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Leicester - Blackburn
Leicester - an abbreviation for 'Less said, the better
If only everyone had read the script properly this could have been a
triumphant victory parade for the great survivor of recent Chelsea
politics, on the field where the battle first began.
For it was in the corresponding fixture last season where the first
public sign of Ruud Gullit's discontentment with his striking
acquisition was glimpsed when Vialli was dropped to the bench in
favour of Mark Nicholls. If truth be told, the new guv'nor had the
last laugh that day when he came on at half-time and turned the game
but a win on Saturday would surely have warranted an even longer and
louder display of ironic satisfaction.
Unfortunately the team and their guiding '9' managed a display of
blanket ineptitude capable of pissing on any parade.
While on the subject of battles it was good to see old habits die
hard with the traditional Leicester welcome of Police escorts,
hurriedly blockaded roads and running skirmishes all in evidence
before kick-off. Just what is wrong with that place? You do not even
see such scenes at Leeds these days.
Those fans that had chosen to forego the street entertainment and
enter the ground were in good voice but not half as good as the
Leicester contingent were after only a couple of minutes of the game
thanks to another piece of 'frankly' embarrassing defending. Corners,
crosses and their ilk were always going to be a danger
but the first challenge was overcome only for the ball to be arc-ed
back in and the Chelsea defence to be caught high and dry between
activating the offside trap and marking their opponents. Heskey was
all alone and was not unduly tested in bringing the ball down and
poking it past Kharine.
Heskey's ability to get the better of the Chelsea defence was the
outstanding feature of the first-half. On at least a couple of other
occasions he was allowed unmarked headers, whilst at other
times he was simply quicker and stronger in reaching the ball than
both Leboeuf and Duberry.
The first half was largely a story of interruptions and misplaced
passes from both sides but while Leicester were able to break out
from this and mount periodic and dangerous looking attacks, Chelsea
managed anything but.
Much passing around the back was in evidence before the ball was
tentatively sent in the direction of either of the twin foci of
Vialli and Hughes. Too often however, this supply was
food and drink of banquet proportions for the likes of Prior, Walsh
and the awesome Elliott. Le Saux in particular was guilty of
spoiling some healthy personal approach play by sending the ball from
all angles onto the foreheads of this threesome.
Vialli for once was the more successful at holding the ball under
challenge but that probably says more of Mark Hughes' afternoon than
anything else. At this moment in time, the loss of power to that
electro-magnet that used to be known as his first touch makes his
style of play almost unworkable. It was Elliott who benefited
most by simply, sharply and frequently nipping in to acquire the
half-controlled spherical object.
We had to wait an awful long time, about half-a-half, for Chelsea's
first effort. Vialli and Le Saux linked up on the left before the
ball made its way into the middle to Dennis Wise via Petrescu. Wise
was tripped as he tried to tip-toe into the area and as Zola curled
his free-kick around the wall, the angle of view gave the
travelling fans a moment of hope until the ball thudded into the
advertising hoardings.
Shortly before Wise's positive contribution in this attack we had
seen the most exasperating and unseemly side of his game. Bringing
the ball out of defence, he over-hit a touch and as a Leicester
player moved in, out came that bloody two-footed tackle. Why does he
persist with this? Sometimes he wins the ball but even then is rarely
allowed to get away with it and on this occasion he hit living skin
before dead. He was booked this time but has been sent-off in the
past for such assaults and will go again before long. If ever there
was a case for playing the percentages...
Di Matteo was booked for a trip shortly afterwards with little
protest. A cautionable (and cautioned) amount of dissent however was
forthcoming towards the end of the half when Hughes was whistled up
after winning a bouncing ball in opposition to Prior, and
understandable were his protests too. It was a perplexing decision to
say the least as it must have contained the least amount of physical
contact ever in a challenge involving the Wrexham Wrangler.
Other Chelsea assaults of the half were a long range shot well over
from Di Matteo and a pull-back from the bye-line by Vialli which Wise
could not reach.
