Malouda has now scored seven league in a blistering start to the season
Premier League pacesetters Chelsea stretched their lead to five points with a hard-fought victory over Wolves.
The visitors created several chances in an open game with David Edwards and Kevin Doyle both going close.
But Chelsea's attacking quality told and Florent Malouda calmly sidefooted them ahead from Yuri Zhirkov's pass.
The champions wasted a number of chances but sealed the win late on when substitute Salomon Kalou slid the ball home after a sweet move.
Kalou's late clinching second, after a glorious piece of interplay involving Michael Essien and Didier Drogba, was probably deserved but Mick McCarthy's men played a full part in an entertaining game.
And although they were out-chanced, they could point to several good opportunities and were unlucky not to score the first away league goal at Stamford Bridge since March.
That said, the Blues, who are now eight points clear of both Manchester United and Arsenal and five ahead of Manchester City, played with supreme confidence and total fluency and could and should have added to their tally.
Wolves made a promising start, winning three corners and they looked eager not to sit back and allow Chelsea to dominate possession.
The pace of Matthew Jarvis posed more than a few problems down the right flank in the first 30 minutes and Mick McCarthy's men were happy to commit men forward despite their solid 4-5-1 line-up.
David Edwards failed to get a meaty connection on one teasing Jarvis cross and headed tamely at Petr Cech. And both Jelle Van Damme and Doyle should have done better with headed chances from Jarvis centres.
But after a slow first 10 minutes, Chelsea started playing with supreme confidence in attack and their willingness to let full-backs Ashley Cole and Jose Bosingwa bomb forward led to a raft of chances.
One such raid saw Bosingwa - making his first start in 13 months after a knee injury - race into the box but his sweet strike was brilliantly diverted wide of the post by Marcus Hahnemann.
Bosingwa and Cole were virtually playing as wingers.
And although the attacking approach did leave them exposed on a couple of occasions it led to the opening goal when the pace and movement of Drogba, Nicolas Anelka, the impressive Zhirkov and Malouda finally proved too much for the Black Country side.
Anelka showed speed of mind and speed of foot to work the ball into Zhirkov and the Russian's astute pull-back was easily turned in by the goal-hungry Malouda
But home fans' hopes of another goal-fest following the Frenchman's seventh goal in the league in nine games this season were not met.
Wolves replied with a couple of Nenad Milijas shots as they started to commit more men forward which inevitably led to Chelsea carving out chances on the break.
Cole failed to make the most of a two-on-one break from a Wolves set-piece and a glorious pass from Zhirkov teed up the rampaging Bosingwa but Hahnemann saved with his feet at the front post.
Wolves introduced Stephen Hunt for his Premier League debut after the interval and the winger - who was booed by Blues fans throughout for his involvement in Petr Cech's terrible injury in 2006 - almost scored with a header within moments of coming on but his header was cleared off the line by Michael Essien.
Quick feet and a fine low shot from Kevin Doyle then forced Cech into action at his near post and Doyle also had a close-range header saved by the Chelsea keeper.
At the other end Drogba wasted a glorious one-on-one opening as Hahnemann flew out of area to tackle the Ivorian and Essien curled an 18-yard strike over the bar.
But Chelsea finally sealed their fifth home win in five games when Kalou slotted home
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Chelsea 3v4 Newcastle
Match Reports
Plenty of entertainment but plenty of mistakes at Stamford Bridge as a much-changed Chelsea side suffered a first home domestic cup defeat for two years.
Patrick van Aanholt, one of the four young starters revealed yesterday by Carlo Ancelotti, gave the Blues an early lead against the club he represented on loan last season, but we were 2-1 down by half-time.
Matters got decidedly worse after the break as Newcastle quickly scored a third and then two senior squad players were forced off through injury. Salomon Kalou's departure had required a third sub used as two changes were made at the break so when Yossi Benayoun was also forced off, Chelsea were down to 10 men for the final half-hour.
Still they fought back and first Anelka finished well from a good move before he converted the calmest of penalties inside the final five minutes.
