Stoke 1-1

Independent:

Bertrand Traore strike cancelled out by late Mame Biram Diouf header

Chelsea 1 Stoke City 1
Glenn Moore Stamford Bridge |

A fourth successive win, the best Premier League start by any new manager, kids being given a chance... it was proving the perfect warm-up for Chelsea ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League return against Paris St Germain. Then Mame Diouf scored the equaliser Stoke deserved to remind everyone there is a reason for Chelsea’s absence from the title race this season.

Although Guus Hiddink completed a 12th Premier League match unbeaten since returning to calm the Bridge’s troubled waters, Chelsea remain a side in recuperation. They are much improved, there is a flow to them that was absent in the autumn, but they are still short of their powerful best. Injuries are a problem, with Diego Costa rested and John Terry still absent, but every side has them - Stoke are still without their own inspirational leader, Ryan Shawcross.

Costa was absent with what was described as a ‘minor tendon injury’. In his stead Bertrand Traore, a 20-year-old attacking midfielder from Burkina Faso, was selected ahead of Loic Remy and Alexandre Pato, the latter still to make his debut since arriving in January.

Shawcross v Costa would have been a combustible sub-plot. Without them the game lacked edge and, with both teams safely ensconced in mid-table, tension too.  It did have a surfeit of neat midfield passing with technicians aplenty on both sides. This occasionally led to a goalscoring opportunity with Thibaut Courtois making a flying save from Ibrahim Afellay’s 29th-minute shot and Diouf twice going close after crosses from Marco Arnautovic and Xherdan Shaqiri.

Chelsea, again led by the busy Willain, responded, but one aspect of the Tony Pulis era that Stoke have retained is the willingness to put bodies on the line. Several attempts were blocked, notably by Marc Muniesa’s chest from Traore’s close-range shot.

Then, with half-time looming, Afellay was muscled off the ball by Nemanja Matic in midfield. The ball was switched to Traore who was given time to turn and rifle a shot past Jack Butland from 20 yards.
It was his fourth goal in his nine appearances. The previous three had finished in 5-1 victories but Stoke provided sterner resistance and would have levelled just before the hour but for a smart save by Courtois from Shaqiri.

Stoke dominated the second period - partly because Cheslsea were happy to contain and counter - and but it was only after the arrival of Bojan that they looked penetrative. It was he who released Shaqiri down the right with six minutes left. His fierce cross was parried by Courtois and Diouf headed into the empty net to secure Stoke’s first point here since 1984.
“It feels like a defeat,” said Traore, looking more like he had had his car stolen than scored a screamer on his full home debut. “But now we must focus for Wednesday.”

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Azpilicueta, Cahill, Ivanovic, Rahman; Mikel, Matic (Fabregas, 82); Willian, Oscar, Hazard (Loftus-Cheek, 63); Traore (Remy, 68).

Stoke City (4-2-3-1): Butland; Cameron, Wollscheid, Muniesa, Pieters; Whelan (Bojan 74), Imbula; Shaqiri, Afellay, Arnautovic (Ireland, 88); Diouf (Joselu, 85).

Referee: M Clattenburg
Match rating: 7
Man of the match: Imbula

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Telegraph :

Chelsea 1 Stoke City 1
Late Diouf equaliser dents Blues' European hopes
Stoke fight back after Bertrand Traore's stunning opener

By Ben Findon, at Stamford Bridge

Just when Chelsea seemed poised for a late run at fourth place in the Premier League, and guaranteed Champions League opportunities next season, along came Stoke City to cast a cloud over the Londoners' prospects.

Chelsea host Paris Saint-Germain in a Champions League last 16 clash on Wednesday night but this was not the kind of warm-up Stamford Bridge patrons had in mind.

They looked well set when Bertrand Traore put them ahead as the interval approached but Stoke, determined and adventurous, dominated the second half and deservedly levelled late on through Mame Diouf, moments before he was substituted.

Perhaps with Paris on their minds, this was not Chelsea at their mostfluent. A low key first-half progressed with few moments of inspiration until Traore's dramatic intervention six minutes before the interval.

