liverpool 1-2

Independent:

Dominant Liverpool leave Bridge in ruins

Chelsea 1 Liverpool 2: Villas-Boas admits team have mountain to climb in Premier League as defeat leaves them 12 points adrift of leaders Manchester City

SAM WALLACE STAMFORD BRIDGE

When Andre Villas-Boas first arrived at Chelsea this summer, he joked that such was Jose Mourinho's part in the club's history that it was as if his mentor was sitting in the chair beside him. Watching Villas-Boas at times yesterday, it was not hard to imagine the questions being asked by the voice of Mourinho playing in his head.
He would surely have started with the state of Chelsea's defence, under pressure and ragged in the first half. He might have queried whether David Luiz has the temperament for these big occasions. He would have wondered at the wisdom of relying so heavily on Didier Drogba, back for the first time since his sending off against Queen's Park Rangers on 23 October. And, last of all, he would have asked what the hell has happened to Chelsea's once formidable record at home.
Villas-Boas needs no reminding that Mourinho never lost a league fixture at Stamford Bridge in more than three seasons. His protégé has now lost two in a row – to Arsenal and now Liverpool – and the team is starting to wobble.
This was a strange game, one which Liverpool dominated in the first half before the home side resolutely fought their way back into after the break. Then, after Villas-Boas sent on Fernando Torres and Raul Meireles, there was an instance of sloppiness in his defence and Glen Johnson ran through to score an unlikely winning goal.
It felt a little hard on Chelsea but this kind of misfortune tends to befall teams that are in a state of change and uncertainty. First, the 5-3 home defeat to Arsenal; now this result and, with the defeat to QPR, Villas-Boas find himself looking at three defeats in his side's last four league games.
Already, he was being asked yesterday whether he believes he has the backing of Roman Abramovich. That is hard enough for any manager to deal with, let alone one aged 34 with just one full season in management behind him. He will want to be judged on three years, not three months, but this is Chelsea, so who knows what will happen?
As for Liverpool, Kenny Dalglish said that it was no less than his team deserved, although they were much more convincing in the first half when Chelsea's defence was pressed into chaos, especially in the build-up to Maxi Rodriguez's opening goal. In the later stages, Jordan Henderson was introduced to great effect and his presence in midfield, as a replacement for Craig Bellamy, galvanised Liverpool.
Dalglish's problem is that Liverpool have suffered for their inability to see off the league's lesser lights. Had they beaten Norwich City and Swansea over the last four weeks, they would find themselves sitting in third place in the table. In the first half, Liverpool looked formidable but Villas-Boas's decision, at half-time, to switch to a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Frank Lampard and Ramires holding and Daniel Sturridge in place of John Obi Mikel, changed the game.
It was Sturridge who scored Chelsea's goal, coming in at the back post to finish a shot from Florent Malouda on the left that was so badly struck it ended up as a decent cross. The less said about Sturridge's celebrations the better – this young man certainly does not lack for confidence – but he does have a nose for goal.
It is those instincts that Villas-Boas could do with among the rest of his team. As Chelsea's domination increased in the second half, there was a bad miss by Malouda at the back post from Branislav Ivanovic's cross. As for Drogba, he barely had a shot worthy of the mention.
For a game that had been billed, in some respects, as a comparison between Torres and Andy Carroll, it was telling that the two players who made such significant moves in January played a total of seven minutes of the 90 between them. Torres was obliged to warm-up yards from the away end, who, unsurprisingly, chanted at him, 'Are you happy on the bench?', before he was given just six minutes.
There was even less time for Carroll, who was only sent on with a minute left and Liverpool leading the game. His touch looked ropey. Amid all the excitement, it did not go unnoticed that Jamie Carragher was also stuck on the bench; Dalglish preferring Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger in central defence.
There was, however, no quibbling with the quality of the winning goal. It began with Charlie Adam, one of Liverpool's most influential players, who hit a pass from left to right out to Johnson. He ran inside Ashley Cole, who never got a tackle in. Malouda's attempt to catch the full-back was risible and as the space opened up, Johnson tucked his shot past John Terry on the line.
It was another bad day for the Chelsea captain, his worst moment coming on 25 minutes when a ball across the pitch caught him out. Dirk Kuyt took it away from him and suddenly the Chelsea defence were running back towards their own goal. It took Luiz's intervention to get them out of trouble.
The goal for Rodriguez was much the same. Adam hassled Mikel off the ball deep in the Chelsea half and Liverpool proceeded to cut the home side open. Bellamy exchanged passes with Suarez and, with Chelsea's defence in bits, the Welshman put it on a plate for Rodriguez to score.
There was not enough from the likes of Juan Mata, Drogba and even Lampard going forward in the first half for Villas-Boas to be satisfied. It must be hard for a young manager to abandon his approach at half-time, as he was forced to yesterday, but if Chelsea are serious about Villas-Boas then he needs time. By the looks of it, he will need longer than this season with Chelsea now 12 points adrift of the leaders, Manchester City.
As for Liverpool, level on 22 points with Arsenal, Spurs and Chelsea, there was evidence to suggest they could be in the Champions League places at the end of the season and it sets them up nicely for City's visit on Sunday. It may even be a relief for Villas-Boas that Chelsea are away to Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday, but the familiar voice in his head will be telling him it should not be that way.

Rodriguez 33, G Johnson 87

Substitutes: Chelsea Sturridge 7 (Mikel, h-t), Torres (Drogba, 84), Meireles (Ramires, 84). Liverpool Henderson 6 (Bellamy, 66) Downing (Rodriguez, 77), Carroll (Suarez, 89).
Booked: Chelsea Luiz, Ramires, Ivanovic. Liverpool Lucas, Kuyt.
Man of the match Adam. Match rating 6/10.
Possession: Chelsea 54% Liverpool 46%.
Attempts on target: Chelsea 5 Liverpool 3.
Referee L Probert (Wiltshire).
Attendance 41,820.

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

Guardian:

Glen Johnson's late goal earns Liverpool victory against Chelsea

Kevin McCarra at Stamford Bridge

It is never too early for dark speculations at Stamford Bridge. At most clubs it would seem absurd even to doubt a new manager before November is behind him but it does matter that Chelsea are a dozen points off the lead in the Premier League and André Villas-Boas's side will not be in the top four should Tottenham Hotspur so much as draw at home to Aston Villa on Monday.
That, in itself, would scarcely be a decisive blow but the brooding about Chelsea would then intensify. While Villas-Boas is not in torment, yet the Champions League programme will become complicated should there be a defeat at Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday. The arrival of Liverpool denied Chelsea an opportunity to recover their poise.
It would be wrong to portray Kenny Dalglish's side as saboteurs. They may not have been in the ascendancy throughout the match but they did reach the heights with a neat winner in the 87th minute. Charlie Adam's piercing pass was collected by the former Chelsea right-back Glen Johnson, who went past Ashley Cole before shooting into the far corner of the net.
There is something incongruous about so worldly a squad as Chelsea's being taken advantage of in that manner. The brittleness will be cured only when the steel returns to the midfield as well as the back four.
The losers, all the same, should not be entitled to hog the attention. Liverpool were never cowed and did not need the £35m Andy Carroll to make an impression in attack, although he was introduced as a substitute in the 89th minute.
Chelsea had a protective approach of their own towards Fernando Torres, who had come on during Spain's friendly in Costa Rica last Tuesday. His introduction in this match must have been made reluctantly since there were only six minutes to go when he took over from Didier Dogba, but the late impact came from an entirely unanticipated source.
Perhaps, all the same, there should not have been such surprise at the impact of a full-back. For the time being, plenty of players ought to assume that their moment might come at Stamford Bridge. That sort of mood would have been delusional until the present spell but Chelsea are so fragile that only the three clubs in the relegation places have been breached as often or more at home in the League than Villas-Boas's men.
There was, however, much more to be taken from Stamford Bridge than evidence of Chelsea's disquiet. Liverpool, goalless at home to Swansea City in their previous outing, had not suggested that they would cause such satisfying havoc despite the fact that their record here has been impressive in recent years.
Even Dalglish might not have anticipated the vulnerability. After all the years of defensive stringency, it is incongruous to witness so brittle a line-up. Mikel John Obi, the defensive midfielder, was guilty of a crass error in letting himself be dispossessed deep in his own half by Adam. Craig Bellamy and Luis Suárez then combined, before Maxi Rodríguez rounded off the attack with a composed finish in the 33rd minute.
Chelsea did persevere and levelled after 55 minutes when Florent Malouda directed the ball towards the far post and the substitute Daniel Sturridge capitalised. The match could have been transformed in that spell but Pepe Reina made an outstanding save to get down to a header from Branislav Ivanovic, who was miserable and unsure when trying to attend to his normal duties in defence.
The hosts had been spasmodic at best. It typified them that the main piece of menace before half-time should be a set piece. The free-kick from Didier Drogba curled and looked as if it would creep inside the post instead of hitting the side netting. That was an uncommon moment of anticipation for the home crowd.
It makes sense that Chelsea should try to regain the solidity of old as a starting point but in this fixture they were forced to try to equal or outdo Liverpool in that regard. At that stage they seemed totally unconnected to the squad that ran up 103 goals to make themselves champions.
The concern for Abramovich will lie in the fact that there has been plenty of outlay since then that has somehow failed to constitute the makings of a new line-up that can match the established one. Blend and rapport are still out of reach if this defeat is dependable evidence.
Liverpool themselves have been embracing recent change, yet their circumstances are not so fraught. Great as the Anfield club are, no one there has anticipated domination in the near future. Chelsea expect much of themselves right now.
The trend at the club has been for immediate domination. Should a more patient approach be needed, it will be hard for Chelsea to embrace it. Villas-Boas's success at Porto was remarkable but much more will be asked of him in London. He should not count on patience.

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

Telegraph:

Chelsea 1 Liverpool 2

By Henry Winter

Everyone talked about the Ex-Factor, about whether it would be Fernando Torres or Raul Meireles biting the hand that once fed them so generously.
Nobody expected the ungrateful old boy to be Glen Johnson, who tipped his former Chelseacolleagues into a deepening depression with a magnificent late winner for Liverpool.
As Johnson celebrated with his team-mates, Kenny Dalglish leapt from the dug-out and performed a little jig of joy on the pitch, saluting the partying away throng in the Shed, knowing what a significant result this was.
Dalglish has revelled in some good moments for Liverpool here, notably sealing the title with a splendid volley in 1986, and his beaming smile has not changed.
If Dalglish’s features vividly captured the thrill of victory, Andre Villas-Boas desperately sought to put a brave face on a damaging defeat that highlighted the scale of the rebuilding job here.
Chelsea’s manager rather resembles a new house-owner discovering the surveyor’s report glossed over substantial structural problems.
In extending their unbeaten run to nine, Liverpool exuded qualities that Chelsea need: pace on the break, unity of purpose and resilience in adversity. Above all, everyone at Liverpool is behind Dalglish. How Villas-Boas would crave such dressing-room to boardroom fidelity enjoyed by Dalglish.
The truth was that Dalglish largely got his tactics right. Aware of the high defensive line favoured by Villas-Boas, Dalglish had gone for speed, unleashing Luis Suárez, Maxi Rodriguez, Dirk Kuyt and Craig Bellamy at John Terry and company.
Terry looked unsettled, responding to Liverpool’s high-speed attacks with all the composure of a hiker entering a field to find it filled with hornets. They kept buzzing at him. The alarm-bells rang all along Chelsea’s back-line. Even Ashley Cole, a byword for reliability, was caught out.
When Terry slipped, Kuyt steamed through and only David Luiz saved the day. The Brazilian, otherwise, was at his hair-raising worst, too lax on the ball and eventually wrestling with Kuyt.
The Brazilian looked an accident waiting to happen, particularly when Suárez was darting around him. The Uruguayan is a high-class pest in the best sense, giving everyone in blue no peace at all.
Chelsea still had first-half chances. Juan Mata had a shot deflected, John Obi Mikel fired over while Didier Drogba drilled a free-kick into the Matthew Harding Stand, but nerves continued to flood through Chelsea’s defence.
Liverpool fans were loving it, reminding their hosts of past painful encounters with a song about a certain Anfield “ghost goal” as Jose Mourinho so grumpily called it.
“Luis Garcia,” they sang, “he drinks sangria.” It was Chelsea who looked punch-drunk. A frustrated Branislav Ivanovic screamed at the referee. Yet for all their individual mistakes, Chelsea’s back-four were given little protection, particularly from Mikel, whose lack of concentration cost them dear after 34 minutes.
Charlie Adam, outstanding all game, sensed an opportunity and Liverpool were off and running, sprinting towards a dishevelled defence. Bellamy and Suárez exchanged passes and the Welshman could have shot but passed to Maxi, who swept the ball past Cech.
Yet the Portuguese can take decisive action. He had strong words with his players at the break. He made changes in personnel and tactics. Mikel was hooked, Daniel Sturridge unleashed down the right, Mata re-positioned in the hole, Ramires withdrawn into the holding role and Chelsea looked far better.
Drogba, whose days are surely numbered, shot over. But after 54 minutes Chelsea’s more assertive tempo was rewarded. Florent Malouda’s cross-shot reached Sturridge, who exploited poor marking by José Enrique to drive Chelsea level.
Chelsea were transformed. Drogba swirled in a ball that Ivanovic met with a glancing header seemingly destined for the net. Chelsea fans in the Shed were rising to their feet, ready to acclaim a goal. Pepe Reina had other ideas, throwing himself to his left to push the ball away. Wonderful save. Big moment, too.
Liverpool were struggling, forced deep, grateful for a Martin Skrtel charge from defence to relieve the pressure. Dalglish had to react. He chose to flood midfield, inserting Jordan Henderson for Bellamy, leaving Suárez slightly isolated. Still Chelsea poured forward, Malouda sending an overhead kick just wide.
Even Torres was running towards the away end, albeit on the tame side of the touchline. As he warmed up, Liverpool fans responded in spiky fashion, inquiring how life was on the Chelsea bench and greeting the £50?million man with an assortment of exotic hand-signals. Grim-faced as he accelerated towards them, Torres smiled on the way back.
But he’s needed on the other side of the line. With seven minutes remaining, Torres replaced Drogba in attack while Meireles anchored midfield for Ramires.
Yet it was Liverpool who gained a second wind. Henderson sped past Cole and Terry before crossing to Stewart Downing.
Unfortunately for Liverpool, Kuyt messed up the sub’s enticing lay-off. No matter. Brilliantly picked out by Adam’s crossfield pass, Johnson sped down the right, cut inside the sluggish Cole and placed a low shot past Cech, sending Dalglish on to the pitch and despair spreading through the home side’s technical area.
What this setback demonstrated is that Roman Abramovich must be patient. If you appoint a bright young mind to sort out a team with too many ageing legs, do not expect instant miracles.
Villas-Boas does have options, and the sooner Oriol Romeu and Sturridge are embedded the better, possibly Romalu Lukaku. He has money, and if Javi Martínez can be prised from Spain, he would be a marvellous addition.
Villas-Boas has to work on Torres, starting him and rebuilding his confidence. Most importantly, Abramovich needs to show belief in Villas-Boas.
It’s too early to make him an Ex.


