Norwich 0-0

Independent:
Chelsea 0 Norwich City 0
Goalless draw hits Blues' Premier League title bid and Norwich's survival hopes
Sam Wallace

Jose Mourinho granted the Chelsea supporters the briefest of farewells for the summer before the traditional last home game send-off and then was back down the tunnel to brood, leaving the pitch to his players, their wives, girlfriends, children and even the occasional mother.
Chelsea had started, by Mourinho’s own admission, “lazy and slow” and improved only a little bit in the second half which, aside from a few bad penalty calls that left both teams frustrated, was the classic nothing-to-play-for end-of-season non-event. Chelsea’s season is running out of steam quicker than a Demba Ba counter-attack and even their manager can do nothing about it.
Afterwards David Luiz’s mother joined her son on the pitch - “Mummy Luiz” on the back of her Chelsea shirt - along with assorted WAGs and small children, and Chelsea had failed to win at home for the third game in succession. Mourinho had responded angrily at half-time to an insipid first half by sending on Eden Hazard, admonished on Friday, and Luiz to liven things up and generally it had improved, although that was not saying much.
At the end of the game, Ashley Cole said his farewells with what looked like a few tears shed. It would be no surprise to see the Englishman leave; he is out of contract this summer and went 18 games without featuring in the team this year. Certainly there was no confirmation either way by the Chelsea manager after the game. John Terry and Frank Lampard were both waving goodbye although one would say both are more likely to stay,
Already, Mourinho seemed to have his mind racing ahead to the summer and the long weeks of planning and decision-making in front of him while the focus turns to the World Cup finals and leaves him, for once, out of the public eye.
The Chelsea manager paid tribute to his son Jose junior in his programme notes, an unusually personal heartfelt message to the teenager who sits a few rows behind his dad at every home game. “I want to tell him thanks for being with me every second of every match,” he wrote, “thank you kid, for being my kid.” It was a rare peak behind the battle-lines of the ferocious competitor, and then it was back to normal service.
Mourinho did not want to comment on the two penalty decisions that went against him because, as he says in all contentious situations now, he fears the phone-call from the Football Association. The first was a trip on Andre Schurrle by Alexander Tettey in the 55th minute and the second a lunge by Ryan Bennett at Hazard two minutes later.
The Hazard incident did not feature a first contact between the two players because the Belgian leaped out the way of the challenge but as he was airborne, there was certainly a connection between the two players and the Chelsea man ended up on the ground. There does not necessarily have to be contact if a player takes evasive action and there was a case for that interpretation this time.
He could have claimed a third when Michael Turner thrust an off-the-ball elbow into Ba’s chest during an early attack but the referee Neil Swarbrick appeared to miss it completely. Yet, Mourinho was simply not in the mood to discuss the referee’s performance.
There was cause for regret for Neil Adams, the Norwich City interim manager, over another inexplicable decision by the referee not to give his team a penalty when John Terry slid into Martin Olsson as the winger went in on goal on 11 minutes. Cole had dived in moments earlier and just avoided contact but there was no doubt that Olsson was brought down by Terry who might even have been dismissed.
From then on, the official was desperately trying to even matters up by denying Chelsea anything that came their way and it was not, by any stretch of the imagination, a good afternoon for the referee.
Hazard was summoned onto the pitch before the game to receive the fans’ player of the year award, although he was left in no doubt as to how his manager felt about him. A substitute for the start of the game, it was so flat in the first half that Mourinho had little option but to call upon the winger.
Certainly before half-time there was not much in this Chelsea team to suggest that this was a group of players straining every sinew to impress their manager at the fag-end of a season. Cole showed glimpses of attacking threat; Schurrle clipped a post following an excellent tackle and pass by Nemanja Matic, but otherwise it was dreary in the extreme.
As Norwich realised that they could get something from this game, Adams was reluctant to gamble. He had two strikers, Ricky van Wolfswinkel and Gary Hooper, on the bench but chose not to use them in the closing stages having brought on Nathan Redmond for Johan Elmander in the second half.
Norwich will surely go down if Sunderland take a point in either of their remaining home games against West Bromwich Albion on Wednesday, or Swansea City on Sunday. Adams justified his approach on the basis that it was too risky to try to win the game when a defeat for Sunderland this week will at least give Norwich some hope going into their last game of the season at home to Arsenal.
That seemed to leave Mourinho perplexed. There was just one chance for Norwich to score in the second half when Robert Snodgrass had a run at Mark Schwarzer’s goal and a brilliant recovering block by Gary Cahill, who has had an outstanding season, put the ball out for a corner. Otherwise the end of the game was a tale of attacks on John Ruddy’s goal, although too few clear-cut chances for a team with such ambitions as Chelsea.
Next time the Chelsea supporters convene at Stamford Bridge there will surely be a new striker in place as Mourinho attacks the second season of his new spell at the club. There will be a few who have played their last game for the club and those who remain will know that another season without a trophy will not be met with as much understanding as it has been this time around.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Schwarzer 6; Ivanovic 7, Cahill 7, Terry 6, Cole 6; Matic 6 (Torres, 73), Lampard 6 (Luiz 6, ht); Salah 5 (Hazard 6, ht), Willian 6, Schurrle 5; Ba 5.
Substitutes not used: Hilario (gk), Van Ginkel, Eto’o, Kalas.