Eden Hazard twinkled intermittently. After 17 minutes, he slipped through three Stoke challenges to provide Oscar with a shooting opportunity that was blocked. The Brazilian then tested Stoke goalkeeper Jack Butland with a low shot and later, Willian let fly over the visitors' crossbar.
Stoke, without a win at Stamford Bridge since 1974, were encouraged to try their luck, and it was Chelsea who were fortunate midway through the first half when Diouf stretched to apply a finishing touch to Ibrahim Afellay's cross but could not make a firm enough connection.

With one eye on Wednesday's Champions League test, Hiddink rested and rotated. Cesc Fabregas started on the substitutes' bench, Diego Costa, still not fully fit, was given the afternoon off.

John Terry, fighting off a hamstring injury that has sidelined him for three weeks, was another absentee, while Hazard was withdrawn just past the hour mark.
Chelsea moved in front in the 39th minute with a goal conjured from out of nothing. Nemanja Matic played a Stoke clearance back towards the visitors' goal but there appeared little danger as Traore gathered possession in front of a Stoke screen of players.

Yet the Burkina Faso striker adroitly stepped around Glenn Whelan before unleashing a 20-yarder shot that rose beyond the reach of Butland for his fourth goal of the season, Stoke had their moments. Gary Cahill's magnificent challenge prevented Marco Arnautovic pulling the trigger in the 57th minute, and two minutes later Thibaut Courtois, the Chelsea goalkeeper, plunged to his left to push away Xherdan Shaqiri's low effort.

It was Stoke who looked more likely to score, pressing forward steadily though the second half, although substitute Ruben Loftus-Cheek could have eased Chelsea's nerves but instead saw Butland block his close-range effort.
The visitors fully deserved their equaliser five minutes from the end. Shaqiri's cross was punched only half clear by Courtois and Diouf was able to head back into an unguarded Chelsea net.


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Observer:

Mame Biram Diouf strikes late to earn Stoke deserved draw at Chelsea

Chelsea 1 - 1 Stoke

Sachin Nakrani at Stamford Bridge

As preparations go for their biggest match of the season, this was far from ideal for Chelsea. The hosts dropped two points against opponents who for the majority of this contest showed greater intent and quality and will reflect that it was only their lack of a killer instinct that prevented them departing from this venue with a victory. Paris Saint-Germain, one feels, will not be so wasteful when they perform here on Wednesday with a place in the Champions League quarter-finals up for grabs.
  
PSG bring with them a 2-1 lead earned when they faced Chelsea in the first leg of their last-16 tie in Paris last month and if Laurent Blanc’s men managed to watch back this match after their Ligue 1 contest with Montpellier on Saturday evening their confidence in getting the job done will only have grown. Guus Hiddink’s men were jittery at the back while in attack their play was sluggish and lacking in penetration. That can partly be put down to the absence of key players through injury, most notably John Terry and Diego Costa, the latter absent here because of a minor tendon strain, but all in all this was a display that served as a reminder that despite the recovery Chelsea have made, post-José Mourinho this is a club still struggling to recapture former glories.

Saying that, Stoke deserve huge credit for how they put Chelsea under pressure from the outset and, when in possession, looked to dominate play with their desire to earn what would have been a fourth win in succession not blunted even after Bertrand Traoré had given Chelsea the lead against the run of play on 39 minutes. The visitors’ attacking trio of Marko Arnautovic, Ibrahim Afellay and Xherdan Shaqiri caused constant panic among the defenders in blue and it was the man positioned ahead of them, Mame Biram Diouf, who got the goal Stoke’s display deserved, a close-range header on 85 minutes after Thibaut Courtois had punched Shaqiri’s right-wing cross directly at the striker.

Diouf’s reaction was one of relief more than anything given the numerous chances he in particular had missed, most notably on 21 minutes when the 28-year-old turned Afellay’s cross over the bar when it appeared easier to put the ball underneath it, but ultimately he was Stoke’s hero, securing their first point at Stamford Bridge since 1984 and keeping them in seventh.

