Chelsea Fc Thread

[bkkjames]

I just wonder when you guys are going to play somebody who is not in a relegation battle? What's that City is next? Like I said...

[Seapok]

I just wonder when you guys are going to play somebody who is not in a relegation battle? What's that City is next? Like I said...

Yeah thats right we haven't had the hardest of opponents this season so far but its a little unfair as we don't choose who we play next, we have just been professional and got on with the job in hand, we are away to Man City this coming week but the form we are in at the moment we can beat anyone in the league, every team in the country must fear playing Chelsea right now!

[soihok]

True, I,m glad that Sheffield United don't have to play Chelsea this year.

[mrbojangles]

I just wonder when you guys are going to play somebody who is not in a relegation battle? What's that City is next? Like I said...

Most teams have lost their will to live after being demolished by Chelsea and that is why they are in the relegation battle

As for City. Have you looked at the table james? We are doing just fine to say we are still unsure of our best 11.

[bkkjames]

Yes Mr BJ, I am pulling for you this weekend-win or draw please. Btw, was getting a haircut like the boss part of the deal in getting the captain's armband?

[Seapok]

Oooooh well, would of been nice to get a bit further to give the kids some more minutes, nevermind!

Chelsea 3 - 4 Newcastle

An injury-time goal from Shola Ameobi gave Newcastle an extraordinary win at Chelsea in a see-saw Carling Cup third-round encounter.

Patrick van Aanholt fired Chelsea ahead before Nile Ranger's volley and Ryan Taylor's free-kick put United 2-1 up.

Ameobi curled in Newcastle's third but Nicolas Anelka reduced the deficit with a neat finish with 20 minutes to go.

Anelka then levelled matters with a well-taken penalty, but Ameobi had the final word with a header from a corner.

Chelsea have swept aside all before them so far this season, but here their much changed side - only Ramires remained from Sunday's 4-0 win over Blackpool - came up against an equally altered but determined Newcastle, who for long periods had control of a gripping cup tie.

Chelsea can point to the misfortune of substitutions and then injuries reducing them to 10 men for the majority of the second half, but they were already 3-1 down by that stage.

It all appeared to be going to form in the fifth minute when two of Chelsea's young guns combined to give them the lead - although it also owed a large deal to a mistake from Newcastle's Sol Campbell, making his first start for the club.

The former England man clashed with goalkeeper Tim Krul in an attempted clearance, allowing Gael Kakuta to seize the resulting loose ball before teeing up Van Aanholt to fire past the Newcastle keeper's despairing dive.

However, Newcastle have already shown in the league this season they are capable of upsetting the odds and they battled back to swing the game in their favour.

In the 27th minute, Shane Ferguson ran into plenty of room down the left and crossed for Ranger to volley in acrobatically at the far post. It was the first goal Chelsea had conceded at home in just under 10-and-a-half hours of football.

Five minutes later the visitors completed the turnaround when Jeffrey Bruma fouled Ameobi, giving Taylor the opportunity to fire a superb 20-yard free-kick past Chelsea keeper Ross Turnbull.

Having being second-best for the first quarter of the match, Newcastle were now the dominant force, a fact they reinforced three minutes after the break by extending their lead.

Paulo Ferreira's misjudged pass inside fell to Ameobi, who carried the ball 10 yards as the Chelsea defence backed off before curling a 25-yard shot past Turnbull and into the corner of the net.

Having already made two substitutions at half time and seeing one of their replacements - Salomon Kalou - limp off, Chelsea's task was made even harder when Yossi Benayoun went off injured, leaving them with 10 men for the final 28 minutes.

After Alex had hit the post for Chelsea with a follow-up from a free-kick, Newcastle twice had the chance to score what would surely have been a game-sealing fourth goal.

Ameobi fed in Peter Lovenkrands through on goal but his shot was woeful and wide, and then the former had a chance himself but blazed it off target.

With 20 minutes remaining the 10 men of Chelsea pulled a goal back when Van Aanholt crossed from the left and Anelka side-footed a first-time effort inside the far post.

With four minutes to go, Anelka drew his side level from the spot after Alex had fallen somewhat easily under a challenge from Cheik Tiote in the box.