Norwich (4-1-4-1): Ruddy 6; Martin 6, R Bennett 6, Turner 6, Whittaker 6; Tettey 5; Snodgrass 7, Johnson 6, Howson 6, Olsson 5; Elmander 5 (Redmond 6, 69).
Substitutes not used: Bunn (gk), Bassong, Van Wolfswinkel, Fer, Hooper, E Bennett.

Booked: Chelsea Ivanovic Norwich R Bennett, Turner, Redmond
Man of the match: Cahill
Rating: 5
Referee: N Swarbrick

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Guardian:

Chelsea 0-0 Norwich City
Dominic Fifield

This was a result which effectively put paid to both these sides' lingering hopes this term. TheChelsea squad returned to the turf for their "parade of appreciation" with enthusiasm in short supply, an uninspiring goalless stalemate having surely confirmed José Mourinho's oft-stated conviction that the title is beyond this team. They are a club already turning attention to a summer of significant tweaks to their personnel. For Norwich, despite a draw which would normally provoke some satisfaction and, indeed, earned a rapturous ovation from the travelling support, the immediate future is grim.
The first reward of Neil Adams' interim stewardship has most likely come too late to save City. The visitors departed still two points below the cut-off and their relegation can effectively be confirmed on Wednesday night if Sunderland and West Bromwich Albion, the two teams immediately above them, play out a draw on Wearside. This may have been admirable and they can cling to the hope that Albion and Swansea prevail this week at the Stadium of Light but, as Michael Turner admitted in the aftermath, "We probably needed all three points. if I'm honest." A three-year stint among the elite appears to be drawing to a close.
The visitors had competed well for long periods, almost uncharacteristically at times given the abject results which had dragged them into the mire, albeit against lacklustre hosts whose energy appeared to have fizzled out in the wake of midweek elimination in the semi-finals of the Champions League and with others boasting the advantage in the title race. André Schürrle and David Luiz each struck the woodwork, the latter having been introduced at the interval along with Eden Hazard in a desperate attempt to enliven proceedings. But there was too much stodginess to Chelsea's play, too little zest against opponents who, belatedly, had found some resolve on the road with this their first point in nine games away from Carrow Road. The hosts mustered 23 shots but only four were on target.
Mourinho fidgeted frustratedly in his technical area, his mood darkened when Ryan Bennett swung his leg to challenge Hazard in the area with the Belgian leaping to avoid the limb and tumbling to the turf as a result. The referee, Neil Swarbrick, ignored the penalty appeals while Mourinho scuttled off to the manager's room to watch a rerun on television before returning pitchside to make his view clear to the fourth official. "I went back to the dugout laughing, laughing because I can't cry," the Portuguese said. Asked to elaborate he declined to speak more. "I'm sorry. My assistant is in jail [Rui Faria started a six-match stadium ban here] and I don't want to talk."
There might have been another had Turner been penalised for a barge on Demba Ba though, in truth, the visitors had as much cause to feel aggrieved with a non-award of their own, 11 minutes in, when Bradley Johnson's pass reached Martin Olsson. If Ashley Cole had made faint contact with the ball as he slid in, John Terry at his back certainly did not with the referee's view perhaps obscured by Cole's initial challenge. "I've had a look and it's pretty clear," Adams said. "Martin gets a touch to take it away from Ashley Cole, and John Terry's momentum just takes him out. Probably [a red card] but definitely a penalty." Swarbrick opted against either, much to the visitors' disgust.
Olsson's delivery was dangerous at times in that opening period, the Swede flinging over crosses which fizzed through the six-yard box, but one of this team's problems has been converting such opportunities. They have scored 28 goals this season and their lone forward here, Johan Elmander, has only one in the league. The veteran worked hard before fatigue took over, with Nathan Redmond's pace introduced in the hope Chelsea chased the game themselves and left space to exploit on the counter. That might have been a masterstroke when the England Under-21 international slipped Robert Snodgrass through on goal 19 minutes from time, only for a heavy touch and Gary Cahill's excellent challenge to suffocate the shot into the side-netting.
With that probably went Norwich's best chance of mounting their great escape, though they appeared the more satisfied afterwards, even if they remained cautious in the dying moments when they might have pursued a winner. "But if we'd lost, we were down," Adams said. "With Chelsea needing to win as well, we thought there may be opportunities to get at them with our pace. Those last five minutes, do we gamble? Do we go for it? That was our dilemma. As it is, we need results. We need a bit of luck. If it goes our way, we have to make sure that Sunday's game against Arsenal is a fantastic occasion."
Chelsea go to relegated Cardiff for what is likely to be a low-key and subdued occasion. The emotion displayed by Cole, Frank Lampard and Terry after this game, whether some or all of that trio sign on for another year, was a reminder that this squad is still evolving. This year they came close. Next season they must secure tangible rewards.

