Chelsea 2-1 Portsmouth : JOB DONE!

Ahead of last nights game I called for us to just win and put three points on the board after our form has stuttered in recent weeks and as United had won and were level on points with us before the game. Chelsea delivered the three points thank god and on the run of play we deserved the win.

It was no easy game as Pompey had their gameplan and stuck to it and made it difficult for us by flooding their midfield and looked to press and hassle the man on the ball and once in possession looked to feed off their one man up front.

Chelsea made changes to the side that drew against Everton last weekend. Ricardo Carvalho was rested and dropped to the bench and Alex came in for his first start after injury next to JT in our back line. Other than that the remainder of our defence was the same. Cech in goal, Ivanovic at right back and Ashley Cole at left back. Joe Cole was rested and dropped to the bench and bloody Deco came in to the side to start the game! Drogba wasn't fit after his back problem so Kalou came into the team next to Anelka.

We could of taken the lead when from a corner Ballack flicked on at the near post and Kalou (yes him again) headed over the bar from 6 yards out! We took the lead when Alex appeared down the right hand side and rode a tackle. He forced his way into the box and saw Anelka waiting 10 yards out, slid the ball to him (with a slight deflection) and Anelka tucked the ball home. 1-0 Chelsea. Pompey's best chance in the half came to Piquionne as he cut back onto his right foot just in side the box right of centre and fired a shot towards goal, Cech got down well low to his right and made the save. Pompey had another half chance as Ben-Haim (remember him) headed over after he has lost his marker Kalou in the box, from 8 yards out.

Lampard had a shot driven at goal and save by the keeper then Ashley Cole combined with Lamps down our left hand side. He played the ball into Lampard who backheeled it first time to Cole who took a touch back onto his left foot and drilled a shot hard and low towards the far post. The keeper was beaten but the ball was just inches wide.

Half time and we go in 1-0 up and looking fairly comfortable. One thing that is noticable in the first half is that the Chelsea backline when defending free kicks are playing high up the pitch to keep distance between themselves and Petr Cech. A good sign if you ask me, as it definatley needed to be addressed.

Second half starts and no changes. We are having a lot of possession without creating anything major when Portsmouth score to make it 1-1. Terry commits a foul outside the box and Andy O'Hara (minus the tissues) takes the free-kick. He hits it at the wall and deflects off Kalou's body and fizzes towards Ashley Cole's face so fast he is unable to react in time. The ball deflects off Cole straight into the path of Piquionne who blasts the ball on the bounce into the roof of the net. Cech, no chance. Can't complain about this one. No one's fault. 1-1.

So now we need a goal and a few minutes later Ivanovic warms up the keepers hands with a shot from distance, easily parried by Begovic. Ancelotti decides to make changes sooner rather than later. One change is forced upon him when Deco (who again looks a yard short of Premier League pace in midfield) picks up a knock and is replaced by Joe Cole.

Then its almost a nightmare. For some reason the wandering Alex and Terry are caught out of position in our right back position with Ivanovic further up field as Pompey break. They get past a sloppy challenge and the ball is crossed into Boateng who tries to dig the ball out of his feet, as he does thank god that Ashley Cole has come round on the cover, gets across and slides in just as Boateng lets fly and deflects the shot for a corner. What were Alex and JT doing! Out of position and all over the place.

Mikel comes off shortly afterwards for Malouda and Kalou is withdrawn for Borini. Lampard steps up shortly after and fires a short hard and low and once more Begovic gets down to his right and makes the save. Then it happens, we get the goal.

Ball is played to Ivanovic who is right on the edge of the box, defender comes across and makes a stupid tackle, Ivanovic can see it coming, flicks the ball past the defender and waits to be caught. Indeed the defender catches Ivanovic's legs and the ref gives a pen. Now, when Lampard missed against City I wondered why he chose to blast it as he normally places the ball into each of the corners of the net. So as he places the ball and steps back the same thought enters all our heads. So the ref blows the whistle and this time Lampard smacks it down the middle, keeper beaten and the ball flies into the net and bounces out again as he hit it that hard. Great pen, keeper no chance. 2-1 Chelsea.

We are now back in front and I am thinking now don't throw the three points away again! But, there wasn't really any further threat from Pompey as the second goal looks to have killed them off. Right at the death some intelligent play from the ever buzzing and keen Borini see's him nick a back pass away from Begovic, his touch past the keeper takes him away from goal and you could tell he is already thinking of his first Chelsea goal in front of the Matthew Harding, as he strikes it just wide of the far post. To be fair it deserved a goal, but the angle was decreasing all the time and he was unlucky. His time will come for sure.

Chelsea see out the final added minutes and referee blows the whistle. Chelsea 2-1 Portsmouth as Lampard gives Avram Grant a cuddle as he walks of the pitch. Now again for me at this moment in time its about the three points and thats it. Sure, there are things to worry about. For example Deco and no matter when he plays he seems to be more ineffective during games than he is effective. JT and Alex caught out of position twice in the second half, but Ancelotti will work on this.

All that matters is the Premier League record books and the entry that was made in them last night. Chelsea 2-1 Portsmouth.

JOB DONE!

CAREFREE & KTBFFH EVERYONE!