Chelsea 2-1 Tottenham - Chelsea get lucky but deserved the win.

They say that in football to win things, at times you need a slice of luck. Chelsea had theirs yesterday to claim a much needed three points against a plucky Spurs defence yesterday. All the headlines this morning will be about Video replay's for our first goal and I have to agree, I didn't think it was a goal looking at the numerous video playbacks last night but let's bring up an important point here, if Gomes hadn't of been sloppy and made the error, we would have nothing to discuss now would we.

Our second goal was a marginal offside but come on people let's be honest here once again, we have seen them given and some not given as I thought the benefit of the doubt was given to the attacker anyway?. Chelsea should of had a penalty as Malouda was brought down in the box that wasn't given so it's all swings and roundabout and evened each other out.

Looking at the game in general you felt as though at the beginning Chelsea had the formation working and Tottenham were struggling to cope. Torres and Drogba making runs and creating openings and it looked like it was just a matter of time before we scored. Torres was unlucky with a back post header from Drogba's near post flick on, but seemed to get his feet stuck under him so he couldn't rotate himself get a better contact with the ball.

Credit Harry Redknapp. It looked like Spurs were playing 4-4-2 with Van Der Vaart (great player by the way) in behind Pavlyuchenko but seeing the ease Chelsea were getting through he made an important switch as he reacted to the game. VDV was pulled back into a square midfield four and Sandro sat in between the defence and midfield when they didn't have the ball and it worked for a long period in the game.

Just as the instruction was being given out, VDV looped a ball over his head to Sandro 30 yards from goal and under a powder puff challenge from Essien and Torres trying to put him under pressure late on, He hit a fantastic volley into the top corner swerving from left to right, Cech to his credit got his hand to the ball but couldn't stop it. It was the typical counter attacking goal and Spurs were 1-0 up!.


szólj hozzá: chelsea-totten 2-1 wanzery.com

As I said, as soon as the goal went in and Redknapp got hold of Sandro (while doing some weird Chicken celebration, what's all that about?) he made sure Sandro new his new role and Spurs switched to 4-1-4-1.

Chelsea continued to probe and before the goal the closest we came was a Torres cross into the box headed towards goal by Essien but tipped over the bar by Gomes. It didn't look as though Chelsea were going to break Spurs down after their change in formation and looked as though we would be going in a goal down and in need of a change ourselves.

However, as you all know by now Gomes' sloppy goalkeeping allowed Frank Lampard's 30 yard strike squirm under his body and towards the goal. Like I said it didn't look as though the WHOLE ball was over the line so we did get lucky!. 1-1 and have a look for yourselves.


szólj hozzá: chelsea-totten 2-1 wanzery.com

Chelsea came out in the second half and took the game to Spurs once again. Drogba forced Gomes into palming a shot away once more and Malouda forced Gomes to save low to his left as Chelsea looked to break through. Spurs apart from these two efforts were frustrating Chelsea with their 4-1-4-1 formation.

Ramires came on for the disappointing Essien as Chelsea switched to 4-3-3 with Torres through the middle and Drogba out wide right. Now, we saw glimpses once again of Drogba's sulking and pathetic attitude until Torres was taken off. He was wide right, picked up a needless booking for arguing with the ref and for around five minutes seemed totally uninterested. I think Carlo spotted it and brought Torres off on 63 minutes for Kalou. Kalou wide right now and Drogba through the middle and guess what, he was back interested again!.

Within minutes of coming on and as Drogba blasted another dipping free kick goal wards, Kalou reacted first as Gomes, unsure of his handling, again parried the ball away from him but straight to Kalou. Unfortunately for Kalou and for Chelsea, the ball came at him to quick to adjust his body and the rebound flew over the bar.

Then came the penalty appeal. Ramires broke through the middle and passed the ball to Malouda just inside the box dead centre, he took a touch holding off the challenge of Kaboul and as he turned to strike the ball with his right foot, Kaboul stuck out a leg and took Malouda's left leg away. The Ref was right there to see it but never gave it!. It was a stone-wall, nailed on penalty.

Anelka came on for Malouda down the left as Chelsea tried to make the 4-3-3 count. Lampard shot wide twice and Drogba slid a free kick into the box for John Terry to strike at goal, he didn't connect properly as the ball rebounded into the six yard box as an almighty scramble took place but Spurs came out unscathed once again.

I honestly felt as though the game was heading for a draw. I know Chelsea were creating chances but you have to hand it to them, their midfield and defence worked hard in closing us down and I couldn't help but think this would finish as it was. I was wrong thank god!

John Terry passed to Anelka just to the left of centre of the pitch, Anelka looked up and passed inside to Lampard and continued his run. Lampard flicked ball into Anelka and with Dawson AND Gallas both sucked out to the ball, flicked the ball out wide right to Drogba. Drogba unmarked took a touch inside and tried his left foot swinger towards goal, miss-hit the ball straight into the path of Kalou who took one touch and then tapped the ball into the empty net. We had done it 2-1 Chelsea with a minute of normal time to go!


szólj hozzá: chelsea-totten 2-1 wanzery.com

Chelsea saw the game out as Spurs came forward, defended a couple of corners nothing of any real danger and we had won a massive three points.

I think if Spurs fans are honest we deserved it. Yes we were lucky and the first goal wasn't a goal but like I said, we should of had a penalty. I think if you try and look at the game from a neutrals perspective you would see that Chelsea were always on the front foot and had everyone involved in the game.

Too many players for Spurs couldn't have any real sustained contribution to the game. Aaron Lennon was non-existent, Gareth Bale didn't pose Chelsea any problems down the left hand side. VDV and Modric played well but couldn't really create any real problems in the second half as they were asked to sit deeper to deal with Chelsea coming forward, as a result Spurs up front became isolated so time after time, Chelsea broke up their possession and came forward again. Spurs had just one shot on target all game and that tells it's own story.

For me Mikel was outstanding and my man of the match. I have always liked the role he plays in our 4-3-3 and is far better there than Essien or Ramires and it is no coincidence that Chelsea's run of results recently has been because Mikel has forced his way back into the side. How many times did he break up possession?. How many times did he look to be under pressure and look to lose the ball but come out of the tackle with the ball at his feet. He made 73 of 75 passes yesterday which is amazing. I know most of it is simple passes but they all count as he provided Chelsea with a solid foundation in front of JT and Luiz to build more attacks.

All in all, we got the win and that is all that mattered. Spurs will feel hard done by and for the goal rightly so, but like I said, we should of had the penalty and the winning goal was borderline where we all have seen them either be given or not. In this case for Chelsea it was and the pressure is now on United today.

Chelsea(4-4-2):Cech; Ivanovic, David Luiz, Terry (c), Cole; Essien (Ramires 56), Mikel, Lampard, Malouda (Anelka 73); Torres (Kalou 62), Drogba.
Scorers Lampard 44, Kalou 88
Booked Ivanovic 37, Drogba 48, Terry 68

Tottenham (4-4-1-1): Gomes; Kaboul, Gallas, Dawson (c), Corluka (Pienaar 77); Lennon, Sandro, Modric, Bale; Van der Vaart (Jenas 84); Pavlyuchenko (Defoe 57).
Scorers Sandro 18
Booked Pavlyuchenko 56

Stats
Shots on target Chelsea 9 Tottenham 1
Corners Chelsea 5 Tottenham 5
Fouls Chelsea 13 Tottenham 12
Offsides Chelsea 0 Tottenham 0

Attendance 41,681

KTBFFH

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