blackburn rovers 2-1

Independent:

Ivanovic hits the front to punish profligate Rovers
Blackburn Rovers 1 Chelsea 2

By Tim Rich at Ewood Park

Football talks of points being chiselled out, but this was a Mount Rushmore of a victory. Chelsea would have been happy with one. They flew back to London with three.
Branislav Ivanovic's winner may have been so much against the grain of the game that it left splinters but it was superbly executed. Throughout the afternoon, Blackburn's crosses were of a significantly higher quality than the champions' but, under pressure and in mid-turn, Yuri Zhirkov produced a wonderful delivery that found Chelsea's right-back unmarked.
Moments before, Blackburn, who had produced perhaps their finest performance of the season, had been handed an equally inviting opportunity when Jason Roberts was played clean through. As his manager, Sam Allardyce, remarked with the resigned sigh of a man who knows he should have won, everything about the way Roberts created the opening was perfect except for the finish, which went six inches the wrong side of the post.
"It was one of those days when you play as well as you possibly can but we needed to convert chances into goals at the right time," Allardyce reflected. "We got the ultimate kick in the teeth when you don't punish the opposition."
It was a result that might be compared to Manchester United's victory at Stoke last Sunday as a win at one of the Premier League's more forbidding minor venues. However, Blackburn performed far better than Stoke and Chelsea far worse than United had done. Even when Nicolas Anelka equalised, the match refused to run to a predictable pattern, and had Mame Biram Diouf arrived fractionally sooner to meet Morten Gamst Pedersen's low free-kick, Blackburn would have had a second before Roberts squandered his chance.
"It was very difficult to play here and it was important to get a result and stay top," said Chelsea's manager, Carlo Ancelotti, afterwards. "Blackburn put us under pressure; we didn't find the space in the middle of the pitch, although in the second half we took more of a risk on the counterattack."
With Allardyce employing a Diouf on either flank, Chelsea were harried, denied space and opened up continually with some high-class crossing. The sight of Benjani operating asthe lone striker had, however, drawn a metaphorical sigh.
His best days were long ago and far away at Portsmouth, nobody ever quite figured out what he was doing at Manchester City and the hamstring injury that forced him off at half-time showed why Allardyce might have had second thoughts about the deal.
And yet the Zimbabwean still has something about him. It was not just his goal, the way he squeezed between Chelsea's two centre-halves, Alex and John Terry, to head home El-Hadji Diouf's wonderfully precise cross. The breakthrough had been coming; moments earlier, Benjani had thundered through and shot against the goalkeeper's legs.
Petr Cech was at least more in control of that move than he had been when Mame Biram Diouf attempted what appeared an innocuous chip into the Chelsea area. Cech slipped and had to palm the ball away one-handed.
"The thing about Chelsea is that when they are being outplayed, they hang in there and hang in there," said Allardyce.
Zhirkov, who was supposed to be an indulgent buy at the behest of Roman Abramovich, threatened constantly and had a shot brilliantly saved by Paul Robinson, while Anelka was a familiar threat.
Chelsea's equaliser, like their winner, may have looked simple but was beautifully executed. Florent Malouda's long ball was skilfully taken down by Didier Drogba and swept in by Anelka for his 11th goal in 15 appearances against Rovers, to whom he must seem like an avenging angel.

Attendance: 25,836
Referee: Peter Walton
Man of the match: Zhirkov
Match rating: 7/10

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Observer:

Branislav Ivanovic heads Chelsea back from behind at Blackburn Rovers

Blackburn Rovers 1 Benjani 21 Chelsea 2 Anelka 39, Ivanovic 84
Paul Wilson at Ewood Park

Sam Allardyce rates Nicolas Anelka the best finisher he has worked with, and reckons if the Chelsea striker was at Blackburn he would score 15 goals per season and enable Rovers to comfortably finish in the top half of the table.
Unfortunately for the Blackburn manager, matters are not presently arranged along those lines and he has to make do with Jason Roberts instead. After Anelka had equalised the home side's early lead, the substitute had a great opportunity to win the game when magnificent work from Mame Biram Diouf on the right found him in front of goal nine minutes from time. Roberts neatly cut inside his marker yet still missed the target with only Petr Cech to beat, and Blackburn's chance was gone. A minute later, Anelka helped on a Yuri Zhirkov cross from the left for Branislav Ivanovic to secure all three points with a free header.
Victory kept Chelsea five points clear at the top of the Premier League and though one could not say they did not deserve it, they were flat and somewhat uninspired and would have been punished by deadlier finishers. Allardyce's side did most of the hard work, matched their opponents and made several chances, yet not for the first time failed to find the killer punch.
"We were a little bit lucky," Carlo Ancelotti was honest enough to admit. "Blackburn had a chance to close the game just before we scored. I liked the way Yuri set up the winning goal, he is a very efficient player, but we could have been out of it. It was an important win. Every team finds it difficult here."
That is still true. After a minute's applause to mark Ronnie Clayton's passing, Rovers took the game to Chelsea in the opening stages, with Benjani Mwaruwari finding plenty of space. It was from his pass that Mame Biram Diouf almost caught out Cech with a delicate chip in the 15th minute, then a minute later Benjani tested the goalkeeper. Chelsea could hardly complain when Benjani put Blackburn in front midway through the first half, beating John Terry and Alex to a cross from El Hadji Diouf to register his first goal in almost two years. Cech then needed to stretch to prevent Mame Biram Diouf putting Rovers two up on their next attack, from another searching cross from his namesake.
When Michael Essien poked a shot narrowly wide shortly before the interval, it came as something of a shock to realise it was Chelsea's first serious attempt. Yet as Allardyce wearily remarked afterwards, when you have quality you don't need to dominate, and the visitors equalised with a goal of sublime simplicity. Florent Malouda hoisted over a cross from the left, Didier Drogba knocked it back across goal from the far post, and Allardyce's favourite striker swept the ball into the net without opposition.
To no one's enormous surprise, Benjani did not reappear for the second half, making way for another infrequent performer in Roberts. Ashley Cole put a good chance wide before Zhirkov brought a fine save from Paul Robinson on the hour, drilling a shot straight at the goalkeeper after Drogba had squared across the six-yard line.
Blackburn attempts were becoming scarce, yet Mame Biram Diouf still had the opportunity to restore their lead when Morten Gamst Pedersen's free-kick came through to him at the far post, only for his touch to send the ball the wrong side of the upright from no more than a foot out. Then came what Allardyce termed the golden chance.
"I can't really fault Jason, he did everything else right but he put the ball six inches wide," the Blackburn manager said. "In this game you have to be ruthless, and that's why Chelsea are at the top and we are near the bottom. We gave them a good game, but if you don't punch opponents when you have the chance, you are asking for a kick in the teeth. That's exactly what we got."

THE FANS' PLAYER RATINGS AND VERDICT

MARCUS TATTERSALL, Observer reader

Ronnie Clayton would have been proud of them. Rovers were wonderful. We didn't play to the usual Rovers manual; we took the game to the opposition, we were inventive and, with Mame Biram Diouf and Emerton providing support for the excellent Benjani, who totally justified his selection, we carried the game to Chelsea. My only criticism would be Pedersen's distribution from free-kicks. We didn't bully Chelsea; we played them off the park with very good football, which shocked and surprised us. I hope that losing doesn't put Allardyce off adopting this approach again.

The fan's player ratings Robinson 8; Salgado 7, Samba 7, Nelsen 7, Givet 6 (Olsson 35 6); Jones 7; MB Diouf 8, Emerton 8, Pedersen 6; EH Diouf 8 (Dunn 79 n/a); Benjani 9 (Roberts ht 5)

TRIZIA FIORELLINO, ChelseaSupportersGroup.net

We made hard work of it. In the first half Blackburn had us really under the cosh. We made a better fist of it in the second half but we could have been 3-0 down at one point. Cole, Zhirkov and Ivanovic were excellent. Ivanovic almost single-handedly won us the game – he seemed to be making up for everybody else's lack of energy. Terry had an off day and Drogba had a diva day. Every so often we have a game like this, it's nothing to do with not liking to come to places like Blackburn. It was a bit of a smash and grab, and the Rovers fans will be disappointed, but that's why we're champions.

The fan's player ratings Cech 7; Ivanovic 9, Alex 8, Terry 7, Cole 8; Essien 7, Mikel 7, Zhirkov 8; Anelka 7 (Ferreira 90 n/a); Drogba 6, Malouda 6 (Sturridge 72 8)

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Mail:

Blackburn 1 Chelsea 2:
Branislav Ivanovic's late header caps Blues' comeback
By Bob Cass

In one wanton act of carelessness, Jason Roberts showed just why teams like Blackburn Rovers are more likely to suffer the pangs of injustice rather than the euphoria of ultimate victory.
Opportunity knocked for the Rovers striker nine minutes from the end of a match in which the home team had proved the difference between the top and the bottom of the Premier League was mathematical rather than inferior.
Roberts, a half-time substitute, collected a superb crossfield ball from Mame Diouf, then killed and controlled it in a second with a flick which also bamboozled the greatest left-back in the world.
With Ashley Cole stranded in his wake, another shimmy sold Petr Cech an even better dummy, leaving him with the goal at his mercy.
And then, carefully and with the utmost precision, he guided his shot six inches wide of the left-hand post.
Roberts looked to the heavens in abject misery; Sam Allardyce screamed in frustrated agony. The golden chance to take three points from the all conquering boys in blue had slipped through their fingers.
And if the Rovers manager thought that was bad enough, there was worse to come.
Two minutes later Yury Zhirkov, in spite of intense pressure from three Blackburn defenders, somehow managed to get in a high cross that saw Branislav Ivanovic steaming in at the far post to head the Chelsea winner.
'It was the ultimate kick in the teeth,' moaned Allardyce with some justification. 'It's pleasing that we were able to create so many chances against a team of such high calibre and give them a good game. But when you don't punish a team as good as Chelsea when you get the chance, they are able to take full advantage of it.
'That's just what they did. It's disappointing when you think of the performance that we gave and the result that we've got. The only consolation is to be able to tell the players that if we can compete at this level, the results will look after themselves.'
Chelsea have already shown they can win in style but it is scrapping ugly wins like this one which will be just as significant when the prizes are handed out at the end of the season.
Carlo Ancelotti knew his team had snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. 'We were fortunate but we have a lot of confidence to go and get a lot of benefit from this,' said the Chelsea manager.
'Blackburn put us under a lot of pressure in the first half when we were unable to find any space, but in the second we were better.'
In spite of assertions in the match programme from chairman John Williams that the Indian takeover would go ahead next month and the presence of representatives from the bidding Venkys conglomerate in the directors' box, speculation abounded at Ewood Park about the £46million deal fouling up because of unforeseen technicalities.
Allardyce is hardly salivating at the prospect of a £5m transfer market budget being put at his disposal in the January transfer window should the chickens finally come home to roost - that's the sort of small change Chelsea spend on decorating the dressing room rather than populating it.
But you have to wonder, given his shrewdness in assembling a team more than capable of competing against the Premier League pacesetters, what the Rovers manager could do with something not so paltry from the poultry people. And he might need to.
Rovers had more than enough possession and chances to take something from the game but they were punished because they were wasteful in front of goal and seriously lacking in defence in the game's pivotal moments. Benjani's first goal in two years in the 21st minute gave Rovers an overdue lead.
But for three magnificent saves from Cech, the home team could have been at least three up by then. But the defence was caught ball-watching when Florent Malouda slung a high cross for Didier Drogba to set up Nicolas Anelka for a 37th-minute equaliser.
While Chelsea are maintaining a signficant gap between themselves and their rivals at the top, Allardyce knows he needs a few wins to get them away from the bottom three.
He admitted: 'Unfortunately, it leaves us in a dangerous position after a quarter of the season. The points on the board are not good enough. The pressure comes on you now and we've really got to start putting it right.'

