Birmingham 1-0 Chelsea. Better from Chelsea but not our day!.
If you never went to or saw the game yesterday then the score doesn't tell the whole story about our second defeat in a row within a wee...
https://www.chelseadaft.org/2010/11/birmingham-1-0-chelsea-better-from.html
If you never went to or saw the game yesterday then the score doesn't tell the whole story about our second defeat in a row within a week. Birmingham took all three points with a single goal from Lee Bowyer after opening up the Chelsea defence, however it was an outstanding individual performance from Ben Foster that kept Chelsea and Didier Drogba in particular at bay.
Chelsea, after a dismal performance last weekend made two changes. Zhirkov picked up a calf injury away with Russia so Malouda dropped into the midfield and Kalou came in up top next to Drogba and Kalou.
The important thing to remember from this game is Chelsea played much much better and bossed this game. We had the far superior possession of the ball and created so many chances. After Sunderland and Liverpool this was one thing that pleased me when I looked back on the game this morning.
Malouda looked more than comfortable sitting in the middle and with Kalou running at their defence and into space time and time again there are plenty of positives to take from the game.
Ok, the negative was their goal. Birmingham played the classic two men up front and with a move which pulled our two centre backs apart allowing a late run from midfield, Birmingham scored their goal.
Alex was pulled out wide marking Zigic, Jerome pulled away from Ivanovic in between him and Ferriera. A cross field ball from Larsson was met with a knock down by Jerome and Bowyer making a late run (Lampard esque) was totally unmarked and slotted the ball passed Cech to win it. If you wanted to be ultra critical about things you could say first Larsson wasn't closed down and was allowed time and space to cross the ball. Also, Jerome in between our two defenders should never have been able to win the header and Mikel looked like he left his man (Bowyer) and Chelsea were made to pay.
Being honest ( and even Birmingham fans will admit) Birmingham never really threatened Chelsea's goal after that as Chelsea were on the front foot for virtually the whole game. Time and time again Chelsea opened up the Birmingham defence but should have done alot better and never tested Ben Foster. Kalou with the easier of our chances, turned his man in the box and blasted high over the bar from 8 yards when it looked easier to score.
It was Foster that took all the plaudits and rightly so. He made some good saves from Ivanovic after his near post header from a corner looked to be heading into the net. A save from Ashley Cole down at his near post. A one on one save from Drogba as Kalou put the big man through on goal. As Foster came out, Drogba opened up his body and looked to slot the ball past him into the far corner but Foster spread his body and blocked the shot. Kalou then tried to round Foster after he was onto a back pass, Foster came out and first won the ball with a sliding tackle, then got up to force the ball out for a corner as Kalou looked to cross the ball across goal.
There was one save that will be the main talking point of the game. Malouda picked the ball up on the left hand side and played in a fantastic cross into the middle 12 yards out. Drogba rose well above his marker and made great contact with the ball and headed the ball hard and low close to Foster, it looked a certain goal but Foster, moved his body, got down low to his left hand side and pushed the ball away. Alex McLeish stated it was "Gordon Banks like!" and you have to agree. Fantastic. Drogba also crashed a header against the bar with Foster beaten, the ball bounced clear and Chelsea knew it wasn't to be our day.
The obvious complaint is the goal and the defeat but for me we should focus more on our performance as a team and the individual performances of the players. On any other day Drogba would have scored a hat-trick and Kalou, Ivanovic and Cole would possibly had scored. Our passing was better, our movement was sharper and we looked at it once again yesterday which is good to see.
This morning there is talk that Ancelotti is under pressure and may leave but I am not having any of it. On any other day Chelsea would have walked this game, but for Foster it simply wasn't Chelsea's day.
KTBFFH
Chelsea, after a dismal performance last weekend made two changes. Zhirkov picked up a calf injury away with Russia so Malouda dropped into the midfield and Kalou came in up top next to Drogba and Kalou.
The important thing to remember from this game is Chelsea played much much better and bossed this game. We had the far superior possession of the ball and created so many chances. After Sunderland and Liverpool this was one thing that pleased me when I looked back on the game this morning.
Malouda looked more than comfortable sitting in the middle and with Kalou running at their defence and into space time and time again there are plenty of positives to take from the game.
Ok, the negative was their goal. Birmingham played the classic two men up front and with a move which pulled our two centre backs apart allowing a late run from midfield, Birmingham scored their goal.
Alex was pulled out wide marking Zigic, Jerome pulled away from Ivanovic in between him and Ferriera. A cross field ball from Larsson was met with a knock down by Jerome and Bowyer making a late run (Lampard esque) was totally unmarked and slotted the ball passed Cech to win it. If you wanted to be ultra critical about things you could say first Larsson wasn't closed down and was allowed time and space to cross the ball. Also, Jerome in between our two defenders should never have been able to win the header and Mikel looked like he left his man (Bowyer) and Chelsea were made to pay.
Being honest ( and even Birmingham fans will admit) Birmingham never really threatened Chelsea's goal after that as Chelsea were on the front foot for virtually the whole game. Time and time again Chelsea opened up the Birmingham defence but should have done alot better and never tested Ben Foster. Kalou with the easier of our chances, turned his man in the box and blasted high over the bar from 8 yards when it looked easier to score.
It was Foster that took all the plaudits and rightly so. He made some good saves from Ivanovic after his near post header from a corner looked to be heading into the net. A save from Ashley Cole down at his near post. A one on one save from Drogba as Kalou put the big man through on goal. As Foster came out, Drogba opened up his body and looked to slot the ball past him into the far corner but Foster spread his body and blocked the shot. Kalou then tried to round Foster after he was onto a back pass, Foster came out and first won the ball with a sliding tackle, then got up to force the ball out for a corner as Kalou looked to cross the ball across goal.
There was one save that will be the main talking point of the game. Malouda picked the ball up on the left hand side and played in a fantastic cross into the middle 12 yards out. Drogba rose well above his marker and made great contact with the ball and headed the ball hard and low close to Foster, it looked a certain goal but Foster, moved his body, got down low to his left hand side and pushed the ball away. Alex McLeish stated it was "Gordon Banks like!" and you have to agree. Fantastic. Drogba also crashed a header against the bar with Foster beaten, the ball bounced clear and Chelsea knew it wasn't to be our day.
The obvious complaint is the goal and the defeat but for me we should focus more on our performance as a team and the individual performances of the players. On any other day Drogba would have scored a hat-trick and Kalou, Ivanovic and Cole would possibly had scored. Our passing was better, our movement was sharper and we looked at it once again yesterday which is good to see.
This morning there is talk that Ancelotti is under pressure and may leave but I am not having any of it. On any other day Chelsea would have walked this game, but for Foster it simply wasn't Chelsea's day.
KTBFFH
