricky afternoon ahead with a first-minute header that went narrowly over when he played a decisive role in the opening goal.

The German defender played the ball forward, Jonathan Walters beat David Luiz to the punch and sped into the space vacated by missing right-back Jose Bosingwa.

Walters raced towards the box, cut inside Michael Essien in the area and cracked a low drive inside Cech’s right-hand post for his eighth goal of the season.

But, as United showed at Upton Park, top teams do not buckle, however damaging the blow. Chelsea responded instantly and only a flying one-handed stop by Asmir Begovic stopped Ashley Cole’s header from an Essien cross sneaking in.

Stoke braced themselves as they knew their ­ability to hold on would be tested – and they were right. The Blues ­powered forward and the pressure told after 32 minutes.

Nicolas Anelka caressed a floated ball into the box and Didier Drogba stole a yard on Danny Higginbotham, attacked the space and sent a diving header soaring past Begovic.

After the break, Drogba clipped a post with a smart effort and his ­impressive display means he looks a cert to start against United ahead of Fernando Torres, who arrived as a 61st-minute sub but did nothing.

Stoke looked likelier to grab a ­winner and, deep into injury time, City sub Fuller almost squeezed home a last-gasp header from Etherington’s cross but the ball drifted wide.

A delighted Pulis said: “We had the chances to win it but you have to hand it to Chelsea.

“They have a massive Champions League game against United but their attitude was first-class.”

man city 2-0

Independent:


Late win lifts Chelsea into third spot

Chelsea 2 Manchester City 0

By Ben Rumsby, PA



Another virtuoso display from David Luiz helped keep Chelsea's faint Barclays Premier League title hopes alive and kill off Manchester City's in today's clash at Stamford Bridge.

Defender Luiz put a clutch of the world's most expensive strikers to shame by breaking the deadlock late on before Ramires wrapped up the points in stoppage-time.

The win lifted Chelsea above City into third place and back within nine points of Manchester United with a game in hand, while City are now 10 adrift having played the same number of matches.

Carlos Tevez's groin injury was a huge blow for the visitors and an even bigger boost for their opponents ahead of kick-off.

The Argentina striker had been the scourge of Chelsea since leaving Manchester United, scoring four times in three successive victories against them.

Mario Balotelli missed out for very different reasons, despite apologising for the moment of madness that saw him sent off against Dynamo Kiev in the Europa League on Thursday night.

Reports of a bust-up with boss Roberto Mancini may not have helped the striker's cause.

One man who had served his time was Chelsea skipper John Terry, who entered the field to chants of, "There's only one England captain!", with Fabio Capello sat in the stands.

The reinstated defender was a bit slow to close down Yaya Toure in the sixth minute, the midfielder given enough space to fire a low 20-yard drive saved well by Petr Cech.

City were on top but Chelsea looked dangerous on the break, wasting a great chance to take a 12th-minute lead when the recalled Salomon Kalou fell over team-mate Ramires as both tried to finish from 12 yards.

That was the cue for the home side to take a grip and they were denied what appeared a clear penalty in the 20th minute when Joleon Lescott handled Kalou's cross.

James Milner, starting for the first time since last month's Manchester derby, earned the game's first yellow card five minutes later after felling Florent Malouda in full flight.

Apart from the early Cech save, neither goalkeeper was being tested, hardly a surprise considering both sides' central strikers had yet to score a Premier League goal for their clubs.

Torres' drought for Chelsea was approaching eight hours and he had not had a sniff on what was his 27th birthday.

That changed in the 34th minute when Kalou presented him with a chance on his left foot from 10 yards, but the Spaniard's lack of confidence was palpable as Nigel de Jong slid in to intercept.

Vincent Kompany then put his body in the way of Frank Lampard's close-range finish.

Kalou almost broke the deadlock three minutes before the break when he brilliantly controlled Malouda's low cross before turning and shooting straight at Joe Hart.

The second half did not start promisingly but when City gifted the ball to Torres in the 51st minute, the striker set up a wonderful, flowing move that Malouda should have finished with a goal instead of sidefooting straight at Hart.