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Telegraph:

Blackburn Rovers 1 Chelsea 2:
By Graham Chase at Ewood Park

Having been the venue where they took a huge step towards Jose Mourinho's first title, Ewood Park has become an increasingly frustrating venue for Chelsea but Branislav Ivanovic's late winner ensured this game could not be added to that list.
Last season they were dumped out of the Carling Cup and a draw in the Premier League looked to have given their title chances a huge blow before they were victorious at Old Trafford.
Carlo Ancelotti can at least take satisfaction from the fact that his side should have been behind by more than Benjani's goal – his first in almost two years - before Nicolas Anelka pulled the champions level just before the interval.
But, so unlike a side that went into the game averaging almost three goals for each Premier League match, they rarely threatened to take the lead themselves, until Ivanovic headed in with eight minutes remaining to preserve their lead at the top of the table.
Blackburn Rovers's recent form has been dreadful and that looked set to continue as they barely touched the ball for the first 10 minutes.
The visitors had an early scare when Petr Cech slipped before palming away a chip from Mame Biram Diouf but with Benjani, making his first start for Blackburn, in fine form, Chelsea were struggling to cope with the pace and width of the home team's attacks.
Blackburn pulled level when Chelsea failed to clear Morten Gamst Pedersen's cross and when El-Hadji Diouf clipped the ball back in and after John Terry failed to get a decent contact, Benjani glanced into the corner to score the first goal against Ancelotti's side for more than eight hours since the 4-3 Carling Cup defeat to Newcastle last month.
They continued to pile forward and might have doubled their lead without Cech's fine tip to Diouf's cross after another quick break.
But just before the interval, Chelsea pulled level with a fine effort of their own. Cech clipped the ball out to Florent Malouda who hit a cross-field pass to Didier Drogba, who knocked down thanks after Ryan Nelsen and Martin Olsson ran into each other.
Anticipating the flick ahead of Phil Jones, Anelka guided past Paul Robinson for his first league goal since August.
After the restart, Blackburn continued to look the most likely other than Robinson having to save from Yuri Zhirkov.
But in the 83rd minute, Zhirkov looped a cross to the far post and Ivanovic headed in to earn Chelsea all three points.


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Star:

BLACKBURN 1 - CHELSEA 2:

ROVER-DOSE OF BRAN! By Mike Whalley at Ewood Park

CARLO ANCELOTTI may have a point when he argues that his ­Chelsea side still have plenty of room for improvement.
The Premier League leaders may have won thanks to Branislav Ivanovic’s late strike but they could easily have been beaten.
And had Blackburn sub Jason Roberts not fluffed a glorious one-on-one chance seconds before Ivanovic’s 83rd-minute headed winner, it probably would have been a Rovers win.
Chelsea may be the best team in England and they may yet run away with the title but they aren’t turning it on away from home.
And Blackburn nearly gave them another away day to forget in a week when most of the talk at Ewood Park has been of a pending £46million takeover by Indian poultry firm Venky’s.
Rovers’ display would have made a good ­impression on Venky’s bosses Balaji and Venkatesh Rao as they watched from the stand.
The prospective owners’ pledge of just £5m for boss Sam Allardyce to spend in January is ­nothing compared to the fortunes spent at ­Stamford Bridge over the last few years. But then it’s a long time since Blackburn were the big spenders of the Premier League.
Allardyce looked to free transfers and loan deals to bolster his squad over the summer.
And one of those signings, Benjani, came up trumps for him midway through the first half to end Chelsea’s run of 503 minutes in all ­competitions without conceding a goal.
There were a few eyebrows raised when ­Allardyce sent out the Zimbabwean but when Chelsea failed to deal with Morten Gamst ­Pedersen’s short corner midway through the first half, El-Hadji Diouf returned the ball for Benjani to turn it in with his shoulder.
The lead was no more than Rovers deserved. It was as if they were determined to put on a show as a fitting tribute to club legend and former England captain Ronnie Clayton, who died on Friday at the age of 76.
Even before Benjani scored, Mame Biram ­Diouf nearly embarrassed Chelsea keeper Petr Cech, who lost his footing dealing with a chipped cross-shot and just managed to flip the ball away. After Benjani’s strike, the two Dioufs combined to cause Chelsea more trouble, Mame Biram ­just ­failing to meet El-Hadji’s terrific left-wing cross.
Chelsea had to wake up at some point and Nicolas Anelka struck six minutes before half-time.
The Frenchman could be forgiven for rubbing his hands with glee whenever he faces Rovers.
When he raced in to finish off Didier Drogba’s knockdown from a superb Florent Malouda pass, it was his 11th goal in 15 Premier League games against them.
Even then, it wasn’t straightforward for Chelsea. Yes, home keeper Paul Robinson had to make a smart stop to deny Yuri Zhirkov but Mame Diouf almost turned in a Pedersen free-kick.
Chelsea sub Daniel Sturridge went close with a long-range effort and then Roberts missed his big chance for Rovers, before Ivanovic headed in ­Zhirov’s left-wing cross for the winner.
Ancelotti admitted his side were lucky to come away with a victory.
“Blackburn played well in the first half,” he said. “They put pressure on us and we were a bit lucky.”
Allardyce said: “It’s one of those days where we’ve played as well as we can play.
“But we got the ultimate kick in the teeth.”

blackburn: Robinson 8; Salgado 7, Samba 8, Nelsen 8, Givet 7 (Olsson (35th) 7); M Diouf 8, Emerton 7, Jones 8, Pedersen 7; E Diouf 8 (Dunn 80th), Benjani 8 (Roberts (46th) 7)

chelsea: Cech 6; Ivanovic 6, Alex 6, Terry 7, Cole 7; Essien 6, Mikel 6, ­Zhirkov 6; Anelka 7 (Ferreira 90th); Drogba 6, Malouda 7 (Sturridge (72nd) 7)

STAR MAN: Mame Biram Diouf
Ref: P Walton

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People:

Blackburn 1-2 Chelsea: Ivanovic nicks it for Chelsea
by Alan Nixon, The People

CHELSEA fans sang ‘That’s why we’re ­champions’ after watching Carlo Ancelotti’s side somehow turn trash into triumph.
The Blues were more like chumps and could have been beaten out of sight, yet marched off victorious thanks to a late winner from ­defender Branislav Ivanovic.
Blackburn’s prospective new owners, the chicken-breeding Rao brothers, saw plenty of pluck from the team they are about to buy but in the end they were left painfully stuffed.
Ancelotti knew his side had got out of jail, saying: “They put us under strong pressure and we were not able to play football.
“The equaliser was important and we were much better in the second half – but even then we were lucky.
“We were brave and took risks and Blackburn could have scored before our winner. But we knew it would be difficult here ... every team finds it difficult.”
A week ago, Blackburn forgot to turn up at Anfield but on home soil yesterday they were at Chelsea’s throats from the off as striker Mame Biram Diouf forced Petr Cech into an athletic save from a clever chip.
Then Benjani twice went close to putting Rovers ahead as Chelsea struggled to find their rhythm.
And it was Benjani, a ­free-transfer arrival at Ewood, who opening the scoring in the 21st minute.
He escaped the shackles of John Terry to plant a header from ­El-Hadji Diouf’s cross past Cech.
Chelsea were sluggish until Nicolas Anelka finally woke them from their slumbers with a super-smooth equaliser in the 39th minute.
Florent Malouda drilled a glorious deep cross ­beyond the Rovers ­backline for Didier Drogba to find space and ­cleverly head down. Anelka was ­lurking on his own to beat Paul Robinson with a smart finish.
Chelsea’s fans broke into their ‘That’s why we’re champions’ chant and it was hard to argue because the sheer quality of the goal had been dredged from pure dross.
Blackburn’s cause was not helped by the loss of Gael Givet before the goal and an injury to scorer Benjani that forced him off at half time.
Buoyed by the goal, Chelsea moved up a gear after the break.
Ashley Cole never stopped running and broke forward time and again, a tactical move that swayed the game Chelsea’s way. Yuri Zhirkov also came alive while John Obi Mikel at last found his touch.
Cole then fluffed a chance to grab the lead ­before Zhirkov made Robinson push away his effort in a storming second half. Drogba ­almost knocked out Mort Pedersen with a volley as the pressure mounted.
Chelsea sub Daniel Sturridge was fractions away from a goal-of-the-month contender soon after coming on, waltzing across the park and shaving a post with a 25-yarder.
The closing stages were ferocious as both sides pressed for a winner.
Mame Biram Diouf fluffed ­another chance before sub Jason Roberts shot wide with just Cech to beat – a real howler from the ­experienced front man.
The miss was to prove so costly because in the next attack Ivanovic rose at the far post in the 84th minute to powerfully nod in a cross from Zhirkov after the Russian had brilliantly wriggled into space. Ancelotti admitted the game was defined in those madcap-turned-magic minutes.
He said: “Blackburn could have closed the game out, but then it was fantastic play by Zhirkov.”
It was not the result Allardyce wanted as the Blackburn takeover draws near and he seeks assurances about his future.
The Ewood chief said: “When Chelsea are not playing well they hang in there.
“Look at the first goal, pure ­quality. They were not in the game, not looking like scoring, but two passes later we’re a goal down.
“That is how good they are. They don’t have to play better than you, it is just down to their outstanding ability.
“It leaves us in a very dangerous position. Performances have been OK but the points total is not good enough and it puts us at the wrong end of the table.”

