Blues burnt at Stamford Bridge by Laurent Picard, 12 November 2008
Wednesday, 12 November 08, 05:59 PM
Chelsea incredibly lost to Championship side Burnley following a penalty shoot-out and are out of the Carling Cup after a humiliating night in London.
The Blues enjoyed vastly superior possession and created far more chances, but wasted a host of opportunities, while The Clarets took advantage of Claudio Cudicini’s shakiness to surprise the Premier League leaders.
Didier Drogba celebrated his return to action with a first-half opener, but the Championship side hit back with a stunning equaliser thanks to super sub Ade Akinbiyi. The away side finally qualified on penalties after Burnley captain Stephen Caldwell was sent off.
Juliano Belletti produced the first noticeable effort on goal with a long-range shot that flew over the crossbar before Paulo Ferreira provided a lovely cross to Deco, who missed his header from only six yards out.
The visitors were forced into making fouls in midfield, with Chris McCann and Stephen Jordan sanctioned by the referee in the first 15 minutes of the encounter.
It was then Wayne Bridge’s turn to try his luck from outside of the penalty box, but the defender missed the target with a curling shot and so did Florent Malouda from long distance, as The Blues failed to create decent chances to beat Brian Jensen.
Martin Paterson caused panic in Chelsea’s defence and allowed Wade Elliott to test Cudicini with a direct free-kick after an Alex foul, but the midfielder’s effort did not threaten the Italian.
A minute later, Petr Cech’s understudy Cudicini made a blunder that could have given the lead to Burnley, but Ferreira was in the right place at the right time to avoid a stunning opener.
Belletti was forced off after receiving a knock in the face, and was replaced by Frank Lampard, and it came as no surprise when Chelsea opened the scoring through African hit-man Drogba, on target for the first time this season.
Drogba collected a Lampard pass on the left side of the penalty box, beat his marker and shot between two defenders with the precision of a surgeon on 27 minutes to celebrate his comeback to The Bridge and silence 6,500 Clarets fans.
Malouda imitated his former Guingamp striking partner with another cross-shot, but Jensen did well to palm the ball away, before The Blues missed a glorious chance to make it 2-0 when Branislav Ivanovic headed a Malouda free-kick onto the crossbar from the six-yard box.
Drogba will definitely push for a place in Luiz Felipe Scolari’s starting XI, and the striker produced another chance before the man in black whistled for half-time.
Scolari opted to change his system and replaced Portugal international Deco with John Obi Mikel, but the result was the same - Ivanovic headed over the bar a Ferreira centre from 12 yards.
Owen Coyle realised his team needed more punch, and the manager opted to replace Paterson with Akinbiyi after an hour of play in West London.
This decision paid off 10 minutes later, as The Clarets claimed a stunning equaliser through replacement Akinbiyi, who beat Cudicini from 12 yards after the keeper failed to hold Chris Eagles’ powerful effort.
The striker sent Burnley fans into seventh heaven, but was booked for showing his impressive physique, and the home side hit back straight away through Salomon Kalou, who headed over Jensen’s crossbar.
Chelsea finished stronger and fashioned decent chances to snatch the winner through Alex, who connected with a Lampard free-kick, but saw Jensen catch his effort, and Franco di Santo, who headed straight at the keeper.
But Scolari’s Blues failed to secure a last-gasp goal and were forced into playing extra-time with the courageous Clarets, during which Lampard had a goal ruled out from an offside position.
Brazilian centre back Alex then headed over the bar, and things got worse for Burnley when skipper Caldwell was dismissed for a second bookable offence for a tackle on Malouda.
Alex finally unleashed a free kick over the bar before the referee whistled for penalties at Stamford Bridge.
Bridge missed his spot kick for Chelsea, then Elliot for Burnley, and goalkeeper Jensen became the hero of the night, as he saved Mikel’s last effort to send The Clarets into the
quarter-finals.