Man of the match John Ruddy (Norwich City)

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Telegraph:

Chelsea 0 Norwich City 0
By Henry Winter, Football Correspondent Stamford Bridge

This stale event felt like a wedding reception petering out early through lack of interest, the marquee being dismantled with guests wandering out.
Chelsea’s hearts were not in it after going out of Europe, knowing their title ambitions had faded while some feared that this was goodbye. The game was lifeless, yet the aftermath was poignant, almost wake-like.
Frank Lampard, John Terry and Ashley Cole stood together, shoulder to shoulder, in front of the Matthew Harding Stand, waving to the fans. The trio, such wonderful club servants, await the decision of the board on their futures.
Lampard’s daughters handed out boots to supporters while Terry consoled Cole who seemed particularly emotional.
The Bridge announcer attempted to lift the mood, confirming that Chelsea had definitely qualified direct into the group stage of theChampions League, but the bulletin had a hollow ring. Chelsea’s season promised so much more at times.
The announcer might have raised spirits more if he had declared Chelsea were about to buy a striker, a reliable finisher to turn the losses against the likes of Aston Villa, Crystal Palace and Sunderland into draws or wins and transform the draws against West Ham, West Bromwich Albion and now Norwich City into victories.
Chelsea excelled against the leading lights and faltered against the less expansive, signalling a need for a more ruthless finisher and for more guile.
Some of the guests at the Bridge were still whooping it up, the visitors from Norfolk enjoying a sing-song in the evening sunshine.
“We are staying up,’’ chanted many of the 3,000 Norwich fans, who had got behind their team all game, who continue to believe in their survival prospects, yet there was an inescapable feeling of both clubs’ seasons ending here.
Norwich took a point at the Bridge, which would usually be a good point, but surely not enough to draw much hope in the fight against relegation.
Neil Adams’s game plan was clearly to frustrate Chelsea, parking the bus to use local parlance, and his defenders and the keeper, John Ruddy, did well. Adams came for a point and got it but such caution was a huge gamble, one that could backfire before Norwich even kick a ball again.
If 17th-placed Sunderland draw at home to West Brom on Wednesday, then Norwich are down. Even if Sunderland lose, Norwich will go down if Gus Poyet’s side take a point against Swansea City, again at the Stadium of Light, on Sunday.
Even if Sunderland lose, Norwich will go down if they fail to defeat Arsenal at Carrow Road on Sunday. The maths are against Norwich, whose goal difference also works against them, even more so after this draw.
Adams has risked it all on West Brom winning on Wednesday, so giving Norwich a lifeline going into the last weekend. It was why he was happy for the toothless but hard-working Johan Elmander to play up front on his own for 67 minutes until replaced by the livelier, pacier Nathan Redmond. It was why Adams refused to bring on a striker in the final few minutes, keeping Gary Hooper and Ricky van Wolfswinkel on the bench.
It was a game plan that could come back to haunt Norwich. Chris Hughton was criticised for a negative mentality, and was dismissed. Of course, if Sunderland slip up twice and Norwich ambush Arsenal, Adams will be feted as a tactical genius, the board lauded for replacing Hughton, but the odds are slim.
Hooper and Van Wolfswinkel might not have beaten Mark Schwarzer, of course, and Norwich’s travails in front of goal have cost them dear. They have failed to score in four of their last five games and this is probably why they are going down. Norwich spent much of the warm-up with shooting practice but to no avail.
Chelsea’s own attacking deficiencies have inhibited them. After lamenting the “balls that hit the post without the desire to go in” (on 32 occasions), Mourinho found prominent space in his programme notes to eulogise about Roman Abramovich – more than an owner, loves the club, etc – and inform the fans that the Russian will “give us all the conditions to build for the future”.
Insert a serial finisher in this team, a striker of the quality of Diego Costa, and Chelsea will be a sustained force next season. Mourinho needs to keep the creative likes of Eden Hazard, who started on the bench here and cut a slightly sheepish figure before kick-off as he collected a fans’ award in his tracksuit.
The first half was largely desultory. André Schürrle tested Ruddy with a snapshot. Martin Olsson sped into the box, knocking the ball slightly too far, but still caught by Terry. With some legitimacy, Olsson and Adams appealed loudly for a penalty but Neil Swarbrick waved play on.
Bradley Johnson then took a blow to the face, ran to the touchline, removed his bloodstained shirt to reveal a patchwork of tattoos before donning a clean shirt which lacked a name and number. Nobody really wanted to be associated with this dull fare.
Chelsea responded, Nemanja Matic playing a defence-splitting pass to release Schürrle, who hit an upright. Terry headed a corner straight at Ruddy.
Some of the niftiest footwork came at half-time from Roy Bentley, who turns 90 in a fortnight. Chelsea’s first title-winning captain did a little jig on the pitch, clutching his walking stick like Fred Astaire dancing with his cane. “Sign him up,” chanted the Shed.
Chelsea needed an injection of ideas. Hazard and David Luiz replaced Lampard and Mohamed Salah. Luiz almost had an immediate impact, sweeping a shot against the bar. Swarbrick was clearly not in a mood to give a penalty.
Chelsea shook their heads in disbelief as the referee waved play on after Schürrle was brought down by Alexander Tettey and then Ryan Bennett challenged the jumping Hazard.
Mourinho smiled wryly, almost mockingly. He ran down the tunnel, checked the replay on the monitor in his office, reappeared moments later, and delivered his verdict to the fourth official, Michael Oliver. Mourinho then turned to his subs and mouthed the word “pen”. Yet the score was probably 1-1 on legitimate penalties denied.
Redmond’s arrival gave Norwich a bit more zest. He slipped a ball through to Robert Snodgrass, whose shot was blocked by the sliding Gary Cahill. Ruddy was standing firm, denying Hazard brilliantly as the game meandered into anonymity.