There was concern soon after when Terry stayed down after falling awkwardly.

The reinstated England captain appeared in agony as Capello looked on stony-faced but, following brief treatment, Terry was able to continue.

City came back into the game before De Jong was cautioned for a blatant body check on Essien.

Branislav Ivanovic was unlucky not to give Chelsea a 62nd-minute lead when his point-blank bullet header from Lampard's cross hit Kompany.

Edin Dzeko back-headed Milner's free-kick wide before Ramires was booked for clattering into Aleksander Kolarov.

With 20 minutes, remaining, Torres and Malouda were withdrawn for Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka.

Dzeko was booked for a foul on Luiz before Chelsea brought on Yury Zhirkov for Kalou.

A goal immediately followed as Luiz earned a 77th-minute free-kick wide on the left, Drogba whipped the ball in and the Brazilian glanced a header through the fingertips of Hart.

City sent on Adam Johnson for Milner before Barry saw yellow for a foul on Ramires.

Luiz went close to converting another free-kick from Drogba, who became the latest victim of a bookable offence when brought down by Kolarov.

City threw men forward but they were killed off in the second minute of stoppage time when Ramires danced through their defence before clipping beyond Hart.

There was still time for Luiz to blot his copybook with a late caution but the points were already secure.




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




Telegraph:


Chelsea 2 Manchester City 0

By Henry Winter



All good teams boast a back-up strategy and Plan B for Brazilians certainly worked brilliantly for Chelsea at the Bridge on Sunday. Late goals from David Luiz and Ramires kept Chelsea’s title flame flickering after their initial tactical set-up failed to bring the best out of Fernando Torres, the birthday boy denied the gift of a goal he craved.

In leapfrogging City into third, the champions now lie within four points of Arsenal and nine of Manchester United. Chelsea, who have a game in hand over the leaders, must still travel to Old Trafford.

If Sir Alex Ferguson’s famously resilient side rightly remain favourites, nervy Arsenal certainly look vulnerable to a late Chelsea charge, particularly with Luiz and Ramires playing as vibrantly like this.

Luiz has quickly become a darling of the Bridge. The centre-half’s willingness to take risks in possession may haunt the sleep of his manager, Carlo Ancelotti, but the fans love it. The man who seems to use the same hairdresser as Carlos Valderrama certainly makes things happen.

Life’s not boring with Luiz about. At one point in the second half, Luiz tangled for possession with Edin Dzeko and his shorts came down.

It was not the full Sammy Nelson, not even a half-Nelson, but it provided more entertainment. He also scored a vital goal, heading home after City had resisted Chelsea for 78 minutes. His fellow-Brazilian, and former Benfica team-mate, added the second.

Ramires’ goal was a gem, weaving through City’s defence, and a slight surprise as the No 7 shirt had been deemed jinxed here in recent years; previous incumbents included Adrian Mutu, Winston Bogarde, Bernard Lamborde and Andrei Shevchenko. When he arrived for £18m, Ramires resembled a little boy lost in the big, bad playground of English football, a paper aeroplane in the wind-tunnel of the physical, pacy Premier League. Ramires settled in, put in some big tackles, and looks increasingly integral to Chelsea’s future.

As should Carlo Ancelotti be. The day began with Chelsea’s chief executive, Ron Gourlay, making some unnecessary comments on radio about the Italian’s future, saying that judgement would be made this summer. Ancelotti, one of the game’s good guys and an excellent manager, deserves an extension to a contract that expires in 2012, not the lukewarm words of his employer. At least, Roman Abramovich was here on Sunday and appeared to be enjoying it.

While Chelsea should rightly celebrate victory, the Torres conundrum persists. Abramovich’s £50m signing had the starting XI seemingly shaped to his design; Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba both began sitting behind Ancelotti, although they arrived midway through the second half and helped turn the game.

On being removed, Torres cut a disconsolate figure sitting, hunched, on the bench but he should look across town for inspiration. At Arsenal, Dennis Bergkamp took eight games to score, and Thierry Henry another game, and they became prolific idols. Torres will come good.

