Chelsea blew a chance to grab the Premier League by the scruff of the neck yesterday losing at Eastlands for two reasons. Firstly, Manchester City defended really well and made life difficult for Chelsea and secondly, Chelsea lacked the cutting edge we have been so used to seeing this season. It all added up to another disappointing defeat to City who have become our bogey side latley, but you have to hand it to Mancini, they took their chance and made us pay!.
I had said in my match preview that the defensive problems City had could cost them the game and Chelsea, with Anelka, Drogba and Malouda back in the side playing as they have been, should capitalise and make them pay on the day. Sorry to say this never happened and never looked like it would at all yesterday.
Apart from an Ivanovic header against the bar and his rebounded attempt saved by Joe Hart, Hart had little to do to keep Chelsea at bay. We had been restricted to long range efforts and one attempt that looked to be going wide, touched wide of the post by Hart. That was as good as it got for Chelsea.
We lacked the fluidity we had shown so far this season, we lacked movement up front as the front three played more static than interchanging and played right into City's hands. City maintained their compact defensive shape and once again Nigel De Jong was outstanding against the Chelsea side at Eastlands.
Chelsea, because of the pressure they were put under by the ravenous City players every time we moved into the final third with the ball, couldn't hold onto it and more often than not our attack was broken down and dealt with easily by City. With their five-man midfield and defensive shape they never really looked in any kind of danger.
City relied on the counter attack and scored a goal that in my eyes could and should have been avoided. For some reason Carlos Tevez collected the ball on half way and was allowed to carry the ball forward to the edge of our box and struck a shot low through the legs of Cole and into the bottom corner, Cech had no chance.
Still this morning watching the goal back, I cannot for the life of me understand why Ashley Cole backed off Tevez and allowed him to come forward with the ball. Rather than front up to him and make a challenge or at least put him under pressure, we sat back off him and allowed him an easier attempt at goal and this should never have happened.
Speaking of Cole, I can't remember too often him getting forward to pose the young City defender a problem. Malouda was non-existant and then for me a moment in the game that said it all. Drogba taken off for Sturridge's pace next to Anelka.
Drogba's face said it all as he was taken off and for the life of me if we are chasing the game, why take Drogba off?.
I can understand the idea of bringing Sturridge on for his pace, but don't take Drogba off!. Sturridge was always going to look to get forward but again found himself stuck out on the right hand side and isolated. As Chelsea were chasing the game every time we got anywhere near their box, we were immediatley surrounded by four or five light blue shirts. It was their attitude and defensive discipline that stood out yesterday and you do have to hand it to them.
The problem for me now is that its typical bloody Chelsea. All we have heard for a couple of weeks now is the likes of Sir Alex moaning about the fact that up until yesterday, we hadn't played anyone of our rivals. So having the chance to shut him and the rest of doubters up, what happens?.. we play like we did, lose the game and give him even more ammunition against us.
The only positive was McEachran got his debut in the League, Arsenal also lost so we just need to hope Bolton play well in a bit against United.
To sum things up, City took to the game with a game plan and executed it perfectly, Chelsea didn't!.
KTBFFH.
