After being dropped for the first time in eight years at Chelsea last week, Frank Lampard was never likely to run to the bench and celebrate his winning goal with the manager.
But Andre Villas-Boas did not seem to care. Not when his side have now become the first team to beat Manchester City in the Barclays Premier League this season and not when they can also taunt them with their superior performances in the Champions League.
This was an insane game of football. A marvellous piece of sporting theatre but something that was as unpredictable as a Villas-Boas press conference.
After two minutes City were in front thanks to Mario Balotelli. After 30 it seemed they were about to condemn their hosts to another crushing defeat and put Chelsea’s young manager under yet more pressure. From Sergio Aguero there were touches of genius; from City’s midfield another commanding display.
But first came the equaliser from Raul Meireles and then a second half that saw the power shift back to Chelsea, not least because of a second yellow card that meant Gael Clichy was off after 57 minutes.
Only after that was there a sense of inevitability, Lampard’s arrival from the bench pointing to a possible winner from a player so obviously aggrieved at being omitted from the side that faced Valencia last week and apparently heading towards the exit door after a long and distinguished career at Stamford Bridge.
It was Joleon Lescott who finally gave him the opportunity to respond in the 82nd minute, blocking a shot from Daniel Sturridge with his hand and leaving Mark Clattenburg with no option but to point to the penalty spot. Lampard placed the ball on the rain-soaked turf before driving it past Joe Hart.
That he ran away from the bench and towards the crowd was no great surprise. If Villas-Boas did ask his players to acknowledge the bench after scoring, and Chelsea are suggesting the exchange was not quite as has been reported, they almost seemed to over-compensate, barely looking towards the bench never mind running over.
How they arrived there on Monday night still takes some explaining. For a start, City should have had a penalty soon after Balotelli’s opening goal when Jose Bosingwa brought down David Silva with a clumsy tackle.
Further to that, Meireles could have been sent off for a studs up challenge on Pablo Zabaleta. That said, Yaya Toure could have been dismissed for slapping Juan Mata in the face and Vincent Kompany also flirted dangerously with Clattenburg.
For City, discipline has been a problem. Clichy was their third red card in six games and the fact that they lost after failing to progress to the last 16 of the Champions League presents Mancini with his first major setback of the season. Something that presents him with a different challenge and something that makes the title race that much more interesting.
TPresumably City’s Christmas party, due to take place in London last night, was not quite as riotous as it might have been.
Their party-animal-in-chief did his best to kick the evening off on the right note. Late to bed but early to rise, Balotelli gave another demonstration of why he is worth the trouble.
He may have broken a curfew late on Saturday night but he scored a quite brilliant goal that was all the more impressive for the awful conditions.
Aguero was the creator, skipping away from John Terry and two or three other Chelsea players before delivering a perfect through ball.
But it was Balotelli who drifted off Bransilav Ivanovic before dragging the ball wide of an advancing Petr Cech and scoring into an empty net. It was his 11th goal in 14 games and the finest advertisement curry will ever have if it wants to be seen as a health food.
At this stage Chelsea were in trouble; chastened and lacking confidence and almost two goals down when Bosingwa brought down Silva.
But then came a change in approach, Chelsea returning to the deeper defensive approach that worked so well against Valencia and providing their forwards with more security.
The equaliser arrived soon afterwards. In the 34th minute to be exact. It started with a ball forward from Terry and continued when Sturridge, excellent last night, surged past Clichy before inviting Meireles to score with what was a super volley.
Did Chelsea’s players then run to Villas-Boas and his staff on the bench on that occasion? Well no. But they gained in momentum after the break and continued to target Clichy, who having already been booked once for a foul on Sturridge received a second yellow card for a foul on Ramires.
Now Chelsea were in control, solid in defence and strong in midfield. Ramires was impressive, as was Oriol Romeu, and the arrival of Lampard as a 73rd minute replacement for Meireles gave them a freshness in that area of the field.
Mancini responded to by sending on Kolo Toure and Nigel de Jong in the hope of escaping with a draw, but to no avail.