Shortly after Ferreira struck the post with a volley but it was to be at the other end that the game's decisive act would occur as Ameobi rose to glance in a header from a corner in injury time.

[nev]

Drogba must be gutted he said chelsea would win the quadruple.

[rixalex]

Drogba must be gutted he said chelsea would win the quadruple.

I guess he'll get over it. I don't think the Carling Cup means much to the "big" clubs, apart from giving some of the young 'uns a run out.

Great game anyway.

Newcastle should have tucked away 2 or 3 more than they did. Chelsea missed some sitters too.

Alex's falling over in the box was pathetic, and his reaction on getting the penalty perhaps suggested he thought so too. Looked like he was going to cry!

Anelka's taking of it though was audacious and quality.

Oh, and one more comment - never seen Bruma play before but after the way he fouled Ameobi and then threw himself in the air, it came as no surprise to find out that he is Dutch. Obviously he's spent some time learning tricks with Robben.

P.S. Any news on Kalou? Looked a bad one.

[Seapok]

Doesn't sound too bad about Kalou but will be missing the Man City game on Saturday!

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti concerned by injuries

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti was more concerned by injuries to three of his players than the result in the Carling Cup third round defeat by Newcastle.

Midfielder Yossi Benayoun and forwards Gael Kakuta and Salomon Kalou suffered problems in Chelsea's 4-3 loss.

"We will know more tomorrow but they don't look good. They will miss the next few games," revealed Ancelotti.

"Kakuta had a problem on his leg while Benayoun's injury is his calf and Kalou hurt his thigh."

Kakuta went off at half-time after a tackle by Ryan Taylor, while Kalou himself was replaced in the 56th minute.

At half-time, Ancelotti also brought Alex on for John Terry, meaning that Benayoun's injury forced the Blues to play the final 28 minutes of the match with 10 men.

However, at this stage Chelsea were already 3-1 down after Nile Ranger's volley had cancelled out Patrick Van Aanholt's opener before Ryan Taylor and Shola Ameobi put Newcastle in control.

A brace from Nicolas Anelka - the second a late penalty after Alex was fouled by Cheik Tiote in the box - drew Chelsea level, but Ameobi's injury-time header from a corner won it for the visitors.

"I am disappointed with the result but happy with the performance. We had a fantastic reaction when down 3-1 and it was 10 against 11," added Ancelotti.

"There was good spirit and personality from the young players. The game was very difficult but at the end we are happy for the performance of our players.

"The Carling Cup is not our priority. We have a very big game this weekend. We wanted to give an opportunity to our young players to improve their skills and rest some of the first-team players. I am not so disappointed.

"We did our best. I am disappointed for the result because we conceded four goals but the performance was good."

Chelsea face fellow title aspirants Manchester City at Eastlands on Saturday, with the Londoners looking to preserve their 100% start to the Premier League season.

Meanwhile, Newcastle face Stoke at St James' Park in the league on Sunday.

Newcastle boss Chris Hughton was understandably delighted with his players.

"We showed great character and great finishing to get back in the game," he stated.

"The equaliser for them to get back to 3-3 was the softest penalty you will ever see and it got them back in the game. Fortunately, it was us that stopped the game going to extra time.

"I didn't think it was a penalty. That is an understatement. It disappointed me. If we had not got the winner and it had gone to extra time, it would have been a travesty.

"This was a game that most people felt we couldn't win, irrespective of what side they put out.

"It speaks volumes for the players in the changing room. Hopefully it will give us the momentum to go into the next few games."

[MSingh]

It's alright Seapok, i'll do this one as your Right Click button must be on it's way out by now surely with the amount of pressing of it you do...

Man City 1 - 0 Chelsea

Carlos Tevez (left) is mobbed by jubilant team-mates after City's winner<BR clear=all>

By Phil McNulty

Chief football writer at Eastlands

Manchester City ended Chelsea's flawless start to the Premier League season as Carlos Tevez's second-half solo goal settled a tense encounter at Eastlands.

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti took on his City counterpart and fellow Italian Roberto Mancini with the men from Stamford Bridge riding high on the back of five straight League wins and a flurry of goals.

It was a golden sequence that had even Mancini predicting that Chelsea would cruise to the title again this season - but this meeting with big-spending City was also regarded as by far the biggest test of Ancelotti's champions.

