Four games, three wins and three clean sheets, I will try and summarise all the key points from these games. The West Brom game was the first home game since Mourinho's 'atmosphere' comment, and it provoked the chelsea crowd to respond by singing in full volume through this match - it sounded from what I was hearing like an actually decent atmosphere for a match that on paper didn't exactly stand out. Oscar provided a superb assist for Costa to volley/sidefoot home on 10 minutes - with West Brom claiming for offside, I think he was just about onside. From then on it was all Chelsea, Foster denied Oscar and Costa and Costa missed a sitter before Hazard slotted home Cesc Fabregas's assist to make it 2-0 on twenty five minutes. West Brom were down to 10 men three minutes later when Yacob lunged two-footed at Costa. Yes he won the ball, but the rules have changed now so that a straight red card can be given for the challenge regardless of whether or not the player wins the ball, and this challenge was certainly reckless and dangerous. Everyone expected Chelsea to kick on after that, but with the points already in the bag, Chelsea under Mourinho don't often operate like that. Mourinho can at times be, reassuringly or annoyingly depending on how you look at it, very pragmatic. Chelsea did appear to take their foot off the gas for the rest of the match to preserve energy, which is clearly sensible in the modern game with the amount of fixtures there are, but disappointing if you want to see a goal fest.
So 2-0 it finished and onto the next match away to Schalke and an old meeting with our former hero, FA cup goal scoring player and Champions league winning manager Roberto Di Matteo. I thought this match would be a difficult obstacle with the Di Matteo factor maybe hanging over (what with his arguably harsh sacking from the club still not that long ago) - how wrong I was. Terry headed us in front after 2 minutes from a Cesc corner and it was all systems go from there. A fantastic sweeping move then ended with Willian firing past the keeper on 29 minutes (although the keeper really should have done better) doubled our lead and then an embarrassing own goal from Kirchhoff where he headed in from another corner to compound a nightmare 5 minutes from him. 3-0 up at half time and cruising. The second half was not as rampant as the first but two substitutes came on and made an immediate impact - Drogba tapping home after Willian and had set him up after going through on goal and thena few minutes later Drogba laid on a sublime cross for Ramires, another substitute to head home number five. Chelsea through the knock out stages as group winners.
The following game saw me and my nephew watching Sunderland away in a pub in Stroud, and there really is not much to report from this game, other than that Sunderland played for a draw with 11 men behind the ball and pretty much got it. 0-0 the final score and the first time this fixture had not produced a Chelsea win in 10 matches. It was also the kind of match that makes me think we won't go unbeaten as it could have easily ended in defeat if Vergini had taken an earlier chance. Sunderland's next game was at home to Man City and I predicted City would win that game comfortably, such is football at times. City won it 4-1.
That night as City did what we couldn't do at the weekend, I was off to the Bridge to watch the small matter of Chelsea v Spurs. We have a great record against Spurs especially in the Premier league era and more so at the Bridge and that good run wasn't about to end here. The only debate was, in the absence of Costa who was suspended, who would start? Drogba or Remy? I wanted Remy for his pace but Jose went with Drogba and it was the right call. After a difficult opening period where Kane hit the bar for Spurs, Hazard slotted home past loris on 19 minutes and it was all Chelsea from there. A poor kick from Loris eventually found its way to Drogba who upon going through on goal, slotted home another goal on his Chelsea return. Jose confirmed after the game a role at the club was there for Drogba upon when he retires from Chelsea. Good to know as I think he'll make an excellent coach. Remy came on for the Ivorian and scored an excellent second half goal to seal victory.
Chelsea still top and going strong ...
No comments:
Post a Comment