Half-time passed by with Peter Osgood demonstrating his attendance at
Neil Barnett's 'How to get all opposing fans hating Chelsea' classes
and one of those desperate dancing displays which failed to live up
to last year's entertainment when the CD started jumping halfway
through.
Towards the end of the first-half Leicester had lost Cottee injured
to add to the early departure of Savage but it did not seem to
prevent them picking up from where they had pressed pause. The
game was firmly in a grasp which got tighter as the second-half
progressed. A major factor in their ascendancy in this half was Muzzy
Izzet who began to assert himself on the midfield to the same degree
as Elliott at the back and Heskey up front.
I am honestly not just of this opinion as I used to sing his praises
whilst he was in the Chelsea reserves. I thought this was the finest
45 I have ever seen him play and he showed steel that I never
believed him capable of. Frequently he was winning the ball from Wise
and Di Matteo by either being sharper to react or stronger in the
tackle and he showed no lack of creativity with it either.
Wise really was not on the pace on the day and I suspect he is
carrying an injury at the moment. He has only trained intermittently
over the last few weeks and has very recently been spotted spending
his morning on the same fitness programme as Andy Myers -
indisputable evidence something is not right with the limbs!!
Leicester claimed a penalty with little justification ten minutes
into the half when Heskey went down under Duberry's challenge and a
couple of minutes later Leboeuf drew an acrobatic but, remembering
this 'keeper's over-elaboration at the Bridge this season, probably
not too hard a save with a well-struck free-kick from distance.
The home side's attacks became evermore threatening with Heskey
always involved. One fast move of Izzet, out to Heskey, in to
Fenton, in to the same boards Zola had early struck, had Martin
O'Neill playing cheerleader in front of the main stand (sorry! - make
that only stand) and Heskey twisted and turned out on the right
before crossing low to Fenton who missed his kick horribly.
Counter punches were a Le Saux header from a Petrescu cross which was
saved and a Wise shot which was so lame it would have been shot
itself had a vet been present.
Flo was introduced for Zola but probably welcomed the constant
high ball service he received as much as his fellow attackers had
done.
By then all but the most optimistic Chelsea fans had resigned
themselves to the fact their team would not score if the game went on
all week so the final blow brought little further pain. Petrescu did
something unmentionable in midfield allowing Heskey to send Guppy
away down the left and then meet the low cross from a few yards out
himself.
While Chelsea aided them considerably, credit must go to Leicester
who were simply better in every department throughout the game. If
Vialli really, truly believes Chelsea were 'outstanding' in the
second-half then I am already beginning to worry about the new
regime. The passing and movement was AWOL and no Chelsea player
emerges with any real credit.
Kharine caused a couple of palpitations with his kicking but was
quickly off his line to hoof away one dangerous throughball. Apart
from that he did little to want criticism or praise.
Duberry was probably the best of the backline defensively but
something must be seriously wrong with the tactics when it is he who
is constantly trying to launch 40-50 yard passes forward. Having said
that, Leboeuf's efforts were no better. The most imaginative thing he
managed all afternoon was to pretend to shoot the linesman with an
invisible rifle just before half-time.
Clarke's passing out of defence was...I don't even want to think
about it!
Petrescu and Di Matteo failed to exert as little influence as the
former has done for much of the last couple of months and the latter
a while longer.
Zola grafted away out wide but to little effect.
Well that is four away defeats in a row now. Something needs to be
done but what?
Don't ask me!
If I knew the answer I could demand a salary someway short of
3.6 million!
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Blackburn
The trip away to Blackburn Rovers is always one of the more pleasant
journeys of the season. There are the panoramic views of Wallsall and
West Bromwich to enjoy as you take a pleasant break from driving in
the permanent M5/M6 junction jam, plenty of healthy country air to
consume as you crawl along the single-carriage road carrying thousands
into a town whose roads were built for hundreds, not to mention a
conveniently located steep hill to aid your run to the ground in
order to catch the kick-off.