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wolves 2-0

Independent:

Kalou's killer instinct cures Chelsea blues

Chelsea 2 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0: Ancelotti blames trip to Moscow for lacklustre display as only poor finishing lets down Wolves

By Steve Tongue at Stamford Bridge

Anyone investing even a modest sum on Wolverhampton Wanderers to win here at something around 20-1 would have received an unexpectedly good run for their money. It was tighter than many a fixture between League leaders and those down among the dead men at the bottom, without in the end even denting Chelsea's extraordinary home record. Like all Premier League visitors since Aston Villa last March, Wolves failed to score, but few if any can have had more opportunities to do so. A finish was simply not there, bringing to mind last season's feeble total of 32 goals, the worst of any team.
Steven Fletcher, bought from Burnley in the summer, has been hired to help Kevin Doyle in attack but Fletcher and the heavyweight – in every sense – Sylvan Ebanks-Blake did not appear until the last four minutes, when Salomon Kalou's goal had made the game safe for Chelsea, sending them five points clear of Manchester City who meet Arsenal today. Florent Malouda had scored the first, although even that was bookmarked by half-chances, and sometimes better at the other end.
Matt Jarvis, a young winger highly regarded and watched by Fabio Capello's lieutenant Franco Baldini, found Ashley Cole a meaner opponent than most he normally meets, and was replaced before the end. Meanwhile, the danger of pushing forward, Wolves discovered, was exposure to counter-attacks of pace and verve, which nevertheless tended to break down despite the return of Didier Drogba to the home attack.
"It is important to win when you are not 100 per cent," Chelsea's manager Carlo Ancelotti said, acknowledging that his team were a good few percentage points below that. "It was a difficult week because of the travelto Moscow. Our position is good, but tomorrow Manchester City can be two points behind."
For Wolves, Mick McCarthy had reason to be pleased with the performance against the side he rates as "the best in the League", while bemoaning a lack of "devilment" in front of goal. The visitors managed half a dozen reasonable chances in the first half alone. Almost all, however, were directed at Petr Cech and too many were weak headers, notably by Dave Edwards, Doyle and Jelle van Damme. The last of those, midway through the half, was heavily punished when Chelsea immediately broke to score. Nicolas Anelka led the counter, feeding Yuri Zhirkov, who from the byline cut the ball back across goal for Malouda to drive in his seventh goal of the season.
Other than that, and Anelka's shot into the side-netting after an equallyquick break out of defence, the most likely Chelsea scorer for a long time was the improbable figure of Jose Bosingwa. Returning to start a game for the first time in a year since his serious knee injury at Villa Park, the Portuguese full-back forced two good low saves from Marcus Hahnemann, the goalkeeper using his foot each time to concede a corner.
Hahnemann, an extrovert American, is clearly proud of his footwork; later he would tackle Drogba outside the penalty area when the striker was clean through on to Branislav Ivanovic's immaculate pass. Stephen Hunt, still reviled here for the incident at Reading four years ago that caused Cech a nasty head injury, appeared as a substitute and pantomime villain for the second half and almost stunned his abusers with a goal inside two minutes. One of the numerous Wolves corners fell nicelyfor him to aim a diving header which would have crept inside the far post had Michael Essien not blocked it.
Kalou, in gloves for autumn, replaced Malouda and when Chelsea used his flank for a more coherent move a fine goal resulted. The substitute started it all with a pass inside to Drogba and kept running as the Ivorian fed Essien, whose pass was perfectly placed and weighted for Kalou to slip past the goalkeeper.

Attendance: 41,752
Referee: Lee Probert
Man of the match: Bosingwa
Match rating: 6/10

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Observer:

Chelsea make hard work of Wolves but go five points clear at the top

Chelsea 2 Malouda 23, Kalou 81 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0

Paul Doyle at Stamford Bridge

From Russia without oomph. Chelsea tackled this domestic chore as if drained by their midweek trek to Moscow and, although they eventually stretched their lead at the top of the Premier League to five points and extended their 100% record at Stamford Bridge for the campaign, this was a far-from-perfect performance.
"We didn't play so well," admitted Carlo Ancelotti, who at times winced from the sideline. "We did not play as clearly as we have done at times this season but it was a difficult week with the travelling to Moscow. It is important to win when you're not at your best."
The sight of Steven Fletcher, Wolves' joint top-scorer, on the bench before kick-off may have indicated that Mick McCarthy had abandoned the adventurous formation with which he has been experimenting in recent weeks but it quickly transpired that his team had not come solely to defend.
The visitors began boldly and monopolised possession for the first five minutes, which were played entirely in the hosts' half. However, Chelsea, who have yet to concede a goal at home this term, remained unruffled throughout that brazen start by the visitors and soon, with minimal effort, gained a degree of control. At no point, however, could they be considered dominant, and slovenliness was often apparent. That, as well as neat play by McCarthy's men, meant their victory was at times in jeopardy.
The home team did produce the game's first shot on target, in the 11th minute, but Marcus Hahnemann saved well from José Bosingwa, the right-back who looked sprightly during his first start after almost a year out with torn knee ligaments. Yet too many of his team-mates were guilty of occasional negligence as Wolves, always tidy and thoughtful if a little too predictable, were able to forge intermittent chances.
The conception of the one in the 19th minute was especially artful, as an intricate move culminated with a Kevin Foley cross from the right and a powerful downward header from an unmarked Dave Edwards was saved by Petr Cech . Wolves replicated that manoeuvre a couple of minutes later and Cech was again forced to intervene.
Within seconds Chelsea made Wolves rue those misses. With Yuri Zhirkov responsible for raiding down the left, Florent Malouda was deployed in a more central role than usual and he frequently found space in the middle, most tellingly for the opening goal. Nicolas Anelka combined neatly with Zhirkov before the latter picked out Malouda unmarked near the penalty spot, and the Frenchman sidefooted nonchalantly past Hahnemann.
Anelka fired into the side-netting from the edge of the area after a flowing move in the 26th minute and Drogba went close after a short free-kick from Malouda ten minutes later.
Between those two efforts Nenad Milijas kept Cech on his toes with a couple of shots from long range. Wolves' best chance came just before the break, when Doyle eluded his marker but mistimed his header after a dainty chip from Matthew Jarvis.
Those opportunities were enough to further embolden McCarthy, who rejigged his team during the break to make it more attacking. Withdrawing the left-back Jelle Van Damme also enabled the winger Stephen Hunt to make his injury-delayed debut for Wolves following his summer move from Hull. The Irish winger was greeted with boos by the locals, who still hold him responsible for the fractured skull suffered by Cech in a collision with him in his Reading days, in 2006.
Hunt nearly made himself even more unpopular with the home crowd by scoring within moments of his entrance, but Michael Essien cleared his diving header off the line in the 47th minute.
Typically, it was Essien who led the attempts to rouse Chelsea from their lethargy. He embarked on a trademark charge through midfield in the 58th minute, only for his shot from the edge of the area to be inadvertently blocked by Malouda. Just after the hour he ventured forward again, and this time fed Anelka, who rifled over from 20 yards.
The most substandard Chelsea player was Didier Drogba, who was returning to the team after a virus. The 64th minute brought an indication that his recuperation is not complete, as he raced on to a long pass from Branislav Ivanovic and then, with Hahnemann stranded outside the box, dawdled uncharacteristically, allowing the goalkeeper to scramble the ball away.
"He [Drogba] was not precise in his play, he lost a lot of balls," Ancelotti said. "But after the illness he needed to play with the team and get comfortable on the pitch."
Ancelotti introduced Salomon Kalou late on in a bid to kill Wolves off and, in the 81st minute, the Ivorian obliged. Drogba linked slickly with Essien before the Ghanaian slipped the ball into the path of Kalou, who slotted calmly under Hahnemann from eight yards. Relief for Ancelotti, regrets for McCarthy.
"It was a very good performance, we just lacked a bit of devilment in front of goal," the Wolves manager said.

THE FANS' PLAYER RATINGS AND VERDICT

KAREN CHILDS Observer reader

We've got used to steamrollering sides at home in the league but this was different. It felt very lukewarm: we coasted throughout but we got the job done. Wolves played very well and Cech had to make a couple of decent saves before we scored. But I was surprised they didn't put on Ebanks-Blake earlier as he looked very dangerous. Once we scored, we seemed to be in the comfort zone. We had a touch of the Arsenals - lots of touches but no final product. However, young McEachran got the crowd buzzing when he came on and he showed a lot of promise again. But it was just good to get the points.

RATINGS Cech 7; Bosingwa 8 (Ferreira 78 6), Ivanovic 7, Terry 7, Cole 7; Essien 7, Mikel 6, Zhirkov 7 (McEachran 82 8); Malouda 7 (Kalou 72 7), Drogba 7, Anelka 8 Subs not used Turnbull, Bruma, Sturridge, Kakuta

LOUIE SILVANI MyWolvesblog.com
We might have lost but we played the best football I've seen from us for a while. We played the ball to feet right from the back and we had most of the play. The only difference was that Chelsea had the clinical touch that we didn't. I think the fact Milijas played made us more creative but Jarvis was our best player – he gave Ashley Cole a very hard time. We've got three more tough games against the top clubs but if we carry on playing like this I can see us getting a lot of points after those matches. It was very promising and I came away feeling quite positive, even though Chelsea weren't at their best.

RATINGS Hahnemann 7; Foley 8, Stearman 7, Berra 8, Van Damme 7 (Hunt ht 7); Jones 8, Milijas 7; Jarvis 9 (Fletcher 87 n/a), Edwards 6, Ward 6; Doyle 7 (Ebanks-Blake 86 n/a) Subs not used Hennessey, Elokobi, Mouyokolo, Davis

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Mail:

Chelsea 2 Wolves 0: Blues stride clear, but Carlo Ancelotti's playing it cool

By Rob Draper

While Chelsea’s immediate rivals in Manchester have allowed themselves to be distracted by the Wayne Rooney saga, it may have escaped their notice that the Blues are quietly accumulating a significant lead in the title race.
Yesterday, though not without its troublesome moments, was eventually an entirely routine victory, even if its outcome remained in doubt until Salomon Kalou’s late strike finally put the game beyond Wolves.
While the result would have been expected, for now Chelsea’s defence of their Premier League title continues unabated. With a relatively benign run of fixtures to come for the Londoners — Liverpool away from home having lost its potency of late — Manchester United may find themselves some way adrift by the time they visit Stamford Bridge just before Christmas.
Carlo Ancelotti, however, is buying none of this at present. ‘The difficult moment will arrive,’ the Chelsea manager cautioned yesterday. ‘When it does, we have to be ready. We have a good advantage at the moment but Manchester City can be within two points if they win, so it’s too early to say we have enough points. We’ve started the season well, that is all.’
And, as Ancelotti went on to point out, there were times when this game threatened to diverge from the script. ‘It was a tough game and we didn’t play so well,’ he said.
Indeed, Wolves were something of a revelation yesterday. It is true that at times they fulfilled their villainous role as the league’s dirtiest team, notably when Richard Stearman produced an agricultural challenge on Didier Drogba which had neither the slightest intention nor hope of playing the ball. Yet for long periods, they also passed the ball crisply and caused Chelsea some discontent.
For manager Mick McCarthy, pitted against the team he believes will win the league, that remained a source of both pride and frustration.
‘I think Chelsea are the best team, no question,’ he said. ‘They have loads of ability, they are toughphysically and clever with the runs they make. They look one way and pass the other. They are a fantastic team ... and we should have scored against them!’
Yes, they should have. Throughout they produced chances, from the 20th minute, when Dave Edwards headed a Kevin Foley cross goalwards only for Petr Cech to save smartly, to the 71st, when Chelsea’s goalkeeper was again alert, plucking Kevin Doyle’s glancing header from a David Jones corner.
‘It was a good performance but we probably needed a bit more devilment in front of goal,’ said McCarthy.
They did have a serial irritant in Stephen Hunt, still a bête noire to Chelsea fans for his challenge on Cech while at Reading four years ago. He came on at half-time to predictable rhyming obscenities.
‘He relishes that,’ said McCarthy. ‘I was glad anyway, because if they were going to give anyone abuse it was going to be him and not me.’
He was a thorn in his opponents’ side and had almost scored within three minutes, stooping low with a diving header that Michael Essien was forced to clear off the line.
Doyle then forced a smart save on 52 minutes before the Czech keeper collected well from a Nenad Milijas effort on 63 minutes.
Nevertheless, this was ultimately a day of general good news for Chelsea. Not only did they extend that lead at the top of the table to five points but Jose Bosingwa, who sustained a knee ligament injury against Aston Villa almost a year previous to the day, made his first start since then.
Incredibly, he looked as fresh and inventive as ever, his attacking intent complementing Ashley Cole on the opposite flank. And within 13 minutes, he had all but completed a heroic comeback when a delightful exchange of passes with Drogba saw him unleash a tremendous shot from range, which Marcus Hahnemann did well to tip wide.
‘He played really well,’ said Ancelotti. ‘I think he was one of our best players. To be out that long is very difficult and he was very excited before the game. He’s an important player for us.’
With Frank Lampard scheduled to resume training on Monday and possibly in contention to play at Blackburn next Saturday, Chelsea are strengthening by the week.
And good though Wolves were yesterday, they could not live with Chelsea in their finest moments, the opening goal ample demonstration of the champions’ attacking prowess.
Nicolas Anelka darted down the right, played a lovely inside ball for Yury Zhirkov, who, in turn, pulled it back first time for Florent Malouda.
From eight yards out, the Frenchman struck firmly home.
The decider was just as slick and impressive. Substitute Kalou found Drogba, who then fed Essien.He slipped the ball back to Kalou, who had continued his run and finished the move with a firm strike to seal the points.

MATCH FACTS

CHELSEA (4-3-3): Cech; Bosingwa (Ferreira 78min), Ivanovic, Terry, Cole; Essien, Mikel, Zhirkov (McEachran 82); Anelka, Drogba, Malouda (Kalou 72). Subs (not used): Turnbull, Sturridge, Bruma, Kakuta. Booked: Mikel.

WOLVES (4-5-1): Hahnemann; Foley, Stearman, Berra, Ward; Jarvis (Fletcher 87), Milijas, Jones, Edwards, Van Damme (Hunt 46); Doyle (Ebanks-Blake 86). Subs (not used): Hennessey, Elokobi, Mouyokolo, Davis. Booked: Stearman, Berra.

Referee: L Probert (Wiltshire).

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Star:

CHELSEA 2 WOLVES 0:
A STROLLO FOR CARLO
By Paul Hetherington

Chelsea 2 Wolves 0:

MANCHESTER UNITED closed ranks to kill off any Chelsea hopes of landing Wayne Rooney last week.
But ­United’s hopes of beating the champions in the race to the Premier League title is another matter entirely.
Carlo Ancelotti’s men weren’t at their fluent best against struggling Wolves, who played better than their league position suggested they would.
And the Blues needed keeper Petr Cech to be sharp and alert to preserve their record of not c­onceding a league goal at home this season.
But Chelsea still stretched their points advantage to eight over United, who play at Stoke today. Goals from Florent Malouda and substitute Salomon Kalou sealed another Chelsea victory.
But their Italian boss was ­unusually agitated in the early stages as Wolves made much the better start. The champions weren’t their usual assured selves and Mick McCarthy’s enterprising side could have taken the lead through Dave Edwards, whose header from Kevin Foley’s cross was smartly saved by Cech.
Earlier, Jose Bosingwa had brought Chelsea to life in his first start for a year after a serious knee injury.
The right-back surged forward, worked a one-two with Didier Drogba and struck an effort which keeper Marcus Hahnemann did well to turn round the post.
But Chelsea eventually stepped up the pace and cruised ahead in the 23rd minute.
Nicolas Anelka found Yury Zhirkov, whose low cross set up Malouda for a comfortable right-foot finish.
Then Anelka could have put Chelsea further ahead before the break but hit the side-netting.
Wolves, though, never looked likle caving in and Kevin Doyle had a chance with his head but could only glance the ball wide.
And McCarthy’s battlers also made the better start to the second half with sub Stephen Hunt soon having a diving header superbly saved on the line by Cech.
Chelsea’s keeper then denied Doyle at the expense of a corner before Drogba missed a chance to increase his side’s lead in the 66th minute.
Drogba was sent clear by Branislav Ivanovic before Hahnemann raced out of his box to save at the striker’s feet.
But Chelsea sealed the points nine minutes from time with a neat finish by Kalou after his chance had been cleverly created by Drogba and Michael Essien.
Ancelotti said: “It was a tough game and we didn’t play so well.
“We had to play in Moscow ­during the week and we weren’t 100 per cent so it was an important result and we are in a good position.
“We have a good advantage at the top but if Manchester City beat ­Arsenal they will be only two points behind us.
“The difficult moments are still to arrive and we have to be ready when that happens.”
Wolves have now gone eight league games without a win but McCarthy said: “It was certainly a good performance and we should have scored.
“But we were playing the best team in the league in my opinion and they have one of the best ­keepers in the world.”

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Telegraph:

Chelsea 2 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0

Chelsea moved five points clear at the top of the Premier League thanks to goals from Florent Malouda and substitute Salomon Kalou. Wolverhampton Wanderers wasted a number of chances to equalise before Kalou completed a move he began by slipping Michael Essien's pass under Wolves goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann 10 minutes from time.
The defeat left Wolves still looking for their first win since the opening day of the season and second from bottom.
Mick McCarthy's visiting side earned a corner as early as the second minute but Nenad Milijas' flag-kick was punched clear by Petr Cech.
Their bright start continued but another corner from Matthew Jarvis was headed straight at John Terry by Christophe Berra.
Chelsea struggled to find any kind of continuity in midfield and John Obi Mikel twice gave the ball away in dangerous positions. Fortunately for Chelsea, Ashley Cole managed to recover the situation before any damage could be done.
But Chelsea almost went in front in the 13th minute when Jose Bosingwa, playing his first game for over a year at home, burst into the penalty area but saw his angled drive tipped around the post by Hahnemann.
Wolves responded with a chance of their own in the 19th minute. Kevin Foley crossed from the right wing but a header from Dave Edwards was safely gathered by Cech.
Chelsea opened the scoring with a fine three-man counter-attack in the 23rd minute. Nicolas Anelka fed Zhirkov inside the penalty area and the Russian's pull-back was sidefooted home by Malouda.
Chelsea should have increased their lead in the 27th minute when Jarvis gave the ball away to Zhirkov.
He quickly fed Didier Drogba who in turn passed the ball on to Anelka inside the penalty area but the Chelsea striker fired his effort into the sidenetting.
Wolves tried to get back into the game but two long-range efforts from Milijas were easily dealt with by Cech.
Richard Stearman then became the first man in referee Lee Probert's notebook when he showed him the yellow card for a crude challenge on Drogba.
Bosingwa was determined to crown his return to action with a goal and he was only inches away from achieving that feat with a 25-yard shot in the 38th minute.
Kevin Doyle was unlucky not to equalise in the 42nd minute when he got on the end of a cross from Foley but could not direct the ball beyond Cech.
Bosingwa was then put clear by Malouda and the Chelsea right-back was thwarted by the feet of Hahnemann.
Stephen Hunt was introduced for Wolves at half-time for his debut for the club.
Hunt, who was involved in the collision that left Cech with a fractured skull when he was with Reading, was roundly booed by the home fans.
Hunt almost equalised in the 48th minute but his low header was cleared off the line by Michael Essien.
Doyle then forced Cech into a fine save at the near post as Wolves continued to press forward.
In the 56th minute Anelka got clear of the Wolves midfield and cleverly laid the ball through to Drogba but the Ivory Coast striker sent his shot wide of the target.
Milijas continued to try his luck from range but another 20-yard effort went straight into the midriff of Cech.
Drogba squandered another gilt-edged chance in the 65th minute when Branislav Ivanovic sent him racing clear.
But he failed to take the ball around the onrushing Hahnemann and the chance was gone.
Doyle forced Cech into a save at his near post in the 71st minute when he met a corner from David Jones.
Chelsea replaced goalscorer Malouda with Kalou moments later as they looked for a second.
They duly made it 2-0 in the 80th minute when Kalou slotted past Hahnemann, opening up their substantial points lead over Manchester City who face Arsenal tomorrow.