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

Mail:

Chelsea 1 Liverpool 2: Johnson back to haunt Blues as Villas-Boas' slump continues
By MATT LAWTON

Roman Abramovich has certainly sacked managers for less than this. Is it ludicrous even to make such an observation, given how short a time Andre Villas-Boas has been in charge? Perhaps so.
But if Chelsea’s owner can dismiss Carlo Ancelotti for finishing second in the Barclays Premier League a year after guiding the club to a domestic Double, anything is possible at Stamford Bridge.
Right now second would appear well beyond Chelsea’s reach, a third defeat in four League games leaving them facing what could prove an almighty scrap even to secure a Champions League place. When the three teams who appear to be joining them in that fight are Arsenal, Tottenham and this Liverpool side, it is not going to be easy.
Thanks to a quite wonderful 87th-minute goal from Glen Johnson, the first player Abramovich bought at Chelsea, Villas-Boas’ side suffered a second consecutive home League defeat for the first time since the Russian arrived at the club in 2003.
But it is worse than that and not just because this comes after a defeat at Queens Park Rangers and that chaotic clash against Arsenal. It was the manner of the defeat that will worry the billionaire owner, the ineptitude of the first-half performance and Chelsea’s fragility in conceding the second goal despite the fact that they were the better side after the break.
It is not entirely Villas-Boas’ fault. This is a Chelsea team Sir Alex Ferguson considered old three years ago and although that might have been a bit premature, it looked about right on Sunday. The team is creaking, even with the arrival of players like Juan Mata and David Luiz.
But when Abramovich has already spent £800million on this club, the Portuguese manager could struggle to persuade his employer to part with more - particularly if the billionaire starts to have doubts in the knowledge that Guus Hiddink is now available and might be a better option when it comes to spending.
Scolari was sacked after four defeats in 25 league matches, Villas-Boas in has lost four in 12. Is it time for him to go?
Villas-Boas gave a marvellous response to such talk after the game, questioning whether Abramovich would spend £12.8m to get him out of Porto, only to pay ‘a fortune’ to get rid of him.
But history says he would. History and Chelsea’s accounts say he has done exactly that when things haven’t even been this bad. He sacked Jose Mourinho at the first sign of trouble and he sacked Luiz Felipe Scolari in his first season when four straight wins were followed by a defeat at Liverpool and a goalless draw at home to Hull.
After 12 games, Scolari’s Chelsea were top with 29 points; seven more than amassed by a 34-year-old who must be feeling the strain despite an admirable performance in his post-match press conference.
His players displayed nothing like the same kind of defiance, even if their manager’s insistence that they continue to press further up the field is not exactly helping them.
While both managers opted to leave seriously expensive signings on the bench - Fernando Torres and Andy Carroll among them - Kenny Dalglish picked a team capable of exploiting Chelsea’s tactics. With Luis Suarez and Craig Bellamy supported by Maxi Rodriguez and Dirk Kuyt, Liverpool had players who possessed the speed and skill to get in behind Chelsea’s back four and inflict serious damage.
They were assisted, in no small part, by the impact Charlie Adam and Lucas had in central midfield. During the opening 45 minutes, in particular, the duo dominated that area of the pitch.
But they were also helped by some shocking defensive indiscipline, not least from Luiz. Villas-Boas did not take kindly to Gary Neville’s description of Luiz as someone being controlled by a 10-year-old on a PlayStation but the former Manchester United defender was spot on.
The 24-year-old Brazilian is a talent, no question, but that talent needs harnessing.
That said, he was not responsible for the goal that Chelsea conceded after 33 minutes. John Mikel Obi was caught in possession by Adam after receiving the ball from Petr Cech and watched in horror as Adam fed Bellamy, who played a slick one-two with Suarez before the Welshman invited Rodriguez to score with ease.
Dalglish joked that he would have been less unselfish but it was some move and quite a finish.
By then, Chelsea had threatened. Mata hit a volley across the face of goal and Didier Drogba went painfully close with a free-kick.
But they ended the first half without managing a shot on target and Villas-Boas responded by replacing Mikel with Daniel Sturridge during the break.
Within 10 minutes the switch had paid off, a Chelsea team now playing with more urgency and finesse levelling the scores when Sturridge met a super cross from Florent Malouda at the far post.
A minute later, it required a magnificent save from Pepe Reina to divert a Branislav Ivanovic header to safety.
Chelsea were in control and when Torres finally stepped off the bench in the 84th minute there was a sense that the winning goal would come.
But it was a former Chelsea player, rather than a former Liverpool one, who produced the decisive strike, Johnson collecting a long diagonal ball from Adam, nutmegging Ashley Cole, holding off a meek challenge from Malouda and beating Cech with a terrific, left-foot finish.
It left Dalglish unbeaten in 12 games against Chelsea as the Liverpool manager and unbeaten in nine this season. For Villas-Boas, however, there was no such comfort.


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

Mirror:

Chelsea 1-2 Liverpool:
By Martin Lipton

The storm clouds are gathering at Stamford Bridge – with an orange lining.
And for Andre Villas-Boas, the nightmare scenario is starting to look more real with every passing week.
As Glen Johnson glided inside Ashley Cole, held off the woeful effort of Florent Malouda and steered beyond the flailing leg of the prone John Terry to send Chelsea plunging to their third defeat in four league games, the Portuguese knew what was coming.
Chelsea managers are not supposed to lose at home. Indeed, to lose twice on the spin at Stamford Bridge was not merely unthinkable, but unprecedented.
Not since Claudio Ranieri’s team were beaten by Manchester United and Aston Villa in 2002 – a year before Roman Abramovich bought out Ken Bates – have the Blues lost back-to-back top flight games on their own soil.
Not under Carlo Ancelotti, even at the darkest part of his three-month “bad moment”.
Not even under Luiz Felipe Scolari, sacked after just seven months as Abramovich turned to his Dutch Red Adair, Guus Hiddink.
But, in the week when Hiddink finally disentangled himself from Turkey, that is what Villas-Boas’ side have now done, falling 12 points adrift of the pace set by Manchester City, knowing they will drop out of the top four if Spurs draw at home to Villa tonight.
That the final thrust was delivered by a former Chelsea player, ironically one of the first bought by the Abramovich cash back in 2003, was perhaps inevitable. It was all the more so when the club’s biggest vanity purchase of all, Fernando Torres, kicked his £50million heels on the bench for 84 minutes.
This was, apart from a 30-minute spell at the start of the second half, about as poor a Chelsea display as any since the Russian took control, with the stunned silence at the final whistle, more than any boos that might have cascaded down, telling its own story.
For the best part of a decade, Chelsea have been about power and conviction, poise and certainty. About a team that assumed victory.
Last night, though, they were shaken out of their stride by Liverpool’s physicality, denuded of their sense of comfort, stripped bare of any self-belief and eventually filleted in public. The goals, Maxi Rodriguez opening the door before Johnson slammed it shut, were just examples of Chelsea’s ongoing defensive discomfort – the errors and laxity that has seen them ship 17 in 12 games, already squandering 14 points out of 36.
Many Bridge regulars have called for John Obi Mikel to be dropped but the crescendo reached fever pitch when he was scandalously caught in position by Charlie Adam 11 minutes from the break.
What followed was incisive and deadly, Craig Bellamy exchanging with Luis Suarez and then opting to tee up Maxi eight yards out, the Argentine marking his first league start of the season as he slid past Petr Cech.
Even before that, the continuing evidence of the defensive liability that is David Luiz had resurfaced. While Johnson eviscerated Ashley Cole, Adam and Lucas bossed the midfield and Didier Drogba was out-muscled by Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel.
When Villas-Boas’ interval switch, Daniel Sturridge replacing Mikel and a tactical change belatedly getting Juan Mata on the ball, started working almost instantly, Kenny Dalglish would have been cursing his side’s failure to press home their earlier advantage.
Sturridge caught Jose Enrique sleeping at the back post after Malouda was allowed to advance untenanted for a scuffed shot that turned into a perfect assist and the game looked to have turned.
While Terry and Luiz never looked happy, had Pepe Reina not excelled himself to deny Branislav Ivanovic’s flicked header two minutes later, it surely would have been a different story. But after surviving that, and a Malouda shot across the face of goal, the introduction of Jordan Henderson and Stewart Downing re-balanced things in Liverpool’s favour.Chelsea brought on former Reds Fernando Torres and Raul Meireles with six minutes left.
But it was Liverpool who pressed.
Dirk Kuyt was set up by Henderson skipping past Cole and Terry, and Downing but he shot wide when he should have hit the target.
A minute from time Adam’s crossfield pass allowed Johnson to slalom inside Cole, hold off Malouda and find the bottom corner.
Cue Merseyside delight, West London misery, more and growing doubts over a manager who suddenly starts to look 34 and vulnerable.
It is not all over yet and Villas-Boas remains defiant. Yet the ghosts of the past hang heavy in SW6.
And their weight was even greater last night.