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Click to play

Mancini delighted with 'fantastic' Tevez

And so it proved, as City stifled Chelsea's attacking potency with fiercely-disciplined defence and close midfield attentions, offering encouragement to those hoping to take their crown away and allowing captain Tevez to spring the trap on the hour.

The visitors conceded possession as Mancini's men broke from defence, and Tevez ran half the length of the pitch before making light of Ashley Cole's presence to fire his finish across Blues goalkeeper Petr Cech and in off the post.

A sign of Tevez's impact on this expensively-rebuilt City side was that it was his 25th goal in his last 29 Premier League matches and his sixth in his last five games against Chelsea.

The west Londoners, who hit the post through Branislav Ivanovic in the first half, were unable to mount any response and their lack of threat was underlined when Ancelotti removed a surprised Didier Drogba with 15 minutes left - but to no avail.

City doggedly defied all Chelsea's attempts to fight their way back into the game, with the influence of injured Frank Lampard badly missed.

606: DEBATE Great result for us. All we need now is to get a result against Juve, but more importantly, the next two PL games against Newcastle and Blackpool! <BR clear=all>ExtraGravyFor the home side, despite their manager's downbeat assessment of their ability to challenge Chelsea in the title race, this victory against a side that has carried all before them in the league will only add to their confidence that they can make an impact near the top of the table this season.

Mancini left exciting Adam Johnson on the bench, and the England winger's creation and unpredictability was missed in a dour first 45 minutes.

James Milner caused Chelsea's only moments of alarm, with a free-kick that was touched away by Cech and a driven low cross on the stroke of half-time that was scrambled to safety by John Terry with Tevez closing in.

The visitors did not offer much more as a attacking force, although they came closest to scoring on the half-hour when Alex headed into the path of Ivanovic, who headed against the post before forcing City keeper Joe Hart into a diving save from the rebound.

The second half opened with what could almost be termed a flurry of action after the stalemate of the opening period, with Hart turning away Nicolas Anelka's shot with his fingertips and Cech being forced to save down at his near post from David Silva.

And the renewed ambition from both sides saw Mancini's side go ahead after 59 minutes with a solo effort from Tevez. Ramires conceded possession under pressure from Milner, and when Yaya Toure fed Tevez, the Argentine ran unchallenged from the halfway line, with Terry and Cole in retreat, scored off the post.

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Click to play

Man City are title rivals - Ancelotti

The challenge had been thrown down to Ancelotti's men, but it was City who almost had the opportunity to add to their lead only for Alex to get a crucial touch to Tevez's cross with Silva lurking behind.

Drogba had endured a frustrating afternoon, but he still flashed a look of surprise in the direction of his manager when he was substituted with 15 minutes left. Former City youngster Daniel Sturridge was his replacement, and his Eastlands return was not well received as he was greeted by a storm of jeering.

The home side made a change of their own minutes later, when the limping Silva was replaced by Johnson - and Mancini's side were able to close out the victory in comfort.

Live text and stats

Saturday, 25 September 2010

Premier League

Home TeamScoreAway TeamTimeMan City1-0ChelseaFT(HT 0-0)

• Tevez 59

Hide team line-ups and match stats

Man City

• 25 Hart
• 04 Kompany
• 05 Zabaleta yellow card
• 28 Kolo Toure
• 38 Boyata yellow card (Boateng 88)
• 07 Milner
• 18 Barry
• 21 Silva (A Johnson 77)
• 34 De Jong
• 42 Yaya Toure
• 32 Tevez (Adebayor 86)

Substitutes

• 01 Given,
• 17 Boateng,
• 19 Lescott,
• 11 A Johnson,
• 24 Vieira,
• 09 Adebayor,
• 27 Jo

Chelsea

• 01 Cech
• 02 Ivanovic
• 03 A Cole
• 26 Terry
• 33 Alex yellow card
• 05 Essien
• 07 Ramires (McEachran 80)
• 12 Mikel yellow card (Zhirkov 68)
• 15 Malouda
• 11 Drogba (Sturridge 75)
• 39 Anelka yellow card

Substitutes

• 22 Turnbull,
• 19 Ferreira,
• 38 Van Aanholt,
• 18 Zhirkov,
• 46 McEachran,
• 23 Sturridge,
• 44 Kakuta

Ref: MarrinerAtt: 47,203

[Seapok]

Thanks Singh but I don't use a crappy PC......next time you copy and paste something can you tidy it up a bit more as I do, not bad effort though....keep up the good work!