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

Times :

Chelsea 0 Norwich City 0
José Mourinho seeks end to the festival season after title challenge collapses

Matt Hughes Deputy Football Correspondent

Having insisted all season that Chelsea were not good enough to win the Barclays Premier League it gave José Mourinho little satisfaction to be proved right. The cult of his personality has underpinned Mourinho’s career and yesterday we saw its downside, with this soporific spectacle suggesting his players have believed him all along.
Chelsea’s involvement in the title race ended in a whimper with a display that their manager condemned as lazy, a word that can be applied to far too many of their performances against lesser sides throughout the season. Mourinho’s post-match analysis also included the obligatory pop at referees, specifically Neil Swarbrick’s failure to award a second-half penalty after Ryan Bennett’s attempted challenge on Eden Hazard, but not even he had the stomach for a full-on assault.
“My assistant [Rui Faria] is in jail and I don’t want to talk,” Mourinho said. “I saw the Hazard penalty during the game, but to confirm I had a quick run to my office.
“I arrived in time to watch and then go back to the dugout laughing.”
Despite the histrionics no one at Stamford Bridge really believes that Chelsea have been cheated out of the title by a refereeing conspiracy, with the real reason for a rare trophyless season far more prosaic. Having picked up 16 points out of a possible 18 from their matches against the rest of the top four, Chelsea’s challenge was wrecked by their failure to beat opponents such as Norwich, so this stalemate was a fitting anticlimax to the campaign, even if the fans who rather harshly booed at the final whistle appeared to disagree. The unexpected defeats by Aston Villa, Crystal Palace and Sunderland have proved costly.
Mourinho offered an intriguing explanation for this apparent disconnect in typically colourful language, hinting at a lack of professionalism among his players by saying they had been undermined by a couple of “festivals”. The Portuguese’s reaction to several players attending Arsenal’s Christmas party against his wishes is known to have been thunderous, and yesterday’s comments suggested some of them may have been enjoying themselves too often.
“I think they tried everything, but we had a couple of festivals during the season,” he said. “Without festivals it would have been a better season too.
“We could have done better against Crystal Palace. Or killing matches at Everton, Newcastle and Stoke. We had the games under control, but didn’t kill them and we were killed.”
Chelsea did not even manage to control the game yesterday, managing just four shots on target despite having 73 per cent of the possession, and beyond the various penalty controversies there was little to divert the crowd. Norwich also had reason to feel aggrieved however, and could have left with all three points required to keep their fate in their own hands had Swarbrick awarded them a penalty when John Terry brought down Martin Olsson in the 11th minute. They must instead rely on Sunderland losing two home matches as well as beating Arsenal themselves on Sunday. The Chelsea captain could also have been sent off, so the decision could have huge ramifications for Norwich.
Chelsea’s penalty claims were more contentious, particularly the one involving Hazard, as Bennett did not appear to make any contact with him despite the ugly challenge that caused him to lose his balance in the 58th minute. Hazard was Chelsea’s best hope of breaking through after his introduction, although Mourinho refused the invitation to praise him. Their relationship still seems fraught.
André Schürrle was the only other player to consistently threaten, hitting the post and being denied by a good save from John Ruddy in the first half before having a penalty appeal of his own turned down after the interval. Swarbrick should have pointed to the spot on this occasion in the 54th minute as Alex Tettey clearly impeded the German in the penalty area.
Hazard deserved something to show for the sublime skill which took him away from three defenders before Bennett’s ungainly lunge, while he also created a chance for David Luiz that Ruddy tipped on to the bar, but their threat was far too sporadic.
Norwich had a couple of chances on the counter-attack. Robert Snodgrass’s first touch let him down allowing Branislav Ivanovic to block his shot, while Mark Schwarzer made a good save from a header by Bradley Johnson in stoppage time to ensure that neither side left entirely happy. Both have been found wanting when it mattered.