City will hope Edin Dzeko also begins delivering, although he was an isolated figure for much of this game as Chelsea dominated. City were missing Carlos Tévez, suffering with a slight groin problem, so blunting their cutting edge, seeing only a Yaya Touré shot in the first half. but they lacked none of their usual defensive resilience.

Vincent Kompany was terrific again. Defenders are rarely celebrated in the end-of-season individual awards but the Belgian deserves a mention alongside the likes of Nemanja Vidic.

Kompany had to be on his guard as Micah Richards ventured forth frequently, and Ashley Cole was quick to target the area vacated by the marauding City right-back.

Chelsea had their chances and Torres never stopped showing for the ball. He needs to regain that burning acceleration that saw off opponents. In a listless first period, Torres was caught by Nigel de Jong in a sprint over 15 yards.

Alongside Torres in their 4-4-2 was Kalou, getting into good positions but failing to hit the target. He could have earned a penalty, his cross hitting Joleon Lescott’s left arm, but Chris Foy waved play on. When Kompany then slipped, Kalou swivelled and shot straight at Joe Hart.

The game continued to meander through the second half, the song remaining the same, of Chelsea control and City blockade. Torres was working hard but the eye kept being drawn back to Luiz. He linked with Lampard, creating a chance for Branislav Ivanovic, who headed straight at Kompany. Abramovich swung a fist through the air in frustration.

City’s industry was immense, Aleksandar Kolarov and Nigel De Jong both throwing themselves in the way of Michael Essien’s attempted pass. City’s attacks were limited, although Dzeko flicked a header just wide.

Luiz was more and more visible, joining in the widespread sympathetic applause as Torres was substituted in the 70th minute. The Brazilian moved across to shake hands with the departing Spaniard.

Still Chelsea pressed. Still Kompany stood firm, heading away a Lampard free-kick. Luiz was making more frequent visits to Hart’s area, even geeing up the Matthew Harding end to crank up the volume.

He soon sent the noise off the dial. When Drogba swerved in a free-kick from the left, Luiz darted in between Kompany and Kolarov. The header still needed to be directed superbly, angled down past Hart.

As Chelsea celebrated, Mancini was forced to change course. He had planned to park the bus with two more defenders, Dedryck Boyata and Jerome Boateng, but had to release the handbrake. Mario Balotelli and Adam Johnson came on but the most dangerous wave flooding across the pitch was pure royal blue.

Ashley Cole had an effort blocked before Ramires struck an elegant second in stoppage time. Gliding past Lescott and Kolarov, Ramires swept the ball past Hart. Brazil 2, City 0.




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



Guardian:


David Luiz's goal helps Chelsea to third in the table above Manchester City

Kevin McCarra at Stamford Bridge



The persistence of Chelsea was outdone only by the patience of the crowd. This was one of those occasions when expensive sides seem intent on producing shoddy football. The victors can be faulted only slightly. Even when they were caught up in the dreariness, Chelsea still had a desire to attack and deserved the late goals. Manchester City did not change their conservative stance until it was too late. The injured Carlos Tevez was badly missed but a club with City's funds is supposed to have redoubtable alternatives.

In a sense they do. Edin Dzeko cost £27m when bought from Wolfsburg in January but is yet to score in the League. It might be of help to him and any other attacker if there was more freedom and attacking intent from City. It is Chelsea who have at least the potential to dominate. Fernando Torres is still to score since the £50m move from Liverpool but there was enough flair around him to deter the crowd from brooding about his work.

The scorer of the opening goal, for instance, must reinforce the belief that Chelsea can be rejuvenated so that they stay to the fore even during a time of partial reconstruction. David Luiz is an inspired recruit. He cost some £21m from Benfica and the purchasers are right to think they have pulled off a coup even at that substantial price.

The Brazilian looks capable of everything, whether it is trenchant defending, skilful bursts into midfield or, in this case, the scoring of an opening goal. With 79 minutes gone he headed home a free-kick delivered by the substitute Didier Drogba. It will not come easy for the Ivorian to accept that, at 32, he must spend more time on the bench but it may be that he can be an asset even if there is limited time at his disposal. Drogba, of course, might feel he can displace Torres, although there is no indication that the manager, Carlo Ancelotti, has lost even the merest trace of his faith in the striker.