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

Sun:

Chelsea 1 Liverpool 2

By SHAUN CUSTIS

GLEN JOHNSON was the first player Roman Abramovich bought for Chelsea.
Eight years on, the England full-back plunged the knife into the billionaire owner with the 87th-minute winner for Liverpool which put the pressure firmly on young boss Andre Villas-Boas.
Johnson, at £6million, was the start of Abramovich's building process — but he was eventually dumped because Chelsea were going on to bigger and better things.
Yet, today, they flounder 14 points behind leaders Manchester City and are in danger of dropping out of the top four.
The Blues are probably worse now than the day Johnson signed for them, despite having invested around £750m.
This was their third defeat in four Premier League games and the first time they had lost back-to-back home matches during Abramovich's regime.
The last occasion the Blues had so few points after 12 games was a decade ago.
The Russian gambled on Villas-Boas and paid £13m to get him from Porto in the summer — so it would seem a bit early to be thinking of a change.
But with the spectre of former caretaker-boss Guus Hiddink in the background, maybe the 34-year-old should have good reason for concern.
Watching the first half yesterday, you had to wonder what on earth the Portuguese fella has been doing with all his fancy charts and clipboards.
Chelsea were clueless. They were ponderous on the ball, uncertain whether to play it short or long and devoid of any creative ideas.
David Luiz was an accident waiting to happen, which seemed to instil nervousness in skipper John Terry and Liverpool could sense the unease around the Bridge.
Terry, of course, is the subject of a police inquiry into alleged racist abuse against Anton Ferdinand and he was up against Luis Suarez, who has been charged by the FA with racially insulting Manchester United's Patrice Evra.
Suarez looked the more comfortable and was involved in the 34th-minute goal which put Kenny Dalglish's side ahead after a cock-up in the Chelsea defence.
Petr Cech, who was at fault for two of the goals in the recent 5-3 home defeat by Arsenal, put Mikel in trouble by rolling the ball to the Nigerian 20 yards out and man-of-the-match Charlie Adam pounced.
The Scottish midfielder got away and fed Craig Bellamy. He exchanged passes with Suarez before picking out the unmarked Maxi Rodriguez and his finish was cool as you like.
Didier Drogba, preferred to £50m ex-Liverpool striker Fernando Torres, had earlier gone close with a free-kick which was inches wide — but other than that Chelsea were a poor second best.
Villas-Boas seemed to know what the Mata was and switched Juan Mata into the middle at half-time while bringing on Daniel Sturridge for Mikel.
Sturridge, who has made it clear he wants to start for Chelsea as the main striker, was shoved out wide but made an impact within 10 minutes.
Florent Malouda got away down the left after taking a pass from Terry and his miss-hit shot fell perfectly for Sturridge who finished at the back post.
Chelsea were much improved and, from Drogba's free-kick, Branislav Ivanovic's flick was brilliantly saved by Pepe Reina.
It was a good spell for the hosts and Drogba almost put Sturridge in with a clever backheel, while Malouda made a mess of a half-volley and dragged it across goal instead of hitting the target.
Torres did not seem to mind warming up in front of the visiting fans who gave him plenty of stick and he was itching to get on and grab the winner.
But Villas-Boas held him and another former Liverpool man, Raul Meireles, back until there were just six minutes left.
Torres so wanted to make his point against his old employer but instead it was Johnson who did the damage to the Blues at the other end.
Dirk Kuyt had stroked a good chance wide after another sub, Jordan Henderson, skipped past Ashley Cole and Terry.
But then Adam produced a crossfield pass towards Johnson.
It was a good ball but the defender made it into a brilliant one as he took it down in an instant. He then beat Cole, held off Malouda and tucked his shot in the corner, sparking wild celebrations from Dalglish and his backroom staff. Johnson has been brought back into the England fold by Fabio Capello after a lengthy spell out with injury, in preference to Manchester City's Micah Richards.
It is a decision which has caused a great deal of debate and few agreed with Capello.
But Johnson clearly has something about him.
Like Torres, £35m Andy Carroll was also left on the bench and got even less time on the field than the man he replaced at Anfield.
The former Toon marksman came on with a minute left and is a very frustrated Geordie.
But if he is looking for inspiration as to how to turn a career round again, he need look no further than his own Kop team-mate Glen Johnson.

DREAM TEAM RATINGS
STAR MAN — CHARLIE ADAM (Liverpool)

CHELSEA: Cech 5, Ivanovic 6, Luiz 5, Terry 6, Cole 5, Ramires 6 (Meireles 4), Mikel 5 (Sturridge 7), Lampard 5, Mata 6, Drogba 5 (Torres 4), Malouda 6. Subs not used: Turnbull, Romeu, Bosingwa, Anelka. Booked: Luiz, Ramires, Ivanovic.

LIVERPOOL: Reina 7, Johnson 7, Skrtel 6, Agger 7, Enrique 6, Kuyt 7, Lucas 7, Adam 9, Maxi 7 (Downing 6), Bellamy 6 (Henderson 6), Suarez 7 (Carroll 4). Subs not used: Doni, Spearing, Carragher, Kelly. Booked: Lucas, Kuyt.
REF: L Probert 6

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

Star:

CHELSEA 1- LIVERPOOL 2: ANDRE VILLAS-BOAS LOSES BLUES PLOT
By Danny Fullbrook

ANDRE VILLAS-BOAS now knows what the Stamford Bridge hot-seat is all about.
But at this rate he might not be in it much longer, given the way his Chelsea side are crumbling around him.
Glen Johnson’s late winner has already left the Blues a staggering 12 points behind Manchester City in the title race.
But things are much worse than that. This is the first time in nine- and-a-half years in the Roman Abramovich era that one of his managers has had the audacity to lose back-to-back Premier League games at Stamford Bridge.
Forget the opposition, which has been Arsenal and Liverpool, Jose Mourinho did not lose a single home league game in the 30 months he was at the club.
Then take a look at Big Phil Scolari. His tenure at the club was generally considered to be a disaster.
But in the opening 12 games of the 2008-09 season he still managed to drop only seven points, while Villas-Boas has allowed his side to let 14 slip through their fingers.
The 34-year-old rookie boss does a great Zebedee impression on the touchline. Well, his spring could take him further than he wants if he is not careful.
The fact that Abramovich paid £13m to get him away from Porto might just keep him employed for a bit longer. But Villas-Boas had better do something quickly.
Liverpool hardly arrived brimming with confidence and have their own problems. Andy Carroll was again on the bench with fellow summer flops Jordan Henderson and Stewart Downing.
Carroll can’t get fit, while the man he replaced at Anfield, Fernando Torres, was relegated to the Chelsea bench.
That means Chelsea and Liverpool have spent £85m on two strikers who have managed just seven goals between them since January.
But with draws against Norwich and Swansea to their name, Liverpool were far brighter and got the opener their play deserved when Maxi Rodriguez just blew the doors off the Bridge.
Liverpool’s Argentine midfielder pounced after a massive defensive cock-up by Chelsea. If Villas-Boas could have afforded to take Petr Cech off at half-time, he would have done after his role in the debacle.
As it was, John Obi Mikel was the player who was unceremoniously hooked.
Liverpool’s goal came in the 34th minute when Cech ridiculously kicked the ball along the ground to Mikel only 40 yards out when the midfielder clearly wasn’t looking goalwards.
Charlie Adam stepped in and nicked the ball away from him, allowing Craig Bellamy to play a quick-fire one-two with Luis Suarez before slipping the ball to Rodriguez with the Chelseadefence in chaos.
The Liverpool man has not started a league game since last season, and he answered Kenny Dalglish’s call with a brilliantly-taken goal nudge his side ahead.
David Luiz was a shambles at the back for Chelsea, while their high line left them exposed.
Mixed in with the home side’s complacency, going in a goal down was what they deserved.
Chelsea had to change something, and they managed to do that with the arrival of Daniel Sturridge. For long periods of the second half it looked like Chelsea would turn things around.
Frank Lampard created a good chance for Didier Drogba and the Ivory Coast striker should have stuck it away but he was not really on his game all match. But it did not seem to matter when Chelsea equalised. Florent Malouda stormed through the left of the Liverpool defence and angled a cross to the back post, where Sturridge slid in to score and Chelsea were on their way.
It was a mad spell for Liverpool. They had already seen Drogba put a dangerous free-kick just wide, and a glancing header was brilliantly saved by Pepe Reina in the Liverpool goal.
Chelsea were in the ascendancy and Lampard picked a ball out for Malouda, who lifted it up on to his chest and then scissor-kicked it over the bar before putting another effort wide.
But the pack of cards came crashing down when Johnson struck.
They had hardly been in the game in the second half but all it took was one chance.
Chelsea’s defence is horrendously fragile, and they were shown up again when an easy ball from Adam found Johnson on the right.
He is quick going forward and ghosted past first Cole and then Malouda before sticking the ball around Cech and John Terry, stranded on the line.
The Blues inquisition extended well after the game and Villas- Boas is now a worried man.
He does not know what to do with Torres and he can’t arrange a defence to save his life at the moment.
Chelsea fans must have been looking enviously at Steve Clarke on the Liverpool bench – a man who used to marshal the backline expertly in training for the Blues.
Villas-Boas is far from doing anything expertly at the moment.


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

Express:
Chelsea 1 Liverpool 2
A Bridge Too Far For Andre
By Tony Banks

THE honeymoon is well and truly over for Andre Villas-Boas now.
They don’t last that long under Roman Abramovich anyway, but the wedding cake hasn’t even gone stale.
If ever Villas-Boas wondered what the scale of the task ahead of him was when he took over as manager in the summer, he knows it now.
And if ever he wondered what kind of boss Abramovich is when the chips are down and things are not going well, he is about to find out.
Claudio Ranieri, Jose Mourinho, Avram Grant, Luiz Felipe Scolari and Carlo Ancelotti all found out the hard way – with their P45s.
Welcome to the pressure cooker, Andre. The timer has just started.
When Glen Johnson’s shot evaded John Terry on the goal-line in the 87th minute at a stricken Stamford Bridge, after his mazy run had carried him through the Chelsea defence, those familiar clouds of doom began to darken over Villas-Boas.
Andre Villas-Boas has a worse record over his first dozen league games than even Phil Scolari
For the first time in the Abramovich era, Chelsea have lost back-to-back home Premier League games in their worst start to a campaign.
Villas-Boas has a worse record over his first dozen league games than even the dismal Scolari – and he lasted only eight months.
Scolari dropped seven points; Villas-Boas has cast aside an abysmal 14. With every game now the threat cranks up. Chelsea stand 12 points behind leaders Manchester City, and only a fool would back them to win the title.
Defeat in the Champions League at Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday and we could be entering the end-game after a mere four months. Failure to qualify for the knockout stages would not be tolerated by the quiet man upstairs.
But for Kenny Dalglish and Liverpool it was a superb day. They are now locked with Chelsea, Spurs and Arsenal on 22 points, with the battle for Champions League qualification looking very interesting indeed.
And let there be no doubt, Liverpool deserved this win.
They dominated a first half of shocking Chelsea ineptitude, then faded as Villas-Boas’s team fought back. But they always carried a threat and it was not a huge surprise against this creaking Blues defence when they finally broke through.
To say Chelsea were poor in the opening 45 minutes of their most important league game so far this season would be an understatement. Although Florent Malouda shot wide early on, Liverpool’s rapid raids down the flanks were causing the usual problems for a defence getting creakier by the game.
It was another error that led to the goal, goalkeeper Petr Cech’s awful throw putting John Obi Mikel under instant pressure.
Charlie Adam robbed him, Craig Bellamy fed Maxi Rodriguez in yards of space, and he fired home. To Villas-Boas’s credit, Chelsea did improve after the interval, as Daniel Sturridge came on for Mikel.
Didier Drogba, preferred to Fernando Torres in attack, shot just over, but the Bridge crowd were getting steadily more and more restless.
Then Malouda miscued his shot across goal from the left, and Sturridge stabbed the ball in at the far post. Salvation!
Had Pepe Reina not pulled off a brilliant point-blank save from Branislav Ivanovic’s header, it might all have been very different as Chelsea cranked up the pressure. At this stage, there seemed only one winner.
But Liverpool hung on as Malouda twice missed good chances. On went Torres as Chelsea went for the winner – then Liverpool struck.
Adam, excellent all afternoon, swung a superb crossfield pass to Johnson, galloping down the right.
Full-back Johnson, the first Chelsea signing of the Abramovich era eight long and eventful years ago, swerved past Ashley Cole, held off Malouda’s feeble challenge and fired his shot into the corner.
Don’t look over that shoulder Andre. There are a few guys out there who could tell you what is around that corner.

blackburn 1-0

Independent:

Lampard leap keeps Kean in firing line
Blackburn Rovers 0 Chelsea 1:

In-form midfielder ends Chelsea's losing run as Torres adds another howler to season's miss-list
WILLIAM JOHNSON EWOOD PARK