Ratings
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): M Schwarzer 6 — B Ivanovic 6, G Cahill 5, J Terry 6, A Cole 6 — N Matic 6 (sub: F Torres, 73min), F Lampard 5 (sub: D Luiz, 46 6) — M Salah (sub: E Hazard, 46 6), Willian 5, A Schürrle 6 — D Ba 5. Substitutes not used: Hilário, M Van Ginkel, S Eto’o, T Kalas. Booked: Ivanovic.
Norwich City (4-1-4-1): J Ruddy 7 — R Martin 5, R Bennett 5, M Turner 6, S Whittaker 5 — A Tettey 5 — R Snodgrass 6 B Johnson 7, J Howson 6, M Olsson 6 — J Elmander 6 (sub: N Redmond, 69 6). Substitutes not used: M Bunn, S Bassong, R van Wolfswinkel, L Fer, G Hooper, E Bennett. Booked: R Bennett, Turner, Olsson.

Small fry prove a big problem

Chelsea are set to finish the season without a trophy for the first time since 2011. Their challenge for the Barclays Premier League title has seen them drop only seven points from a possible 36 against the other teams in the top eight, but they have faltered badly against lower ranked opposition

Jan 29 West Ham United (h) D 0-0
 The visiting team park the bus and their “Elizabethan” tactics frustrate Mourinho
Feb 11 West Bromwich Albion (a) D 1-1
 Victor Anichebe’s 87th-minute goal stops Chelsea opening up a four-point lead
Mar 15 Aston Villa (a) L 1-0
 Mourinho is sent to the stands and lands an FA charge after Fabien Delph’s goal settles matters
Mar 29 Crystal Palace (a) L 1-0
 John Terry’s own goal gives Chelsea the blues
Apr 19 Sunderland (h) L 2-1
 Fabio Borini’s late penalty inflicts Mourinho’s first home league defeat in 78 games as Chelsea manager
Yesterday Norwich City (h) D 0-0
 Victory would have put the home side back on top
Title race
Chelsea’s challenge will be over if Liverpool beat Crystal Palace. If Liverpool and City win both their games, City’s goal difference should see them finish top.

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Mail:

Chelsea 0-0 Norwich: Blues dealt title blow
By Martin Samuel

This is what happens when there is too much talk of little horses, third place and next season.
Chelsea’s title challenge fizzled out in desperately disappointing fashion in the spring sunshine. Lack of belief did for them more than Liverpool or Manchester City ever could.
In Belgium, they would probably be champions by now. The Jupiler Pro League contains 16 teams, and the top six at the end of the regular season split to hold a round-robin title play-off.
That would suit Chelsea down to the ground.The elite they can handle; it’s the also-rans that have ruined their season. West Bromwich Albion, West Ham United, Aston Villa, Crystal Palace, Sunderland, now Norwich City — Chelsea have dropped 15 points against some extremely ordinary teams since January. It is not a case of dull football or managerial negativity, either.
Chelsea simply lack the wit and spark to undo a tight defensive formation. Liverpool and Manchester City have more fantasy, so find a way through. Chelsea are perfectly equipped to do a job against a good team on the counter-attack as they showed at Anfield seven days ago.
Watching them try to overcome the two banks of four and five laid out by Norwich yesterday was at times painful, however. It wasn’t for want of trying — Chelsea hit the woodwork twice, had three good penalty appeals rejected and forced at least one outstanding save from John Ruddy — but there was a feeling that the home team were unconvinced that this could be their season. So it proved.
Even after defeating Liverpool, Jose Mourinho still spoke of third place. And Chelsea played like the third-placed team yesterday. They are only a point behind Liverpool and Manchester City this morning, but that could be a gap of four by Wednesday night, and it feels like more.
Manchester City put seven past Norwich at home, Liverpool five. Chelsea played them in different circumstances but, nonetheless, this was a weak way to end the season at Stamford Bridge.
They showed the backs-to-the- wall courage that has been missing for so much of the season. Had they played this way earlier they would not now be one Sunderland win — maybe a Sunderland draw — away from relegation.
Norwich had a late breakaway through Robert Snodgrass thwarted by Gary Cahill, and a very strong penalty appeal in the first half rejected by referee Neil Swarbrick — he had a nightmare, to be frank — but did not ever do enough to look like saving their skin.
Chelsea were the better team and on unjustly denied penalties alone, it should have been 3-1. Missing the odd important foul is human error; missing four could be a sign of cataracts, particularly when all could have been called in real time with the naked eye.
The sole mitigation would be that Swarbrick was following the play when Michael Turner stopped and brutally bodychecked Demba Ba’s run in the fifth minute.
The ball was wide on the left when Ba was taken out in the middle, but one of the squadron of assistants, at least, should have spotted it.
At the other end after 11 minutes, Norwich had so many penalty shouts in the space of two seconds it was as if Swarbrick was overwhelmed and gave nothing at all.
Ashley Cole might have taken Martin Olsson out but if he didn’t John Terry most certainly did.Play was waved on, much to the frustration of Adams and the Norwich bench. The manager complained bitterly after the game, conveniently forgetting that Swarbrick more than evened up his incompetence by the end of the game.
Alexander Tettey on Andre Schurrle was a definite penalty in the second half, and Eden Hazard had more than a claim after 58 minutes, when team-mate Branislav Ivanovic was booked for what can only be described as extreme incredulity.
Hazard was going on another jinking run when Norwich’s Ryan Bennett took a wild swing at a clearance. Indeed, so bad was Bennett’s attempt he missed the ball, and the player, a defensive air shot that succeeded only in making Hazard fear for his kneecaps.
We may have witnessed the end of an era at Chelsea, Ashley Cole’s tears as the players embarked on that modern phenomenon, the lap of appreciation, perhaps signified a summer of change. If so, it could be expensive and ruthless and, next season, no suckers will be getting an even break.

