BLUE FLAG 'PRIDE OF LONDON'

Guest Mon 24 Aug - 10:27

Fulham 0 Chelsea 2

Chelsea climbed to second place in the Barclays Premier League as they preserved their 100% start to the season with an easy 2-0 win over Fulham in the south-west London derby at Craven Cottage.

Goals in each half from Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka settled the contest in Chelsea's favour.

The Blues have made a fabulous start to the season under new coach Carlo Ancelotti and the scoreline could have much higher had visitors taken their many chances.

Chelsea wasted a chance to punish Fulham as early as the 12th minute when Drogba was brought down on the edge of the penalty area by Fulham captain Danny Murphy.

Michael Ballack elected to try his luck with the free-kick from 25 yards out in a central position but put his effort a yard over the bar.

The Blues had dominated the opening half but had failed to add a cutting edge to their possession.

John Obi Mikel had Mark Schwarzer flinging himself to his right in the 21st minute when the Nigerian midfielder despatched a 20-yard volley towards the top corner. However, fortunately for the Fulham goalkeeper, Mikel's effort flashed wide of the upright.

Fulham responded quickly but a cross from Murphy was easily held by Petr Cech in the Chelsea goal.

The home side had done little to suggest they had the firepower to trouble Chelsea's rearguard.

Chelsea continued to press for an opening goal but their final ball was a disappointment on numerous occasions.

Captain John Terry was an example of their growing frustration when he tried his luck from 25 yards - but Schwarzer was left untroubled by Terry's piledriver as it soared over the bar.

But Chelsea finally broke the deadlock in the 38th minute when a fine three-man move left Fulham floored.

Frank Lampard slipped the ball through to Anelka, who in turn put Drogba in the clear with a clever pass.

The Ivory Coast international made no mistake as he slipped the ball beyond the advancing Schwarzer for his third goal of the season.

It was just reward for Chelsea's first-half domination and a perfect example of how to pass the ball through an opposing defence.

Drogba managed to get clear of the Fulham defence again moments later but he was ruled marginally offside.

Fulham almost fluked an equaliser in the 50th minute when Murphy's deep cross into the penalty area was headed over his own goal by Chelsea defender Ricardo Carvalho.

But Chelsea's domination was soon restored and Drogba almost grabbed a second in the 54th minute when he latched on to a clever lob by Anelka.

This time, however, the Ivory Coast striker was denied at the second attempt by Australian goalkeeper Schwarzer.

Ancelotti's side were in total control and Florent Malouda should have done better when he shot wide on the hour - his angled drive flashing wide the far post.

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson replaced the ineffective Zoltan Gera with Diomansy Kamara in the 62nd minute to loud cheers of approval from the home fans.

The home side just could not keep possession and the frustration of the home fans was all too evident.

Chelsea's neat approach play had everything, guile, surprise, intelligent running off the ball and accurate passing.

The only real surprise of the afternoon was that the scoreline remained 1-0 to the Blues.

Fulham could not cope with Malouda's pace and trickery on the left flank and but for some last-gasp defending from the home side, Chelsea would have increased their advantage.

The Cottagers were dealt another blow in the 69th minute when captain Murphy went off injured to be replaced by Chris Baird.

Chelsea went two goals in front in the 76th minute when Drogba turned supplier for Anelka.

The France international rounded Schwarzer and coolly slotted the ball home to make sure of all three points for Chelsea and preserve their 100% start to the new season.

BLUE FLAG 'PRIDE OF LONDON' Drogba-Anelka-Lampard_2351657

BLUE FLAG 'PRIDE OF LONDON' Drogba-Anelka-Lampard_2351657

:Wave: :Wave: :Wave: :Nerd:

Guest Sat 29 Aug - 16:28

Chelsea cruise past Clarets (3 - 0)

Ancelotti's leaders excellent again at the Bridge

An assured and dominant display by Chelsea in West London proved too much for the Premier League's surprise package to date as Burnley left the capital with only a 3-0 defeat for their efforts.