“We were arguably hard done by” said Mark Hughes. “We had good opportunities in the first half and got done with a sucker punch. You can be deflated by that but everyone was encouraged by what we had done and it was a case of more of the same in the second half. The goal was somewhat fortunate as I was going to take Diouf off just before he scored but all in all we showed real belief.”

Hiddink was aggrieved with referee Mark Clattenburg’s decision not to award Chelsea a penalty on 72 minutes after Marc Muniesa appeared to push Oscar to the turf inside the Stoke area – “It was a clear penalty,” protested the Dutchman – but he also admitted that a draw was a “fair result” and that Chelsea’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League via their league position have all but vanished. The Londoners remain 10th in the table and are 10 points behind Manchester City in fourth, having played a game more than Manuel Pellegrini’s men.

“That [making the top four] is almost impossible,” said Hiddink, who at least has become the first manager to start a Premier League spell in charge with a 12-match unbeaten run. “Today’s result of West Ham for instance is very respectful that they’re knocking on that door as well.”
The manager’s assessment makes beating PSG particularly important and Chelsea supporters can take heart from his belief that Costa will have recovered in time to face the French champions. In his place here, Traoré delivered a breathtaking strike on what was only his second start for the club.

Having collected Nemanja Matic’s pass and turned into space, the 20-year-old lashed a drive from outside the area into the far corner of Jack Butland’s net. The Stoke goalkeeper had no chance.
Others in blue were not so eye-catching. Their effort could not be criticised but in defence and attack the lack of cohesion and class was glaring. PSG will believe that for a second year in a row they can dump Chelsea out of Europe’s elite competition.

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Mail:

Chelsea 1-1 Stoke
Mame Biram Diouf denies home side all three points after Bertrand Traore's stunning opener at Stamford Bridge

By Sam Cunningham

Stoke squeezed a point out of Stamford Bridge for the first time in 32 years to keep ahead of Chelsea in the pursuit of a place in Europe.
Mame Diouf headed in late on to cancel out Bertrand Traore’s first-half beauty and stay three points ahead of last year’s champions, who would have overtaken them on goal difference had they won.
‘I was going to take off Diouf just prior to his goal,’ manager Mark Hughes admitted, perhaps due to the two glorious chances he had missed before then.

There was no Diego Costa for Chelsea but it, at first, appeared to be no problem for manager Guus Hiddink as his replacement Traore put them in front.
Since he took over in December, Hiddink has been reeling in the the top five like he is big-game fishing on holiday in the Bahamian Bimini, cigar in one hand, huge rod in the other.
Sat comfortably in Chelsea’s stern, he has had them on his hook and refused to let go, but this was a real setback and he conceded that it is ‘almost impossible’ to reach fourth now, adding: ‘Especially when other teams are knocking on the door. It will be nice if we can go into a very beautiful March and April, and I’m referring to the upcoming Champions League and FA Cup.’ 

Hiddink, nonetheless, set a new Premier League record by going 12 games unbeaten in the league since replacing Jose Mourinho, a feat unmatched by any new manager to have taken over at a club.
During that highly-successful spell, Traore, 20, has emerged as a real challenger to Costa, who was rested as a precaution after suffering a minor tendon injury and is expected to be fit to face Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday.
The goal was his fourth in five matches, the previous three all ending 5-1 to Chelsea, against MK Dons, Newcastle and Manchester City, but that unlikely series ended here.

How Diouf will have regretted at the break not converting two clear first-half chances to put Stoke ahead, which would have made him a match-winner.
On 21 minutes, Ibrahim Afellay dribbled the ball at speed down the left as the visitors broke then sent in wonderful, early cross with the outside of his right boot. Diouf ran in at the back post and had just to coax the ball under the bar, but sent it over it instead.

The ball from Afellay was so outrageous he injured himself pulling it off, but after lengthy treatment was able to continue. With 10 minutes remaining before the break, Diouf was found again, this time from the opposite flank and by Xherdan Shaqiri who had raced down the right. Diouf was unmarked and volleyed towards the right of goal, but his effort bounced wide.