Yet Newcastle, who had proved a physical test all game, finally won it from a set-piece, Shola Ameobi heading in a corner with two minutes on the clock.
There were mixed fortunes for young and old on the pitch, Ancelotti selecting juniors in defence and attack but an experienced midfield of Ramires, Benayoun and Zhirkov. It was Josh McEachran, a second-half sub, who impressed more.
Among the unused subs for the first time were 17-year-old right-back/right midfielder Billy Clifford and 15-year-old central defender/midfielder Nathaniel Chalobah who would, had he come on, have taken Ian 'Chico' Hamilton's record as Chelsea's youngest player.
Zhirkov's was the first shot of the game, after three minutes, hooked wide. The second Chelsea attempt gave Van Aanholt his first Chelsea goal.
Continuing the recent happy habit of early Chelsea goals, this one took just five minutes. Of all the young players starting tonight, the 20-year-old Dutch left-back was probably the least fancied to score but he robbed a dozing Nile Ranger, exchanged passes with Kakuta, and although shooting close to fellow Dutchman Krul, the Newcastle keeper's save was a weak one and the ball was diverted high into the net with Van Aanholt leaping away in triumph.
That should have settled some nerves but Sol Campbell from a corner wasn't too far away from a rapid equaliser.
Ryan Taylor, who would later make a more positive contribution to his team, was the game's first booking on 10 minutes when he sent Kakuta flying with a chop across the shins.
Chelsea's passing in the final third wasn't quite reaching its targets with Kakuta, perhaps trying too hard to impress, failing with a couple of difficult passes.
However on 24 minutes the 19-year-old struck the delivery of the game so far, from wide on the left and fired in with such velocity that Krul did well to push it away, Anelka poised to capitalise.
Newcastle equalised two minutes later in what was proving an open first half. It was a goal of several Chelsea mistakes, Ferguson allowed to advance from left back and hit a cross unchallenged that Terry couldn't head away. Van Aanholt was there at the far post but was unaware of Ranger just behind him, the young Englishman turning the ball in.
Ranger could have had a rapid second from a near identical position but kicked air. The Tynesiders needed only wait until the 32nd minute to take the lead.
Bruma was being tested by Ameobi and was booked for pulling back the striker. The free-kick was in a dangerous location and Taylor's strike was sweet and wide of the wall, although not heading for the very corner. Turnbull was beaten and Newcastle were suddenly looking strong.
Van Aanholt did well to slide and save a cross reaching near-certain scorers after Ameobi had powered away from Bruma and beaten Turnbull with his ball across.
The Newcastle man was then the next name in to the book for a wild challenge, his on Ferreira.
The Blues improved in stoppage time but were lacking control in midfield. Ancelotti had some work to do.
One of his changes was a planned one - Alex for Terry; Kalou for Kakuta was due a back injury obtained in Taylor's early foul challenge.
The response was not the one wanted as the Blues went 3-1 down just three minutes into the second half. This time it was the experienced Ferreira first at fault, carelessly passing inside. Ameobi latched on to it and although the shot was low, it was no rocket but still it beat Turnbull.
The bad news kept coming. Kalou, sprinting into the area clutched his thigh and dropped to the floor. It was a muscle injury bad enough for him to be carried off on a stretcher. Seventeen-year-old McEachran was the sub for the sub, and soon launched a 20-yard shot at the keeper.
On 62 minutes it was Benayoun's turn to go down, the Israeli instantly signalling his night was up. Chelsea would play on with 10 men.
Sturridge had earlier hit a free-kick into the wall and when another was won, Bruma had a go with the same result but Alex cracked the rebound and Krul had to save well.
Lovenkrands should have made it 4-1 after the Chelsea defence was outmanoeuvred but the former Rangers man shot wide and then Nile Ranger scooped over as Turnbull dived at his feet.
Chelsea's second, scored on 69 minutes was the goal of the game so far, the ball played down the left to Van Aanholt, a willing forward runner all game, who swept it to Anelka for a perfectly placed shot across the keeper.
Now it was the Blues on the front foot. McEachran, comfortable with the ball at his feet and making himself available, had given the team something they had been missing in the centre of the park.