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spartak moscow 2-0

Independent:

Zhirkov banishes the Luzhniki demons as Chelsea close on last 16
Spartak Moscow 0 Chelsea 2

By Shaun Walker at Luzhniki Stadium

Chelsea brushed aside Spartak Moscow last night, two first-half goals ensuring the Londoners emerged victorious from their most daunting group fixture and perhaps exorcising some of the ghosts of the Luzhniki Stadium – the site of their defeat in the Champions League final two years ago.
The day before the match, Chelsea wheeled out Russian Yuri Zhirkov instead of their captain, John Terry, to sit alongside manager Carlo Ancelotti at their press conference. The message was that the club wanted to focus on Zhirkov's return to Moscow – he spent five years at Spartak's bitter rivals CSKA – and not Terry's return to the scene of his heartbreaking penalty miss.
And so it proved. The Russian scored his first Chelsea goal in spectacular fashion. Exactly halfway through the first half, a long ball hit from the back by John Obi Mikel could only be headed down by Nicolas Pareja in the Spartak defence. As the ball bounced, Zhirkov came charging in and, without breaking his run, hit a spectacular volley from just outside the area that flew past goalkeeper Andriy Dykan. The goal came slightly against the run of play after Spartak enjoyed the better of the early exchanges. Dmitry Kombarov, inexplicably wearing the No 99 shirt, shot over the bar when he should have hit the target, and the tricky Brazilian forward Welliton drew a save from Petr Cech's outstretched boot after a smart swivel on the edge of the six-yard box.
But once Zhirkov had put the Blues in front, they never looked like giving up their lead, even if Cech remained the busier of the two keepers. Nicolas Anelka, who missed a penalty against Manchester United in the Moscow shoot-out two years ago, took a heavy touch when put through on goal, allowing Dykan to smother at his feet; on regaining the ball, he squared to a Spartak player when it would have been easier to pick out the oncoming Michael Essien or Florent Malouda.
Anelka atoned for the wastefulness two minutes before half-time, when he picked up the ball on the edge of the box after a powerful run through midfield from Essien. Again, it looked like he might have taken it too far, but he recovered his composure to turn the last defender and slot a low shot across Dykan into the corner of the goal.
It was an impressive 45 minutes, played as the mercury plummeted towards zero, on the Luzhniki's plastic pitch. A more creative set of fans might perhaps have come up with derogatory chants about Chelsea's Russian owner. But with the two ends of the stadium taking turns to belt out "Come on, Spartak" with the force and discipline of a Leni Riefenstahl film, the atmosphere was intimidating enough – until they were quietened by Zhirkov's volley.
The visitors also made light of the idea that Spartak would have an advantage as they were used to playing on their artificial pitch. Indeed, the only player who slipped in the first half was the Russians' front man, Welliton.
"They didn't have a problem," Ancelotti said of the playing surface after the game. "We didn't know the pitch and I think that after the game we can say that the pitch was very good to play football."
The Muscovites came out for the second half revived, and had three decent chances within the first five minutes, the best of which was a powerful shot from the edge of the area by Aiden McGeady, tipped over the bar by Cech. Later, Ibson produced another rocket from just outside the box, which was again parried bar by the Chelsea keeper; from the resultant corner, Ibson tried the same again, with the same result.
Irish international McGeady, signed from Celtic for £9.5m over the summer, was Spartak's best player, at the heart of every attack, but the Russians couldnot find a breakthrough, and by the 70-minute mark the game had largely fizzled out. Chelsea are now virtually assured of qualification, while Spartak know that if they beat Marseilles at home they should take second spot in the group, even if they lose at Stamford Bridge a fortnight from now.
"I don't think that the players thought about the last defeat here, they were focused on this game," Ancelotti said.
But nevertheless, it will be good for Chelsea to have avoided further pain at the ground where they failed at the last hurdle – on the home soil of own Roman Abramovich, no less – two years ago. Terry himself had a solid game at the heart of Chelsea's defence. With qualification for the knockout stages a virtual formality, Chelsea will be hoping they can finally win the prize Abramovich has craved since he started ploughing his millions into the club at a no less fitting venue – Wembley – next May.


Match facts

Spartak Moscow 4-4-1-1: Dikan; Parshivlyuk, Pareja, Suchy, Makeeva; McGeady, Ibson, Sheshukov, Kombarov; Ari (Ananidze, 85); Welliton. Substitutes not used Pesyakov (gk), Maidana, Stranzl, Sabitov, Ivanov, Kozlov.

Chelsea 4-4-2: Cech; Ferreira, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole (Van Aanholt, 87); Essien, Obi, Zhirkov, Kalou (McEachran, 74); Anelka, Malouda (Kakuta, 82). Substitutes not used: Turnbull (gk), Bruma, Clifford, Mellis.

Booked: Spartak Moscow Suchy; Chelsea Zhirkov
Referee C Carballo (Spain). Att 75,000
Man of the match Cech


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Guardian:

John Terry's minor triumph for Chelsea after tears of Moscow retreat
Champions League Group F
Spartak Moscow 0 Chelsea 2 Zhirkov 24, Anelka 43

Dominic Fifield at Luzhniki Stadium

Memories of Moscow have haunted Chelsea's recent history, though this will have served as an exorcism of sorts. A comfortable victory has maintained the London club's serene progress through Group F. The pursuit of this trophy, denied them so cruelly here in 2008, will surely now be prolonged into the new year and the knockout phase, where sterner tests than this await.
If recollections of the collision with Manchester United two and half years ago had dominated the build-up to this return to Russia, with seven of those involved that night starting, then each of those who had most to regret excelled back in familiar surroundings. Principal among them was John Terry, who had ended the final sobbing uncontrollably after slipping on the sodden turf and scuffing his potentially decisive penalty on to a post, with the visiting captain outstanding in suffocating Spartak's threat. After the tears, this was a minor triumph to savour.
Those around him rose to the occasion as impressively as the temperature plummeted. Nicolas Anelka, who had missed Chelsea's final spot-kick to hand United the European Cup, scored a fine goal and glided menacingly throughout, stretching a Spartak defence that was all too easily befuddled. When the home side did find some urgency, particularly in the opening exchanges of the second period, Petr Cech offered assurance and a flurry of reaction saves to deflate any aspirations the hosts may have had of mustering a recovery.
The Russians wilted for good after he twice denied Ibson from distance, saves that ensured Chelsea departed intact and resolute. Spartak had been keeping apace with Carlo Ancelotti's side at the top of this section, though the Premier League team now have breathing space. A repeat victory in the return fixture on 3 November will be enough to guarantee qualification and perhaps allow those on a youthful bench – Patrick van Aanholt, at 20, was the oldest outfield player among the substitutes – to begin to feature.
This was an occasion for the more experienced in Chelsea's ranks to lead the way. With so many seniors absent through injury and illness – Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard, José Bosingwa, Alex, Ramires and Yossi Benayoun – those who were available had to thrive, with their reaction in hostile conditions admirable. The first-half performance provided a lesson in capitalising on possession, Spartak's huff and puff yielding only frustration while the visitors prospered, slicing their way through Russian ranks.
Florent Malouda had twice threatened reward by the time Chelsea established their advantage, Mikel John Obi's punt nodded down unconvincingly by Nicolas Pareja on the edge of the penalty area for Yuri Zhirkov, breaking into space, to dispatch a stunning half-volley over the helpless Andriy Dykan. The Russia international was making his own return to Moscow, where he had made his name as a swashbuckling full-back with CSKA. The home support had jeered his name prior to kick-off, Spartak having been denied the chance to sign him in the summer, with this an unwelcome reminder of his talent. His first Chelsea goal was gloriously taken.
The flurry of chances that ensued reflected the sense of panic that had already gripped the home side. Anelka, liberated by Pareja's air-kick, might have added a second only for Dykan to smother his heavy touch, though relief was short-lived. Michael Essien, whose inclusion on this artificial pitch had been debated at length by the management given his susceptibility to knee problems, powered through central midfield, bulldozing Spartak players from his path before conjuring a wonderfully subtle pass to send Anelka through yet again. This time his composure was maintained, the forward teasing Sergei Parshivlyuk and cutting inside before sliding his shot into the far corner.
The Frenchman has thrived in Drogba's absence so often – this was his fourth Champions League goal in three European appearances this season, all without the Ivorian at his side – with Pareja and Marek Suchy heaving to contain his threat. When the home side attempted to whip up some momentum after the interval, Anelka offered bite on the break with Malouda and Salomon Kalou willing accomplices. The margin of victory might have been extended, though, in the end, it was the visitors' defensive work that truly caught the eye.
Cech, so calm and composed, produced reaction saves with boot and glove to deny Aiden McGeady, Welliton and Ibson. Throughout, he exuded the authority of one who would not be beaten. Terry, meanwhile, was at his rugged best, either diving in to intercept and unsettle Welliton or hacking away when a loose ball ricocheted around his six-yard box. As the occasion became more frenetic, so the centre-half appeared more assured. Memories of the fluffed penalty, and even of injuring a knee in training here ahead of England's Euro 2008 qualifying defeat under Steve McClaren, will have been eased slightly as a result.
This side will be stronger for the experience. The huddle of Chelsea players who approached their travelling support, distant at the top of the stand behind Cech's goal, at the final whistle in celebration, departed with their job supremely well done. This squad has been stripped to its core, but Ancelotti's first team continue to find life in the group stage of the competition something of a breeze.

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Mail:

Spartak Moscow 0 Chelsea 2:

Redemption! Zhirkov, Anelka and Terry bury the Moscow ghosts to maintain perfect record
By Matt Barlow

It was a night for the disposal of demons. Yuri Zhirkov, then Nicolas Anelka and finally John Terry. This time there would be no sob story.
Zhirkov returned to his native Russia to score a spectacular first goal as a Chelsea player and Anelka found the net in the arena where he fluffed the decisive penalty of the 2008 Champions League final against Manchester United.
Terry, reduced to tears after also missing from the spot here two years ago, produced a brilliant display in the heart of the back four to defy a second-half fightback from Spartak.
Anelka and Terry embraced at the end before the bare-chested captain disappeared down the tunnel with a thumbs-up to the Russian fans who applauded him warmly.
It was a night when you believe Carlo Ancelotti's team can yet be European champions, simply by sheer force of character.
On an artificial pitch, in sub-zero temperatures, before a large and hostile crowd, in the absence of injured senior players including Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba, Chelsea seized control of Group F.
Ancelotti believes their ultimate revenge for Moscow 2008 will come one day in the form of the club's first European Cup win. Tougher tests lie ahead but perhaps it will be at Wembley in May.
'What happened two years ago doesn't matter anymore,' said Anelka. 'This shows we can go to tough places and win, even when we are not at full strength. Even with players missing, we have enough quality to play well and win.'
Despite Ancelotti's concerns about their fragile joints on the Luzhniki pitch, he started with Ashley Cole and Michael Essien, having seen his options limited by an injury to Ramires, picked up at Aston Villa on Saturday and aggravated on the eve of this game.
It meant Zhirkov came into midfield instead of the Brazilian, who flew home, and the manager was left with six outfield substitutes consisting of five teenagers and 20-year-old Patrick van Aanholt.
The artificial surface played reasonably well, although it was clearly sticky underfoot at times and black clouds of rubber burst into the air when players planted their feet with any force.
Early in the game, Terry seemed to jar his knee in the pitch and spent a few minutes flexing his leg gingerly before soldiering on.
Accustomed to the pitch, Spartak enjoyed the better of the opening 20 minutes. Dmitri Kombarov sliced wildly off target when he ought to have tested Petr Cech, but the goalkeeper was alert to deny striker Welliton at his near post.
Slowly the visitors found their rhythm, Essien and Mikel took a stranglehold on midfield and Zhirkov made the breakthrough.
Nicolas Pareja's feeble clearance bounced conveniently towards the Russian, who arrived at Stamford Bridge from CSKA Moscow for £18million last year, and he lashed it back over Andriy Dykan from 25 yards.
Spartak boss Valeri Karpin had tried to sign Zhirkov in the summer, only to be flatly rejected.
'This was an important moment for Yuri,' said Ancelotti. 'Coming back to play in Russia, he scored a fantastic goal and will be very happy. It was a very important goal. It opened up the game and, after that, it was easier for us to win.'
Anelka made it easier still two minutes before the break. The French striker had already been clean through only to be thwarted by Dykan but this time he curled a low shot into the bottom corner.
It was the opposite end of the stadium to his penalty miss in 2008 but he savoured his 50th goal for the club and his fourth in three European games this season in the absence of Drogba, who will be back from his fever to face Wolves on Saturday.
Karpin detected fear among his players when they came in 2-0 down at half-time, but former Celtic wideman Aiden McGeady lifted spirits briefly after the break. First he sped down the right to create a chance for Welliton to crash over, then the Irishman darted inside and unleashed a left-footer which took a deflection, spun above Cech and dropped narrowly over.
Cech unfurled himself twice to save confidently from Ibson and there were chances on the break for Chelsea as Spartak took risks.
Salomon Kalou, playing his first game after a month out injured, looked sluggish at first but was flying by the second half. He slid Anelka clear but Dykan saved again. Then he evaded three tackles on the right and crossed for Essien, who screwed his effort wide.
Ancelotti celebrated his 100th Champions League game as a manager with a win, but more satisfying than that will be the control this gives him in the group.
'We are not in the last 16 yet,' warned the Italian, but it is unfeasible to see the Premier League champions squandering this position. With nine points from three games, he can clinch qualification by beating Spartak again in a fortnight, then rest and rotate players as Chelsea coast through.