The equanimity comes more readily when results are pleasing. Chelsea may be revitalising themselves and, as if David Luiz's impact did not suffice, the value of Ramires is gradually being disclosed. He has seemed diligent, with a bad habit of collecting yellow cards that gives him seven following the caution here, but there was a dazzling glimpse of other attributes in stoppage time. The midfielder beat both Joleon Lescott and Aleksandr Kolarov before putting a stylish shot past the goalkeeper Joe Hart.

Beyond the outcome itself the atmosphere around Chelsea was bright. Irrespective of who identifies and signs players, recruitment is going well at present. Ancelotti, in any case, looks like a person who had never supposed he would wield absolute power. After all, he used to work for Silvio Berlusconi's Milan. At City, on the other hand, the issue of squad-building is liable to be a topic of recrimination.

The quality of the displays is far from a fair reflection of the sums committed to the project. After the epic fees it is disconcerting to watch what again appeared to be a run-of-the-mill team. Roberto Mancini is probably determined to keep vanity at bay but there is a fear that he has gone too far with this puritanism. City, for instance, mustered one goal in two matches as Dynamo Kyiv eliminated them from the Europa League.

Dashing football is not necessarily a luxury or proof of naivety. City, with their conservative manner, have scored markedly fewer Premier League goals than any of the other sides in the top four. Yaya Touré is an impressive all-round footballer but one has to wonder if City meant to buy a gifted holding player and turn him into an attacking midfielder. At Stamford Bridge the role seemed not to suit the Ivorian and it may be that any impact has come against poorer opponents. Touré was replaced before the end.

Elsewhere it was a conundrum that someone with the ability of David Silva was never a source of deep anxiety for Chelsea. A balance has to be struck but City's owners must have had in mind spectacle and entertainment that would see their team admired, even if a little resentment of their affluence lingered. Although the very idea makes no sense, Mancini looked hell-bent on putting together a diligent line-up that are hard to overcome.

That is a starting point but the tolerance of the owners will be unusual indeed if they do not begin to wonder whether there might be another manager who can go about his business with more dash and personality. In the light of the situation overall it was to be anticipated that José Mourinho would be tipped as a prospective manager of City.

He already has a job, of course, at a club of some standing and, if Real Madrid should part with him, Mourinho is also pictured as a successor to Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United. Even so, Mancini may have to introduce panache if he is not to find himself expendable.




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




Mail:


Chelsea 2 Manchester City 0: King David is head boy as Luiz gets jump on negative Mancini

By Matt Lawton



At one stage at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, Carlo Ancelotti actually appeared to be in a rather precarious position.

The day had started with Ron Gourlay, the Chelsea chief executive, seemingly suggesting the Italian’s future would be up for review in the summer and the pressure intensified when Fernando Torres trudged off after another fruitless 70 minutes.

Up in his private box, Roman Abramovich did not look happy. There was a shake of the head, the Russian clearly frustrated by the fact that his £50million striker has now failed to score in seven games.

It was all the more significant because Abramovich has made so few appearances at Stamford Bridge since the turn of the year. Wednesday’s goalless draw with Copenhagen was his first and this was his second. He clearly felt he was not getting his money’s worth.

But then came a more than satisfying consolation prize. Two goals from the two other players Chelsea’s owner has spent a sizeable sum of money on in the last 12 months — first from the wonderful David Luiz and then from the rapidly improving Ramires. The boys from Brazil had served their paymaster well. Their manager, too.

In fairness to Chelsea, and indeed Ancelotti, it was no less than they deserved. The three points that edged them into third place were a reward for their ambition against an ultra-defensive Manchester City.

If Roberto Mancini did throw a suitcase at Mario Balotelli after his red card in the Europa League last Thursday, he did not throw much at Chelsea. Certainly not the kitchen sink.

True, he was hamstrung by the injury that kept Carlos Tevez on the sidelines. But the approach he employed was depressingly negative, not least when it came to the restrictions he imposed on his full-backs.