Into the final 10 minutes and there was still much to play for, Sturridge slipped unfortunately as he chased a Ferreira pass into the area and then Turnbull blocked and then grabbed a Ranger header.
Anelka was next to show, drifting in from the left and testing Krul with a thunderous shot. How different that was from his penalty that levelled scores with five minutes to play. Alex, to Newcastle disgust, was judged to have been fouled by Williamson as he turned away from goal. Anelka simply rolled the spot kick gently into the bottom corner.
Extra-time looked inevitable but with 88 minutes played the Geordies won a corner and Ameobi, one of the few players who could beat Alex to the ball, did so to power a header in.
McEachran, with tight control, worked a shooting opportunity in the six minutes stoppage time played, but his effort went wide, although the real hearts-in-mouth moment came from a howitzer volley from of all people, Paulo Ferreira before Newcastle's winner.
Last year in this competition at Blackburn, the Portuguese was on-target late on to send a 10-men Chelsea (after another Kalou injury) into extra-time. This time it bounced off the outside of the post and we would go out of the Carling Cup.
Plenty of entertainment but plenty of mistakes at Stamford Bridge as a much-changed Chelsea side suffered a first home domestic cup defeat for two years.
Patrick van Aanholt, one of the four young starters revealed yesterday by Carlo Ancelotti, gave the Blues an early lead against the club he represented on loan last season, but we were 2-1 down by half-time.
Matters got decidedly worse after the break as Newcastle quickly scored a third and then two senior squad players were forced off through injury. Salomon Kalou's departure had required a third sub used as two changes were made at the break so when Yossi Benayoun was also forced off, Chelsea were down to 10 men for the final half-hour.
Still they fought back and first Anelka finished well from a good move before he converted the calmest of penalties inside the final five minutes.
Yet Newcastle, who had proved a physical test all game, finally won it from a set-piece, Shola Ameobi heading in a corner with two minutes on the clock.
There were mixed fortunes for young and old on the pitch, Ancelotti selecting juniors in defence and attack but an experienced midfield of Ramires, Benayoun and Zhirkov. It was Josh McEachran, a second-half sub, who impressed more.
Among the unused subs for the first time were 17-year-old right-back/right midfielder Billy Clifford and 15-year-old central defender/midfielder Nathaniel Chalobah who would, had he come on, have taken Ian 'Chico' Hamilton's record as Chelsea's youngest player.
Zhirkov's was the first shot of the game, after three minutes, hooked wide. The second Chelsea attempt gave Van Aanholt his first Chelsea goal.
Continuing the recent happy habit of early Chelsea goals, this one took just five minutes. Of all the young players starting tonight, the 20-year-old Dutch left-back was probably the least fancied to score but he robbed a dozing Nile Ranger, exchanged passes with Kakuta, and although shooting close to fellow Dutchman Krul, the Newcastle keeper's save was a weak one and the ball was diverted high into the net with Van Aanholt leaping away in triumph.
That should have settled some nerves but Sol Campbell from a corner wasn't too far away from a rapid equaliser.
Ryan Taylor, who would later make a more positive contribution to his team, was the game's first booking on 10 minutes when he sent Kakuta flying with a chop across the shins.
Chelsea's passing in the final third wasn't quite reaching its targets with Kakuta, perhaps trying too hard to impress, failing with a couple of difficult passes.
However on 24 minutes the 19-year-old struck the delivery of the game so far, from wide on the left and fired in with such velocity that Krul did well to push it away, Anelka poised to capitalise.
Newcastle equalised two minutes later in what was proving an open first half. It was a goal of several Chelsea mistakes, Ferguson allowed to advance from left back and hit a cross unchallenged that Terry couldn't head away. Van Aanholt was there at the far post but was unaware of Ranger just behind him, the young Englishman turning the ball in.
Ranger could have had a rapid second from a near identical position but kicked air. The Tynesiders needed only wait until the 32nd minute to take the lead.
Bruma was being tested by Ameobi and was booked for pulling back the striker. The free-kick was in a dangerous location and Taylor's strike was sweet and wide of the wall, although not heading for the very corner. Turnbull was beaten and Newcastle were suddenly looking strong.
