Premier League: Manchester City 0 - 2 Chelsea
Sunday, 06 April 08, 04:14 AM · Comments (177)
Match reports
The Observer, Jamie Jackson: "Chelsea deserve a little of the stuff they sometimes lack - goodwill - for at least keeping the Premier League title race alive with this victory, which maintains the pressure on Manchester United. They deserved this win, though their performance was, like the match, hardly vintage. Still, with Arsène Wenger fielding a virtual second string against Liverpool earlier in the day who could earn only a draw, Avram Grant's team deserve credit for a surge that has not included a league defeat since 16 December."
Sunday Times, Paul Forsyth: "Vulnerable they may be under the guidance of Avram Grant, but Chelsea’s title hopes are still alive. An own goal by Richard Dunne and a more conventional strike by their own Salomon Kalou extended an unbeaten league run that stretches back to December and narrowed the deficit by which they trail Manchester United to just two points."
Sunday Telegraph, Derick Allsop: "Love him or loath him, no one can dispute Avram Grant has kept Chelsea in a Premier League marathon that was surely reduced to two contenders yesterday."
Independent on Sunday, Guy Hodgson: "This was a stroll on a cool but sunny afternoon for Avram Grant's team against a City side who have won one match in their last seven and who, apart from a 15-minute spell before half-time, looked like they cannot wait for the season to end. Slow, sloppy and dull, just about the only imagination anyone with Sky Blue affiliation showed came from the announcer on the public address system, who billed the start of the second half as "the push for Europe". Push for mid-table mediocrity more like."
Official Chelsea FC Website: "A third straight league win successfully places pressure on Middlesbrough-bound Man United for tomorrow after an own-goal and a Salomon Kalou strike sealed three away points."
The goals
6' Dunne (og) 0-1 53' Kalou 0-2
The highlights
It’s frustrating for fans to see their team being led into a decline by a grey haired man in his fifties, with a funny accent and dressed in a black. I’m talking about City of course. Sven used to know how to play away, but Nancy soon put a stop to that, then he discovered how to play at home but, since the early season of fortress Wastelands, it’s now open season for looting.
We received our customary gift of an own goal courtesy of Richard Dunne so, even though all our forwards were generally ineffective, who needs forwards to score when the opposition do it for us.
Carlo Cudicini had to pull off a great save from Martin Petrov and we looked like it might be a case of Fenerbahce déjà vu, receiving a free goal then giving it away. Another City attack and Ashley Cole had to clear off our line.
But we survived through to half time and not long after Salomon Kalou rounded the keeper in George Best style to slot home our second. Joe Cole replaced Shaun Wright-Phillips and this, in combination with City’s heads dropping, meant that we dominated the remainder.
Nicolas Anelka had his own one on one opportunity with the keeper but fluffed it. Two minutes later, from a fine Frank Lampard cross, he hit the bar and then for the remainder of the game spent his time in an offside position.
For the remaining fifteen minutes we played effective keep ball.
Another three points and another away win help us keep some pressure on Manchester United. However don’t be fooled by the result because our overall display was average but fortunately City were below average and, after our second goal, they became pathetic.
Player ratings
- Carlo Cudicini: Kept a clean sheet and made one fine save - 7/10.
- Juliano Belletti: Didn’t get forward as much as he should - 5/10.
- John Terry: Needs the pace of Ricky alongside - 6/10.
- Alex: Looked a bit clumsy at times - 5/10.
- Ashley Cole: Reasonable plus a goal line clearance - 6/10.
- Michael Essien: Rediscovered his energy. I did read that he was feeling sick after returning from Africa so I may have been harsh in my previous criticism of him - 7/10.
- Frank Lampard: Decent game and is still our best passer — 7/10.
- John Mikel Obi: Lots of short passes but has the unfortunate habit of passing to an opponent - 5/10.
- Shaun Wright-Phillips: City bosses must have been wetting themselves laughing to see what they got £24 million for - 4/10.
- Salomon Kalou: Average game but took his goal well - 6/10.
- Nicolas Anelka: Several opportunities all fluffed and looked slow. Either offside or in a praying pose - 5/10.
- Joe Cole (sub 52 mins for Wright-Phillips): Sensible substitution by Grant.
- Paulo Ferreira (sub 86 mins for Belletti): Sensible substitution by Grant.
Man of the Match
Michael Essien - plenty of energy and improved passing.
Final thoughts
It’s a shame Arsenal didn’t win today because they need to believe they’re still in with a chance of the title when they visit Old Trafford.
Many of us are highly skeptical of our chances of winning the title, because we’re not convincing and United are, so we’re bracing ourselves for the disappointment of losing the title at some point in the next few weeks. Some of us would probably have liked us to lose at City today so that we can get the disappointment over and done with and the recriminations and post mortems can start in earnest.
But where there’s life there’s hope, and anyway it's always darkest before the dawn and it has to get worse, before it gets better so the game’s not over till the fat lady sings. A few more clichés and I might start believing we can win the title.
Come on the Boro!
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We should have scored 5 today. We used to be so clinical in front of goal, but not anymore. I suppose I'm nitpicking, but really I think we won today because we were playing a team who are desperately short on confidence. I love this flourescent yellow kit though because it means we're playing away (we've been brilliant in the prem away) and it means a win basically. We should wear it all the time.
There was a great moment of complicity and understanding between Anelka and Frank when Frank had just missed Nic's great ball into the box....huge, genuine smiles at each other and good body language. Compare that to Bendtner having to trot over to Wenger on the sideline because Adebayor had just come on and obviously wouldn't relay the new plan to him! Lovely.
Kalou is still so frustrating with his losing the ball unnecessarily when he has options but then scoring a great goal.
I still don't have that feeling of confidence watching us play, especially when we ease off when we're up. Great "oh, almost" stuff from Cudicini & A. Cole but we shouldn't have been letting them get that close so often. Was watching with a Man U supporting mate (or can they ever actually be mates?!) who said he fancied their chances at the Bridge after watching that display.
Having said that, brilliant result, we're still in with a chance & maybe the Arse will get a strop on and beat them.
Guys... if Middlesbrough beats manure today.................I promise i will cry like a girl who has just been dumped!
oh well, let me at least fantasize...
Great review Mark, but I'm afraid I disagree with you in one point, that is Anelka.
I think he created a fair number of chances, he cut through a couple of times, and he was unlucky to score once (the header) and I admit he was clumsy in his one-on-one with the keeper.
And as Desmond said, his body lahguage and gestures with the other mates were good, if DD is really going at the end of the season, I think Nic will raise to the job just fine.
Blue Will Always Be The Color
"…………..I promise i will cry like a girl who has just been dumped!".... only the tears would be of happiness and glee!! schadenfreude..and yes, i will drink myself silly..can u imagine the moaning?..they really wud be gutted if this happens..come on 'brough, you can do it!
You know what, I actuall thought it was an okay performance from us. I mean, it was not amazing but it was very professional. And I totally disagree with the Anelka one. I thought he was really good, but yes, a bit wasteful at times. Essien was Man of the Match definitely. He was amazing. Our defending wasn't great though and I did not like the fact the game was rather a little too open at times.
I dont think we'll win the title but hey, like you said, where there's life, there's hope...
KEEP THE BLUE FLAG FLYING HIGH
177 Comments · Add yours
1st to comment & and now I'll read the piece!
I agree about Belletti, He was practically non-existent in this game and hes usually our most lively and one of the best going forward, Essien was good, getting better every game, City have 3 wins this year that says is all doesnt it?
Why didnt Ze German play today? Is he being rested for Fenerbarnsley?