CHELSEA RUN OUT OF STEAM

4 - Despite 23 efforts at goal, Chelsea managed just four shots on target. Norwich only had one fewer.
134 - Chelsea lost the ball 134 times, 17 times more than Norwich.
4 - Chelsea have won just four of their last eight Premier League matches.
0 - Ba and Torres did not hit a single shot on target.
55.6% - Jose Mourinho has won just 55.6% of matches against teams in the bottom five this season.
19 - Chelsea have won more points against the top five (P8 Pts 19) than they have against the bottom five (P9 Pts 18) this season.
5 - Before losing to Sunderland and drawing with Norwich, Chelsea had dropped only four points at home all season.

MATCH FACTS

Chelsea: Schwarzer 6: Ivanovic 6.5, Cahill 6.5, Terry 6.5, Cole 7.5; Lampard 5 (Luiz 46, 6.5), Matic 6 (Torres 73); Salah 5.5 (Hazard 46), Willian 6.5, Schurrle 6.5; Ba 6.
Subs not used: Van Ginkel, Eto'o, Kalas, Hilario.
Booked: Ivanovic, Willian

Norwich: Ruddy 6.5; Martin 6.5, Ryan Bennett 7, Turner 7, Whittaker 6.5; Snodgrass 6; Johnson 6, Howson 6, Tettey 6.5, Olsson 6.5; Elmander 5 (Redmond 67).
Subs not used: Bassong, van Wolfswinkel, Fer, Hooper, Bunn, Elliott Bennett.
Booked: Bennett, Turner, Olsson

Referee: Neil Swarbrick - 6

MOM: Cole
Att: 41,602

*Player ratings by SAMI MOKBEL at Stamford Bridge

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Mirror:

Chelsea 0-0 Norwich City

Martin Lipton

A sunlit parade but no victory, no celebration.
Only a sense of what might have been, frustrations and angst.
It ended, too, in a damp squib, an exercise in mutual throat-slitting,Chelsea's title hopes effectively ended, Norwich's relegation set to be confirmed by events in midweek.
As John Terry led the "lap of appreciation" followed by Frank Lampard, the 15,000 or so left inside were asking if this was the last time they will see the pair, or a tearful Ashley Cole, in Chelsea blue.
It was only at the end, too, with the players and their children three-quarters of the way round, that Jose Mourinho briefly emerged, to acknowledge the ripples and then disappear back down the tunnel.
A fitting, low-key end for a season that, when it mattered, lost its way, the final home game supplying the evidence why Chelsea will not be champions.
Yes, Mourinho outwitted Manuel Pellegrini and Brendan Rodgers twice, hit Arsene Wenger for six, smashed Spurs and United too.
But when it mattered, in the final analysis, it was all for nought, nothing, nada.
Under Roman Abramovich, third place is nowhere. Not even the best loser.
And while the few Chelsea fans who stayed to the end will doubtless spend the summer sticking pins in their effigies of Chris Foy and Mike Dean, will blame the lack of a "real" striker, sometimes it is closer to home.
Look at Chelsea's results since that lunchtime mauling of the hapless Gunners on March 29.
In all competitions, 10 games. But just FOUR wins, a mere 12 goals.
Yesterday, as the last remaining, fragile hope effectively gurgled away down the Stamford Bridge plug-hole - it is surely beyond ludicrous to imagine both Liverpool and City picking up just one point from their final two games - the real reason Chelsea will end the season empty-handed was clear.
Because they were not, quite, good enough.
Not good enough to earn more than a point from back to back home games with Sunderland and Norwich. Not good enough against Atletico Madrid either.