Van Aanholt did well to slide and save a cross reaching near-certain scorers after Ameobi had powered away from Bruma and beaten Turnbull with his ball across.
The Newcastle man was then the next name in to the book for a wild challenge, his on Ferreira.
The Blues improved in stoppage time but were lacking control in midfield. Ancelotti had some work to do.
One of his changes was a planned one - Alex for Terry; Kalou for Kakuta was due a back injury obtained in Taylor's early foul challenge.
The response was not the one wanted as the Blues went 3-1 down just three minutes into the second half. This time it was the experienced Ferreira first at fault, carelessly passing inside. Ameobi latched on to it and although the shot was low, it was no rocket but still it beat Turnbull.
The bad news kept coming. Kalou, sprinting into the area clutched his thigh and dropped to the floor. It was a muscle injury bad enough for him to be carried off on a stretcher. Seventeen-year-old McEachran was the sub for the sub, and soon launched a 20-yard shot at the keeper.
On 62 minutes it was Benayoun's turn to go down, the Israeli instantly signalling his night was up. Chelsea would play on with 10 men.
Sturridge had earlier hit a free-kick into the wall and when another was won, Bruma had a go with the same result but Alex cracked the rebound and Krul had to save well.
Lovenkrands should have made it 4-1 after the Chelsea defence was outmanoeuvred but the former Rangers man shot wide and then Nile Ranger scooped over as Turnbull dived at his feet.
Chelsea's second, scored on 69 minutes was the goal of the game so far, the ball played down the left to Van Aanholt, a willing forward runner all game, who swept it to Anelka for a perfectly placed shot across the keeper.
Now it was the Blues on the front foot. McEachran, comfortable with the ball at his feet and making himself available, had given the team something they had been missing in the centre of the park.
Into the final 10 minutes and there was still much to play for, Sturridge slipped unfortunately as he chased a Ferreira pass into the area and then Turnbull blocked and then grabbed a Ranger header.
Anelka was next to show, drifting in from the left and testing Krul with a thunderous shot. How different that was from his penalty that levelled scores with five minutes to play. Alex, to Newcastle disgust, was judged to have been fouled by Williamson as he turned away from goal. Anelka simply rolled the spot kick gently into the bottom corner.
Extra-time looked inevitable but with 88 minutes played the Geordies won a corner and Ameobi, one of the few players who could beat Alex to the ball, did so to power a header in.
McEachran, with tight control, worked a shooting opportunity in the six minutes stoppage time played, but his effort went wide, although the real hearts-in-mouth moment came from a howitzer volley from of all people, Paulo Ferreira before Newcastle's winner.
Last year in this competition at Blackburn, the Portuguese was on-target late on to send a 10-men Chelsea (after another Kalou injury) into extra-time. This time it bounced off the outside of the post and we would go out of the Carling Cup.
Chelsea 2v0 Arsenal
Chelsea 2v0 Arsenal
Match Reports
The inspirational finishing of Didier Drogba and the power of Alex produced the goals that decided the London derby and made it five straight wins over Arsenal.
They know all about him, they heard all the talk before the game but still they can't stop him. A first-half when both sides found space in the opposition half and saw chances come and go was drawing to an end when Didier Drogba converted an Ashley Cole ball from close range to score his 13th goal in 11 starts against the Gunners.
However if Stamford Bridge was expecting more of the same, even contest between the sides in the second-half it was disappointed as the away side took greater control of the game in a way that will have Arsene Wenger, if true to past form, claiming some sort of moral victory but their Achilles heel was exposed and they couldn't finish the pressure off.
Chelsea missed the chance to extend our lead near the hour-mark when Nicolas Anelka missed the type of chance you would put your house on him scoring but the Blues weren't made to pay, and we also suffered a couple of erroneous offside calls that prevented further goals.
Alex smashed in a free-kick with five minutes left on the clock and then it was the home team's turn to spurn openings. It was a Chelsea-Arsenal game with so much familiar about it, even with new players in both sides.