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Chelsea |
Team Statistics | Burnley |
| 1 | Goals | 1 |
| 1 | 1st Half Goals | 0 |
| 5 | Shots on Target | 2 |
| 16 | Shots off Target | 3 |
| 2 | Blocked Shots | 0 |
| 6 | Corners | 2 |
| 12 | Fouls | 18 |
| 6 | Offsides | 4 |
| 0 | Yellow Cards | 2 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 1 |
| 54.8 | Possession | 45.2 |
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Harry Puts The Hot In Hotspur As Reds Crash
Wednesday, 12 November 08, 05:55 PM
Spurs have done it again - beaten Liverpool at the Lane, and this time with real conviction. They ripped the Reds apart in the first-half of this pulsating Carling Cup tie, eventually winning 4-2 to maintain Harry Redknapp's unbeaten record as Tottenham boss...
It is only 18 days since Harry Redknapp took over at Tottenham, and 11 since the remarkable revival he wrought saw Spurs come from behind to beat Liverpool 2-1 at White Hart Lane in the Premier League.
Tonight the same opponents visited the Lane in the Carling Cup, but any thoughts they had of exacting revenge for their only defeat of the season were blown away in six sensational minutes at the end of the first-half as Harry's Hotspurs scored three times against some uncharacteristically flimsy 'defending' from Liverpool's back-four.
True, it was a somewhat makeshift-looking Reds team - manager Rafael Benitez made 10 changes from the side that beat West Bromwich Albion on Saturday, with Daniel Agger the only man who kept his place. Fernando Torres started after his hamstring injury, taking his place in a starting line-up that featured no English players. (And we thought Arsene Wenger was the anti-Christ).
As for Redknapp, he brought Roman Pavlyuchenko and Frazier Campbell in to lead the line, and rested Ledley King, Jonathan Woodgate, David Bentley, Jermaine Jenas, Luka Modric and Darren Bent. But his line-up played with verve and panache, and Pavlyuchenko and Campbell terrorised the Liverpool rearguard.
Early on, Aaron Lennon created half-a-yard to get in a cross from the right that was just too high for Pavlyuchenko, whose header flew away from goal.
For the first-half hour Tottenham were winning nearly all of the individual battles, and Liverpool just hadn't got going; too many in red shirts seemed unwilling or unable to grasp their first-team opportunity.
Yet for all Tottenham's good football, they had no reward to show for it - until, on 37 minutes, they took a deserved lead.
Campbell, on loan from Manchester United, sprinted on to a ball down the left and got to the byline before pulling the ball back to the edge of the six-yard area for Pavlyuchenko to sweep it through the legs of Liverpool keeper Diego Cavalieri.
Ryan Babel was yellow-carded for a show of dissent and Pavlyuchenko followed him into the book for an unnecessary late challenge on Daniel Agger by the touchline.
Spurs doubled their lead thanks to a comical mix-up as Brazilian Cavalieri came to collect a high Jamie O'Hara ball into the Liverpool area but, as Campbell chested the ball down, the keeper took both himself and Andrea Dossena out, leaving Campbell to roll the ball into the empty net. The young United striker was booked for celebrating with the crowd.
But he hardly cared as the mayhem continued with a third goal in six minutes, Campbell netting his second when O'Hara cut the ball back to Lennon on the left, whose cross eluded the entire, shambolic Liverpool defence, leaving the unmarked Campbell to head home.
Benitez presumably had a few points to make to his players at half-time, and early in the second-half the Reds wiped the smiles off a few Tottenham faces by capitalising on the trepidation of Spurs keeper Heurelho Gomes at corners. The Brazilian only half-came for Babel's flag kick, got stranded in no-man's-land and saw Damien Plessis head home.
Three minutes later, though, Spurs re-established their three-goal lead. Didier Zokora stormed down the left wing at pace and sent in a cross that was deflected by Sami Hyypia into the path of Pavlyuchenko, who had the easiest of tasks to slot the ball into the net.
Another three minutes and there was Campbell heading the ball against the post, though he was flagged offside. Benitez responded by taking off top striker Torres for Emiliano Insua.
