Chelsea look for happy festivities

Wednesday, 14/12/2011

by Joshua Block, Shoot's Chelsea blogger

Chelsea added to the misery surrounding Manchester by inflicting the visitor's first league defeat of the season, moving up to third place and seven points off the top spot.

It will have come as a huge relief to John Terry and his team-mates to be hearing the home faithful chanting ‘Chelsea are back!’ at the end of the match as they gain momentum heading into the tricky fixtures over the festive period.

But if AVB can continue with this recent form in the crucial games then Chelsea fans can be more positive about 2012 than a bitterly disappointing 2011

With two minutes on the clock and already a goal down to the Premier League leaders, Chelsea fans spurred the players on and kept up the electric atmosphere that was needed then more than ever.

After Mario Balotelli had beaten the offside trap to round Petr Cech and slot into an open goal, it looked like City could run away with the game at will but the Blues’ defence remained calm and proceeded to soak up the pressure for the next 25 minutes.

Andre Villas-Boas cut an intense figure on the edge of his technical area, viewing the game on his haunches for much of the time and shouting instructions to his players.

Finally, his men started to create some opportunities shortly after the half hour mark and it was rather apt that the player to cut through the City defences so easily to cross for a marauding Raul Meireles to sweep into the net was ex-City boy Daniel Sturridge.

Although it was not Roberto Mancini that let Sturridge leave to further his career, the City manager can add his departure to the list of his grievances with the Mark Hughes era at City. Juan Mata was another who was on his game for the Blues, determined to show his international team-mate David Silva that he is not the only Spanish genius in the Premier League.

Silva was fortunate not to be booked for simulation while trying to look for a penalty at 1-0 as referee Mark Clattenburg waved away his protests, but he failed to see that Mata was twice targeted by Yaya Touré, first being kicked on the floor and later slapped in the face. Sky Sports footage may still have something to contribute if the FA decide to act on these incidents. Joleon Lescott was another that could have been sent for an early bath, but Clattenburg made no mistake with Gael Clichy as he brought down Ramires running through on goal ten minutes into the second half.

Mancini ordered a full-on lockdown, defending resolutely and running down the clock whenever possible to try to hold onto the draw. However, AVB revealed the ace up his sleeve by replacing Meireles with a fresh and tenacious Frank Lampard, who had once more found himself left out of the starting line-up in a key game.

Lampard got his chance to silence his critics yet again when Sturridge’s goal-bound curling effort was blocked by Lescott’s raised arms in the penalty area. Mata offered his services to convert the spot-kick, remembering the Blues’ recent poor run with putting away penalties, but he was waved away by Lampard.

As the ball was blasted down the middle in true Lampard fashion seven minutes from time, the roar couldn’t have been more deafening as the team united in celebration in front of us in the Matthew Harding Stand. Now it was Chelsea’s turn to defend and run down the clock, but safe in the knowledge that it was for the win and perhaps the most important one of the season so far.

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