Mr A at The Bridge

By Since66
February 14 2010

The scoreline may look like Chelsea battered Cardiff City into submission at Stamford Bridge yesterday afternoon, but for an hour or so Chelsea struggled and could have slipped up on a massive 'banana skin.' I always have a slight fear when Chelsea play without John Terry. We miss his presence, leadership, drive, passion and strength.

Chelsea HAVE to nuture someone to take over the armband when JTs isn't around. Super Frank is a brilliant player no doubt, but he isn't a Captain, although he led Chelsea to victory yesterday.

We missed JT yesterday. The back four looked out of sorts, misplaced, lacking in communication and it was these combinations that gave Cardiff a deserved equaliser through Chopra, when he ghosted past Alex to equalise Didier Drogba's early doors opener inside three minutes.

Things could have been far worse for Chelsea. Hilario had already pulled off a flying save to his right to deny Gerrard (Ickle's cousin) and Cardiff created more chances in the first-half than Chelsea did.

In fact Cardiff's 'keeper didn't have a shot to save until the start of the second-half from a Drogba free-kick although he did have to deal with a tame Drogba overhead kick in the first-half.

Moments later Ballack ghosted through from a Drogba pass to chip over Marshall to put Chelsea 2-1 up, then Danny Sturridge scored (keeping up his scoring record in every round) and then from a Ferreira cross, substitute Salomon Kalou looped a header over Marshall to give Chelsea a convincing but flattering scoreline.

Prior to the game kicking-off, a minutes applause was given to the late Petar Borota, who sadly passed away at his home in Italy yesterday.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the travelling Bluebirds who respected and joined in with the tribute to Petar.

The draw for the Quarter-Finals will take place at 5.45pm approximately on ITV today.


Chelsea: Hilario, Ferreira, Alex, Carvalho, Zhirkov, Ballack, Mikel, Lampard (c), J Cole (Kalou h/t), Sturridge (Malouda 78), Drogba (Borini 88)

Goals: Drogba 3, Ballack 50, Sturridge 68, Kalou 85
Booked: Alex 9, Carvalho 60


Cardiff City: Marshall, McNaughton, Gerrard, Gyepes, Kennedy, Burke (McCormack 78), Rae (Blake 74), Wildig (Taiwo 89), Whittingham, Chopra, Bothroyd (c)

Goal: Chopra 33
Booked: Chopra 19, Gerrard 66

Chelsea 4-1 Cardiff: A Right Old Rollicking Does The Trick

Discussion started by 50 Years Over 100 Years , 14/02/2010 08:50

50 Years Over 100 Years
14/02/2010 08:50

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dixon9
14/02/2010 15:27

We did look lost a bit during the first half - it wasn´t very encouraging and there were times I had to check that we weren´t playing in our second yellow strip.

Cardiff were well worth the draw at half-time.

Obvioulsy much better in the second half and as they apparantly tired, we took advantage.

I thought Joe Cole STILL doesn´t look match fit and this is a concern. But he won´t get 100% until he starts playing regularly - its a bit of a dilemna.

Very disappointed for Sturridge to get taken off. He looked very sharp and enthusiastic and didn´t deserve to get subbed.

Zhirkov and Ferreira did ok wide in defence and lets hope Zhirkov does well against Premier opposition.

I love the FA Cup - looking forward to the draw!



"It is born out of hypocrisy and fundamental insecurity. There have been two kids on the block for the past 12 years. Suddenly, there is a third and that one is threatening to be more successful than the others and they don’t like it." P Kenyon.

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