A match which was in serious danger of disappearing into a quagmire of apathy and ineptitude was mercifully rescued by Frank Lampard's latest demonstration of predatory finishing.
The England midfielder's instinctive plunge to meet a low cross from Branislav Ivanovic gave Chelsea welcome respite from their mini-crisis as the international break beckons. It had the opposite effect on Blackburn Rovers, endorsing their depressing start to the campaign and keeping the heat on their beleaguered manager, Steve Kean.
The campaign by Rovers supporters to rid themselves of the manager who has earned them 28 points from a possible 96 since taking over from Sam Allardyce captured the attention during a first period almost devoid of entertaining moments despite being extended by seven minutes due to Chelsea's goalkeeper Petr Cech requiring prolonged treatment for a broken nose.
During that seemingly interminable stoppage – of the football, not the bleeding – the 21,985 fans were kept awake by the buzzing of a light aircraft which was commissioned, apparently for a fee of £500, by parts of a disgruntled Ewood Park crowd who were prevented from bringing their own protest banners to the ground.
Kean insisted that he was not looking skywards as he waited for Cech to be cleared to play on. "What did the banner say?" he asked. "Steve Kean out!" came the blunt reply, to sheepish press room giggles.
Kean shrugged off that imaginative sacking call as he has during similar displays of dissatisfaction during most of his tenure. "I don't want to sound like a broken record but I am confident that we can go on an unbeaten run very soon," he said, mindful of a forthcoming fixture list which is far more appealing than the one his team has faced so far this season.
"If we continue to play as well as we did today against a very strong Chelsea team who have taken a lot of money to assemble then we should be able to start climbing the table before much longer."
Kean had a point and the pressure he is experiencing could easily have been heaped heavily on his Stamford Bridge counterpart, Andre Villas-Boas, if Rovers had enjoyed a modicum of good fortune in front of goal.
On several occasions they threatened to embarrass the groggy Cech, whose reputation as the Premier League's most accomplished goalkeeper has been indelibly tarnished this term.
Cech, praised by his manager for his bravery and commitment to the cause, was ultimately able to celebrate a first clean sheet since the opening day draw at Stoke but that, he will acknowledge, was due more to luck than judgement. That was especially so when the big goalkeeper failed to deal with a blistering free-kick from Morten Gamst Pedersen and parried it straight to the onrushing Grant Hanley who pushed the follow-up attempt straight at a grateful Cech.
With Yakubu also failing to capitalise on a glittering opportunity carved out by Junior Hoilett's through ball to Mauro Formica and, Ivanovic heading against his own crossbar in a desperate attempt to prevent Gaël Givet from equalising, Kean was justified in claiming that his men deserved a point at the very least.
Villas-Boas hinted at his agreement with that claim. "Blackburn had several good chances and we were glad that we could keep them out," he said. "This is never an easy place to come to as Arsenal discovered recently and we are pleased to get the result after our back-to-back Premier League defeats."
The Chelsea manager's minders protected him from fielding questions about John Terry, restored to duty after his Champions' League lay-off, as investigations continue into alleged racist comments during the defeat at QPR. Theban extended to prohibiting speculation about the England captaincy for the friendlies against Spain and Sweden.
Villas-Boas was instead happy to talk affectionately about another of England's stalwarts, Lampard, who, despite coming under criticism and being left out by Villas-Boas early in the season, is comfortably his club's leading scorer with seven goals. "Frank found his timing to arrive in the box just like the old days" said the manager about the game's decisive moment.
Fernando Torres, the £50m striker Villas-Boas inherited from Carlo Ancelotti, should be at least level with Lampard by now. His horrifying miss against Manchester United at Old Trafford now has company in the list of the season's blunders following the Spaniard's spooning over the bar of anAshley Cole cross from inside the six-yard box.
"We badly needed a second goal to ease the late pressure and it was a pity Fernando could not provide it," was Villas-Boas's view.

Blackburn (4-5-1): Robinson; Lowe, Samba (Hanley, 45), Givet, Olsson; Rochina (Dunn, 71), Formica, Nzonzi, Pedersen, Hoilett; Yakubu.

Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Ivanovic, Alex, Terry, Cole; Ramires (Romeu, 90), Mikel, Lampard; Mata (Meireles, 82), Sturridge, Malouda (Torres, h-t).

Referee: Mike Dean
Man of the match: Lampard (Chelsea)

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

Observer:

Frank Lampard's header gives Chelsea a welcome win at Blackburn Rovers
Paul Wilson at Ewood Park

To say there was a lot going on around this game would be a serious understatement. Chelsea named John Terry in the team and Fernando Torres on the bench, then every time Terry touched the ball in the first half he was heartily booed by the Blackburn crowd.
Chelsea's travelling fans responded with "There's only one England captain", in a more wholesome show of support than they managed in Genk, only for the Rovers end to reprise the "We know what you are" routine, this time directed at Terry.
André Villas-Boas, trying not to be the first Chelsea manager this century to lose three league matches on the trot, found himself under attack via Twitter from the England cricketer Kevin Pietersen. When Steve Kean looked skywards midway through the first half to see where the loud droning noise was coming from, he found the stadium was being circled by a small aircraft trailing a streamer calling for his removal.
Blackburn fans have a proud history of taking to the skies, usually to wind up Burnley, and when anti-Kean slogans were banned from the Ewood terraces the club must have been half-expecting something more imaginative to take their place.
The game was held up for over six minutes in the first half as medics tried in vain to stem a nosebleed Petr Cech gained in diving at the feet of Ayegbeni Yakubu. Then, in a potentially more damaging blow to Blackburn, at the end of the first half Chris Samba had to withdraw with a hamstring problem.
That left the home side with two emergency central defenders in Gaël Givet and Grant Hanley, and threatened to undermine their efforts in an evenly contested first period, when even the Kean-baiters would have to concede they more than held their own against Chelsea.
The Yakubu chance that caused Cech's injury was probably the best worked opportunity of the opening 45 minutes, with Mauro Formica galloping into yards of space on the left from Junior Hoilett's astute pass and only Ashley Cole's alert intervention preventing his square ball reaching its intended target.
Chelsea had a good chance right at the start, when Daniel Sturridge could not quite bring down Florent Malouda's cross in time, though Paul Robinson was rarely troubled afterwards.
Sturridge had a reasonable shout for a penalty turned down when he tumbled under Samba's untidy challenge, but it was never the clearest of fouls and Mike Dean probably took the view he went to ground too easily.
Chelsea sent Torres on for the second half, though he was still struggling to get into the game when Frank Lampard headed the visitors into the lead five minutes in. Branislav Ivanovich crossed from the right with the outside of his right boot, a feat that the Rovers' defence chose to stand back and admire, leaving Lampard free to dive full-length and beat Robinson with a well-directed header. Rovers ought to have equalised when Cech could not hold on to a Morten Gamst Pedersen free-kick and succeeded only in coughing up the ball in front of goal.
Unfortunately for the home side the first man to it was Hanley, a young defender whose finish lacked any sort of conviction and allowed Cech to redeem himself.
The goalkeeper redeemed himself even more in keeping out Blackburn's next attack, though as an experienced striker and regular scorer such as Yakubu should really have done better than bring a full-length save when Terry and Alex got in each other's way to leave him a clear sight of goal. Kean keeps complaining that luck has not been going Blackburn's way yet better finishing might be what is actually required to help them climb the table.
At least when Formica saw an effort cleared off the line by Ramires shortly afterwards, the striker's eye for goal could not be faulted – it was a good shot and a fine defensive block. If that really was bad luck, so was the ball staying out when Ivanovic headed a Blackburn corner against his own bar under pressure from Hanley, though arguably things evened themselves out in stoppage time when Torres missed a sitter after the referee had unintentionally broken up a Blackburn attack.
Not even the Blackburn supporters were heartless enough to barrack their own team at the end. There were a few boos, but mostly support for a plucky effort. The fans may not care for the manager, but the Blackburn players were little short of magnificent in defeat.


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

Telegraph:

Blackburn Rovers 0 Chelsea 1
Frank Lamaprd was the difference at Chelsea win at Ewood Park
By Graham Chase at Ewood Park

It was a day of deep droning at Ewood Park, from John Terry’s every touch being booed by the home supporters to the plane which towed a 'Steve Kean out!’ banner, circling overhead.
It was not quite the defiant response to Terry’s last trip to Lancashire amid a scandal when he scored in his team’s 2-1 win at Burnley almost two years ago, but after a miserable fortnight for him and his club it will certainly do.
Frank Lampard’s sixth goal in eight matches secured a vital victory, after a run of just one win in four matches, as Andre Villas-Boas’s team collected a first clean sheet in the Premier League since the opening weekend of the season, despite Petr Cech suffering a suspected broken nose after just seven minutes.
After the shock of the 1-0 defeat at QPR – and the subsequent fallout of the Football Association and police investigations into Terry’s alleged racist abuse of Anton Ferdinand – came the 5-3 home defeat to Arsenal and then the ponderous 1-1 draw in Genk.
The England captain may retain his place in Fabio Capello’s squad for the friendlies with Spain and Sweden but the reaction towards him from the Blackburn Rovers supporters is how the Chelsea defender will be widely-received by many non-Chelsea supporters.
With reference to Chelsea fans singing 'Anton Ferdinand, you know what you are’ in midweek, Rovers supporters boomed out the same about Terry, while 'We’ll sing what we want’ came from the visitors’ section. Questions on Terry were off-limits but Villas-Boas was content with his team’s response to their recent problems.
“It was never going to be an easy game and the difficulties that Arsenal had here show that,” he said. “We were brave enough to get the victory. I think Petr has broken his nose.
“He was in tremendous difficulty and he’s injury-prone in these types of incidents. We asked if he wanted to come off at half time but he wanted to continue, which showed bravery because he’s been suffering a lot from these types of injury.
“We needed the stimulus of a win before the international break and it’s good to be back to winning ways.”
The opening period at Ewood Park was utterly forgettable with what had looked a promising opening interrupted by a seven-minute stoppage for treatment to Cech, who suffered a nose bleed after pressuring Yakubu into missing from Mauro Formica’s cross just a couple of yards out.
Other than that, and the arrival of the plane, there was only a penalty appeal for Chris Samba’s challenge on Daniel Sturridge and a flurry of hopeful long-range efforts from the visitors.
But five minutes after the restart, which saw Fernando Torres replace Florent Malouda, the visitors made their breakthrough, with Branislav Ivanovic cutting inside Junior Hoilett and bending in a cross that was headed in by the stooping Lampard.
Cech’s nose may have been coated in plasters but he retained his team’s advantage with some outstanding work. Firstly, there was a double save from Morten Gamst Pedersen’s free kick and Formica’s follow-up before he denied Yakubu after a fast break.
When Cech was finally beaten, an Ivanovic header from Pedersen’s corner bounced away off the bar before Torres wasted an easy chance to add a second in stoppage time.
Kean claimed not to have seen the plane, even asking a journalist what the banners had said, and took heart from his team’s performance.
“I don’t think you can continue to play like that without going on a strong run,” he said. “We are confident we can climb the table.”


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

Mail:

Blackburn 0 Chelsea 1: Lampard strikes to pile more pressure on Kean
By NICK HARRIS

Bizarre though it sounds after Chelsea brought their stuttering recent run to an end and as Blackburn fell to another defeat, Steve Kean's future as Ewood Park manager remains more assured than Andre Villas-Boas's at Stamford Bridge.
That is not to say that the Portuguese, in his debut season in the Premier League, is in imminent danger of provoking Roman Abramovich's perennially itchy trigger finger.
Frank Lampard's 51st-minute diving header - the only and ultimate difference between the sides - will have eased nerves just as the first suggestions surfaced that the Chelsea owner is getting impatient. Again.
Rather, it is Kean's rock-solid position that should be emphasised, with sources in India reiterating yesterday that the Rao family who own Rovers' parent company, Venky's, have no intention of dismissing their man. There is even talk that a long-term contract extension will be agreed soon, though it has yet to be signed.
Villas-Boas has had a torrid few weeks, what with consecutive Premier League losses by QPR and Arsenal and an indifferent result against Genk in Europe. And that on top of the ongoing controversy surrounding his captain, John Terry, and the allegations of racist language. Villas-Boas was forbidden by his own club's officials from speaking about Terry's situation after the match, or about Terry's England call-up, or his England future.
But on the result he said: 'It was never going to be easy following back-to-back defeats in the league and with Blackburn in desperate need of points.
'The first half was low intensity and not a lot of chances. The second was different. I'm glad we got the first goal and we fought to get a second. Blackburn were dangerous at every set play but we defended bravely.'
That bravery also extended to Petr Cech staying on the pitch after an early accidental and bloody clash with team-mate Ashley Cole left him with a suspected broken nose. The incident led to a seven-minute break in play, which only encouraged the crowd to fill the time with chants.
Chelsea's fans chanted in support of Terry: 'There's only one England captain.' Blackburn's responded with: 'John Terry, you know what you are.' This was a reference to an odious recent Chelsea chant in reference to Anton Ferdinand. Chelsea fans, responding to the Blackburn fans, sang: 'We'll sing what we want.' Edifying it was not.
The game itself did little to snare the attention in the first half, with a single shot on target, in the first minute, by Daniel Sturridge, easily held by Rovers' Paul Robinson.
Sturridge's work-rate alone justified his start in the middle of the front line, preferred to Fernando Torres, who was most notable in the final moments of his appearance, as a substitute, for blazing over the bar from three yards.
The match-deciding goal came from a sweet move, the ball crossed by Branislav Ivanovic and steered by Lampard's head into the bottom corner of the Blackburn net. Cech saved Rovers attempts from Yakubu and Morten Gamst Pedersen, while Grant Hanley smashed another effort straight at him when he had an open goal in which to equalise.
Quite how a contract extension for Kean will go down with the Blackburn fans remains to be seen but 'not well' is a safe bet.
There was a fresh round of 'Kean Out' protests at the final whistle, and that followed the novel sight of a small plane circling the ground during the match trailing a 'Steve Kean Out' banner.
It made one heck of a racket but Kean, locked into his team's endeavours, said afterwards he had not noticed it. His claim appeared genuine, as did his frustration at yet another bad result following a not bad display.
'I don't feel that I've been let down by my players because they gave everything and I'm disappointed we didn't get anything from the match,' he said.
He added that he did not want to sound like a stuck record but said that he expected this level of performance to lead to a 'good unbeaten run' soon.
Blackburn have won three matches in the league from the last 25.
Kean agreed that the next five fixtures - against Wigan, Stoke, Swansea, Sunderland and West Bromwich Albion - are likely to make or break Rovers' season.

