By Since66
March 30 2008

Earlier in the week, during the build-up to Chelsea v 'Boro, Joe Cole emphasised the need to get off to a fast start once the whistle blows. He said "Every game is important, and it's important we start well. They will be looking to come and shut up shop, so if we score an early goal it makes it difficult for them, because their preparation all week about stopping Chelsea will have to change."

An early goal did arrive from 'Ricky' Ricardo Carvalho who towered above the 'Boro' defence to plant a looping header wide of the diving Schwarzer to his right hand-side.

The cross came from a free-kick after a foul on Ballack whereas a minute earlier Chelsea's first corner couldn't even beat the defender at the near post.

At this point after 5 minutes with Chelsea winning 1-0, I and no doubt many of the 39,990 plus crowd saw in their dreams another goal glut to add to the 20 odd scored in the previous seven games. Alas with all Chelsea's huffing and puffing, Chelsea couldn't add to their lead and couldn't break down the door of Middlesbrough anymore.

If I am honest, Chelsea was lucky to get the three points because 'Boro hit the woodwork three times in the second-half and a victory could have easily been turned into a draw..... at best.

Chelsea escaped with a victory.

I think half of Chelsea's problem this afternoon was due to the atmosphere. The Stamford Bridge atmosphere was as flat as a pancake and with no disrespect to Gareth Southgate and his team, once the early goal went in we all sat there and expected a lot more goals. In didn't materialise and the fans once again can take share of blame for the problems the players are having on the pitch.

Lets make no bones about it. Chelsea have their problems. Too many passes go astray, too many passes go backwards and sidewards and there are not enough shots on goal, when in range. It seems the attitude of Chelsea players is too try and score the 'perfect' goal. Certain indivdiuals try and have more success than others but at the end of the day its all about winning games and today Chelsea won, but only just about!!

With Utd and Arsenal both winning yesterday, Grant and his team 'passed' another test but it wasn't comfortable.

Grant said afterwards, "I cannot say it was our best game but after so many weeks of good football it was important for us to win today rather than the quality of the game because we are towards the end of the season. As Manchester United and Arsenal won yesterday it was important for us to win. We need to continue."

"I don't think that each of the three teams will take all their points. Since I am here we are chasing after other teams, we passed Liverpool, passed Arsenal, so now we need to keep winning."

Grant was pleased with how fast Chelsea started and was honest to accepted that 'Boro was unlucky. He said "I think we started very well and maybe because of this we thought the game would be easy. Sometimes when you can make it 2-0 and you don't, the other team have chances."

"They hit the post twice in one set piece and one more, but we deserved the win, even if it wasn't the quality of the last games."

"They were unlucky, they hit the post twice, but at the other end Shaun had chances to score but we also created, and had three good chances to score before."

Southgate's view was that 'Boro deserved a draw. He said, "First half I thought we had just come to admire Chelsea, but at half-time we spoke about having no regrets and I think that's what happened in the second-half."

"I felt we were too deep which left our midfield too much space too cover. So we played higher as a back four and little things we adjusted gave us hope."

"We started to create a couple of openings because Chelsea are going for the title they got a bit edgy. It shows my players no matter how good the opposition are, their confidence can suffer as well."

If Chelsea get edgy in Istanbul on Wednesday night, the 2nd leg at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday 8th April could be VERY VERY difficult.

Chelsea Escape With A Victory

Discussion started by 50 Years Over 100 Years , 30/03/2008 19:44

50 Years Over 100 Years
30/03/2008 19:44

Chelsea Escape With A Victory

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dixon9
31/03/2008 13:24

It was a boring, slow affair wasn´t it? Once we scored so quickly we seemed very happy to conserve energy and with Boro making so little penetration we just stroked the ball around without real purpose, often distracted and made some mistakes. It reminded me of a summer training match. The lack of performance from Essien and Ballack was key to the slow pace of the game – neither made runs into the box to support.

Lampard was definitely ill – a Chelsea fan met him saw him outside the ground and shook his hand – apparently he looked very white and gaunt so the virus he contracted before the England game must have been very heavy.

Kalou tried to brighten things up but was very frustrating again – had the turning circle of the QE2 when that scrambled chance arrived in the first half although he did improve in the 2nd half, setting up SWP nicely who blasted over (twice?).

Annoying to see Grant NOT switch to 4-4-2 in the 2nd half – What does he do? Put Anelka out on the left AGAIN which didn´t work AGAIN. Hopefully this little experiment won´t be repeated.

Of course, our lax attitude should have cost us and nearly did on at least three occasions – notice how we brightened up immediately after the scares? The team definitely had one eye on that tough away game to Fenerbahce and the rest of the league campaign.



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"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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