With a penalty came a moment as pleasurable for Lampard as it was for Villas-Boas, even if Chelsea’s players had a group hug at the end without their manager.
But Andre Villas-Boas did not seem to care. Not when his side have now become the first team to beat Manchester City in the Barclays Premier League this season and not when they can also taunt them with their superior performances in the Champions League.
Spot on: Lampard wheels away in celebration after scoring the winning goal for Chelsea
To be Frank: Lampard nets his seventh Premier League goal of the campaign to hand Chelsea the win
Drogba celebrate with Lampard
After two minutes City were in front thanks to Mario Balotelli. After 30 it seemed they were about to condemn their hosts to another crushing defeat and put Chelsea’s young manager under yet more pressure. From Sergio Aguero there were touches of genius; from City’s midfield another commanding display.
But first came the equaliser from Raul Meireles and then a second half that saw the power shift back to Chelsea, not least because of a second yellow card that meant Gael Clichy was off after 57 minutes.
Only after that was there a sense of inevitability, Lampard’s arrival from the bench pointing to a possible winner from a player so obviously aggrieved at being omitted from the side that faced Valencia last week and apparently heading towards the exit door after a long and distinguished career at Stamford Bridge.
It was Joleon Lescott who finally gave him the opportunity to respond in the 82nd minute, blocking a shot from Daniel Sturridge with his hand and leaving Mark Clattenburg with no option but to point to the penalty spot. Lampard placed the ball on the rain-soaked turf before driving it past Joe Hart.
That he ran away from the bench and towards the crowd was no great surprise. If Villas-Boas did ask his players to acknowledge the bench after scoring, and Chelsea are suggesting the exchange was not quite as has been reported, they almost seemed to over-compensate, barely looking towards the bench never mind running over.
It was a triumphant, less prickly Villas-Boas who emerged afterwards. He has been raging against the world in recent weeks but now his team are beginning to click into gear, this coming on the back of those wins against Valencia and Newcastle.
Further to that, Meireles could have been sent off for a studs up challenge on Pablo Zabaleta. That said, Yaya Toure could have been dismissed for slapping Juan Mata in the face and Vincent Kompany also flirted dangerously with Clattenburg.
For City, discipline has been a problem. Clichy was their third red card in six games and the fact that they lost after failing to progress to the last 16 of the Champions League presents Mancini with his first major setback of the season. Something that presents him with a different challenge and something that makes the title race that much more interesting.
Back in the game: Chelsea celebrate as Raul Meireles (centre) draws the hosts level with 34 minutes gone
Their party-animal-in-chief did his best to kick the evening off on the right note. Late to bed but early to rise, Balotelli gave another demonstration of why he is worth the trouble.
He may have broken a curfew late on Saturday night but he scored a quite brilliant goal that was all the more impressive for the awful conditions.
Aguero was the creator, skipping away from John Terry and two or three other Chelsea players before delivering a perfect through ball.
But it was Balotelli who drifted off Bransilav Ivanovic before dragging the ball wide of an advancing Petr Cech and scoring into an empty net. It was his 11th goal in 14 games and the finest advertisement curry will ever have if it wants to be seen as a health food.
Dismissed: Clichy was sent off in the second half for a second bookable offence
But then came a change in approach, Chelsea returning to the deeper defensive approach that worked so well against Valencia and providing their forwards with more security.
It started so well: Balotelli rounds Petr Cech to score the opening goal of the game
Why always him? The Italian striker is mobbed after scoring his eighth Premier League goal of the campaign
Did Chelsea’s players then run to Villas-Boas and his staff on the bench on that occasion? Well no. But they gained in momentum after the break and continued to target Clichy, who having already been booked once for a foul on Sturridge received a second yellow card for a foul on Ramires.
Moment of madness: Lescott handled in the penalty area following Sturridge's shot
Mancini responded to by sending on Kolo Toure and Nigel de Jong in the hope of escaping with a draw, but to no avail.
With a penalty came a moment as pleasurable for Lampard as it was for Villas-Boas, even if Chelsea’s players had a group hug at the end without their manager.
No comments:
Post a Comment