Not good enough - thanks as much to the woodwork and the key decisions by Neil Swarbrick as the yellow blanket which doused them - to beat a Norwich team who will be condemned to the long drop if Sunderland draw with West Brom on Wednesday. For Neil Adams, while the calls went his way after the break, there will always be the question of what might have been had Mr Swarbrick seen John Terry wiping out Martin Olsson.
The referee had earlier missed Michael Turner turning his back to smash an elbow into Demba Ba's midriff but Terry's challenge, cutting the Swede down by the shins, was on the ball, which ran through to Mark Schwarzer.
Penalty? Red card? The questions will linger.
Decision, though, change matches. Indeed it was Mourinho's call to omit Eden Hazard - it appeared a punishment - that hamstrung his own side, allowing Norwich to grow in confidence.
Only once before the break, when Andre Schurrle came in off the left to curl against the foot of the post, did Chelsea look like scoring before the interval arrival of Hazard and David Luiz.
Luiz almost made an instant impact, spearing against the bar after Hazard created space from nothing by the corner flag and the Belgian forced Norwich ever backwards.
Somehow, though, they survived, albeit with fortune adding to the courage of the tractor parking, with Turner and Ryan Bennett the two designated drivers.
Alex Tettey escaped when he up-ended Schurrle before Bennett's wild lunge on Hazard brought consternation when Norwich were awarded a free-kick for offside.
It was only the video evidence showing no contact before Hazard fell into the defender which backed up the officials and as Chelsea threw men forward, they might have been picked off.
Substitute Nathan Redmond sent Robert Snodgrass clear but Gary Cahill's brilliant block ensured blank scoreline that did neither team any good.
The Norwich fans chirped about staying up. But they probably won't.
This season has run out of miracles. These two have run out of hope.

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Express:

Chelsea 0 - Norwich 0: Jose cannot find a lining as Blues are held at home

ULTIMATELY, not good enough. A team that flattered to win the Premier League, that sniffed around the silverware, stumbled once again.
By: Tony Banks

Chelsea have slipped too often this season in the supposed glorious return of the Special One for it to be an accident. Too many times teams have upset Chelsea this season, teams that were supposed to be brushed aside.
Yesterday it was Norwich, who gave themselves a stay of execution maybe only until Wednesday if Sunderland beat West Brom, with a battling and brave display.
But add to that list Everton, Newcastle, Stoke, Aston Villa, Crystal Palace and Sunderland, all of whom have embarrassed Jose Mourinho's team. That is an indication of a side that was simply not strong enough.
To be fair, Mourinho has said all season that would be the case, that we would only see the best of this Chelsea next season, when he brings in the one or two players ne needs. On Friday he had said that taking the chase for the title this far had been an achievement, just as getting them to the Champions League semi-finals had been.
The remarkable thing about yesterday afternoon was that Chelsea started it still with a chance of winning the league. But it never felt like that at any point. Their performance felt laboured, like the end had already come. The crowd seemed half-hearted, soporific in the May sunshine. Frustrated by their team's failings yet seeming like they had expected them.
There have been too many days like this. And as any last hope of the title drifted away into the Spring air, some of them stayed for the traditional end-of-season walkabout where the players paraded their kids, but most trooped off.
For some of these players, the likes of Fernando Torres, Demba Ba, Samuel Eto'o, possibly Ashley Cole, this was their swansong, their farewell. Like Chelsea's title challenge, it was a damp squib of an ending to their Stamford Bridge careers.
Norwich's fans sang "We are staying up!" in their delight at the end. The likelihood is they will go at Arsenal next Sunday, if not before. But Neil Adam's men performed stoutly here to end a run of five straight defeats, and with a bit more adventure could have had the win they so badly needed.
For Mourinho it is three home games without a win - unprecedented. More importantly it is now two seasons without a trophy for him.
It is, of course, unlikely that Chelsea would have won the league even if they had won yesterday. Manchester City remain favourites, but much will rest on what Liverpool do at Crystal Palace tonight.
Still, this was an opportunity missed yet again, even though it was a point that confirmed third place.
Most managers who fail to win things at Chelsea don't last long. Mourinho, because of his past record, will buck the trend this summer, barring a major bust-up with owner Roman Abramovich. Next season though, he will have to deliver. Big time.
Once again, Mourinho could have been accused of shooting himself in the foot, leaving Eden Hazard on the bench launching a tirade against the Belgian on Friday, accusing him of not being willing to give 100 per cent for the team.
Chelsea huffed and puffed, fiddled and probed, but never broke through. Andre Schurrle struck a post in a sluggish first half that left Mourinho fuming, and Chelsea should have had a penalty when Ba was felled. But Norwich should have had one when Martin Olsson was brought down. John Terry wasted a chance, and then after half-time with Hazard thrown on, David Luiz struck the bar.
Then Schurrle was tripped in the area, but referee Neil Swarbrick, who had an erratic game, waved play on. The even more puzzling decision was when Hazard was sent tumbling by Ryan Bennett, but offside was given against Terry.
Chelsea laid siege, pinning Norwich back, but then when Hazard dribbled past three challenges John Ruddy saved his shot and Torres blazed the rebound over. It summed up his campaign.
Mourinho has been moaning about his strikers all season. Certainly this is a team that is blunt where it needs to be sharp. Organised, but sorely lacking a finishing touch. Expect a busy summer - because this will not keep Roman happy for long.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Schwarzer 6; Ivanovic 6, Cahill 6, Terry 7, Cole 7; Matic 6 (Torres 73, 6), Lampard 6 (Luiz 46, 6); Schurrle 7, Willian 7, Salah 5 (Hazard 46, 6); Ba 6. Booked: Ivanovic.