In claiming a fourth successive league victory Chelsea showed fluidity and ease of movement throughout that suggests they are enjoying life under the gregarious Carlo Ancelotti. Goals either side of half-time from Nicolas Anelka and Michael Ballack were trumped by a stunning third from Ashley Cole.

Burnley's efforts to play an attractive brand of football of their own were commendable, if ultimately fruitless, as Owen Coyle's declaration not to park the proverbial bus at Stamford Bridge made for an entertaining and open first half.

Indeed had Martin Paterson shown a modicum of composure to match that of his team-mate, Tyrone Mears, in presenting him with a clear sight on goal after dispossessing Frank Lampard, Burnley would have taken a first-half lead totally against the run of play. Instead he dragged his shot meekly wide as Burnley's afternoon, like Paterson's nerve, was shot.

Prior to Paterson's miss it was a case of 'thou shall not pass the Beast' as Chelsea were repeatedly thwarted by the sprawling and not unsubstantial mass of Burnley goalkeeper Brian Jensen.

Lampard, Ballack and Anelka were all guilty of profligacy in front of goal as Jensen made sterling saves, to keep Chelsea at bay for all but the dying seconds of the first period.

Slack play at the back allowed Anelka the first sniff of goal but his heavy second touch when through on goal allowed Jensen to scramble off his line to frustrate the Frenchman. Burnley were far from daunted though, as Chris McCann's surging run from midfield concluded with a stabbed effort a yard or so over before Paterson's moment to forget.

Patience key
As Chelsea's pride was pricked by their visitors' impertinence, Terry's snapshot from a corner tested Jensen's agility further before the giant custodian had Ballack scratching his head in bewilderment as he denied the impressive German from close range.

Chelsea kept playing their football as Ancelotti urged patience from the sidelines and their superiority, possession wise, was finally recognised on the scoreboard when in injury time Anelka struck.

Michael Essien's through ball cut through Burnley's backline with the precision of a Saville Row tailor, while Drogba's whipped low ball across goal was bespoke for Anelka to slide home behind a despairing Clarke Carlisle.

If Chelsea teased their prey for much of the first half they went for the jugular at the start of the second. Just two minutes had elapsed when Ballack made sure of a profitable home return as he dived to head Lampard's delicate clipped cross past Jensen from around eight yards. Anelka, immaculate in his build-up play all afternoon, deserves mention for his bright delayed pass that made space for Lampard down the left.

While Chelsea's first two goals were examples of fine team play, their third was the product of Ashley Cole's making alone. BLUE FLAG 'PRIDE OF LONDON' Ashley-Cole-Chelsea-v-Burnley_2353811

BLUE FLAG 'PRIDE OF LONDON' Ashley-Cole-Chelsea-v-Burnley_2353811

After feeding the ball into Lampard the buccaneering left-back made inroads into Burnley's box and after taking his team-mate's angled pass in his stride he let fly with a searing, angled finish of perfection that rasped past Jensen into the top corner.

Dominant
With Burnley deflated by Chelsea's all consuming dominance the home side began to take pot-shots at Jensen, who continued to excel. Essien was twice denied, the first with an accurate daisy-cutter from the edge of the box, before a full-blooded drive was tipped over the top.

Drogba left the field to a standing ovation with a quarter of an hour left on the clock, before a linesman's flag denied Anelka's second of a productive afternoon. Mears then saved Burnley's blushes further when his excellent goal line clearance prevented substitute Salomon Kalou from making it four.

Burnley will learn from their lesson in the capital but their footballing ideals should not be compromised by a comprehensive defeat. After all, there is no disgrace in losing to a side who on this showing would be worthy champions come May.