[MSingh]

Thanks Singh but I don't use a crappy PC......next time you copy and paste something can you tidy it up a bit more as I do, not bad effort though....keep up the good work!

No, i'll do it as messy as i possibly can & now aim to beat you to it every time & just create an absolute fcukign mess, cos you hate it...

[StevieH]

not remotely surprised by that result. city have it in them to finish a good second this season. chelsea still won't lose many though.

chelsea bench was a bit thin by the way wasn't it?

[mrbojangles]

not remotely surprised by that result. city have it in them to finish a good second this season. chelsea still won't lose many though.

chelsea bench was a bit thin by the way wasn't it?

So was ours Stevie. We had 11 fit players and Chelsea had 12.

[Seapok]

Thanks Singh but I don't use a crappy PC......next time you copy and paste something can you tidy it up a bit more as I do, not bad effort though....keep up the good work!

No, i'll do it as messy as i possibly can & now aim to beat you to it every time & just create an absolute fcukign mess, cos you hate it...

Oooooh stop it you bitch! lets meet behind the bike sheds and sort this out once and for all!!

[Seapok]

not remotely surprised by that result. city have it in them to finish a good second this season. chelsea still won't lose many though.

chelsea bench was a bit thin by the way wasn't it?

Yeah we did have a young bench but its good to see though, I don't mind at all having plenty of youth players waiting to come on. Its great to see Josh McEachran coming through, he looks like he has everything to make it in the senior squad.

Man City deserved the win as they were the hungrier team, we just didn't seem to get out of second gear, bring on the Gooners this Sunday!

[Seapok]

Frank Lampard to miss crucial Chelsea & England matches

Frank Lampard will miss key Chelsea and England matches as he continues to recuperate from hernia surgery.

The 32-year-old has not played for his club in a month and Blues manager Carlo Ancelotti confirmed Lampard will miss at least the next two weeks.

That period includes matches against Marseille, Arsenal and England's Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro.

"He can't play on Tuesday. We need to have more time than we expected for his rest," said Ancelotti.

"In a few days there will be an international break and he will be ready for the first game after the break.

"He didn't play with us so I don't think he is able to play for the national team."

Lampard returned to training after undergoing the operation on 31 August, but he has been suffering with pain around the scar tissue.

He has already missed both of England's victories in their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign against Bulgaria and Switzerland earlier this month and will again be absent when Montenegro travel to Wembley on 12 October.

His last appearance for Chelsea was in Chelsea's 2-0 win over Stoke on 28 August.

Although his absence is a huge blow as Chelsea look to continue their winning start in the Champions League on Tuesday against French side Marseille, midfielder John Obi Mikel believes the defending Premier League champions have sufficient depth in their squad to cover for Lampard.

"There are other players who can do a similar job to Frank but it is a massive loss to the team," said Nigeria international Mikel.

"I think we are coping well without him, but he is a fantastic player and we can't wait to have him back."

[cybertigrou]

hello,

where is it possible to see the match at 3 a.m?

I can see on TV in my room but would prefer to see marseille winning(2-0) in a bar with large screen (nana sukhumvit area)

:jap:

Edited September 28, 2010 by cybertigrou

[StevieH]

not remotely surprised by that result. city have it in them to finish a good second this season. chelsea still won't lose many though.

chelsea bench was a bit thin by the way wasn't it?

So was ours Stevie. We had 11 fit players and Chelsea had 12.

you having a laugh boj? given, boateng, lescott, johnson, vieira, adebayor, jo? i make that about £80m or so.

[mrtoad]

hello,

where is it possible to see the match at 3 a.m?

I can see on TV in my room but would prefer to see marseille winning(2-0) in a bar with large screen (nana sukhumvit area)

:jap:

Think you will be very lucky to find any of the sports bars with big screens open at that time of the night.

[Seapok]

hello,

where is it possible to see the match at 3 a.m?

I can see on TV in my room but would prefer to see marseille winning(2-0) in a bar with large screen (nana sukhumvit area)

:jap:

You will have more chance of finding a bar open at 3am with large screen, free beer and free food than watching Marseille beat Chelsea 2-0 at home!

