By dixon9
March 16 2008

This match went as the script said it would – Sunderland fought well and played hard, couldn’t put their chances away, we scored, dominated possession, lived on the edge a bit, we won. Not an enthralling encounter but with Man Utd not playing at their best and Arsenal continuing to falter these were a very welcome 3 points.

We started brightly but seemed to doze off after going ahead from Terry’s towering header from a Lampard corner on 10 mins. 

The early dominance was underlined by Terry’s goal, 5 corners in the opening 15 mins and Kalou going close twice but thwarted by the excellent Bardsley. 

We did miss Carvalho although to be honest I completely agreed with Grant’s decision to give Alex a run out considering Sunderland’s ariel ability with Jones. 

Sunderland battled away and Kenwyn Jones, doing a better impression of Drogba than Drogba managed, was a menace. 

Unfortunately Jones cleverly paired himself off with Terry and not Alex as his marker resulting in a real battle between the two when the high balls swung over.  Fortunately for us Jones missed two heading opportunities late in the 2^nd half.

Reid curled a precise free-kick from 25 yards but Cuducini pulled off an excellent save.

The match took on a nasty turn when O'Donovan deliberately left a foot in and gave a sly kick to Cuducini when he saved at the feet of the Irishman.  Cuducini reacted understandably furiously.  The referee couldn’t have seen enough of the incident otherwise the incident would have resulted in a definite red card.  

Terry did have a very good game in general although I can’t help but wonder if his recent injuries seem to have affected his jumping ability from a standing position.    

Alex appeared to be a bit rusty which is a shame – such excellent form while Terry was injured but again, this is almost certainly due to missing games. 

Drogba is not enjoying his football at all in my view.  A lone battering ram and dropped deeper and deeper in the 2^nd half to try and get more of the ball.  His performance wasn’t a classic by any means although he showed his class with an almost nonchalant, clever chipped pass which put Wright-Phillips through late in the 2^nd half. 

Joe Cole scampered around causing problems as usual although he seemed to fade in the 2^nd half and was sensibly rested and replaced with Essien. 

Mikel´s poise, touch and passing was excellent as usual but he still shows signs of being inexplicably clumsy and in a brief lapse picked up a yellow for his troubles.   

Ashley Cole continued his good form although Ballack was a bit off the boil. 

Kalou started well and does seem to be slowly increasing in consistent good form although during the 2^nd half he gave the ball away too much.  

So here we are then – right back in the title race again.  Amazing really all considering.   

We are playing with a diluted team at the moment in my view due to the choice of formation but now come the real tests for Grant with a tough away to Spurs in midweek and an opportunity to see if he can begin to match up to the big matches starting with Arsenal at home next weekend.   

I’m not confident at all that Grant is up to the job and I can see a “close but yet so far” end of the season – I would dearly love to be proved wrong.

HIGHLIGHTS

http://www.dailymotion.com/search/sunderland%2Bchelsea/video/x4q850_sunderland-v-chelsea_news?from=rss

Sunderland: Gordon, Bardsley, Evans, Nosworthy, Collins, Edwards (Prica 62), O'Donovan (Yorke 73), Whitehead, Leadbitter (Harte 85), Reid, Jones.
Subs Not Used: Fulop, McShane.

Booked: Leadbitter.

Chelsea: Cudicini, Ferreira, Alex, Terry, Ashley Cole, Obi, Ballack (Essien 73), Lampard, Joe Cole (Wright-Phillips 82), Kalou, Drogba.
Subs Not Used: Hilario, Carvalho, Shevchenko.

Booked: Obi.

Goals: Terry 10.

Att: 44,679.

Ref: Mike Dean (Wirral).

Chelsea Close the Gap: Sunderland 0 Chelsea 1

Discussion started by 50 Years Over 100 Years , 16/03/2008 11:43

50 Years Over 100 Years
16/03/2008 11:43

Chelsea Close the Gap: Sunderland 0 Chelsea 1

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Scotty - mackem
16/03/2008 14:57

"The match took on a nasty turn when O'Donovan deliberately left a foot in and gave a sly kick to Cuducini when he saved at the feet of the Irishman. Cuducini reacted understandably furiously. The referee couldn’t have seen enough of the incident otherwise the incident would have resulted in a definite red card."

Then terry shouldve got a red card the amount of times he kicked out at o'donovan. He also followed through with a kick on purpose and kicked bardsley. Chelsea chased the ref down on every occaision and it was pathetic. I have always like chelsea but this was an embarresment if thats what the premier league is about.

It was uncalled for with what o'donovan did, but the whistle didnt go and cudicini chased him out of the box carrying the ball, so wheres our freekick and red card for carlo?

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Since 66
16/03/2008 15:21

And where was the red card for O'Donovan in the first place?

After what happened to Cech are you surprised Carlo (the second best keeper in the Premiership) reacted the way he did, and in fact O'Donovan's kick into Carlo's head WAS worse than Hunt's on Cech.

Can I correct your spelling mistakes please?

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Scotty - mackem
16/03/2008 17:10

He maybes shouldve got sent off, he didnt kick him, he left his foot in there. Im not usually a bitter fan, but i was disgusted at chelseas antics.

If you think roy shouldve had a red card then terry definatly should have, there was at least 3 occaisions when he kicked out at our players, 2 on roy and 1 on bardsley. But he does it in a sly way.

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Since 66
17/03/2008 19:18

You are just disgusted cos your team lost. I expected at least 3-0 min!!!

Still can I correct your spelling mistakes!!!

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