BLUE FLAG 'PRIDE OF LONDON' 307691

Guest Mon 31 Aug - 14:45

kept his mouth shut on his future when city were courting and then denied money had owt to do with him staying...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1210172/Chelsea-skipper-John-Terry-signs-new-year-deal-stay-Stamford-Bridge.html

Guest Mon 31 Aug - 15:45

Marky wrote:kept his mouth shut on his future when city were courting and then denied money had ought to do with him staying...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1210172/Chelsea-skipper-John-Terry-signs-new-year-deal-stay-Stamford-Bridge.html

:oopsi: :oopsi: BLUE FLAG 'PRIDE OF LONDON' 847843

so fkn what..hes a blue through n through... BLUE FLAG 'PRIDE OF LONDON' 83637

Guest Mon 31 Aug - 15:50

the irony tripz, the irony.

Guest Mon 31 Aug - 22:32

If he was a blue through and through why didnt he just come out ages ago and put an end to all the speculation :cheat:

**Lioned** Thu 3 Sep - 13:57

Oh Dear. Naughty Naughty Chelski gonna get banned from everything........... BLUE FLAG 'PRIDE OF LONDON' 23324

No more new players for you for a while..................why no points deduction then ? :Wave:

Guest Thu 3 Sep - 17:06

:Wave: :Wave: :Wave:

ha ha, naughty Chelsea, oh dearie me, no new players for a while, serves them right for being devious and underhand BLUE FLAG 'PRIDE OF LONDON' 23324

Guest Thu 3 Sep - 17:37

i expect this to be a somewhat lively thread as the evening progresses

Reggie Dunlop Thu 3 Sep - 17:52

Chelsea have been banned from signing any new players until January 2011.

The punishment was meted out by Fifa after the club was found guilty of inducing French winger Gael Kakuta to break his contract with Lens in 2007.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/8236187.stm

**Lioned** Thu 3 Sep - 20:36

What they going to do if fat frank gets injured ? :jog:

Bit harsh if you ask me.'Tapping up' is going on all over the place (though chelski seem to be making a habit of it),what was man city doing to terry ?

Far more to this than meets the eye if you ask me.

Dont think platini and blatter want the big 4 English clubs getting too big headed.There's going to be more 'rules' to come regarding loans and 'living within ones means'.

I'd be suprised if this decision can be upheld on appeal.

Guest Thu 3 Sep - 21:40

ambramobitch will probably wave his money about - say no more. :Counting:

**Lioned** Thu 3 Sep - 22:10

Think chelski should get sent off........... BLUE FLAG 'PRIDE OF LONDON' Soccer26

Guest Fri 4 Sep - 8:55

most definitely BLUE FLAG 'PRIDE OF LONDON' 849426

Guest Fri 4 Sep - 11:32

Cherry wrote:ambramobitch

oooh, catty.

Guest Fri 4 Sep - 14:21

Guest Fri 4 Sep - 17:50

there ya go then... BLUE FLAG 'PRIDE OF LONDON' 40481

Guest Fri 4 Sep - 18:40

Guest Fri 4 Sep - 20:35

Cherry wrote:If he was a blue through and through why didnt he just come out ages ago and put an end to all the speculation :cheat:

BLUE FLAG 'PRIDE OF LONDON' 2284773157_83e1845f1e_o

Guest Fri 4 Sep - 20:38

Marky wrote:
Cherry wrote:ambramobitch

oooh, catty.

Guest Fri 4 Sep - 21:34

who is that BLUE FLAG 'PRIDE OF LONDON' 303636

**Lioned** Fri 4 Sep - 22:04

Now ya talking............. BLUE FLAG 'PRIDE OF LONDON' Baby3

Guest Fri 4 Sep - 22:22

STIMULATOR wrote:
Cherry wrote:If he was a blue through and through why didnt he just come out ages ago and put an end to all the speculation :cheat:

\\

oh mama

**Lioned** Fri 4 Sep - 22:41

Come to daddy.................... BLUE FLAG 'PRIDE OF LONDON' Women69

Guest Sat 19 Sep - 20:20

CHAMPIONS 2009/10 BLUE FLAG 'PRIDE OF LONDON' 307691

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