However, Gomes hadn't finished yet - and as Babel swung over another corner from the left, he again showed how not to deal with a cross, allowing Hyypia to climb high to head home for 4-2.
Five minutes later the hapless Gomes was in the thick of it again, this time showing great bravery as he raced from his line to dive low and deny Philipp Degen, taking a boot in the face as the pair collided. He needed a lot of treatment on the pitch before being stretchered off it. Cesar came on in his place for his first Spurs appearance.
The emerging potency of the Campbell - Pavlyuchenko partnership was underlined again when Campbell played the Russian through, and his shot was beaten away by Cavalieri.
Liverpool had a good shout for a penalty when Degen went down under Gareth Bale's challenge in the Spurs area, but referee Mike Riley wasn't having any of it.
Darren Bent came on for Campbell, who left the pitch to a standing ovation.
So holders Spurs march on, and Benitez is left to ponder the concept of strength in depth.
Tottenham: Gomes, Hutton, Dawson, Corluka, Bale, Lennon, Zokora, Huddlestone, O'Hara, Pavlyuchenko, Campbell. Subs: Cesar, Bentley, Bent, Modric, Gunter, Boateng, Rocha.
Liverpool: Cavalieri, Dossena, Hyypia, Agger, Degen, Babel, Leiva Lucas, Ngog, Plessis, Torres, El Zhar. Subs: Gulacsi, Riera, Alonso, Benayoun, Insua, Carragher, Darby.
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Sir Alex: Ron's the question
Friday, 19 September 08, 10:48 PM
Ronaldo played 28 minutes on Wednesday against Villarreal and the Reds boss told media on Friday he would have no fears in picking him in Sunday’s side.
“He’s a natural athlete,” Sir Alex said. “He’s trained very well and I'd have no problems at all playing him on Sunday. I just have to decide if it’s the right time.
“I think he did very well on Wednesday night. He was aggressive in his running and was a good threat.
"When Ronaldo’s really buzzing he wants the ball and he attacks defenders straight away with such speed that they’re forced to back off. That was the case on Wednesday.
"He was on fire and really revved up to perform well. That surprised me given he’s had an operation and he’s been in rehabilitation for the last two months and hadn’t played since 21 May. It was a big ask but you have to say his performance was outstanding.
“The boy wants to play at Chelsea – he’s been in my ear the whole time. I just hope I pick the right team."
Everybody else came through Wednesday's game unscathed, with Sir Alex confirming the only absentees for Sunday will be Michael Carrick (ankle) and Nemanja Vidic (suspended).
The manager admitted losing to Liverpool last weekend was “a disappointing result” and underlined Sunday’s trip to Stamford Bridge was a must-win.
“When you play against the big four it’s important you get a big points-haul out ofthem. Last season we did very well against the top four. This season we’ve lost the first one already [at Anfield]. We can’t afford to lose another one.”
Despite a slow start to the season, Sir Alex insisted there is no need for panic just yet.
"I don’t see Sunday's game as a test of character for my team. That’s been well established already – there are no doubts in that department.
"What this team has to do, like many Manchester United teams have done over the years, is recover from a bad defeat. We’ve got to make sure we come away from Chelsea with a win.
"It’s a great challenge to us and a lot of people don’t expect us to win, which is unusual for this club. That’s the challenge: let’s get on with it."
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Boss: We'll win at the Bridge
Friday, 19 September 08, 10:21 PM
- Sir Alex Ferguson
“It’s not a daunting task for Manchester United to go to Stamford Bridge,” he said. “Not with the ability we have in this team. Chelsea respect that and they know United can win on Sunday.
“We don’t want to be nine points behind Chelsea, or anyone else, at this stage of the season. We know we’ve got a big job to do at Stamford Bridge and the players will be up for it.”
Chelsea, Sir Alex says, aren’t quite the force they were at the end of last season when the Blues outplayed United at the Bridge to win 2-1. Certainly, the Reds boss believes there are chinks in their once almost impenetrable armour.