Eden Hazard had a low shot saved by Jack Butland and Willian struck narrowly over the top left corner, but just before the break Traore went for that same corner and found it perfectly. Nemanja Matic passed into his team-mate, who had his back to goal on the edge of the penalty area but turned to his left, making space to shoot, before unleashing past Butland with his left foot.
These two quick, effective counter attackers traded chances up either end and back again in quick succession in the second half and Stoke deserved their equaliser.

The last time they earned a point away to Chelsea was 1984 and any reward looked to be eluding them again until Shaqiri made another burst down the right again, his cross was pushed out by Courtois but Diouf finally managed to put a chance into the back of the net, heading in the rebound.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Courtois 6; Azpilicueta 6, Cahill 6, Ivanovic 6, Baba 6; Mikel 6, Matic 6.5 (Fabregas 82); Willian 6.5, Oscar 6, Hazard 6.5 (Loftus-Cheek 63 6); Traore 7.5 (Remy 68 6)
Subs not used: Begovic, Miazga, Clarke-Salter, Pato
Manager: Guus Hiddink 5.5
Booked: Oscar

Stoke (4-2-3-1): Butland 6.5; Cameron 6, Wollscheid 6, Muniesa 6, Pieters 6; Whelan 6 (Bojan 74 6), Imbula 6; Shaqiri 7.5, Afellay 6.5, Arnautovic 6.5 (Ireland 90); Diouf 7
Subs not used: Haugaard, Joselu, Walters, Teixeira, Crouch
Manager: Mark Hughes 6.5
Booked: Pieters, Whelan

Referee: Mark Clattenburg 6
Attendance: 41,381
MOTM: Shaqiri

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Mirror:

Chelsea 1-1 Stoke City: Mame Biram Diouf rescues point for Potters - 5 things we learned


By Mike Walters
 
The Senegalese striker struck late on at Stamford Bridge to cancel out Bertrand Traore's opener and salvage a share of the spoils
 
In the battle for seventh place, Bertrand Traore had his thunder stolen by Mame Diouf.
Traore's fourth goal in five games appeared to have sealed Chelsea's fourth league win on the bounce until Diouf popped up to head the equaliser five minutes from time after Thibaut Courtois parried Xherdan Shaqiri's cross.
As Chelsea's late surge towards the top four stalled, interim manager Guus Hiddink set a new record with 12 games unbeaten for starters in the Premier League.

Two defeats in the Potteries, in Premier League and Capital One Cup, just about did for Jose Mourinho, and Diouf, stretching to meet Ibrahim Afellay's cross, almost inflicted further damage on the Blues after 20 minutes.
Chelsea, without the injured Diego Costa – whose slight tendon strain is not expected to keep him out of Wednesday night's Champions League return with Paris St Germain – played only with testimonial intensity for 38 minutes.

Apart from Willian's rising drive beyond the angle, there had been little to lift the funereal atmosphere above moribund levels.
But then, out of nowhere, Traore turned, drove towards the Stoke box and unleashed a 25-yard rocket beyond Jack Butland, his fourth goal in five games.
Thibaut Courtois denied Xherdan Shaqiri an equaliser with an excellent save after the Swiss playmaker's jinking run.
But Diouf's late leveller darkened the mood around the Bridge ahead of their win-or-bust Champions League date next week.

1. The caretaker's a record-breaker
Interim manager Guus Hiddink reckons a top-four finish this season would top his achievement of winning the FA Cup with Chelsea in 2009.
Remarkably, The Caretaker – as the Dutchman should now be known – has now compiled the longest unbeaten run of any Premier League manager from the day he took office, 12 games and counting.

2. Hughes has salvaged reputation
Nobody could accuse Stoke of all the cliches once aimed at the previous regime under Tony Pulis: Functional, direct, pragmatic.
There is much more to enjoy under Mark Hughes these days, and it's just as well for 'Sparky' – he was damaged by the expensive dross he presided over at QPR, but now he will be back in the mix for big jobs.