While Ashley Cole and Branislav Ivanovic were forever attacking down the flanks, Micah Richards and Aleksandar Kolarov too often had to suppress their attacking instincts.

There were some fine performances. Vincent Kompany was superb at centre-half while Nigel de Jong was a destructive force in midfield. The irrepressible James Milner also impressed.

But the most telling moment for City came when Yaya Toure picked up an injury that forced him to come off. Mancini was intending to send on Dedryck Boyata until Luiz scored his 78th-minute goal and forced City’s manager to be a touch more adventurous, unleashing Balotelli and Adam Johnson from the bench instead.

Compare that to Ancelotti. Not content with a goalless draw, he made two bold changes eight minutes before the breakthrough came from Luiz. Off came Torres and Florent Malouda and on went Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka.

While it was Luiz who earned the free-kick, for a foul by Richards, it was Drogba who delivered the ball that the South American met with a quite brilliant glancing header. On Sunday's evidence, Drogba looks a better bet than Torres at the moment. He posed a real threat from the moment he came on, his more physical approach putting City’s back four under far more pressure.

For Torres, it was much more difficult and not just because he too often appeared isolated despite the best efforts of Ancelotti to provide him with the service that has been so lacking. This time Torres partnered Salomon Kalou and while the latter started brightly, they still struggled to click as a partnership.

In defence of all those who have played alongside Torres, the Spaniard’s failure to score in 498 minutes of football for Chelsea is not just down to them. Torres still lacks the explosive acceleration that has been missing since he picked up a nasty knee injury last season.

That said, it was not the principal reason why his best opportunity of the match was denied by a superb interception from De Jong.

It might have looked as though Torres hesitated but the ball from Kalou, a delightful flick, just lacked the weight to get him away from the Dutchman and so enable him to shoot with his left foot.

It was one of a number of chances Chelsea had in the first half. Kalou might have scored had he not been brought down inadvertently by Ramires and a fine challenge from Kompany also prevented Torres from breaking his duck.

There was little in response from City, although that had much to do with the sheer excellence of Luiz and John Terry, who are forming quite a partnership. They presented an impenetrable barrier in front of the dependable Petr Cech.

There was an anxious moment in the 53rd minute when Terry collided with Toure. Anxious, anyway, for the watching Fabio Capello. One can imagine the thoughts that passed through the England manager’s mind. The embarrassment of having to go back to Frank Lampard and dare tell him that, despite the ridiculous events of the last week, he was really rather impressed with his performance as captain against Denmark.

But Terry is nothing if not courageous and what pain there was soon subsided. You got the feeling on Sunday that Ashley Cole could have shot his captain and he still would have played on.

Somebody in the crowd was directing a green laser at Chris Foy, but it did not distract the referee enough to stop him awarding the all important free-kick for Chelsea.

Once Luiz had put Chelsea in front, City had to attack with more urgency and it was when they were chasing the game in second half stoppage time that Ramires doubled the home side’s advantage.

It was a terrific goal, the Brazilian first surging past Joleon Lescott and then Kolarov before driving a right-foot shot beyond the reach of Joe Hart.

Pressure off Chelsea. Pressure off Ancelotti. For now, anyway.



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



Mirror:


Chelsea 2-0 Man City

By Martin Lipton



He arrived as the most expensive afterthought in history, the £21million signing who almost slipped under the radar as Fernando Torres landed at Chelsea.

But while the Spaniard is looking like an Iberian Andriy Shevchenko, the latest Roman Abramovich vanity buy, David Luiz has made himself a Stamford Bridge hero.

Torres has now played 498 minutes for Chelsea, across seven games, without ever really threatening to get off the mark, the £50million man experiencing a 27th birthday that he is unlikely to have celebrated.

The former Liverpool man appears increasingly unhappy, his continued presence in the side a signal that Carlo Ancelotti - who could have done without the breakfast intervention of chief executive Ron Gourlay - would rather upset the balance of the team than risk alienating his owner.

Yet last night, Luiz did more than just reinforce his growing status as the latest SW6 pin-up boy, imperious in his own box, assured bringing the ball out, deadly at the other end.