Blackburn: Robinson, Lowe, Samba (Hanley 45+1), Givet, Olsson, Rochina (Dunn 72), Nzonzi, Pedersen, Hoilett, Formica, Yakubu.Subs not used: Bunn, Petrovic, Blackman, Goodwillie, Vukcevic.
Booked: Lowe, Givet, Hanley, Pedersen

Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Alex, Terry, Cole, Ramires, Mikel, Lampard, Mata (Meireles 82), Sturridge, Malouda (Torres 46). Subs not used: Turnbull, Romeu, Bosingwa, Lukaku, Kalou.
Booked: Sturridge.
Goal: Lampard 51.

Attendance: 21,985.
Referee: Mike Dean.



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

Mirror:

Blackburn 0-1 Chelsea
By Lindsay Sutton

Frank Lampard may not be an England automatic choice any more, but what a godsend he is to Chelsea.
The 33-year-old midfield powerhouse pulled his side out of the doldrums yesterday as he fearlessly dived in to put home the winning strike.
Branislav Ivanovic set him up in the 51st minute as he switched direction on the right flank to hit a lowish cross that Lampard met in full flight to power the ball past keeper Paul Robinson.
Lamps certainly lit up Ewood Park for the Blues’ travelling army of 3,500 fans with his seventh goal of the season but he plunged beleaguered Blackburn into further gloom.
Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas looked a relieved man as he admitted: “It is never easy coming to Ewood Park, especially with back-to-back defeats in the Premier League, and bearing in mind Blackburn’s desperate need of points. Arsenal found that too.
“But Frank’s goal gave us the impetus and we were brave enough to defend well.”
And it could have been worse for rocky Rovers if Lampard’s looping shot minutes later had not been palmed away at full stretch by an alert Robinson.
As is the case so often, yet another defeat was hard for Blackburn to swallow.
Twice, Yakubu was unlucky not to score, and Chelsea lived dangerously as a Morten Gamst Pedersen’s low shot was kept out by keeper Petr Cech’s feet, with Blackburn substitute Grant Hanley hitting the follow-up straight at the keeper.
Right at the death, Pedersen hit a screamer that went over the bar, with Chelsea’s defence in disarray. And to top it off, second-half substitute Fernando Torres missed a sitter, scooping over from in front of goal.
However Rovers had to survive a first-half penalty claim when the lively Daniel Sturridge broke away.
Big defender Chris Samba appeared to clip the back of his leg as he attempted to stop the striker, but experienced referee Mike Dean ruled play on and, in truth, it would have been tough on Blackburn, since Sturridge went down easily.
Rovers boss Steve Kean said: “I don’t feel let down. I’m just disappointed not to have got a point when we gave everything and had the chances.
“We just have to keep putting ourselves in there.
“We show that we don’t approach games like a team down there at the wrong end.”
The drama off the pitch was just as controversial.
John Terry tried hard to impose his presence, attempting to shake off the gathering clouds of the racist comment allegation made by Anton Ferdinand.
Disgruntled Rovers’ fans may have been banned from bringing protest banners into the ground.
But high above Ewood Park the drone of a hired plane was heard, towing a banner that read: Steve Kean Out.
That’s the price of Kean notching up only six Premier League wins in his 32 games in charge, in stark contrast to Villas-Boas totting up seven in his 11 league games at the helm.
On the pitch, Kean was boosted by his side’s early get-up-and-go attitude as they put their visitors on the back foot.
David Hoilett threaded a beautiful pass to Mauro Formica, the Argentine responding well by sliding a pass straight in to the path of Yakubu.
Both Cech and Ashley Cole went to cut out the danger, and though the Yak put the ball wide in the bundle that followed, Cech was struck on the nose.
Looking groggy, it took seven minutes for him to be treated.
But in the end, it didn’t matter. He recovered well and kept Blackburn out.
More Ewood Park fireworks will follow from the protesting fans and this famous old club, that was formed on Bonfire Night back in 1875, faces some tough times.


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

People:

Blackburn 0 - 1 Chelsea: Frank Lampard's goal gives Chelsea the points
by Alan Nixon, The People

John TERRY was left in no doubt by the Chelsea choir and the Rovers boo-boys that he has now officially split public opinion down the middle.
Skipper Terry was serenaded like never before by the Blues’ travelling support with pointed chants of ‘One England captain’ and ‘John Terry, you know who you are’.
But the Blackburn fans booed his every kick and for 90 minutes at least he temporarily replaced under-fire boss Steve Kean as their public enemy No.1.
Terry has always been a Marmite footballer but the row with Anton Ferdinand has taken him to new levels on the love-or-hate scale.
And yet nothing seems to bother Terry – as the Wayne Bridge ‘affair’ proved in the past. The look just gets more defiant and the commitment greater.
Terry (far left) never hides and, for all of the abuse from the home crowd, he went looking for the ball and is clearly not being put off his game.
There is something rather bullish about him that almost revels in this atmosphere and his cult status grows even as the FA and police look at his alleged comments.
Scampering
You will not find Terry buckling under pressure and he stood firm with his pals as they ground out a much-needed win to avoid a third straight league defeat.
It was the kind of no-nonsense display that has won England boss Fabio Capello’s backing – even if there is something about the race row that divides uncomfortably in so many other ways.
The Terry songs were just one of many sideshows, with some Rovers fans pitching in to send a plane over the ground with a ‘Kean Out’ banner.
There was a minor protest at the end, too, but Rovers did not deserve boos for this display.
Frankly the game could have done with a Red Arrows appearance to brighten it up at times, as there was little to choose between an off-form Chelsea and battling Blackburn.
Rovers could have had a precious lead when Junior Hoilett sent Mauro Formica scampering away and his cross for the sliding Yakubu was poked wide as Ashley Cole and Petr Cech bravely tried to block him.
Cech came off worse in the collision, needing lengthy treatment for a bloody nose caused by Cole’s right arm. The big keeper was in pain but played on, although Blackburn sniffed blood.
Tricky Ruben Rochina tried to lob the giant Czech, who also flapped at a corner, but the pain soon passed as Rovers failed to mount enough pressure despite an attack-minded line-up. It was mostly sterile, tactical stuff.
There was not even much controversy to get excited about. Chelsea should have had a penalty when Chris Samba sent Daniel Sturridge flying in the box but ref Mike Dean – a man who usually likes spot-kicks – ­surprisingly said ‘No’.
Sturridge, given his chance through the middle as Fernando Torres was benched, looked sharp and mobile. He fizzed a cross that should have found a taker and a backheel put in Cole before he was tackled.
Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas is trying to find the right formula and even shuffled his attack during the game in a bid to find the missing spark.
However they looked far from dangerous apart from some flashes after the break.
Rovers lost skipper Samba just before half time with a hamstring injury, their third centre-half to be sidelined.
Sturridge was close to making sub Grant Hanley suffer, too, as he was inches from connecting with a deep Juan Mata cross, but he could not get a toe on the ball to divert it in.
Torres came on at the break as Villas-Boas chased the win and old faithful Frank Lampard came up with the goal thanks to some superb work by Branislav Ivanovic.
The powerful right-back beat a tame attempt at a challenge by Hoilett and sent over a cross with the outside of his foot that found Lampard all alone to head home from close range.
Rovers should have been level soon after when Morten Gamst Pedersen’s thunderous free-kick came back off Cech, invitingly for Hanley. But the chunky defender made a hash of the rebound.
Chelsea upped their game and Lampard was denied a second when his dipping 25-yarder made Paul Robinson backpedal to turn it over the bar.
Rovers fought hard. Yakubu put the floundering Alex on his backside, sent Terry the wrong way and only Cech’s sharp save kept him out. Formica’s cross-shot also had Ramires using all of his agility to clear.
Protestors
Sturridge was convinced he should have had a penalty when he went down with Gael Givet behind him – and the goal at his mercy from a Cole cross.
He was so upset he eventually talked his way into the referee’s notebook.
It was hard not to feel sorry for Kean at the end. The protestors were ready to have another go as Ivanovic almost gifted Rovers a leveller when he headed against his own bar.
There was still time for Torres to miss an absolute sitter.
He broke well and was at the far post for a Cole cross but shot woefully over from a couple of yards out.


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

Sun:

Blackburn 0 Chelsea 1

FRANK LAMPARD nodded home the goal that lifted the pressure on his boss Andre Villas-Boas — but heaped more on Steve Kean.
The beleaguered Blackburn boss could only look to the skies as a canny fan in an aeroplane defied the club's ban on protest banners and flew over Ewood Park with a messge that simply read: Steve Kean Out.
For opposite number Villas-Boas, Lampard's header on 51 minutes ended a run of one win for Chelsea in their last four games.
Blackburn pushed the Londonders hard, but Petr Cech was able to overcome a nasty blow to his face early on to deny them and make it one win and five defeats at home in the Premier League.
John Terry returned to skipper Chelsea, with Villas-Boas dropping Fernando Torres to the bench to make way for Daniel Sturridge.
Lampard and Juan Mata were also among six changes made by the Portugese manager.
Blackburn boss Kean was able to name an unchanged side from last weekend's heartbreaking draw at Norwich.
Chelsea fashioned a chance almost immediately, Florent Malouda finding space on the left and crossing to a surprised Sturridge, who could only scoop the ball into Paul Robinson's arms.
Blackburn almost went ahead themselves when Mauro Formica crossed for Yakubu, who stretched to prod the ball wide under pressure from the advancing Petr Cech.
Both men required treatment after the resulting collision, with play stopped for seven minutes while the Chelsea keeper struggled with a heavy nose bleed.
When play resumed, it was the home side who continued to press forward with confidence, with the impressive Ruben Rochina blazing wide from 20 yards.
The lively Sturridge failed a win a penalty when he fell under the challenge of Chris Samba in the box, then moments later his cross from the left was just too strong for Mata in front of goal.
Sturridge was caught narrowly offside racing onto a through-ball from Malouda then Lampard blazed over from 20 yards after a cross from Branislav Ivanovic.
But Rovers suffered a blow at the start of seven minutes of first half injury time when he limped off and was replaced by Grant Hanley.
Villas-Boas replaced the ineffective Malouda with Torres at the break, but Rovers started the second period in lively fashion.
The visitors grabbed the lead in the 50th minute though with only their second shot on target.
Ivanovic turned inside Hoilett on the right and crossed for Lampard who directed a low header past Robinson.
But Rovers should have equalised four minutes later when Cech parried a Morten Gamst Pedersen free-kick into the path of Hanley, who drilled the rebound straight into the prostrate keeper.
As the game belatedly sprang into life, Ramires had a goal-bound effort blocked in the box by Jason Lowe, then Lampard fired a long-rang shot which was tipped over by Robinson.
Chelsea's defensive frailties were evident again in the 67th minute when Yakubu wriggled between Alex and Terry before hitting a curling shot which Cech saved well.
Rovers had yet another chance to equalise in the 70th minute when Rochina found Formica in the right side of the Chelsea box and while his shot beat Cech it was booted clear by Ramires.
And they were almost gifted their equaliser four minutes from time when Pedersen swung in a corner and the ball ricocheted off the back of Ivanovic's head and against the underside of the bar.
Chelsea should have wrapped the game up in injury time when a one-two between Torres and Cole gifted the Spaniard the simplest of chances which he somehow spooned over the bar.