MATCH FACTS

Spartak Moscow (4-2-3-1): Dykan 7; Parhivlyuk 6, Pareja 5, Suchy 5, Makeev 6; Sheshukov 7, Ibson 6; McGeady 6, Ari 6 (Ananidze 85min), Kombarov 5; Welliton 6. Subs not used: Pesyakov, Maidana, Stranzl, Sabitov, Ivanov, Kozlov. Booked: Suchy.


Chelsea (4-3-2-1): Cech 7; Ferreira 6, Ivanovic 7, Terry 8, Cole 6 (Van Aanholt 87); Essien 7, Mikel 7, Zhirkov 6; Kalou 7 (McEachran 74, 5), Malouda 6 (Kakuta 82); Anelka 7. Subs not used: Turnbull, Bruma, Clifford, Mellis. Booked: Zhirkov.

Man of the match: John Terry.
Referee: Carlos Velasco Carballo (Spain).

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Telegraph:


Spartak Moscow 0 Chelsea 2:
By John Ley


Where there were once tears came joy as Chelsea went some way to burying the ghost of their Champions League final heartache, returning to the scene of their penalty crime to produce a professional and dominant performance last night.
Not until John Terry finally lifts the Champions League trophy will Chelsea totally banish the demons they still carry from the shoot out defeat to Manchester United here, in 2008, but much of that disappointment disappeared into the cold Moscow night as Carlo Ancelotti's team dominated to record their third win out of three in Group F and move to within sight of the knockout stages.
For Terry, in particular, the chance to forget his infamous penalty slip will have been gratefully received with an assured performance that showed the captain back at his assertive best, while Nicolas Anelka, who also failed from the spot on that fateful night, secured this important win with Chelsea's second goal.
Terry left this stadium in tears two years ago; this time he departed bare-chested and proud, still wearing his captain's armband and with a thumbs up to the travelling fans, and a smile the width of Red Square.
Anelka, too, left with a happy heart, his goal - his fourth in three Champions League ties - coming in the first half after Yuri Zhirkov, in for the injured Ramires, returned to the city where he used to play for rivals CSKA Moscow, and scored his first goal for Chelsea.
Anelka said: “What happened two years ago doesn't matter any more. It's all in the past now. We can now get to play our game and to play our football, which we did.”
And Ancelotti added: “I don't think the players were thinking about the last defeat in this stadium. They were focused on this game. It was an important moment for Yuri, coming back to play for Chelsea in Russia. He scored a fantastic goal and will be very happy tonight.
“Now we have to stay focused about the next game. We want to arrive in first place. That's our aim. We will have the possibility to do this, but it doesn't mean we have to rest the other players. The Champions League is an important competition every time you play. For all the games.”
Chelsea, whose goals came at the opposite end of the Luzhniki Stadium from where the penalty competition took place, included seven of the players to feature in the final and a team dominant at domestic level are now every bit in charge of their European destiny.
Spartak were the first to threaten when Sergei Pashivlyuk was allowed to run at the visiting defence before he fed the ball invitingly for Dmitri Kombarov, but the man wearing the 99 shirt shot wastefully over. And soon afterwards, from Kombarov's right-sided cross, Brazilian forward Welliton was denied by the boot of Petr Cech.
Chelsea responded eventually, 15 minutes into the game, with a wild shot on the break from Florent Malouda, but there was nothing untamed about the shot that gave the visitors the lead, in the 24th minute.
Zhirkov, already lambasted by the partisan Spartak fans for his previous association with local rivals CSKA, picked up the ball after a poor clearance by Nicolas Pareja before the Russian unleashed a dipping half volley with his left foot from 20 yards.
Zhirkov made an effort not to celebrate elaborately in front of his countrymen but there was no disguising the pleasure he gleaned from his first goal in 36 appearances, not to mention the fact that he is the first Russian to score against a Russian team in the Champions League.
And after squandering more chances, Chelsea's dominance was translated into another goal just before the break when Essien's wonderful run and pass allowed the Frenchman to turn captain Parshivlyuk before finding the bottom right corner with a terrific finish, his 50th goal for Chelsea.
Spartak responded inside the opening minutes of the second half when former Celtic winger Aidan McGeady, anonymous in the first period, saw his shot tipped over by Petr Cech.
The Russians were more offensive in the second half but Cech saved well twice from Ibson as Spartak pressed but with Chelsea in control without over elaborating this was another well manufactured performance and victory. Where Chelsea suffered the ultimate pain came signs that their holy grail is clearly within their sights.


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Star:

CHELSEA PUT MOSCOW MISERY BEHIND THEM
Spartak 0 Chelsea 2

CHELSEA stars led by Nicolas Anelka put their previous ­Moscow misery behind them last night in the Luzhniki Stadium.

The impressive venue was the scene of the Blues’ heart-breaking penalty shoot-out loss to Manchester United in the 2008 ­Champions League Final.
Much has been made of skipper John ­Terry slipping and sending his spot-kick against a post when success would have landed the trophy for the Blues.
But it was Anelka, who came on in stoppage-time, who handed victory to Sir Alex Ferguson’s men when his effort was saved by ­Edwin van der Sar.
That night was a horrible rain-swept affair, but with a plastic pitch rather than a saturated turf one to play on and dry conditions, ­Carlo Ancelotti’s men were sure-footed last night.
None more so than Anelka, who notched up a half-century of goals for the Blues with a wonderful effort in the 43rd minute.
It came after returning Russian Yuri Zhirkov – ­under the no doubt ­delighted eyes of countryman and Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich – bagged his first for the club in his 36th appearance.
That opener came in the 24th minute when John Obi Mikel lifted a ball ­hopefully forward in the ­direction of Salomon ­
Kalou. It was cut out by Nicolas Pareja, but his headed clearance fell ­perfectly for the onrushing Zhirkov, who smashed a left-foot half-volley from just outside the box over Andriy Dykan and high into the back of the net.
The announcement of Zhirkov as the goalscorer was greeted with loud boos from Spartak fans, ­sickened at seeing the ex-CSKA Moscow man break his Chelsea drought.
The £18m man, rather wisely, did not overdo the ­celebrations!
Spartak, like Chelsea, started this Group F game with a 100 per cent record and looked threatening early on. In the
10th minute Sergei Pesyakov stormed straight at the Blues ­defence and then pulled a ball across for Dmitri ­ Kombarov, which the ­midfielder sliced over with his left foot.
Four minutes later Kombarov picked out Welliton, whose shot and turn at the near post was kept out by the boot of Petr Cech.
A minute later Chelsea threatened for the first time, with Florent Malouda driving just wide after a powerful run and pass by Kalou opened up the ­Spartak backline.
Anelka shot over from 30 yards when Michael Essien was overlapping in a good position, while at the other end Welliton turned ­Branislav Ivanovic all too easily and Terry had to be spot-on to block the ­Brazilian’s shot.
Anelka had a great chance to make it two in the 38th minute when he pounced on a back pass, but his touch was too heavy and keeper Dykan was able to get a nudge.
Even then the ball bounced back to the Frenchman, but, as he turned and passed, he was unable to pick out either Kalou or Malouda and the ball was cleared.
But then Anelka showed his class with Chelsea’s second goal, which owed so much to a storming charge down the centre by Essien.
Picked out by the Ghana ace’s fine pass, Anelka looked to have reacted too slowly, but he completely fooled marker
Sergei Parshivlyuk with a ­shimmy to go inside and then ­shifted the other way to create enough space to roll a shot past Dykan with his right foot. The match restarted with a real buzz, with Ari shooting just too high and ex-Celtic player Aiden McGeady having a drive tipped over by Cech.
In between, Kalou ­appeared to have put ­Anelka in again, but the striker opted to play an ­unsuccessful return ball rather than shoot.
In the 64th minute Cech was at his agile best to push over two powerful Ibson drives within 30 seconds.
Ancelotti’s men almost claimed a third in the 74th minute, with Kalou getting to the byline, Anelka ­letting his pullback go through his legs and Essien drilling narrowly wide.
The final whistle brought delight for Anelka and ­Terry and the five other players who featured against United in 2008.
Terry left the field that night in tears. After his Russian retribution he walked off bare-chested and proud – and still ­ wearing the captain’s ­armband!
However, Wembley in May will no doubt be even more in the thoughts of Terry, who has confessed he will never rest until he lifts that Champions League trophy.


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Sun:

Spartak 0 Chelsea 2
By ANDREW DILLON


YURI ZHIRKOV stole a rare ray of the limelight from Chelsea's superstars as he became the homecoming king.

