Out For Four Weeks

By Since66
March 25 2010

Chelsea's defensive woes continued this afternoon when it was confirmed that Ricardo Carvalho will be out for four weeks after suffering ankle ligament damage in the confidence boosting victory at Fratton Park last night. Another defender gone joining the lengthy list of absentees.

The FA have confirmed that neither Daniel Sturridge or Florent Malouda will face further action after their 'elbow' incidents against Smith and Rocha respectively. The FA have deemed that referee Lee Mason dealt with both incidents accordingly.

As for the game. Luck (which has not been with us this season) struck twice for Chelsea in the build-up to the first goal. First of all O'Hara looked to have been fouled, the ball broke to Deco in midfield who headed on to set Drogba on his way.

James came out to meet the challenge of Drogba bearing down on him and took an almighty swipe at the ball, he missed it and Drogba coolly rolled the ball into an empty net.

You have to feel some sympathy for James. The ball struck an almighty divot on the Fratton Park pitch and bounced up quite high. Perhaps James had a word in the shell-like of the groundstaff after the game.

It was a stroll last night, a performance that was much easier than I expected so I am not getting too excited that we are back to our best - WE HAVE TOUGHER TESTS to come - starting with Aston Villa on Saturday with ManUre, Tottingham and Liverpool (all away) to follow.

However confidence for the challenges ahead must have risen and we did score three very good goals - two from Flo and one from Didier - before Super Frank planted a simple close range header past the beleagured James right on full-time.

Joe Cole got more than two minutes appearance last night, in fact he got over thirty and had a couple of chances to add to the score, which wouldn't have flattered Chelsea.

Lastly well done to Patrick van Aanholt who came on as a second-half sub and held his own. Patrick had been on loan at the Toon, but was recalled early because of the injury to Ashley Cole who has started to resume light training.

Ben Gordon has gone out on loan to Tranmere Rovers for a month.

COMING UP: A team of U19s (A mixture of Reserves and Academy players) set off to Dallas on Friday to participate in the Dallas Cup. Their first game is against FC Dallas U18 on Sunday and we will bring you news of their progress as and when received.


Portsmouth: James (c), Mullins, Rocha (Basinas 45), Hreidarsson, Finnan, Mokoena (Kanu 69), Wilson, Hughes, O'Hara, Smith (Owusu-Abeyie h/t), Piquionne

Booked: O'Hara, Hughes, James

Chelsea: Cech, Ferreria, Carvalho (Alex 36), Terry (c), Zhirkov (van Aanholt 69), Mikel, Lampard, Sturridge (J Cole 54), Deco, Malouda, Drogba

Goals: Malouda (2), Drogba (2), Lampard
Booked: Malouda, Mikel

Portsmouth 0-5 Chelsea: A Confidence Booster & Ricky OUT

Discussion started by 50 Years Over 100 Years , 25/03/2010 17:58

50 Years Over 100 Years
25/03/2010 17:58

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dixon9
26/03/2010 20:49

Good write-up!

...and more of the same (from the team!) against Villa please!



"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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