Blackburn: Robinson, Lowe, Samba (Hanley 45), Givet, Olsson, Rochina (Dunn 72), Nzonzi, Pedersen, Hoilett, Formica, Yakubu. Subs Not Used: Bunn, Petrovic, Blackman, Goodwillie, Vukcevic.
Booked: Lowe, Hanley, Givet, Pedersen.

Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Alex, Terry, Cole, Ramires (Romeu 90), Mikel, Lampard, Mata (Meireles 82), Sturridge, Malouda (Torres 46). Subs Not Used: Turnbull, Bosingwa, Lukaku, Kalou.
Booked: Sturridge, Meireles.
Goals: Lampard 51.
Att: 21,985
Ref: Mike Dean (Wirral).

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

Star:

BLACKBURN 0 - CHELSEA 1: FRANK LAMPS UP ABOVE: Frank Lampard's goal was enough to seperate the sides
By Adrian Stiles

FRANK LAMPARD fired Chelsea to a vital win with his sixth goal in eight games.
And skipper John Terry answered the boo-boys by leading the Blues to their first clean sheet since the opening weekend of the season.
Terry, who is under investigation by police and the FA over allegedly racist comments made to Anton Ferdinand, was taunted by Blackburn fans.
But Lampard’s goal was enough to earn Chelsea victory, after a run of just one win in four games.
Rovers battled hard but, with just a quarter of the match gone, a plane flew overhead trailing a “Steve Kean out!” banner, encouraging fans in Ewood Park to echo the sentiment.
It was a response to Rovers outlawing banners as a safety issue and Kean’s record now reads just three wins in 25 Premier League matches.
Kean said: “We feel as if we should have at least got a point. Our overall performance was excellent.
“I don’t think you can continue to play like that without going on a very, very strong run. We are confident we can climb the table.”
After their fortnight to forget, Chelsea wanted a flying start and should have gone in front after 65 seconds when Daniel Sturridge failed to control an Ashley Cole cross.
Lampard and Florent Malouda also tried their luck from distance as the Stamford Bridge outfit flexed their muscles.
But Blackburn went even closer when hot property Junior Hoilett cut Chelsea open and Yakubu fired wide.
The game was held up for seven minutes when Yakubu smashed into Petr Cech and the Chelsea keeper needed treatment to stem blood from his nose.
Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas reckons Cech could have broken his nose.
He said: “He was in tremendous difficulty and he’s injury-prone in these types of incidents. We asked if he wanted to come off at half-time but he wanted to continue, which showed bravery.”
Chelsea took the lead soon after when a Branislav Ivanovic cross found a diving Lampard’s head and he directed the ball into the corner of the net.
Chances were coming at both ends with Cech pulling off a double save from a Morten Gamst Pedersen free-kick and Mauro Formica’s follow-up and there was still time for a shocking miss from Fernando Torres.


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

Express:

BLACKBURN 0 CHELSEA 1: FRANK LAMPARD KO FOR UNDER-FIRE STEVE KEAN
By Richard Jolly

WITH a vote of no confidence from bon high and a stooping header from down low, the aerial attack on Steve Kean was double-pronged and doubly damaging.
It was a classic pincer movement from Blackburn fans and Chelsea’s most ruthless finisher. Frank Lampard’s winner returned Andre Villas-Boas’ side to winning ways, left Rovers marooned in the relegation zone and intensified the beleaguered Kean’s problems.
His side are playing better but, with three wins in 25 league games, the Scot’s record gets worse by the week. Blackburn supporters have taken to the streets, the stands and now the skies to protest.
After the objections over the airwaves came the complaint from above. “Steve Kean Out” read the message behind a plane flying over Ewood Park – banners were banned inside the ground, supposedly because of health and safety – and that was even before Lampard scored.
When he did, it relieved the pressure on Villas-Boas. After back-to-back derby defeats and after conceding five goals to Arsenal, he needed a win and a clean sheet.
He got both, but not without a few alarms. “We had to suffer a little bit,” he said. “It was important to win, no matter what.”
But at one end, Yakubu missed a sitter. At the other, Branislav Ivanovic headed against his own bar. In between, Blackburn had more chances. But this was old-style Chelsea, grinding out a victory.
A back four including the roundly booed John Terry – for once, Kean had a rival for the title of the most unpopular man at Ewood Park – got a first Premier League shut-out since August.
They used to be weekly events for Chelsea. This was a rarity. And it was only achieved after a series of escapes. “We certainly had some chances,” said Kean. “I don’t think you can continue to play like that without going on a very, very strong run. We feel as if we should have at least got a point.”
After nine minutes, Junior Hoilett and Mauro Formica combined to set up Yakubu, who fired wide. As the striker shot, he and Ashley Cole collided with Petr Cech.
The goalkeeper broke his nose, but carried on. It was just as well for Chelsea he did. He made a double save to stop Morten Gamst Pedersen’s ferocious free kick and Grant Hanley’s tamer follow-up.
He blocked again when Yakubu went clear. And when he was beaten by his own team-mate, Ivanovic’s header thudded against the woodwork.
But the Serb had made his mark at the other end, when Chelsea made the breakthrough. Lampard’s header came from the sort of height when it would have been easier to volley the ball.
The midfielder took the difficult approach with wonderful precision. But the cross from Ivanovic was superb, struck with the outside of his right foot. It was more the skill of a tricky winger than a towering defender.
“It was a good goal,” added Villas- Boas. “Frank has found his timing to arrive in the box like the old days and the cross from Ivanovic is inch perfect.”
He had been moved to right-back as Villas-Boas reacted to the historic humiliation against Arsenal by wielding the axe and shuffling the pack.
Out went Fernando Torres. The £50million man was dropped again before being brought on at half-time.

genk 1-1

Independent:

Luiz pays the penalty after Vossen pegs back Chelsea
Genk 1 Chelsea 1

STEVE TONGUE CRISTAL ARENA

An entirely unexpected dimension was added to Chelsea's recent problems here last night as they lost control of what had appeared a straightforward assignment that should have brought much desired relief.
Ramires marked their domination of the first half with an opening goal but David Luiz had a penalty saved and Genk, beaten 5-0 at Stamford Bridge a fortnight ago, gained new belief after the interval. Jelle Vossen equalised with his team's first goal in four group matches and although Chelsea belatedly lifted their game again, they could not find a winner. The small consolation was that Valencia's victory over Bayer Leverkusen meant the London side stayed top of the table, although even that had a downside, turning the section into a three-cornered fight again.
The next game, in Germany, now looks a tricky proposition unless they have by then rediscovered some of the fluency and crucially, what manager Andre Villas-Boas labelled the "efficiency" of earlier in the season. His team further improved their record of having forced by far the most attempts on goal of any Champions League team in this campaign with another 19 of them but the fact that only one finished in the net is worrying. Until the equaliser there appeared to be an air of inevitability to the proceedings – which was Chelsea's problem. Villas-Boas said: "When you get a bad run of results you have to get a win straightaway, but you play difficult games. We're chasing that win and we haven't found it today. We created enough opportunities to win the game but it's not happening for us in terms of efficiency."
The capacity crowd of 22,584 in a ground reminiscent in size and style to west London's Loftus Road would have had a reasonable expectation of seeing goals from two teams whose weekend matches featured 17 of them. For a long time Chelsea, slapdash in defence in conceding five against Arsenal, looked the only side likely to score. The home side went forward with more conviction than in the first meeting but they had not troubled Petr Cech with anything more than Nadson's header from the first corner of the game before falling behind in the 25th minute. Ramires brought the ball forward, exchanged passes with Fernando Torres and hit a shot from a sharp angle that defeated an unconvincing attempt at a save by the goalkeeper Laszlo Koteles.
The crowd was not to know that the assist would be Torres' only contribution in another frustrating performance in which he failed notably to build on the levels of confidence achieved when scoring twice in the first meeting. Chelsea tended to work promising positions, then waste them with a poor final pass. When Ashley Cole and Florent Malouda, seeing plenty of possession down the left, each produced a good low cross, Torres was unable to take advantage. Nicolas Anelka's service from the right was generally weaker and it was from the left that Genk almost conceded twice more.
Cole tried a higher centre that Ramires headed wide from beyond the far post and the full-back Anthony vanden Borre almost turned Malouda's cross into his own net. A similar effort from Malouda offered an even better opportunity, Thomas Buffel handling to concede a penalty. Anelka having missed one feebly in the Carling Cup at Everton, Luiz stepped up but his shot off a short run was pushed away by Koteles. "All our penalty takers have missed one now," Villas Boas lamented. "That's the efficiency again, because all of them are extremely good penalty-takers."
Genk's coach Mario Been admitted that his goalkeeper had kept Genk in the game with that save, which came just after Raul Meireles struck the angle of bar and post with a fierce drive from 25 yards. Kevin de Bruyne, watched by Chelsea for some time, and hoping for a return nearer to the maternal home in Ealing, worked hard again down the Belgian side's left but lime green boots were the most dazzling thing about him.
Given a chance to impress Villas-Boas early in the second half, De Bruyne shot weakly straight at Cech from inside the penalty area. It would prove costly, however, that Jose Bosingwa was repeatedly taking time off from marking him to venture rather recklessly forward. After Kennedy Nwanganga was played in close to goal, only to be thwarted by Cech at the expense of a corner, Fabien Camus broke into the space that Bosingwa should have been occupying and his cross found the home side's leading scorer Vossen, who turned it smartly in to register Genk's first goal of the European campaign after 331 minutes.
Villas-Boas acted quickly in sending on Daniel Sturridge and Lampard for Anelka and Ramires in like-for-like changes and Chelsea regained a foothold without improving on conversion of chances. Meireles first shot over the bar, then headed Malouda's cross at the goalkeeper. Sturridge quickly became a threat. He beat his man and crossed a fraction too far in front of Lampard, who could not turn the ball in from a couple of yards out. Before the end Cech had to save from the substitute Anthony Limbombe and in a bizarre late incident Anele Ngongca's clearance off the line from Malouda hit a team-mate and bounced to safety.

Man of the match Camus.
Match rating 7/10.
Referee S O Moen (Nor).
Attendance 24,000

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

Guardian:

Chelsea's defensive sloppiness exposed by resurgent Genk
Dominic Fifield at Cristal Arena

Chelsea's recent stutter has spread over into Europe. André Villas-Boas was always likely to contest that a draw secured away from home in this competition should ever constitute the extension of a blip, but his side suffered the same lapses of concentration and outbreaks of sloppiness in Belgium that have afflicted them domestically. After what the manager had described as "a disastrous week", there was to be no real respite in Genk.
The visitors could be thankful that the home side proved considerably less ruthless than Arsenal had on Saturday but there will be realisation, too, that better sides than the Belgians would have prospered when confronted with this performance. Chelsea's are familiar problems: they can be open defensively, while too many chances are being fluffed at the other end. David Luiz missed a penalty, maintaining the trend set last week by Nicolas Anelka at Everton. Yet, even from the top of Group E, this whole occasion felt like an opportunity missed.
Genk were more organised here than they had been in succumbing 5-0 at Stamford Bridge two weeks ago, with Daniel Tozser restored to defensive midfield and more resolve instilled across their back line. But they still should have been comfortably beaten. Chelsea's lax start had been salvaged by a fine Ramires goal, the Brazilian exchanging passes with Fernando Torres before shooting through Laszlo Koteles's grasp from a tight angle, and they should have built an unassailable lead thereafter. Yet conviction waned as chances were spurned and, after the interval, the hosts made their own impression.
This defence, with John Terry an unused substitute, felt exposed too often. Kevin de Bruyne, a long-standing Chelsea target, revelled in the space behind José Bosingwa while Fabien Camus, more than once, bulldozed through the gap between Branislav Ivanovic and David Luiz. Kennedy Nwanganga might have restored parity only for Cech to block his close-range attempt with his legs. Jelle Vossen duly did, converting Camus's pull-back through a cluttered six-yard box.
That was Genk's first goal in this group, and reward for their refusal to be left demoralised by their chastening experience in London last month. "We played even better than Chelsea in that second half," said their coach, Mario Been. "I know how people spoke about us in England after that first game. Maybe we'll buy the papers tomorrow and see that people talk about us a little bit better."
The side who sit sixth in the Belgian league might still have been finished off in the frantic last half-hour, with Chelsea's cavalry – Frank Lampard, Juan Mata and Daniel Sturridge – summoned from the bench, but the Londoners continue to flounder where they would expect to flourish. This team are capable of running up cricket scores but they are contriving to choke in front of goal.
David Luiz's penalty attempt had rather summed that up. The Brazil defender had taken the responsibility after Thomas Buffel's handball, with Anelka accepting the decision following his own miss at Goodison Park last Wedneday, only for Koteles to dive to his right and paw the ball away. That miss felt wasteful but not critical at the time, yet the flurry of late opportunities that also went begging reflected greater anxiety. Lampard from a yard out could not contort his body to convert Sturridge's centre, while Raul Meireles – who had earlier struck the angle of post and bar from distance – planted a header straight at Koteles.
When Anele Ngongca comically battered a clearance from the goalline into Nadson, the ball dribbling just wide of the post, Chelsea knew this would not be their night. "We created enough opportunities to win the game, but it's just not happening for us in terms of efficiency," said Villas-Boas. "We hit the post, missed a penalty, had chances in front of the posts. It seems we need to focus in terms of that efficiency. It's not a bad result away from home, but it's a game we expected to win."
This group feels trickier as a result, with Valencia sensing a reprieve and Chelsea facing an awkward trip to Bayer Leverkusen in a fortnight. Even so, four points in their last two games would be enough to win the section. "It gets a little bit tighter, but our responsibilities do not change," added the Portuguese. "Our job is to qualify first and that's what we'd like to do. When you get a bad run of results you have to get a win straight away to take you out of that run, but we're playing difficult games. At the moment, we're still trying to chase that win."
Their pursuit will be carried to Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park on Saturday with improvement clearly still required. At the moment, there is angst and anxiety where Chelsea would hope to be cruising.


