Sporting Lisbon 0-1 Chelsea: Three points EVENTUALLY!

A great three points tonight from Chelsea, beating Sporting Lisbon by a goal to nil. If you look at the result on paper, you would feel that it was job done and to a point it was. If you watched the game however, you would know it was a very different story.

Let's be honest, Chelsea could have had this game won at half time but just as with Schalke, time and time again we couldn't kill the game off. If it wasn't for the opposition goalkeeper, Chelsea would have scored three or maybe even four.

Chelsea never capitalised on our opener, scored by Nemanja Matic with a looping header over the goalkeeper from a Cesc Fabregas free kick. Diego Costa, Oscar and Mohamed Salah were all denied by the feet of the goalkeeper from close range, in on goal. On another day all three could be celebrating.

But, as two weeks ago, Chelsea allowed their opponents back into the game and very nearly suffered the same consequences again.

It was definitely a game of two halves. Chelsea bossed the first and opened up Sporting's back line time and time again. Andre Schurrle, Oscar, Costa and Hazard were causing them problems as they tried to cope with our movement and at times, their back four were all over the place!

If we could have just scored for a second time, the game would have opened up even further and we could have picked them off on the counter attack. Andre Schurrle was guilty of missing a glaring opportunity and arguably our best chance, as he side footed wide from 12 yards after Eden Hazard broke free down the right hand side.

However, second half Sporting came out and took the game to Chelsea. Nani (remember him!) was the main outlet for the home side and forced us onto our back foot.

Sporting had far too many chances in and around our box. OK, you expect pressure from the home side but if just once they had got one of their efforts on target, we could have come away with just another point.

Luckily for Chelsea, tonight that never happened and with Schalke and Maribor sharing the spoils in the other group game, Chelsea sit at the top of the table, two points clear of second place.

As I said we will wake up tomorrow morning, see the result on paper and think to ourselves "Job done!" However, we need to make sure that we kick on from here and put these teams to bed when we have the chance.

Onwards and upwards!