“They’re a little different now without Claude Makalele, who was a very important cog in their machine. And the athleticism and power of Michael Essien is missing at the moment.”
But while Essien – injured on international duty – is ruled out until February, Chelsea possess a new midfielder, and one Sir Alex even considered buying in 2004.
“We did look at Deco when he was at Porto,” the Reds manager revealed. “If you remember, he went to Barcelona for a very large sum of money – it was a fee we didn’t want to get involved in. Plus we had Paul Scholes anyway.
“But he’s a nice footballer – there’s no question about that. He’s a different kind of midfielder to the type Chelsea have had previously. He’s diminutive and clever…
“He’s made a little difference to the way Chelsea play, although I wouldn’t say he’s made them any more effective – they’ve always been effective.”
When asked if he was excited about the prospect of seeing Cristiano Ronaldo and Dimitar Berbatov together at Stamford Bridge, Sir Alex revealed he was more interested in picking up three points.
“I’m excited about getting my first real win of the season,” he said. “We beat Portsmouth at Fratton Park but we want to get a real good win and get the show on the road again.
“We have a collection of talents here at the club and I have to make sure I pick the right ones. You can’t dismiss the contribution of Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez – not with the form they’ve been in.
“It’s fair to say I’ve got selection problems for Sunday – the right kind, mind you.”
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FA to look into Ferguson remarks
Friday, 19 September 08, 08:56 PM
It is not the first time Ferguson has criticised Keith Hackett
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The Football Association is looking into remarks made by Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson about referees' chief Keith Hackett.
Ferguson claimed Hackett told referee Mark Halsey to rescind the red card given to Chelsea captain John Terry against Manchester City.
The United manager said Hackett "would never have done this for us".
Terry was exonerated on Tuesday and the referees' body said: "All matters of discipline are an issue for the FA."
Terry had been facing a three-match ban after Halsey deemed the tackle on City striker Jo was "serious foul play".
But the FA's Independent Regulatory Commission upheld Chelsea's appeal, meaning the England skipper is free to face United in Sunday's Premier League clash.
That decision clearly riled Ferguson, who will be without Nemanja Vidic for the same game after the Serbian defender was sent off against Liverpool on Saturday.
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"My information is that Hackett told Halsey to rescind the red card and he would not do it," said Ferguson.
"If it had been a Manchester United player Hackett would never have done this for us."
Halsey has been removed from the list of Premier League referees for this weekend and will instead take charge of the League Two encounter between Chester and Shrewsbury.
If the FA decides to investigate Ferguson's remarks further, it will write to the United manager asking him to explain them.
BBC Radio 5 Live sports news correspondent Gordon Farquhar explained: "There is a fairly high threshold for what constitutes opinion and debate about football and for an offence to be triggered it would have to be reasonably serious.
"The FA would see an accusation of bias like this as being something which required further investigation.
"The process would now be for the FA to write to the person who made the remark and ask for their clarification and any further disciplinary action would follow on from that - but that is some way off at this point."
Hackett is yet to comment, but a spokesman for referees' body the Professional Game Match Officials Board, of which Hackett is general manager, said he had nothing to do with the decision to rescind Terry's red card.
It is not the first time Ferguson has directed his wrath at Hackett.
After United's FA Cup exit at the hands of Portsmouth last season, Ferguson launched a stinging attack on referee Martin Atkinson's handling of the game and said Hackett was "not doing his job properly".
On that occasion, the FA found him not guilty of improper conduct.
Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari admitted he was pleasantly surprised that Terry had been cleared.
"I am satisfied because it is the first time I am a coach when they changed the decision of the referee," he said.
"I think only in England this would happen. In other countries the referee is the God.
"This time the referee said he made a mistake. For me it is a surprise, a positive surprise. The Football Association understands that the referee makes mistakes sometimes like you and me."
It was initially thought that Halsey had dismissed Terry for a professional foul on Jo, but he later clarified that the offence was "serious foul play".
That is described by world governing body Fifa as using "excessive force or brutality against an opponent".
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