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

Telegraph:

Genk 1 Chelsea 1
By Jason Burt

Despite the travails of a “disastrous” week,Chelsea were not expected to struggle on their travels. Surely, in Flanders, they would not flounder?
Instead their “castle”, to use Andre Villas-Boas’s pre-match term, remains under siege. It was far from impregnable last night.
It was a Champions League match watched by John Terry – tactically left among the substitutes – with the Chelsea captain having found out earlier in the day that the police are to investigate his alleged racial abuse of Anton Ferdinand.
Many of the 1,100 visiting Chelsea fans, crassly, showed what they thought of that by chanting “We know what you are, Anton Ferdinand, we know what you are” during the match. Ill-judged doesn’t get close to describing the inappropriateness of it, although as their team was pegged back for periods by Belgian champions Genk, it eventually stopped.
“No, I didn’t hear that. I was concentrating on the game,” the Chelsea manager maintained afterwards.
If only some of his players had stayed as focused. Both full-backs, Jose Bosingwa and Ashley Cole, had poor evenings while once more Fernando Torres struggled.
Having been told what the supporters chanted, what did Villas-Boas think? “I have nothing to say on that,” came the reply, rather than a request for fans not to do such things.
The club itself was more forceful, with a spokesman saying: “It was wholly inappropriate and we do not condone it.”
Nevertheless, it was a disappointing response from the manager and there was also a disappointing response on the pitch after Chelsea’s early dominance was rewarded by ­Ramires’s fourth goal of the season.
Fellow Brazilian David Luiz missed a penalty and Raul Meireles hit the woodwork, but Villas-Boas said: “It’s just not happening for us in terms of efficiency. It seems we need to focus.
“It’s not a bad result away from home, but it’s a game we expected to win. We have to react.”
That reaction must start away to Blackburn Rovers on Saturday with Chelsea now having won just one of their last four matches – in the ­Carling Cup.
Villas-Boas added: “When you get a bad run of results you have to get a win straight away to take you out of the run of results. But you play difficult games. At the moment, we’re trying and chasing hard this win. But we haven’t found it.”
A draw away in this competition is acceptable but Chelsea cannot keep a clean sheet, which is not. They should have won last night, having gone ahead, and now need two points from their final two matches – away to Bayer Leverkusen and home to Valencia – to qualify and four to ensure they top Group E. It’s stickier than it should have been.
Six changes had been made by Villas-Boas from the side traumatised by the weekend defeat to Arsenal and his team took time to settle.
They assumed control when Ramires exchanged passes with Torres – the Spaniard’s one illuminating moment – and the midfielder powered into the penalty area, shooting from an acute angle with his effort squeezing under goalkeeper Laszlo Koteles.
Then Torres sent his own angled shot from the edge of the area narrowly wide after receiving a Ramires pass. The midfielder should have added a second soon after, but headed wide from close range.
Meireles’s long-range shot crashed against the post with Koteles beaten, and with the pressure telling Thomas Buffel batted down Florent Malouda’s cross with his arm and the referee rightly awarded a penalty.
Up stepped Luiz. His effort didn’t lack power but was too close to Koteles and he comfortably beat it away. Surely with Chelsea’s dominance it wouldn’t matter? But it did.
Kennedy Nwanganga should have scored for the home side, when Anthony Vanden Borre’s wayward shot fell to him, only for Petr Cech to save superbly.
Moments later winger Kevin De Bruyne, watched so often by Stamford Bridge scouts, released Fabien Camus with a clever pass. He crossed low and Jelle Vossen swept the ball home. Bosingwa had once again been horribly exposed for his bad positioning and the malaise spread. Only Genk’s limitations prevented a more difficult night.
On came Frank Lampard as Villas-Boas’s side tried to gain more control of the game, but he failed to turn in a cross from almost on the goal-line after Meireles had wasted another header.
Another substitute, Daniel Sturridge, added some impetus but so did Genk’s Anthony Limbombe and only Luiz’s challenge stopped a goal-bound shot. And late on a Malouda effort was cleared off the line by Anele, striking his own team-mate and trickling narrowly wide.
“Did we do enough to win the game? I think we did,” Villas-Boas said. Maybe so. But Chelsea also made enough errors to lose it too. The ramparts remain vulnerable; the castle under attack.


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

Mail:

Genk 1 Chelsea 1: Disgraceful fans taunt Ferdinand as Blues blow lead
By LAURA WILLIAMSON

Chelsea were forced to condemn their own fans after supporters sang a disgraceful chant about Anton Ferdinand.
‘Anton Ferdinand: you know what you are’ they chanted loudly and clearly during the first half in Genk — a reference to the allegation their captain, John Terry, called the QPR defender a ‘black ****’ 10 days ago.
The police announced they were investigating the incident.
Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas said he did not hear the song and refused to comment. But a club spokesman said: ‘It was wholly inappropriate and we do not condone it.’
Terry was named only as a substitute, but if Villas-Boas hoped to take his captain out of the firing line, Chelsea’s 1,100 fans in Genk did nothing to help his cause.
Overall, it was another frustrating evening for the Premier League side. The Chelsea castle may still be standing, but it did not look particularly imperious.
Villas-Boas had insisted before this match that Chelsea’s ‘disastrous week’, with defeats by QPR and Arsenal, had not brought down the castle walls, but their defensive frailties were exposed once again — by a side who had not scored a single goal in three Champions League group stage matches until this tie.
Chelsea were the architects of their own downfall, in a game in which they should have been out of sight by half-time. Instead, they had only Ramires’ goal to show for a dominant first 45 minutes after seeing a David Luiz penalty saved and were punished when Jelle Vossen equalised after 61 minutes.
With Valencia beating Bayer Leverkusen, Chelsea now need four points from their last two games to be sure of qualifying for the knock-out stages as group winners.
Villas-Boas said: ‘It’s not a bad result away, but it’s a game we expected to win. We have to react.
‘The group gets a little bit tighter, but our job is to qualify first and that’s what we’d like to do. When you get a bad run of results you have to get a win straight away. At the moment, we’re trying and chasing hard this win.’
The manager made five changes from the side beaten 5-3 at home by Arsenal on Saturday, but the same problems continued: missed opportunities and a lack of shape and organisation at the back.
They were carved open inside five minutes when Kevin de Bruyne played a neat ball and Petr Cech saved from Vossen. David Luiz was fortunate Genk did not pick out Kennedy Nwanganga, as the 6ft 2in Nigerian had managed to sneak in front of the defender who would rather do anything than defend.
The gaping hole where Jose Bosingwa should have been was also obvious, but the Belgian side failed to exploit it. There was another let off from a Daniel Tozser corner, with unmarked Khaleem Hyland producing only a weak header.
But Chelsea had no such difficulties at the other end in the first half, almost coasting into the lead after 25 minutes. With Oriol Romeu again anchoring the midfield with poise, Raul Meireles and Ramires were given the freedom to orchestrate the attack.
Ramires played a one-two with Fernando Torres and the Brazilian’s momentum took him into the box, where he beat the goalkeeper at the near post with a bobbling right-foot shot.
Genk were fortunate not to concede an own goal when Florent Malouda’s cross bounced off Anthony Vanden Borre, but conceded a penalty after 39 minutes when Thomas Buffel handled Malouda’s cross.
There was little debate about the spot-kick, but there should perhaps be more discussion about why Luiz took it with a £50million striker lurking around the box.
The Brazilian, a nominated penaltytaker alongside Anelka, saw his poor right-foot strike comfortably saved by Laszlo Koteles.
His misery continued in the second half, as Vanden Borre slipped a pass to Nwanganga, who stole half a yard on Luiz but shot wide.
It was a sign of things to come, as Vossen then fired a low shot past Cech after a pass from Fabien Camus.
Villas-Boas threw on Daniel Sturridge — who tested Koteles with a stinging shot — Lampard and Mata, and Chelsea seized back the initative, but could not force a winner.
Meireles aimed a header at the goalkeeper from a Malouda cross, and the Frenchman saw a floated shot cleared off the line after a chipped pass from Lampard.



Genk: Koteles, Vanden Borre, Hyland, Nadson, Ngcongca, Tozser, Buffel (Dugary 69), Camus, De Bruyne, Vossen (Barda 86), Nwanganga (Limbombe 82). Subs not used:Sandomierski, Sarr, Durwael, Ofori-Appiah.
Booked: De Bruyne.
Goal: Vossen 61.

Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Luiz, Ivanovic, Cole, Ramires (Lampard 66), Romeu (Mata 77), Meireles, Malouda, Torres, Anelka (Sturridge 66). Subs not used: Turnbull, McEachran, Kalou, Terry.
Goal: Ramires 26.

Attendance: 24,000
Referee: Svein Oddvar Moen (Norway).


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

Mirror:
Genk 1-1 Chelsea
By Martin Lipton

Andre Villas Boas may be thankful Roman ­Abramovich is somewhat distracted by events in the High Court.
But unless the Chelsea manager starts to quickly turns things round, he may become the latest to discover what happens when the Russian rushes to judgement.
Last night, as the shadow of the John Terry racism allegations hung over the Cristal Arena and Blues fans damaged their club with distasteful chants towards Anton Ferdinand, it was again on-field matters that concerned Villas-Boas.
Chelsea were not as exposed as they had been against Arsenal, yet still became the first team this season to concede a Champions League goal to Belgian minnows Genk.
As if that was not bad enough, a shockingly complacent display in a match that should have been done and dusted before the break means Chelsea need four points from their final two matches, in Leverkusen and at home to Valencia, to be sure of topping Group E.
Villas-Boas had insisted the “disastrous week” had not harmed his side’s self-belief yet David Luiz’s woeful penalty miss before the break sapped their confidence far too swiftly, with home striker Jelle Vossen’s simple finish cancelling out Ramires’ first-half opener.
Failing to beat Genk, so pitiful at Stamford Bridge, made Villas-Boas’ decision to omit Terry, Frank Lampard, Juan Mata and Daniel Sturridge look ill-judged, exactly what he did not need. Chelsea were three up inside half an hour when the outgunned Belgians visited two weeks ago and could have been as far ahead last night as well.
But wasted opportunities, ill-luck and Luiz’s shocker – what makes a Brazilian centre-half the penalty-taker? – meant the lone goal, after 25 rather tame and tortuous minutes, was not enough.
Ramires, impressive through the opening half, exchanged passes superbly with Torres, scampering onto the Spaniard’s return ball and then squeezing the ball under home keeper Laszlo Koteles.
It was a finish out of keeping with much of what had gone before.
Genk were as limited as previously but there were moments of uncertainty and positional complacency from familiar suspects Jose Bosingwa and Luiz even before Chelsea lost their way so badly after the break.
Luiz looks far better striding out with the ball than when asked to perform the defensive basics but Ramires’ goal looked to have settled the visitors.
Torres was just wide of the far post from 18 yards before playing his part in a clever move which should have brought Ramires a second but he headed wide Ashley Cole’s cross.
Raul Meireles, in for Lampard, was desperately unlucky to see his fierce strike come back off the
angle of post and bar, although Chelsea were literally handed another chance seconds later as Thomas Buffel batted down a cross from Florent Malouda. With Lampard on the bench and Nicolas Anelka having missed against Everton last week, Luiz took ­responsibility but the stuttering run-up was followed by a shot far too close to Koteles, who saved easily to his right.
Genk, who should have been dead and buried, suddenly started to threaten. Kevin De Bruyne – again doing little to make a case for a move to SW6 – shot weakly before Petr Cech bailed out his defence at Kennedy Nwanganga’s feet after former Portsmouth man Anthony Vanden Borre was allowed to run 40 yards.
The luck did not hold and just after the hour Bosingwa’s deficiencies were punished as Fabien Camus had time to pick out Vossen eight yards from goal.
Villas-Boas responded, sending on Lampard and Sturridge for Ramires and Anelka and Chelsea dominated again.
Meireles should have converted Malouda’s excellent cross and Lampard, a yard out, could not get the touch as Sturridge, later denied by Koteles, played in a terrific ball.
Cech saved from Anthony Limbombe with Bosingwa again missing in action and Chelsea were frustrated when Anele Ngongca and Nadson somehow managed to clear Malouda’s shot off the line between them.
Not good enough. Not even close to good enough.

