He's Here, He's There

By Since66
September 24 2009

'Anco' made TEN changes to the side that started against Tottingham on Sunday, only Malouda survived the cull. Sam Hutchinson was given his first start in the centre of defence alongside Ivanovic, new signing Zhirkov started at left-back, Borini made his first full start alongside Kalou and Joe Cole returned after being out since January. A wonderful sight for both Chelsea and England fans.

QPR backed by 6,000 Blue and White hoops housed in the Shed End gave us a good and difficult game and only a flying save from Hilario midway through the second-half relieved the anxiety of extra-time and possible penalties. That was QPR's one and only decent chance all night.

It was great to see Joey back again. Sometimes he looked as he hadn't been away, with his tricks, flicks and step-overs (move aside Ronaldo, the King of the stepovers is back) and sometimes he looked very rusty with a few misplaced passes. However an encouraging sign was that Joey didn't shirk a challenge or tackle and it was Joey who set up the winning goal.

In a tight midfield Joey managed to release Kalou down Chelsea's left. Kalou raced into the area and his shot went in via the far post.

Joey should have scored when his breakaway ended with QPR 'keeper Heaton taking his shot full in the face.

Borini looks the part. He was full of running, taking up promising positions and he was unlucky not to have got on the scoresheet himself. In the first-half he had a close range header flash just past the post and Heaton saved with his legs after another Chelsea break, led by Borini.

Hutchinson had a good seventy-five minutes and didn't look out of his depth. However it will be interesting to see how he would cope with taller opposition, after all QPR's squad isn't the tallest one around.

Four surreal moments of the night: Michael Essien, John Terry, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole warming up down the touchline, all an arms length away from me.


Chelsea: Hilario, Ferreira, Hutchinson (Terry 77), Ivanovic, Zhirkov ( A Cole 68), Mikel, Belletti, Malouda (Lampard h/t), J Cole (c), Kalou, Borini.

Goal: Kalou 52


QPR: Heaton, Borrowdale, Gorkss, Stewart, Leigertwood, Routledge, Rowlands (c) (Ephram 73), Buzasky, Faurlin, Vine (Taarabt 65), Simpson (Pellicori 73)


The draw for the 4th Round of the Carling Cup will be made at lunchtime on Saturday.