The talk was all about skipper John Terry and striker Nicolas Anelka laying ghosts to rest on their return to the arena in which they suffered European Cup final woe two years ago.
They both put in an extra shift at the ground where they slipped up on the rain-sodden turf and missed the penalties which handed the trophy to Manchester United.
But Russian Zhirkov also had a point to prove and set up Chelsea for an important away win. His stunning 23rd minute goal means their pursuit of this elusive trophy is already nailed on to reach the all-important knockout stage.
Zhirkov was jeered throughout by a partisan crowd because he had played for Spartak's fierce city rivals CSKA Moscow.
His £18million transfer fee has also been questioned in 15 months at Stamford Bridge as he drifts in and out of the reckoning.
Yet that changed in an instant last night when the Chelsea quiet man silenced 70,000 of his countrymen with a spectacular left-foot half volley. It was his first goal for Chelsea in 36 games.
While it has still not totally repaid Roman Abramovich's outlay, it settled early nerves as the Blues cruise through Group F.
At the halfway stage they boast an unbeaten record from three straight wins and, with home games to come against Spartak and minnows MSK Zilina, it would take a disaster for Chelsea to fail to reach the last 16.
They can win the group with two games to spare by beating the Russians at home in two weeks.
But last night's win will go only some way to exorcise demons for Terry and Anelka.
The French striker was the first Chelsea player his bare-chested captain embraced at the final whistle as they acknowledged overcoming a mutual psychological obstacle in the fallout from 2008.
Terry left this stadium in tears that night after falling over and missing a penalty in the shootout against United. Anelka too fluffed from the spot.
Wayne Rooney was on the opposing side but, after yesterday's revelations, could soon be team-mates with Terry and Anelka.
Zhirkov's eye-catcher was complemented by a neat Anelka finish for No 2, to show Chelsea have plenty without Rooney.
The first goal was instinctive. Mikel's ball over the top was half-cleared by Spartak and from 25 yards Zhirkov strode forward and let rip with a curved shot past keeper Andriy Dykan into the net. Anelka's goal - his 50th for Chelsea - was the climax to a superb midfield run by Michael Essien. The Ghanaian showed no signs of the knee problems which made him a doubt and, after drawing four Spartak defenders, he slipped the ball to Anelka on the edge of the box.
Anelka then turned right-back Sergei Parshivlyuk to slide the ball into the far corner of the net two minutes before half time.
It made up for an earlier miss when he was clean through against the goalkeeper.
With Terry, Ashley Cole, Anelka and a string of other Chelsea players underlining their authority in this group there is great optimism as another chase for the European Cup gathers momentum. Even with injuries and illness to Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard, Ramires and worries over Cole and Essien, this was easy.
Terry did not put a foot wrong and, after embracing Anelka, saluted the 1,500 or so Chelsea fans, relieved he had survived the plastic pitch on which he once twisted a knee training with England.
Last night there was no pain, no rain and Chelsea went back on the plane in total control of their Champions League destiny.

aston villa 0-0

Independent:

Houllier stops Chelsea in their tracks

Villa come out all guns blazing but both managers settle for a point after champions fight back

By Steve Tongue at Villa Park

Offered the opportunity to move seven points clear at the head of the Premier League before Manchester City's visit to Blackpool today, Chelsea started too slowly yesterday evening and had to be content with a draw on a ground where they were beaten by two headed goals last season. The defence was more solid this time after surviving an early burst from the home side, who needed to score in that impressive period and then found themselves pushed back in the second half.
The champions, unstoppable at the start of the season but badly missing Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard here, have now failed to find the net twice in three games and are fortunate that Manchester United seem incapable of taking advantage. City, who beat them earlier this month, and Arsenal may yet more prove durable challengers. Carlo Ancelotti, Chelsea's manager, seemed happy enough, suggesting a draw was a fair result. "We didn't start so well and conceded two chances but in the second half we played very well," he said. Villa's Gérard Houllier pointed out he had lost Emile Heskey, Marc Albrighton and Luke Young in the 24 hours before the game and was therefore equally satisfied with then outcome.
Despite winning three League titles and the same number of FA Cups since Houllier last encountered them, Chelsea have rarely enjoyed visiting Villa Park, achieving only one win in their last 12 visits. Yesterday it took until half-time for their ambition to extend beyond preventing that poor record worsening. Ancelotti wanted John Terry present even at 90 per cent fitness to combat the set-pieces with which Villa won this fixture last season, yet it was with neat passing and movement on the floor that the visitors were regularly opened up early in the game.
In the third minute, Stewart Downing played Stephen Ireland through in the inside-right position and he ought to have improved on a shot that veered wide of the far post. Three more minutes and John Carew forced Petr Cech into a smart, low save. Before half-time, the home captain Stiliyan Petrov had a fierce shot deflected over the bar and set up Ireland for a drive, bravely blocked by Branislav Ivanovic. The one setback for Villa was losing Richard Dunne with an ankle injury.
Despite increased possession, it took the visitors almost 35 minutes to manage a shot on target – Brad Friedel holding Michael Essien's routine effort – so it was not entirelysurprising that at the intervalAncelotti should replace Gaël Kakutawith the more combative Yuri Zhirkov. The territorial gains they had begun were maintained after the resumption with Zhirkov prominent on the left as Florent Malouda switched flanks. Friedel had to save from the hitherto subdued Nicolas Anelka and Dunne's replacement Ciaran Clark survived a shout for handball in the penalty area.
Villa's midfielders were now required to devote more time to helping a hard-pressed defence and Ashley Young was slowed by a heavy tackle for which Terry was booked. A trio of substitutes arrived, Villa bringing on Nathan Delfouneso for Carew and Chelsea introducing the teenager Josh McEachran and Jose Bosingwa, who was appearing for the first time since an injury at Villa Park exactly a year ago.
There was a flurry of excitement as each side struck a post in the space of three minutes, then wasted a chance apiece right at the death. Chelsea went close to scoring with 14 minutes to play, when Ivanovic headed Malouda's corner against the near post. At the other end, Young curled over a low free-kick that Clark flicked against the frame of the goal. In the final minute Anelka headed Ashley Cole's cross down into the ground, from where it bounced up on to the bar. There was still time for Nigel Reo-Coker, in the clear, to clip the ball over the advancing Cech but wide of a post. Justice, overall, was done.

Bookings: Aston Villa: Warnock, Clark, Young, Ireland. Chelsea: Terry, Essien, McEachran
Attendance: 40,122
Referee: Lee Mason
Man of the match: Essien

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Observer:

Aston Villa hold on for draw as Anelka fails to land killer blow for Chelsea
Aston Villa 0 Chelsea 0

Paul Wilson at Villa Park

This was a better result than the one Chelsea achieved in this fixture last season, when they lost 2-1, and, given Manchester United's slip-up at home, they will have been happy enough to escape with a point. Had Didier Drogba been available they would probably have gone home with all three, for, while Aston Villa shaded the first half, the league leaders completely bossed the second, yet found Nicolas Anelka never quite capable of delivering a killer blow.
Incredibly, Villa could have stolen a victory in stoppage time, when a mistake by the otherwise promising Josh McEachran allowed Nigel Reo-Coker to run free on Petr Cech, but no one at Villa Park was greatly surprised to see the midfielder shoot tamely.
"The only thing the game was missing was a goal," Gérard Houllier said. "Maybe we had better chances in the first half but we were under the cosh in the second. I must admit I was impressed by Chelsea's power and movement; we did well to live with them."
When Houllier said beforehand that Emile Heskey reminded him of Drogba, he thought he might have his striker to back up his argument. The only similarity here was that neither was fit enough to take part. Drogba has a fever and Heskey hurt his back in training. That left John Carew to lead the Villa attack, with Ashley Young returned to the flank and Stephen Ireland playing in the hole, a switch that may have disappointed the England player but one that almost brought a goal inside three minutes.
Ireland appeared to have done all the hard work when he smoothly accelerated on to Stewart Downing's cross from the right to shoot early past Cech, yet even as the crowd rose in celebration, the ball drifted the wrong side of the post. Carew had another good chance moments later when he had more time and space to beat Cech than he possibly wanted. He tried to place a shot but the goalkeeper got a hand to it.
Chelsea came more into the game once Richard Dunne had been forced off with a gashed ankle after 13 minutes, though the half-hour mark arrived without Brad Friedel being extended, and in what looked as though it might be the visitors' first serious attempt on his goal Michael Essien's shot threatened the corner flag instead.
Five minutes from the interval, Ireland was unlucky again at the opposite end of the pitch, when a terrific block from Branislav Ivanovic foiled his goal-bound shot. Ireland appealed half-heartedly for handball, though the defender had not only flung his body in the way of the shot, he had turned his back as well. By half-time, Villa had missed enough clear chances to wonder whether they might regret their profligacy later, though at least no one was pretending it would have been a different story with Heskey on the pitch.
Chelsea stepped up the pace impressively from the start of the second half, with Florent Malouda in particular more involved. Villa were pinned in their own half, and Friedel had to come to the rescue when Anelka ran on to a 50-yard pass from Mikel John Obi. Even in his capacity as emergency forward, Yuri Zhirkov was having little trouble skipping past James Collins and Habib Beye, and from one of his invitations Anelka should have given Chelsea the lead on the hour, but found himself with his back to goal.
Both teams hit the posts before the end, Ivanovic with a header and Young with a free-kick to which Ciaran Clark may have applied the faintest of touches, before Anelka found the crossbar when scoring looked easier.
While a draw was just about fair, one side knows it can finish better. "It was a good result for us," said Carlo Ancelotti. "In the second half we deserved to win but Villa played a good game too. We lost here last season so I am happy. Five points above Manchester United is not a bad place to be at this stage of the season."

THE FANS' PLAYER RATINGS AND VERDICT

MARK RUTTER, Observer reader

After five minutes Villa were well on top but that proved short-lived. In the second half we were hanging on and very much on the defensive. But in terms of clearcut chances, in the end we were unlucky not to win, though shooting isn't Reo-Coker's strong point – I don't think even he thought he was going to score. We've got a noticeably different style already with the new manager so we're going to have to get used to it, as are the players. It's definitely more defensive than the gung-ho approach of the previous regime. "Careful football" would perhaps be the best description.

The fan's player ratings

Friedel 6; Beye 6, Collins 7, Dunne n/a (Clark 13 7), Warnock 7; Downing 6, Reo-Coker 7, Petrov 8, Young 7; Ireland 6 (Sidwell 84 n/a), Carew 7 (Delfouneso 74 6)

TRIZIA FIORELLINO, ChelseaSupportersGroup.net

It's two points dropped – it would've been nice to be seven points clear so it's a bit of a missed opportunity. I know we don't usually do well at Villa but there was no get-up-and-go in the team, none of the attacking in waves that I know we can do. Admittedly we were missing some key first-team players but Villa really weren't that great. They came out hard and fast initially but that only lasted about 10 minutes and it settled back into a game of chess. Both teams were determined not to lose, which made for a pretty dull game. Both teams ultimately cancelled each other out.