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

Sun:

Genk 1 Chelsea 1
By MARK IRWIN

THE castle might not be crumbling but some of the residents could do with being chucked into the moat.
Andre Villas-Boas had defiantly declared that Fortress Chelsea was still intact following back-to-back Premier League defeats by QPR and Arsenal.
But, though the Blues remain firmly on course for the knockout stages of the Champions League, some of their supporters will not be so welcome around Europe.
As their team secured an unimpressive draw in Genk last night, a large section of the 1,100 travelling fans continually chanted 'Anton Ferdinand, you know what you are'.
It was a disgracefully misplaced show of support for beleaguered Blues captain John Terry, who has been accused of racially abusing QPR defender Ferdinand during last week's 1-0 defeat at Loftus Road.
Terry, who has vehemently denied the allegations, was left squirming on the bench as the mob delivered their verdict on the dispute.
Neither Terry nor Frank Lampard had been required to beat Genk 5-0 at Stamford Bridge last month and Villas-Boas calculated that he could get by without his most experienced duo again last night.
Yet the decision to rest the captain prompted fresh questions about Terry's state of mind just hours after the police raised their "assessment" of his alleged racist abuse to a full-blown "investigation".
After Saturday's defensive debacle against Arsenal, how Terry would have loved the opportunity to put things right last night.
Instead, he was left to kick his heels on the sidelines for the third time in four Champions League games this season.
And how Chelsea were made to pay in Terry's absence against one of the worst sides to ever qualify for Europe's premier club competition.
Without a goal in any of their group games prior to last night's match, Genk had previously given the impression of a team that would be out of their depth in a bath.
At least they held out for 26 minutes this time before a defence with all the mobility of a Dale Farm traveller was undone by Ramires' pace and movement.
Exchanging passes on the edge of the area with Fernando Torres, the lively Brazilian squeezed his shot beyond keeper Laszlo Koteles from the tightest of angles.
That was Ramires' fourth goal of the season and after that it seemed it would simply be a question of how many more Chelsea could score before they lost interest.
Torres drilled a fierce shot just wide and former Portsmouth defender Anthony Vanden Borre almost turned Florent Malouda's low cross into his own goal.
The impressive Raul Meireles struck the bar and seconds later another Malouda cross was blocked by the hands of Thomas Buffel.
But, just like Nicolas Anelka at Everton last week, David Luiz was unable to score from the penalty spot, shooting close enough to Koteles for the Genk keeper to save.
The Belgian side almost took full advantage of Luiz's generosity seven minutes into the second half when striker Kennedy Nwanganga found himself clear on goal.
Vanden Borre's attempted shot was blocked by Oriol Romeu and ricocheted straight to Nwanganga, whose tame shot was saved by acting captain Petr Cech.
Suddenly Chelsea were not looking so serene and after 61 minutes they paid the penalty for their lack of ruthlessness when Genk, incredibly, levelled.
Once again there were huge questions about Jose Bosingwa's positioning as Fabien Camus was allowed far too much space down the flank before pulling the ball back for Jelle Vossen to sidefoot home.
Yet rather than shut up shop and settle for a point, Villas-Boas went flat out for victory by sending on Lampard, Daniel Sturridge and Juan Mata for a final onslaught.
It was a bold gamble which almost paid off when Lampard was just inches away from turning Sturridge's 79th-minute cross over the line.
Sturridge was just out of luck again with a fierce 25-yard drive which was well turned over by keeper Koteles.
Chelsea thought they had snatched a dramatic last-ditch victory in the final minute when Lampard sent Malouda in on goal.
But, though the Frenchman flicked the ball beyond the advancing Koteles, his shot was scrambled off the line by Nadson.
Few could begrudge Genk that moment of fortune for their spirited second-half performance.
And even fewer would have wished to see those Chelsea followers celebrating after the way they had embarrassed their club earlier in the evening.

DREAM TEAM RATINGS
STAR MAN - RAUL MEIRELES

CHELSEA: Cech 7, Bosingwa 5, Luiz 5, Ivanovic 7, Cole 6, Meireles 8, Ramires 7, Romeu 6, Malouda 7, Torres 5, Anelka 6. Subs: Lampard (Ramires 66) 6, Sturridge (Anelka 66) 6, Mata (Romeu 77) 5. Not used: Turnbull, McEachran, Kalou, Terry. Booked: Meireles.


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

Star:

GENK 1 CHELSEA 1: ICE-COOL JELLE'S SWEET FINISH WOBBLES BLUES
By Scott Coleman

JELLE VOSSEN’S leveller did ­nothing to lift the gloom hanging over Chelsea as their wobble continued.
Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas admitted the past week had been a disaster for the cub.
And his team sloppily threw away a precious Champions League win which could leave them struggling to go through.
Leading thanks to a Ramires strike, Chelsea wasted the chance to ensure qualification from Group E – and their cause was not helped when David Luiz missed a penalty.
Chelsea now need four points from their final two games. A tough trip to Bayer Levekusen looms followed by a home clash with Valencia.
Coming after back-to-back Premier League defeats against QPR and Arsenal, it was the last thing they needed.
Villas-Boas surprisingly left John Terry on the bench. The skipper learned last night he also faces a police investigation into allegations of racial abuse against QPR defender Anton Ferdinand, as well as an FA inquiry.
Villas-Boas also rested Frank Lampard against the Group E minnows, who were beaten 5-0 at Stamford Bridge two weeks ago.
Chelsea were four goals up by the 42nd minute in the first game, but this was much more cagey.
Ramires finally broke the deadlock. The Brazilian raced into the area, exchanged passes with Fernando Torres and squeezed the ball under Laszlo Koteles.
It was Ramires’ fourth goal of the season and one Chelsea badly needed to settle their nerves.
Raul Meireles slammed a shot against the angle and a minute later Chelsea had a penalty as Thomas Buffel handled.
But Luiz hit his spot-kick far too close to Koteles, who saved well. It was the second penalty in a row ­Chelsea had missed.
Genk went close to levelling when Daniel Toszer curled a free-kick just over the bar.
Luiz then wasted a free-fick from just outside the area, this effort flying high and wide.
Chelsea were then in total control, moving the ball about smoothly and confidently, but Genk started to find some form.
Winger Kevin De Bruyne – a Chelsea target last summer – came close with a curling shot, then Kennedy
Nwanganga should have done better when he was put clean through.
Meireles tested Koteles again with a stinging 25 yard drive, but Chelsea should have been further ahead. And they were duly punished after 61 minutes.
Fabien Camus raced down the left to cross and Vossen stabbed it home as the Chelsea defence ­dithered. It was Genk’s first goal in the competition this season.
Chelsea hit back and Meireles shot straight at the keeper, then substitute Lampard missed from a couple of yards with the goal at his mercy.


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

Express:

GENK 1 CHELSEA 1: BLUES ARE GIVEN TOUCH OF THE JELLE WOBBLES
By Tony Banks

CHELSEA manager Andre Vilas-Boas labelled Chelsea’s last week as “disastrous”.
This was not quite on that scale, but as his team sloppily threw away a precious win, it could be very damaging indeed.
Leading thanks to Ramires’s excellently taken goal in rainy Flanders, careless Chelsea wasted the chance to be in a strong position to qualify from Group E last night, as David Luiz missed a penalty and then Jelle Vossen equalised.
Chelsea now need four points from their final two games to guarantee winning the group – and it is by no means a straightforward task, with a tough trip to Bayer Leverkusen looming and then a home clash with Valencia.
A group which had at one stage looked to be totally within their grip has now slipped away and, coming after back-to-back league defeats against QPR and Arsenal, it was the last thing Chelsea needed.
Villas-Boas surprisingly left John Terry, who learned last night that he will now face a police investigation into allegations of racial abuse against QPR defender Anton Ferdinand as well as an FA inquiry, on the bench.
But the Chelsea fans made their voices known by singing “Anton Ferdinand, you know what you are.”
As the storm around the Chelsea captain seems to gather pace day by day, Villas-Boas took Terry out of the firing line, also leaving out Frank Lampard against the Group E minnows, who were beaten 5-0 at Stamford Bridge two weeks ago. Nicolas Anelka returned to the attack.
Beaten by QPR and left stunned 5-3 at home against Arsenal on Saturday, Chelsea badly needed a morale boost after as rotten a week as the club have had in years.
Genk were, in many ways, ideal opposition; the whipping boys of the group.
But in pouring rain it was the Flanders team who looked livelier early on, but then Ramires tested Laszlo Koteles with a snap shot.
Chelsea were four goals up by the 42nd minute in the first game against the club in only their second season in the Champions League, but this was a much more cagey affair.
But it was Ramires who finally broke the deadlock. The nippy Brazilian raced into the area, exchanged passes with Fernando Torres and squeezed the ball under Koteles as the goalkeeper came out, for his fourth goal of the season.
Torres had up until then been quiet, but suddenly the £50million Spaniard, who scored twice against the Belgians in the first game, woke up and flashed a 20-yard shot an inch wide.
Ramires’s speedy breaks into the area were causing Genk considerable trouble and, when Ashley Cole crossed from the left, the Brazilian popped up at the far post and should have done better than nod the ball wide.
Then Florent Malouda tore the Belgians apart down that flank again and defender Anthony Vanden Borre was within a fraction of an own-goal as the ball bounced freakishly off him. Raul Meireles then slammed his shot against the angle and a minute later Chelsea had a penalty as Thomas Buffel handled in the area.
But this time a Brazilian was not as accurate, David Luiz hitting his spot-kick far too close to Koteles, who saved well. It was the second penalty in a row Chelsea had missed.
Genk actually came close to levelling the scores, when Daniel Tozser curled a free-kick an inch over from 25 yards.
Luiz was even further away with a free-kick from just outside the area than he had been with his penalty, this effort flying high and wide.
Winger Kevin de Bruyne, a Chelsea target last summer, came close with a curling shot, but Petr Cech saved comfortably.
Then striker Kennedy Nwanganga should have done better when put clean through than to allow the Chelsea keeper to block his shot, before Meireles tested Koteles again with a stinging 25-yard drive.
Chelsea were duly punished for their profligacy on the hour, as Fabien Camus raced down a yawning gap on the left to cross low and Vossen stabbed in his low cross.
It was Genk’s first goal in the competition this season.
Villas-Boas threw Lampard and Daniel Sturridge on to try to tighten matters up, because a game that Chelsea had had firmly in their grip was in real danger of slipping away.

Genk (4-4-2): Koteles; Vanden Borre, Hyland, Nadson, Ngongca; Buffel (Dugary 69), Camus, Tozser, De Bruyne; Vossen (Barda 86), Nwanganga (Limbombe 82). Booked: De Bruyne. Goal: Vossen 61.

Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Bosingwa, Luiz, Ivanovic, Cole; Ramires (Lampard 66), Romeu (Mata 77), Meireles; Anelka (Sturridge 66), Torres, Malouda. Booked: Meireles. Goal: Ramires 25.

Referee: S Oddvar Moen (Norway).