After losing at Craven Cottage last weekend, it was good to get back to winning ways against Manchester City; however, it couldn?t be done without the usual controversy that dogs Chelsea.
Today we awake to almost hysteria, from the tabloids, surrounding the incident that saw Didier Drogba net Chelsea?s second goal. As if to make things worse, the media have also caught on to the fact that Drogba apparently admitted to diving in a BBC interview.
The first incident, the handball, is clearly much ado about nothing. Yes, it was handball, television replays proved that, but you get the feeling that if it was anyone else, apart from Chelsea, it wouldn?t merit anything more than a few lines in the match report.
The second incident is probably more serious as already the tabloids are suggesting that he FA should charge Drogba with bringing the game into disrepute. Perhaps, these same news hounds should take another look at the interview; it?ll clearly show them that Drogba didn?t fully understand the question and that his mastery of the English language isn?t perhaps what it should be.
Inevitably these two incidents will detract from what was a good performance form Chelsea against a Manchester City side that, in all truthfulness, were deprived of several first team players due to injury. Nevertheless, the visitors gave a good account of themselves and Stuart Pearce can take heart from the way several of his youngsters played.
Mourinho chose to make two changes form the team that had beaten Newcastle in the FA Cup during midweek. Petr Cech returned in place of Carlo Cudicini and Paulo Ferreira replaced Geremi.
With City shorn of several stars it was no surprise that Chelsea dominated the early stages. Eidur Gudjohnsen had an early chance to open the scoring but he miscued his shot and it bobbled tamely off target. Frank Lampard then delivered a smart ball for Drogba to race onto but David James managed to pull off a smart save as Chelsea visibly increased the pressure on the City goal.
Unfortunately for City, their defence was breached on the thirty minute mark and it was a goal of great quality. Gudjohnsen played a superb ball through to Drogba and the powerful striker lost his marker, Sommeil, with a deft turn enabling him the time and space to drill a powerful shot past David James.
Minutes later, Chelsea doubled their lead in controversial circumstances. Lampard delivered a corner into the box and John Terry saw a solid header cleared. Chelsea contrived to get the ball back in the danger area and Carvalho and Del Horno helped the ball on to Drogba. The striker then clearly pushed the ball down with his right arm before smashing it past James.
The City players were incensed and both Disdin and Musampa were booked for contesting the decision to allow the gaol to stand. At 2-0 up Chelsea were in total control. However, after the half time whistle had been blown, the referee, Rob Styles, was involved in a contentious incident.
Disdin, the City captain, clearly approached Styles to discuss the second goal. Styles demanded that Disdin hand the ball over, the City captain refused on several occasions and Styles showed him a second yellow card followed by a red. Down to ten men, City knew they were never going to retrieve this match.
City started the second half with Riera on for Sommeil but it was more of a damage limitation exercise for the visitors. Chelsea had numerous chances to increase their lead but David James was performing admirably in the City goal.
Twice he thwarted Drogba when the striker was through with one-on-one situations. Mourinho made several substitutions as the half progressed and one of these, Hernan Crespo, should have wrapped matter sup. Drogba saw an effort saved by James but contrived to turn the ball back across the goal. Crespo had a free header but somehow headed wide.
Cole, before he was substituted, had a good low shot but once again James was equal to the challenge. However, at this stage of the season, with five wins needed before the start of play it was particularly pleasing to be able to now reduce it to four wins needed for back-to-back titles.
Cech 7, Ferreira 7, Carvalho 6, Terry 8, Del Horno 6, Makelele 7, Lampard 7, Gudjohnsen 7 (Crespo 6), Cole 7 (Wright-Phillips 6), Drogba 8, Duff 6 (Essien 6),
Manager Rating
Mourinho continues to be the subject of much press speculation with both Guus Hiddink and Sven apparently line dup to replace him. Quite whether there is any truth in these rumours remains to be seen. However, Jose continues to tread the same path that constantly leads him to glory and for that we?ll be eternally grateful.
Opponent Rating
Stuart Pearce ? Could have quite rightly had a real go at Rob Styles after Disdin was sent off but instead offered a real pearl of wisdom when asked about what he?d like from the last seven games of City?s season, ?seven wins? was the reply.