The fan's player ratings

Cech 8; Ferreira 8 (Bosingwa 75 6), Ivanovic 7, Terry 7, Cole 7; Ramires 7 (McEachran 75 8), Mikel 7, Essien 6; Kakuta 6 (Zhirkov ht 8), Anelka 7, Malouda 7

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Mail:

Aston Villa 0 Chelsea 0:

Nigel Reo-Choker! Blues let off the hook by glaring miss
By Patrick Collins

As a compelling match entered its final seconds, Nigel Reo-Coker squeezed one more run from his aching legs. His control was adequate, his angle promising, but his chip was woefully struck. And as the chance bounced wastefully wide, Villa’s chance of securing the win they marginally deserved drifted away on the evening air.
So Chelsea retreated from the West Midlands with mixed emotions. They had the consolation of taking a point from a ground where reward is historically hard to find. Yet they had sqaundered the chance to take a potentially stifling hold on this Premier League season following Manchester United’s expensive misadventure at Old Trafford.Carlo Ancelotti said the things that managers say. He spoke of a difficult game, of chances missed and chances survived. And he concluded, a shade unconvincingly: ‘It was a good result for us at this stage of the season.’
To his credit, he declined to complain about Chelsea’s injuries, the important absence of Didier Drogba, Alex, Salomon Kalou and Frank Lampard.He also made no mention of the form of his captain, and that was interesting.
John Terry missed the England game in midweek with a back injury, and yesterday he played like a man who senses that his body might be about to betray him.His movement seemed painfully restricted. His pace, never his most impressive asset, was more pedestrian than ever. His experience enabled him to avoid embarrassment for most of the match, but on the one occasion when Ashley Young was about to leave him for dead, Terry was reduced to a cynical trip, for which he was properly booked.
Yet Terry’s accumulated expertise helped Chelsea survive the pressures of a desperately anxious first half. Villa announced their intentions within two minutes, as Stewart Downing made enormous strides down the right before releasing a cross collected by Stephen Ireland.Ireland kept his head, drew Petr Cech, chipped precisely and saw his effort drift beyond the far post.
Typically, Chelsea allow few such favours — yet they permitted a similar chance inside a further two minutes as John Carew picked up a ball and ran at a square defence. Moving into the box, he attempted to conjure his shot beyond Cech’s left hand. He, too, beat the far post.Then, as if Villa had not exhausted their quota of misfortune, Richard Dunne, their inspirational central defender, sank to the ground clutching his ankle in the eighth minute. He went to the dressing room for stitches but on 13 minutes was replaced by Ciaran Clark.Slowly, uncertainly, Chelsea were discovering their game. True, their movement was less instinctive, less fluid than usual. But their work ethic is sound, their organisation secure and the knowledge of United’s mishap should have done much for their confidence. A match which had always been absorbing suddenly became something more within moments of the second half starting. Chelsea lifted their tempo and the half-time replacement of Gael Kakuta by Yuri Zhirkov clearly enhanced their cause.Villa Park, which had been roaring with optimism, now fell anxiously silent as the dangers developed.But Villa are not short of resilience.
They did their midfield work, kept faith with their football and weathered the storm. Once or twice they induced a measure of panic in the Chelsea ranks and as the contest grew more fraught, the game hung in the balance.Villa played their last card after 75 minutes, taking off Carew and sending on Nathan Delfouneso. Chelsea responded inside a minute, bringing on Jose Bosingwa and Josh McEachran for Ramires and Paulo Ferreira. Immediately, they won the corner which might have won the match. Florent Malouda flung it high to the near post, Ivanovic met it truly with his head and battered the ball against the post in a frenzy of frustration.The miss seemed likely to prove even more expensive a minute later, when Young struck a finely flooated free-kick, James Collins, Terry and Clark converged, and the ball appeared to glance Clark’s shoulder and bounce off the inside of Chelsea’s far post. ‘The match had everything except goals,’ observed Gerard Houllier. Carlo Ancelotti was not complaining.

MATCH FACTS

ASTON VILLA (4-5-1): Friedel; Beye, Collins, Dunne (Clark 13min), Warnock; Downing, Ireland (Sidwell 84), Reo-Coker, Petrov, Young; Carew (Delfouneso 74). Subs (not used): Guzan, Cuellar, Bannan, Lichaj. Booked: Warnock, Ireland, Clark, A Young.

CHELSEA (4-3-2-1): Cech; Ferreira (Bosingwa 75), Ivanovic, Terry, Cole; Essien, Mikel, Ramires (McEachran 76); Kakuta (Zhirkov 46), Malouda; Anelka. Subs (not used): Turnbull, Bruma, Borini, Mellis. Booked: Essien, Terry, McEachran.

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Telegraph:

Aston Villa 0 Chelsea 0

By Sandy Macaskill

Sir Alex Ferguson can let out a sigh of relief. Chelsea, who could have gone seven points clear at the top of the table and taken the Premier League by the scruff of the neck, were held to a meagre point by Aston Villa, which would have been considered a decent return by their travelling fans bearing in mind their injuries had Branislav Ivanovic not hit the post and Nicolas Anelka the bar with just minutes to go.
Nevertheless, despite the missed chances, Carlo Ancelotti can take comfort in his side maintaining a five-point advantage over Manchester United. It could have been just four points had Ciaran Clark converted his late header - but that, too, found the woodwork.
Ancelotti will be grateful to Stephen Ireland and John Carew had both missed absolute gimmes in the first six minutes and to Nigel Reo-Coker, who missed with a minute to go. Where is Emile Heskey when you need him?
In truth, this constitutes a reasonable result for both sides mainly because of their respective injury problems. Chelsea, without Didier Drogba, struck down with a fever, and also Frank Lampard, Alex, Salomon Kalou, Daniel Sturridge and Yossi Benayoun were forced to ask John Terry, who suffered bruising to his lower back after landing heavily in training with England, manfully to play through the pain.
Villa have their own injury problems though, the butcher’s bill including Gabby Agbonlahor, recovering from groin surgery, Luke Young, out with a hamstring problem, and Marc Albrighton, who is laid low with a virus. The most significant absentee however was Heskey, who strained his back in training on Friday - a let off for Terry, who has confessed in the past that he does not like playing against the striker.
Villa have not been known to have the strongest squad, but they had more than enough left to worry Chelsea, and Ancelotti was reduced to nervously chewing his gum as Paulo Ferreira was treated like a jobbing part-timer by Ashley Young, back out on the left wing because of Villa’s injury problems. He and his team-mates whipped Villa Park into a tumult, the clamour pouring down around the Chelsea manager like molten tar.
Stiliyan Petrov would benefit from synchromesh - crashing through the gears as he does - but his pass which sent Stewart Downing loose down the right was weighted perfectly. Downing saw Ireland escaping from John Obi Mikel and slipped him in with Petr Cech to beat, but glory flashed up in front of Ireland’s eyes - a goal against Chelsea after just three minutes! It obscured his vision, and the midfielder curled his shot the wrong side of the post.
Villa were given a second chance when, just minutes later, Stephen Warnock launched himself at Kakuta, the ball ricocheting through for Carew, who had managed to keep himself onside. The Norwegian is not one to rush things, though, and he allowed himself time to attempt a nonchalant curl around Cech, which would have been hailed as uber-cool had it worked but looked lazy when Cech tipped the ball around his left post.
Ancelotti’s jaws were now going like pistons, but he was able to relax when Richard Dunne injured his right foot and disappeared down the tunnel after 10 minutes. Reo-Coker was moved to right-back allowing Chelsea to batten down the hatches while Houllier waited to hear if the Irishman could carry on. He could not, so Clark was summoned and Villa’s normal formation restored. But by then the storm had passed.
The first half disappeared amid a haze of mediocrity - clumsy back heel from Anelka here, charged-down shot by Ireland there - and both managers gratefully disappeared down the tunnel at the break to have a rethink. With little to choose from on the bench - three full-backs, a sprinkling of midfielders and one striker - Ancelotti resorted to removing Gaël Kakuta, too lightweight to cause problems against this defence, for Yuri Zhirkov.
Zhirkov could have proved decisive, skipping over Habib Beye in the right channel and delivering a low cross which Clark allowed to skid under his studs. Anelka, taken by surprise at such woeful defending, was unable to profit and the ball was hastily cleared.
Houllier made his own change, deploying Nathan Delfouneso for Carew, but soon Ivanovic was rising to head Florent Malouda’s corner against the post. Seconds later it was Clark, a sly header also finding the upright. Finally, Anelka was free with a header, a bare minute to go. It hit the post. It just wasn’t to be.


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Star:

ASTON VILLA V CHELSEA
By Harry Pratt
Aston Villa 0 Chelsea 0

Carlo Ancelotti was relishing getting a glimpse of Chelsea’s future, with Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard missing yesterday.
But on the evidence of this Villa Park stalemate the times ahead don’t look too bright for the Blues boss.
With the Drog sick – and Lamps still crocked – this was the chance for the Stamford Bridge nippers to prove they can hack the cut and thrust of the Premier League.
But the likes of French teenager Gael Kakuta and Brazilian summer signing Ramires failed miserably.
It left Ancelotti fuming and Chelsea counting the cost of more dropped points on the road.
Although a goalless draw extended their lead at the top to five points, Manchester City can slash that to two if they beat Blackpool today.
Villa, by contrast, will be thrilled to remain unbeaten at home this season – and can even feel unlucky not to have snatched victory.
Chelsea had slammed seven past Villa in their last league meeting at Stamford Bridge but the Blues have an appalling record at Villa Park – with just one win in 12 attempts.
And although Chelsea were seriously depleted, Villa were nowhere near full-strength either, with striker Emile Heskey, winger Marc Albrighton and defender Luke Young all missing.
And it got worse for the home side when Richard Dunne hobbled off in the 12th minute and was replaced by fellow Irishman Ciaran Clark.
By that time Villa should have been two goals up.
A storming 40-yard run from Stewart Downing after three minutes carved the Blues wide open and when he slipped Stephen Ireland in he seemed certain to score, only for his chip to fly inches wide.
Less than a minute later Villa went even closer. This time John Carew did the work, winning possession then curling a beauty towards the bottom corner, only for Petr Cech to produce a superb finger-tip save.
Chelsea were a shadow of the side that had smashed 23 goals in their first seven league games and had just two shots before the break.
One flew miles high from Kakuta, the other was a tame effort from a strangely quiet Michael Essien.
After no doubt getting a rocket from the boss the visitors were a different proposition after the break.
But apart from Florent Malouda’s stinging 47th minute effort, the Blues struggled to create anything of note until the 75th minute, when the game exploded into life.
Branislav Ivanovic started the drama by thumping a header against a post.
Then the home side hit the woodwork themselves Ashley Young’s free-kick evading everybody in the box and bouncing back off a post.
Chelsea hitman Nicolas Anelka then somehow failed to find the back of the net from just three yards out, before
Nigel Reo-Coker went clean through but scuffed his effort off-target right at the death.
Afterwards Ancelloti was in defiant mood. The Italian said: “We kept our advantage over Manchester United in the table, this is a good result at this stage of the season.
“I am not going to complain that we were missing some very important players because everybody who played tried their hardest.
“We will continue to use our younger players wherever possible and we must try to keep belief in them.
“We may feel we should have won it in the second half but Villa also had good chances so it was a fair result.”
Villa boss Houllier was full of praise for his team: “There was only one thing missing from our game today and thaywas goals,” he said.
“We had the better openings in the first half but Chelsea came back strongly and we were under the cosh a bit in the second. “Our attitude was first class.”

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