Norwich (4-1-4-1): Ruddy 7; Martin 7, R Bennett 7, Turner 7, Whittaker 6; Tettey 8; Snodgrass 7, Johnson 7, Howson 6, Olsson; Elmander 6 (Redmond 69, 6). Booked: Turner, Olsson.

Referee: N Swarbrick (Lancashire).
NEXT UP: Chelsea- Sun: Cardiff (a) League. Norwich - Sun: Arsenal (h) League.

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Star:

Chelsea 0 - Norwich 0: Canaries gain a valuable point and end the Blues title hopes
HOW about that a match between two teams without a striker worth the name should end goalless.
By David Woods

Third-placed Chelsea will now almost certainly not win the title due to a lack of a free-scoring hitman.
And third-from-bottom Norwich - although not yet down - are heading for the Championship next season, as they have exactly the same problem.
The Canaries didn't even have any of their three available centre forwards on the pitch for the last 21 minutes of normal play.
Canaries caretaker manager Neil Adams elected to give winger Nathan Redmond a try down the middle after taking off Johan Elmander while Gary Hooper and Ricky van Wolfswinkel stayed on the bench.
It's not hard to see Norwich's problem this season
Norwich's trio of strikers have managed just eight top-flight goals in 84 appearances making Hooper a relative 'hotshot' with six of them.
And Chelsea's haven't been that much better this season.
Jose Mourinho started with Samuel Eto'o up front and finished with £50m flop Fernando Torres - whose last league goal was on January 11 - alongside him.
Eto'o is on the brink of breaking into double figures for league goals with nine while Demba Ba has five and Torres just four.
Chelsea's feint title hopes can be ended for good tonight if Liverpool win at Crystal Palace.
If not, Manchester City can do it two days later by beating Newcastle at home.
Norwich will drop should Sunderland defeat West Brom at home on Wednesday, although due to their vastly inferior goal difference, Guy Poyet's men really just need a point.
It was hard to understand, at the final whistle why visiting fans sang 'we are staying up'.
Norwich had a decent shout for a penalty in the 11th minute.
Elmander found Bradley Johnson, who threaded a ball for Martin Olsson.
He poked forward and then seemed to be missed by Ashley Cole's slide tackle, but then caught by John Terry's.
Chelsea still looked a bit shocked from their Champions League exit to Atletico Madrid last week but came close to scoring in the 32nd minute.
Nemanja Matic tackled Robert Snodgrass and sent a perfect pass for Andre Schurrle to dash onto.
Cutting into the box, he curled a right foot shot past John Ruddy, but it hit the bottom of the keeper's left post.
Straight after the break - when Mourinho brought on Eden Hazard for Mohamed Salah and David Luiz for Frank Lampard - Chelsea hit the frame again.
The lively Hazard, criticised for his attitude on Friday by Mourinho, picked out Branislav Ivanovic and he teed up Luiz. whose curler struck the crossbar with Ruddy beaten.
Tettey caught Schurrle in the box, then Ryan Bennett swung at Hazard, also in the area, but missed and no spot-kick was given in either case.
Hazard jinked past four defenders into the box nicely to force Ruddy into pushing out his shot, straight to Torres, whose attempted follow-up provoked groans around Stamford Bridge.
It will almost certainly have been the Spanish striker's last 'contribution' at the ground and he was straight off the pitch at the end, sporting that sulking boy expression we have seen so often over the last two seasons.
Johnson forced keeper Mark Schwarzer into a late leap to clutch his header, but sadly the game ended as flat at Norfolk.
Mourinho himself also seemed to have little of his usual sparkle on the sidelines.
He must be wondering what might have happened this season at home or in Europe if he had a Luis Suarez or a Sergio Aguero, or even an Edin Dzeko, who he tried to sign from Manchester City.
Then, of course, there was the failed courtship last summer of Manchester United ace Wayne Rooney.
You can bet the Portuguese coach will have his statistics at hand about his misfiring forward line when he asks billionaire owner Roman Abramovich to splash the cash in the summer.
As for Norwich, with their famous chef Delia Smith, who is joint majority shareholder at the club, watching they will be hoping to find an instant recipe to come straight back up.
Unless, of course, Sunderland finish with a couple of stinkers and they can beat Arsenal at home on Sunday.
It also remains to be seen if Blues stalwarts Terry, Cole and Lampard stay at the club.
They went over to see the fans in the Matthew Harding Stand, after the players went back out afterwards.
Whether they stay or not, expect a massive Mourinho shake-up.