[mrbojangles]

not remotely surprised by that result. city have it in them to finish a good second this season. chelsea still won't lose many though.

chelsea bench was a bit thin by the way wasn't it?

So was ours Stevie. We had 11 fit players and Chelsea had 12.

you having a laugh boj? given, boateng, lescott, johnson, vieira, adebayor, jo? i make that about £80m or so.

Given still had a toe problem (not that he would have been picked). The rest are all just coming back from injuries and not at 100% or have got niggles which wouldn't have meant they could have lasted 90 mins. That is according to Mancini. Believe me, if Boateng or Lescott were fully fit, young Boyata wouldn't have been given a run out and I for one am glad he did.

[Seapok]

Chelsea 2 - 0 Marseille

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti insisted his side had put their recent problems behind them following their 2-0 Champions League win against Marseille.

"We analysed our last two defeats but now they are forgotten," he said as his side stayed top of Group F.

"I think we're in control of our qualification. We have a good chance to qualify in first place.

"We're in a good position - top of the table in this competition, and top of the table in the Premier League."

John Terry flicked in Chelsea's opener from a Gael Kakuta corner and Nicolas Anelka slotted in a nonchalant penalty to leave Chelsea top of the group on goal difference ahead of Spartak Moscow, with Ancelotti's side due to meet the Russians in Moscow on 19 October.

Chelsea dominated the first half against the French champions, but appeared to take their foot off the gas in the second as Benoit Cheyrou, Brandao and Luco Gonzales all went close for the visitors.

It briefly looked like Ancelotti's side, who suffered their first Premier League defeat of the season on Saturday when they lost 1-0 to Manchester City, three days after being dumped out of the Carling Cup by Newcastle, might stutter again.

But Chelsea regained the initiative in the closing stages as both Alex and Michael Essien rattled the woodwork.

Ancelotti added: "We have four more matches to play, and the next two against Spartak Moscow will be important.

"It wasn't comfortable because the second half was more difficult as Marseille wanted to get back into the game.

"They put pressure on our midfield and we didn't play as well as in the first half, but we did create a lot of chances.

"But Marseille were in the game until the end. They played good football, attacked and wanted to score."

The Chelsea boss said he was not concerned about the casual manner in which Anelka converted his penalty, awarded somewhat harshly by referee Frank de Bleeckere after a debatable Stephane Mbia handball.

"I don't tell Anelka how to shoot a penalty," said Ancelotti. "If he scores, I'm happy. I've never seen Anelka scared or nervous. He's always quiet and calm. He's a good character."

While the Italian conceded it was a good result ahead of Sunday's Premier League summit meeting against Arsenal at Stamford Bridge, he insisted his players did not ease off after the break with that encounter in mind.

He added: "I don't think we were thinking about the Arsenal game on Sunday in the second half. "The result was good for this [the Arsenal game], but the Premier League is a different story."

Marseille manager Didier Deschamps, who won the FA Cup as a Chelsea player in 2000, felt there was a gulf between the two teams.

"We were almost strangled by Chelsea's superiority," he said. "We were dominated, both technically and physically.

"We found the first half tough and lacked aggression at times. We tried harder in the second half, but they could have added a third. There was a huge difference between the sides."

[Seapok]

Half way to doing the double.....again!

Chelsea 2 - 0 Arsenal

Didier Drogba was Arsenal's tormentor again as Chelsea tightened their grip at the top of the Premier League.

Arsenal paid the price for their failure to take the chances they created in periods of domination at Stamford Bridge - and for their continuing inability to contain Drogba as Carlo Ancelotti's champions stretched out a four-point lead over their title rivals.

Arsene Wenger's side came close through Marouane Chamakh and Laurent Koscielny, while Andrey Arshavin brought a superb save from Petr Cech before Drogba struck his 13th goal against The Gunners in as many games as the interval approach.

He applied a clever finish to Ashley Cole's cross to give Chelsea a lead against the run of play that they would protect in trademark fashion.

And for all Arsenal's pretty passing and intricate patterns in the second half, it was Chelsea who applied the killer blow five minutes from time when Alex concluded a fast bowler's run-up with a true touch of Brazil as he lashed a long-range free-kick high beyond Lukasz Fabianski.