When you eventually arrive you are greeted by accommodating stewards
and police, a good stadium and healthy away allocation. The
atmosphere is far from intimidating and unlike Anfield there is no sense of
awe-inspiring history to instantly cast doubts in your mind.
So why then do the team find it all so bloody difficult?!
I suppose Blackburn have been a bit useful recently but not for the
whole of the past 20 odd years! Regardless of the result they never
come here and play anywhere close to their full potential.
The omens were good as well. Dennis Wise had passed his fitness test
(has he ever failed one?) and Hendry was injured so surely Hughes was
going to enjoy himself out there.
The opening ten minutes were not so much scrappy as totally
disintegrated - a mess of misplaced passes and petty fouls. Steve
Clarke started as if he had been in the pub since opening and it was
his pull on a backing-in Sutton that gave away the fatal free-kick
out to the left of Chelsea's penalty area.
Ripley's out-swinging crosses proved to be a problem all afternoon and
he had already fired a couple across the bows before he swung another
towards the penalty spot with this kick. Babayaro got a fair enough header to it
and it fell to Croft just outside the area who smashed the ball back
into the top corner of the net via the crossbar. Chelsea had defenders
on or near the line but he had managed to find the one hole in the
shield.
It was simply one of those goal where you cannot blame your team and
have to acknowledge the skills of the opposition.
The game now started to take on some sort of shape. Blackburn were
working very hard getting everyone behind the ball when Chelsea came
forward and were challenging strongly in midfield. Gallagher was booked for
barging Wise off the ball much to the disdain of the home crowd. Wise
was playing very wide out on the left leaving it to Di Matteo and
Newton to impose some sort of influence on midfield which they were
spectacularly failing to do.
It was no surprise then that Chelsea's best
chances of the half came from work down the flanks. The first real
penetration came from some passes swapped between Sinclair and
Petrescu before the ball was driven across to the other side of the
pitch where Wise and Babayaro repeated the feat. The resultant cross
was too deep to cause any real danger however.
There was a huge swell of anticipation in the Chelsea end as a long
high ball from the back appeared to be heading in the general
direction of Zola who was unmarked and goalbound. There can only be a
handful of players in the world who could bring such a falling object
under control of whom he is one. The leg came out at full stretch but
the ball bounced away to safety.
Zola was to come a lot closer later on from a similar situation. This
time he did get his foot to Wise's hook forward taking the 'keeper out
of the game at the same time but a defender got back to clear the
ball to safety.
Probably the best move of the half allowed Di Matteo
to exchange passes with Wise who drilled a shot at the near-post
but Flowers never looked like failing to reach it.
That was the best move but the best chance had to wait
until just before half-time. Wise showed the value of a genuinely
two-footed player when, on picking up Di Matteo's pass out wide which
had escaped the attentions of the full-back, he sent over a left-footed cross every
bit as good as the one he had given Vialli with his right during the
Tromso game. You cannot even use Zola's height as an excuse this time
as he headed horribly, horribly wide from in front of goal.
On the stroke of half-time a free-kick was awarded to Chelsea following a
tussle involving Wise much to the disgust of the Blackburn fans.
Zola's kick was deflected wide but even after the half-time whistle
their fans proceeded to give old Wiggy Lodge some terrible stick
that seemed entirely out of proportion with the damage inflicted. I
hate to think what the reaction would have been if Zola had produced
the goods to order. Lancashire hotpots indeed!
Inspite of the chances created and missed it had been a shoddy
display up to now. The only plus was Blackburn, goal excepted, had
failed to threaten much.
There must have been much throwing of babies' bottles at half-time
because for the opening half of the half (quarter sounds far too
American!), Chelsea were a changed side. They started to pass the
ball around quickly and positively. Three good chances came in less
minutes.
Firstly Sinclair got away down the right and hit one of those crosses on
the run which either panic the opposition or the bloke running the
burger van behind the stand. This time it was the better of the two
options and found Wise at the far post where, showing great vision, he
nodded the ball down to Zola around about the penalty spot. However, he
failed to get the connection he would have wanted and knocked the
ball narrowly wide before performing one of his pirouettes of
disgust.