3. Clattenburg: All sins forgiven
Four years ago, referee Mark Clattenburg was accused of using racist language towards Chelsea players – a damaging and uncorroborated slur which led to Blues midfielder John Obi Mikel picketing the officials' dressing room amid dark threats of retribution.
It is a tribute to Clattenburg's professionalism that he is even prepared to set foot in Stamford Bridge, let alone take charge of major Premier League games here. No major issues for him this time.

4. Terry strikes the right note

In his programme notes, injured Chelsea captain paid tribute to Stamford Bridge's favourite son Peter Osgood, who died 10 years ago this week, and reminded patrons of Stamford Bridge of their social responsibilities.
“This is our annual Game for Equality, a chance to celebrate Chelsea's diversity and show that we stand against discrimination of all kinds,” wrote on-message Terry.

5. Shaqiri's a jewel

Cuckoo clocks, cowbells and chocolate used to be Switzerland's finest exports.
But Xherdan Shaqiri's performance in exalted company was a worthy addition to the list.
He set up Stoke's equaliser and forced a terrific save out of Thibaut Courtois.

Player ratings

Chelsea
Courtois 7 - Full-length, fingertip save to deny Shaqiri equaliser.
Azpilicueta 7 - Never a liability at left-back, even more assured on the right.
Ivanovic 7 - Enforced move to centre-back has been the making of his season.
Cahill 7 – Vital interception to stop Arnautovic but Diouf gave him anxious moments.
Baba 7 - Refused to be blinded by Shaqiri's twinkling feet and tricks.
Mikel 6 - Goal machine keeping his powder dry for PSG on Wednesday.
Matic 5 - Still a long way from marauding, rampaging beast of last year.
Willian 8 - Rasping, rising drive just beyond the angle broke the cemetery silence.
Oscar 6 - Booked. Unlikely winner of sweepstake for first yellow card.
Hazard 5 - Flattered to deceive, promised more than he actually delivered.
Traore 7 - Thrilling wake-up call, a left-foot rocket into the corner.

SUBS: Loftus-Cheek (Hazard, 63) 6, Remy (Traore, 67) 5, Fabregas (Matic, 80) 5.

Stoke
Butland 6 - No chance with Traore's thunderous bolt from the blue.
Cameron 7 - Durable, diligent, dealt competently with Hazard.
Muniesa 6 - Makes up for lack of physical presence with tenacity.
Wollscheid 7 - Never buckled, never went missing, never able to relax.
Pieters 6 - Booked. Never an easy task when Willian is in frisky mood.
Whelan 6 - Booked. Steady, unspectacular, no frills, did what it says on the tin.
Afellay 6 - Laid best chance of first half on a plate for Diouf.
Arnautovic 7 - One powerful shot almost knocked Courtois off his feet.
Shaqiri 7 - Brilliant jinking run denied end product by Courtois fingertips.
Imbula 6 - Flirted with bossing the game instead of dictating terms.
Diouf 6 - Took his fair share of whacks but also miscued great chance.

SUBS: Bojan (Whelan, 74), Joselu (Afellay, 85), Ireland (Arnautovic, 88).

REFEREE: Mark Clattenburg.

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Express:

Stoke snatch late point but Chelsea boss Hiddink left grateful for youthful contributions
STOKE put a dent in Guus Hiddink's great Blues revival as an 85th-minute goal from Mame Diouf blocked hopes of a fourth successive league win for Chelsea.
By Tony Stenson

They should have won at a canter, having best of the play and creating most of the chances. But this solid, fighting Stoke side never gave up.
Stoke boss Mark Hughes said: "We're grateful to equalise but we deserved more from the game. It was an excellent away performance."
Hiddink can still be proud, stretching his unbeaten run at Chelsea to a Premier League record of 12 games yesterday.
The Dutch interim manager is proving a genius on and off the field and offered dreams they could still claim a Champions League place.

Chelsea meet Paris St Germain in the knock-out stage on Wednesday, trailing 2-1. Don't write them off.
Hiddink can seemingly do nothing wrong. With Diego Costa injured, he ignored the claims of the experienced Loic Remy and gave Bertrand Traore his home debut.
The 20-year-old Burkina Faso forward responded with what Hiddink later described as "a beautiful goal."
He added: "It's good to see the players who came in, especially the young ones, like Traore and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, do well."