Wenger may take heart from the fact that Arsenal were not swept aside in the manner they were against Chelsea last season, although there were moments of slackness at the back, but there was no consolation in a familiar scoreline as they were once again beaten by their fierce London rivals.

For Chelsea boss Ancelotti, attending the game despite the recent death of his father, there was satisfaction in the manner in which his side responded to their first Premier League defeat of the season at Manchester City.

Arsenal, on the receiving end of comprehensive defeats against Chelsea at home and away in the Premier League last season, showed no inferiority complex as they almost scored twice inside the first 60 seconds.

Chamakh's header from Bacary Sagna's cross was only inches away with Cech beaten, before Koscielny somehow headed the resulting corner over the top, despite standing almost on the goalline.

And as Arsenal continued to dominate the opening exchanges, Arshavin forced a fine save from Cech and Samir Nasri was narrowly off target with a low drive.

The threat of Drogba hung over Arsenal like a cloud, however, and he posted the warning signs by forcing a desperate block from Fabianski with an angled drive. Almost inevitably, for all Arsenal's superiority, it was Drogba who made the first-half's decisive contribution as Chelsea went ahead after 39 minutes.

Ramires did well to win possession before feeding Cole, whose near-post cross was met with a subtle flick from Drogba that flew in via the near post. It was very much against the run of play - and Wenger's frustration was plain to see on the touchline.

Arsenal refused to be discouraged by the setback and pressed forward with urgency, but another moment of defensive frailty almost saw Chelsea double their advantage on the hour.

Anelka robbed the hesitant Sebastien Squillaci, and even though the striker rounded Fabianski the angle was too acute and the finish rolled agonisingly wide for Chelsea.

Arsenal were being punished for their wastefulness in front of goal, and Chamakh was the culprit again with 10 minutes left as he headed substitute Tomas Rosicky's cross wide.

Chelsea's greater cutting edge was crucial, and they clinched the victory in spectacular fashion with five minutes left. Alex ripped a 25-yard free-kick high past the despairing grasp of Fabianski after Koscielny had been booked for a foul on Anelka.

Arsenal were instantly deflated, and Fabianski had to make fine saves from Michael Essien and Cole as Chelsea threatened to extend the victory margin.

[rixalex]

Two great goals and game of the season for me. The pace was blistering. Score line flattered Chelsea, but that said they looked very strong.

[Seapok]

Two great goals and game of the season for me. The pace was blistering. Score line flattered Chelsea, but that said they looked very strong.

Yeah I kinda agree with that but maybe if we beat Arsenal by 3 or 4 it would of been more flattering. We are looking very strong especially with Essien bossing the midfield, the jury is still out on Ramires though, having said that he seems to be gaining more confidence as each game passes.

Edited October 4, 2010 by Seapok

[Seapok]

Chelsea hit by Alex blow

Chelsea defender Alex has been ruled out of action for three weeks with a thigh injury.

Alex, who scored a stunning free-kick in the 2-0 win over Arsenal last Sunday, sustained the problem in the closing stages of the game at Stamford Bridge.

Scans have shown Alex has strained his thigh muscle and the central defender has been forced to withdraw from the Brazil squad to take on Iran on Thursday and Ukraine next Monday.

The former PSV Eindhoven stopper is set to miss three weeks of action, ruling him out of the trip to Aston Villa after the international break and the UEFA Champions League tie with Spartak Moscow

The news is a blow for Chelsea as they are already missing injured duo Frank Lampardand Yossi Benayoun

[oldgit]

Chelsea hit by Alex blow

Chelsea defender Alex has been ruled out of action for three weeks with a thigh injury.

Alex, who scored a stunning free-kick in the 2-0 win over Arsenal last Sunday, sustained the problem in the closing stages of the game at Stamford Bridge.

Scans have shown Alex has strained his thigh muscle and the central defender has been forced to withdraw from the Brazil squad to take on Iran on Thursday and Ukraine next Monday.