Just after an unimpressed Abramovich was left shaking his head at Torres' latest early exit, after 70 minutes of unfocused and uncomfortable toil, Luiz transformed the mood of the Bridge.

Quite what Luiz was doing playing wide on the left wing with 15 minutes left, to draw the needless foul from Micah Richards, probably only the Brazilian knows.

And when Didier Drogba, on for the labouring Torres, drilled in the ensuing free-kick, it was almost inevitable that Luiz would be the man to get the vital touch, six yards out, and help put Ancelotti's team back above City for the first time since December 11.

The victory, one which will have helped Ancelotti far more than Gourlay's suggestion he would be "judged" at the end of the season, was deserved, too, confirmed as Ramires slalomed his way through a disintegrating City defence to set the seal on it in stoppage time.

Not that Chelsea were impressive. They weren't.

Indeed, for long periods, with Torres running down blind alleys, Chelsea had plenty of the ball but precious little penetration, stymied with relative ease by City's defensive organisation, as Vincent Kompany and Joleon Lescott stood firm.

Too often the ball was transferred ponderously slowly, much to Ancelotti's evident chagrin, with Torres decidedly unimpressive, nothing like the player Abramovich thought he was bringing to the club for that record outlay.

Speculative and unlikely off-target efforts from Florent Malouda, Ashley Cole and an initially subdued Frank Lampard, were signs of a lack of certainty and when there was a real sight of Joe Hart's goal, Ramires and Salomon Kalou - the latest to be handed the hospital pass of trying to make Torres look good - managed to trip each other.

Kalou, spinning smartly on a Malouda cross, did shoot at the England keeper and at the start of the second period, after a rare positive moment from Torres, Malouda wasted a great opportunity with a tame finish.

Luckily for Chelsea, City, so lacking in ambition, so limited in their game-plan, so badly lacking groin victim Carlos Tevez, could not hurt them.

While Yaya Toure brought an early low save out of Petr Cech down to his right, the lumbering Edin Dzeko demonstrated just how damaging was the absence of Tevez - and the effort Mario Balotelli's red card against Kiev had forced them to expend - and John Terry and Luiz were able to dominate their limited forays forward.

Luiz made three vital interceptions as City worked their way into the box while at the other end Kompany got lucky in blocking Branislav Ivanovic's point-blank header.

But Torres' departure, with Nicolas Anelka also entering the fray, saw Roberto Mancini's team forced ever deeper, leading to the key moment as Richards' indiscretion was punished.

City did not have the wherewithal to respond, even though Mancinio sent on bad boy Balotelli and Adam Johnson as desperation measures.

And while they had a late flurry, it never really looked as if it would force an error from Luiz and Terry, shrugging off a knee knock.

Ramires ensured the points when he received from Michael Essien, went past Joleon Lescott and Aleksandr Kolarov and once more gave Hart no chance, a terrific goal worthy of a far better game.

Not that the performance bothered anybody.

Chelsea, despite Torres, are on the up and up. City, suddenly, slipping and vulnerable.

Chelsea (4-4-2): Cech 6; Ivanovic 6, Luiz 8, Terry 8, Cole 6; Ramires 7, Lampard 5, Essien 5, Malouda 6 (Anelka, 70, 6), Torres 5 (Drogba, 70, 6), Kalou 7 (Zhirkov, 77, 6)

Manchester City (4-5-1): Hart 7; Richards 7, Kompany 8, Lescott 7, Kolarov 6; Milner 7 (Johnson, 81, 6) , De Jong 7, Toure 6 (Balotelli, 81, 5), Barry 6, Silva 6; Dzeko 5

Referee: Chris Foy

Hero: Luiz - Commanding at the back, clinical up front

Villain: Dzeko - Offered nothing other than a flick header wide



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Sun:


Chelsea 2 Man City 0

From SHAUN CUSTIS at Stamford Bridge


DAVID LUIZ has a dodgy barnet but he is proving to be a cut above Fernando Torres.

The Chelsea hair-o slipped under the radar when he signed for £23million from Benfica because of all the hullabaloo over Torres' £50m move from Liverpool.

But Brazilian ace Luiz has become a cult figure at The Bridge, while Torres is a forlorn one.