Immediately after this Petrescu played a one-two with Di Matteo
and found himself in a similar position to Wise earlier at the near-post.
This time he was not able to find the roof of the net as he did at
Wimbledon a couple of seasons ago and only found Flowers who appeared to
save with the back of his legs.
From the corner the ball came out to Clarke who fired a couple of
yards over. Even the most optimistic Chelsea fan was not holding
their breath over that one.
Unfortunately the momentum was not maintained. Passes began to
stray again and Sutton started to sow seeds of anxiety in the Chelsea
backline. He was left unmarked at the back-post on one occasion but
his head-back was scrambled away. He then made a speciality of
landing the ball on the top of the Chelsea net with both head and
foot which did little good for the heart rates of those of us at the
other end of the ground. Newton was booked for pulling back a
Blackburn midfielder as he broke menacingly forward.
With about twenty minutes left Gullit elected to pull Petrescu off
and replace him with Flo. This decision rather took the resting of
players after internationals into the realms of dogma as prior to this
withdraw, Petrescu as much as anyone had appeared to be getting to
grips with the game. There were far more deserving candidates for
substitution, but more on that later.
Chelsea's attempts to save the match from here on in lacked panic but
also direction. Plenty of possession was won but few good moves were
forthcoming. Flowers again saved at the near-post this time from
Zola.
A question for the Stattos: Has Flowers ever lost against us (not
including penalty shoot-outs)? I recall Southampton being a bogey
side as well when he was with them.
De Goey came up for a corner which was cleared but fortunately the
break away was thwarted as Ed sprung the offside trap well with the
rest of the defence! It transpired he had joined the attack bizarrely
early as at least another two minutes were played which was long
enough for Hughes to bring a pass down and bang it over.
Practically all of Hughes' attacking intentions in the game had
floundered on the rocks of the offside law. His inability to time his
movements reached David Speedie proportions and were one of the major
reasons why this was such a frustrating affair. Hughes certainly seemed
frustrated as was shown by his bawling out of Flo who had the temerity to
be the target of a misplaced pass. If one player is
suffering from the rotation in personnel then it maybe Hughes. With all
the gaps in the league programme he really has not played much in
the past couple of months and just seems to lack sharpness. Hopefully
the upcoming sequence of league fixtures will remedy that.
Inspite of his finishing Zola's form is continuing to improve. His
little flicks and tricks around the box are finding their
destinations with increasing regularity and he even produced the 'old
semi-final shuffle' at one point.
Di Matteo on the other hand has still failed to have sent back to him
that first-touch he lost somewhere on his summer holidays.
Newton put in a performance as bad as Craig Burley's showing up here
last year which should have been nigh on impossible. Nothing he
attempted came off. It always seems to take him time to build up
momentum after injury but this is taking too long. We maybe seeing
quite a bit of Monsieur Lambourde in the coming months.
Sadly, it is looking as if Frank Sinclair's rich vein of form may have
been completely mined. I hope he is not trying to impress those
international managers queueing up to use his abilities too much!
De Goey had a solid game and the other two players who did themselves
justice were Wise and Leboeuf although as mentioned earlier, the
former's wide position limited his influence on the game. Whether he
was stuck out there to help out Babayaro or due to some perceived
weakness in the opposition, Gullit only knows.
The amount of effort Blackburn were putting into the game early on
must have led many to believe they would fade and Chelsea would
profit later but to be fair to them they kept their high N-R-G style
going right up until the end.
They are a fit outfit.
Too many of our players were below par and the midfield battle was
never won but we still should have got a draw at least. Do not be fooled
by what Gullit said after (what does he know anyway!), this performance was
fit to be compared with those at Coventry and Bolton in profligacy of finishing
alone. A disappointing day made worse by a rogue drummer.
I have never had much of a problem with the fans of Blackburn Rovers
before. However with their adoption of THAT Sheffield Wednesday song,
they have leapt several places in the hate league!
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