The former PSV Eindhoven stopper is set to miss three weeks of action, ruling him out of the trip to Aston Villa after the international break and the UEFA Champions League tie with Spartak Moscow

The news is a blow for Chelsea as they are already missing injured duo Frank Lampardand Yossi Benayoun

It is a setback but Ivanovic is a class act and centre back is undoubtedly his best position.The problem is getting an rapid understanding between Terry and him.The rust showed early on in the Villa game but,as the match wore on,they were rarely troubled.Now that is Bosingwa fit,the problem right back position appears to be solved although I would want to see a big improvement from him as,last season,he irritated the &lt;deleted&gt; out of me.Most of the time, he played like he was on another planet. Ramires is getting better every game,Seap',but his passing needs to improve.He's deceptively strong and is quick,though.

[Seapok]

Chelsea 4 - 1 Spartak Moscow

Chelsea maintained their 100% record in this season's Champions League with a clinical win over Spartak Moscow that secured their progress from Group F.

An even first half was notable mostly for an awful miss by Chelsea's Alex.

But the hosts impressed in the second half, sparked by Nicolas Anelka's fine rising finish before Didier Drogba earned and fired home a penalty.

Branislav Ivanovic then headed a third and slammed home a fourth, either side of Nikita Bazhenov's late consolation.

As so often with Chelsea this season, it was a win that in the end could barely have been more comfortable - and yet the hosts never really got out of third gear.

It extends the Blues' unbeaten run at home in the Champions League group stages to 22 - a run built on clinical finishing and the foundations of a superb defence, marshalled from between the sticks by Petr Cech - who had gone 956 minutes without conceding at Stamford Bridge before Bazhenov's late strike.

Spartak certainly played their part in a keenly-contested opening half, though.

Despite losing the reverse fixture a fortnight ago, the Russian outfit served enough warning in the second half of that one to suggest they could threaten the Blues at the Bridge - and so it proved in a first 45 minutes that was arguably shaded by the team from Moscow.

With Dimitri Kombarov and Aiden McGeady providing plenty of width and fit-again skipper Alex pulling the strings in midfield, Spartak more than held their own.

Former Celtic winger McGeady curled the match's first effort of note narrowly wide after a decent break by Evgeni Makeev, while Alex forced a smart stop on the dive from Petr Cech with a swerver from range that the Chelsea keeper did well to beat away.

But it was the visitors' drive and energy more than their incision in front of goal that will have impressed their vocal away support - and for a long time Chelsea failed to fire as a result.

With John Terry on the bench, Michael Essien rested and Frank Lampard still injured, a lack of spark betrayed a sense that Chelsea were expecting - rather than battling for - things to happen, despite the prospect of early qualification to the knockout stages.

Not that the hosts were completely toothless. Anelka curled inches wide on the back of an incisive run, Drogba forced a low save from the angle and only Alex will know how he failed to tap in from all of a yard after Branislav Ivanovic's near-post flick from a corner.

Still, more purpose, intent and ambition was needed if Chelsea were going to break the Russians' resolve - and it took less than five minutes of the second half for Anelka to provide it.

The Frenchman exchanged passes on the run with Salomon Kalou on the edge of the Spartak area and then squeezed home a fabulous rising finish between the post and keeper Andriy Dykan from a tight angle to open the scoring.

That goal enabled Chelsea to do what they have done so well all season - patiently build, wait for the gaps, and then strike with clinical precision.

It was 2-0 soon after the hour mark, Makeev chopping Drogba down inside the area and the Ivorian picking himself up to slot in the resulting spot-kick.

And only moments later Ivanovic put the game to bed, getting himself free to nod into the corner from Drogba's precise free-kick.

Kalou twice went close to a fourth, firing over when well placed in the area and then forcing a smart save with a low drive.

But it was Spartak, against the run of play, that grabbed the game's fourth in the end - Bazhenov, looking suspiciously offside, sliding home from Welliton's cross on the break.

The final word, however, belonged - fittingly - to Chelsea, Ivanovic slamming in his third goal in two matches after a spot of pin-ball inside the visitors' box in stoppage time.

Marseille's 7-0 rout of MSK Zilina in the night's other Group F game means top spot is not yet guaranteed for the west Londoners - but with Zilina the next opponents for Carlo Ancelotti's men, entering the knockout stages as group winners for the sixth time in the last eight campaigns looks odds-on for the Premier League leaders.

[spongeman]

There was something in the air tonight , the stars were bright, Fernando...........