Newspaper reports

The Guardian, Kevin McCarra: "If Chelsea do regain the Premier League title it will surely be a triumph that has drained every iota of energy from them. This was merely their second victory in the last six matches on that front and it came with a second-half onslaught after a compact and purposeful Fulham had gone ahead."

Daily Telegraph, Jason Burt: "Jose Mourinho was back at the Bridge but it was a former Inter Milan manager, not the present one, who gave Chelsea greater cause for concern in this victory over Fulham. In the end it was only the cruellest of own goals by a 20-year-old, making his full Premier League debut, and who was playing non-league football for Maidstone United just 18 months ago, that allowed Carlo Ancelotti the victory that relieves the pressure which was inexorably beginning to mount around him."

The Times, Matt ...

Newspaper reports

The Observer, Joe Lovejoy: "It was Chelsea who were left with the blues after the battle thereof, dropping two more priceless points in a dangerous mid-season hiatus: they have only one win in their past seven matches in all competitions. The league leaders, who failed to score for the first time in 34 games, are increasingly vulnerable to Manchester United, whose trip to Hull today has the look of a gimme."

Sunday Telegraph, Sandy Macaskill: "The roar that met the final whistle at St Andrews spoke volumes. Birmingham City have come a long way since the start of the season, but holding Chelsea, the league-leaders, to a draw is some achievement. And if anything, they were the victims of human error, Christian Benitez incorrectly ruled offside when he turned in a shot from Liam Ridgewell from less than a yard."

Sunday...

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas

from all at the Chelsea Blog

Nick, Tony, Jonathan, Haberdashers, Blue Bayou, Mark, Blueinmyveins

Keep the Blue Flag Flying High!

(A personal message from me to 'A' and 'B': Congratulations! And: I was right!)

Newspaper reports

The Guardian, Kevin McCarra: "West Ham, given their relegation fears, would normally have given thanks for a point against Chelsea, but they felt wronged here when Matthew Upson was deemed by the referee, Mike Dean, on the advice of his assistant, to have fouled the substitute Daniel Sturridge. Frank Lampard converted the penalty at the third attempt, after the official ruled out the first two kicks for encroachment."

Daily Telegraph, Henry Winter: "Upton Park saw more conversions than an estate agent yesterday. Dean had correctly given West Ham a first-half penalty, ably despatched by Alessandro Diamanti after Ashley Cole brought down Jack Collison. Yet shortly before the hour-mark, Dean wrongly penalised Matthew Upson for a legitimate challenge on Daniel Sturridge, presenting Lampard with his chance which had to be taken three times because of encroachment."

Last updated Friday, 18 December 09, 11:15 AM

The draw for the Champions League knockout phase takes place in about 20 minutes. I will update this post as it happens.

How the draw works and who we can face

The winners from one group will face the runners-up from another, with the runners-up playing the first leg at home. Because we won our group, we can be drawn against any of AC Milan, Bayern Munich, CSKA Moscow, Inter Milan, Lyon, Olympiakos and Stuttgart. The winners and runners-up of the same group cannot be drawn against each other, so we will avoid Porto. And clubs from the same association must not be drawn against each other, so we will also avoid Arsenal and Manchester United.

Full draw

Stuttgart v. Barcelona
Olympiakos v. Bordeaux
Inter Milan v. Chelsea (surprise, surprise)
Bayern Munich v. Fiorentina
CSKA Moscow v. Sevilla
Lyon v. Real Madrid
Porto v. Arsenal
AC Milan v. Manchester United