Traore's 39th-minute strike evoked memories of legend Peter Osgood, whose death 10 years ago last week was poignantly marked yesterday.
Nemanja Matic took the ball off Ibrahim Afellay and threaded a pass that Traore controlled then turned to fire in an unstoppable left-foot shot from 20 yards.
But the final word came from Stoke. Xherdan Shaqiri crossed from the right, Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois could only punch out and the ball looped up perfectly for Diouf to head home.

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Star:

Chelsea 1 Stoke 1: Courtois error gifts Potters late equaliser
MAME DIOUF put a huge dent in Guus Hiddink’s Chelsea ambitions.


By Tony Stenson

An 85th-minute goal from the Stoke striker ended hopes of a fourth successive league win.
Chelsea should have won at a canter, having the best of the play and creating most of the chances but this is a solid, fighting Stoke side who never give up.

Hiddink can still be proud, stretching his unbeaten run to 12 games yesterday as he continued to be Chelsea’s saviour.
Their Dutch interim manager is proving a genius on and off the field and had offered hope that they could yet claim a Champions League place by right.
Chelsea entertain Paris St-Germain – who drew 0-0 with Montepellier yesterday – in a vital Champions League clash on Wednesday, trailing 2-1.
That date is followed by an FA Cup tie at Everton on Saturday.
But after Diouf’s late equaliser Hiddink admitted Chelsea’s top-four hopes were over.

He said: “That’s it. I think it’s gone, although we won’t give up.
“It will be tough now even though other teams are throwing away points.
“It’s frustrating but when you consider where we’ve been and where we are then it’s a major step to even think we had a chance.
“We can go into March feeling good. We have Champions League and FA Cup matches ahead and we need to be positive.”
He added: “A late goal against you is always frustrating. You can say we started sloppy but then found our energy and scored a wonderful goal but Stoke are a fighting side with quality also.”

Hiddink has had a huge impact since answering Chelsea’s SOS in December after Jose Mourinho’s side crumbled.
No manager has gone 12 unbeaten matches at the start of a single spell at a Premier League club.
With Diego Costa injured, he ignored the experienced Loic Remy and gave Bertrand Traore his home debut. Result? The Burkina Faso forward, 20, struck a wonderful opening goal that evoked memories of legend Peter Osgood, whose death ten years ago last week was poignantly marked yesterday.
Eden Hazard has started working for a living once more while Chelsea’s Boys from Brazil – Willian and Oscar – were constant thorns in Stoke’s tough and unrelenting defence.
The trio moved the ball swiftly, often cheekily, but failed to get a response from colleagues around them.
But Stoke are a dogged side. They make you fight to earn the right to play and can also play themselves.
Ibrahim Afellay forced a great, full-length 20th-minute save from Thibaut Courtois when it looked as if Chelsea had taken control of the game.
Stoke proved masters of the counter-attack and Xherdan Shaqiri, Afellay and Marko Arnautovic were always menacing and Chelsea’s defence could not afford to sleep.

In fact, Stoke had the best chance of a frantic first half when Diouf miscued his 37th-minute shot from Shaqiri’s cross and turned it wide.
Two minutes later Chelsea took the lead. Nemanja Matic stole the ball off an unsuspecting Afellay and threaded a pass that Traore controlled, turned and fired an unstoppable left-foot shot from 20 yards.
Gary Cahill, in particular, was impressive and must be in Roy Hodgson’s next England squad.
Stoke never gave up and had Courtois diving full-length to deny a Shaqiri effort.
And they finally got a deserved breaththrough. Shaqiri, a menace of a player, crossed from the right, Courtois could only punch out and the ball looped up perfectly for Diouf to head home – his last action before being replaced.
Stoke boss Mark Hughes said: “I was set to sub him but that’s the kind of luck your need.
“I think we deserved the point. They got their goal just before half-time and that might have deflated some sides – but instead we reacted to that.
“As the game progressed we are more likely to get the next goal. This was our first point here since 1984 so to achieve that is something extra.”

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