Luiz was outstanding at the back. But, more importantly, it was his header from a free-kick by Torres' replacement Didier Drogba which set Chelsea on the way to victory and put them back in the title race.

The Blues only got going once the misfiring Torres, celebrating his 27th birthday, was hauled off.

He has now notched up seven appearances amounting to 498 minutes without a goal for his new club.

The Spaniard did not look a happy man when his number finally came up but he could not argue with the decision.

Mind you, he was not the only striker who failed to justify his existence.

City have one of their own misfiring in Edin Dzeko, who has still to hit a Premier League goal since his £27m arrival.

Dzeko was not helped by City's tactics, which were about getting a point rather than trying for the three that would have enhanced their own title prospects.

Without Carlos Tevez, who failed a morning fitness test on a groin injury, they simply ooze negativity.

The club spends hundreds of millions of pounds but are hardly the great entertainers.

It is not in Roberto Mancini's nature.

The defensive traditions of Italy's Serie A have stifled the life out of him.

For a long time, they seemed to have had the same effect on Carlo Ancelotti, his former Italy team-mate and one-time arch-rival from the days when Ancelotti was managing AC Milan and Mancini was in charge of Inter.

Chelsea started with £185m of talent on display to City's £179m.

But they cancelled each other out and it was pretty dull stuff.

An early shot from Yaya Toure, which brought an excellent save from Petr Cech, offered promise but it was a false dawn.

Then Salomon Kalou fell over his own player, Ramires, as he shaped to shoot for Chelsea and Nigel De Jong made a brilliant sliding challenge as the hesitant Torres was poised to pull the trigger.

Yet it was heart-in-the-mouth time for John Terry and watching England boss Fabio Capello just after the break.

Terry made a stretching tackle on Toure but, having got the ball, was left crumpled in a heap holding his right knee.

For a moment it seemed Terry was in serious trouble and would not only have to go off but could be out of the England squad for this weekend's Euro 2012 qualifier against Wales in Cardiff.

That would have been a nightmare for Capello, who has made such a pig's ear of the captaincy issue over the past week.

Terry struggled to his feet and was limping around for a good 10 minutes without ever being interested in having the ball.

But he kept on going and the crowd's chant of 'One England captain' spurred him on.

Chelsea went close when Branislav Ivanovic climbed to get in a header but saw the ball strike Vincent Kompany and bounce wide.

Then Dzeko had a rare chance. But his attempted back-flick header from James Milner's free-kick went wide.

With 20 minutes left, the No 9 went up and Torres stared at it for a moment, pondering over whether his Chelsea career could get any worse.

He trotted off chuntering, while up in the stand there was a shake of the head from disgruntled owner Roman Abramovich.

Who knows whether it was the decision to sub him or the thought that he might have blown £50m which was exercising his mind.

With Drogba and Nicolas Anelka now on, Chelsea were a far greater threat.

And with 12 minutes left they won a free-kick on the left, after Luiz was fouled by Micah Richards.

Drogba whipped it over and, despite the fact Luiz was being held by Aleksandar Kolarov, Luiz managed to get his shaggy mop to the ball.

Joe Hart threw himself across his goal in a bid to keep the effort out. He got his left hand to it but could not prevent it fizzing across the line.

It was Luiz's second goal for the Blues and both of them have been hugely significant.

He also scored the equaliser in the 2-1 win over Manchester United at the beginning of the month.

Denied the point he wanted, Mancini had little option but to throw on bad boy Mario Balotelli and winger Adam Johnson to try to salvage the situation.

Yet it was Chelsea who were in the ascendancy. Luiz almost scored again from a second Drogba free-kick, only for the ball this time narrowly to elude him in the six-yard box

Ramires, another Brazilian who cost a princely sum at £22m, had the final word.

He collected Michael Essien's through pass and superbly danced through a tired City defence in true Samba style before finishing emphatically with a right-foot shot that gave Hart no chance.

Chelsea's bid to retain their title was shot three months ago and there were even concerns that they would miss out on a place in the Champions League.

Now they are up to third and closing on the top. The force is with them.