Carlo Ancelotti kept faith with the 11 that had started the defeat at Man City so Ramires tasted this London derby for the first time. Arsene Wenger made one change from his setback against West Brom the same day, Jack WIlshere returning to midfield with Emmanuel Eboue making way, and in a tactical tweak he pushed Abou Diaby into an attacking midfield role, and not without an impact.
Arsenal soon showed Chelsea would have to work hard for the three points by issuing a vigorous wake-up call after just 28 seconds.
Sagna crossed towards the penalty spot and Chamakh dived in front of Alex to head just wide. It didn't get any more secure for the Blues when the corner that followed flicked off Malouda and was headed over from just two yards out by Koscielny.
Drogba left Sagna on the seat of his shorts in his first physical contest and then fired a second-minute free kick well over.
Chelsea wee testing the new-look Arsenal rearguard with aerial balls. Malouda looped a shot over after their central defence dithered in dealing with a JT punt upfield.
It was true end-to-end stuff in the opening stages with Cech asked to save down low from Arshavin on seven minutes.
Drogba was looking very lively and popping up on the right, he skinned Clichy and belted the ball across to where Malouda lost out to Koscielny.
Then the Ivorian was only a yard or so away from finishing off a scintillating counter attack that was begun by Essien charging away from a foul challenge by Wilshere.
On 18 minutes the Essien-Drogba corner combination could have paid off again when the Ghanaian met the delivery with a thumping header but he diverted it wide.
A run of Chelsea chances came to an end on 27 minutes when Arshavin was afforded space to shoot from wide out on the left and Cech executed one of his saves of the season so far to tip the ball away from the top corner.Then Nasri cut inside Ramires and let fly as Terry slid in, but this time the attempt was off target.
On 34 minutes Essien and Drogba combined in open player, Drogba leaving his marker on the floor as he burst away onto a pass down the right-hand side of the area. The shot was accurate but a good height for Fabianski to save.
The breakthrough came on 39 minutes and goes down as Ramires's finest moment in a Chelsea shirt so far.
He won the ball deep inside the Arsenal half and after receiving it back off Mikel, drove a perfectly weighted ball through the Arsenal defence for Cole to run on to and strike a first-time ball in towards the near post.
There was only one way for Drogba to score and he delivered. Diverting it off his heel, where fortune had favoured Carlos Tevez last week, so it did Chelsea this time as the ball bounced off the inside of the post and in.
Drogba after running away behind the Shed End goal in celebration, pointed to the sky, presumably a sign of sympathy for his manager's bereavement. Ashley Cole in the Shed End/East Stand corner enjoyed the goal too.
Chamakh tried to con the ref into awarding a penalty as he fell over Cech's stationary body early in the second half, and Arsenal caught Chelsea napping and won a corner on the break, one of three in quick succession as they again were sharpest out of the dressing room.
The pressure kept coming as a Diaby shot deflected off Cole and dropped wide of the Chelsea goal.
There then came a tale of two penalty decisions. Koscielny won the benefit of the doubt when he took the ball and Drogba at the same time in the area and then Ramires made a goal-saving challenge on Chamakh and again referee Mike Dean waved play on.
Arsenal were well on top yet ironically this was the spell when Chelsea could have gone a long way to putting the game to bed.
Squillaci dawdled as he ran the ball back towards his own goal, Anelka picked the pocket of his compatriot and went wide of Fabianski in text-book style but then with the goal gaping rolled his shot just wide.
On 69 minutes, Ashley Cole rifled Anelka's pass into the net but the whistle had gone for offside. Replays showed the Chelsea left-back was level with the last Arsenal defender.
On 72 minutes there was a direct swap of Ferreira on for Ivanovic and shortly after Chelsea finally broke the shackles to threaten the Arsenal goal once more.
Mikel it was who brought the ball under control and then the excellent Essien found the run of Anelka. This time his aim was true and although Fabianski could only push the ball back into play, it evaded Drogba's charge into the box.
Referee Dean had allowed the game to ebb and flow by showing restraint with his whistle and let at least two fouls go without a booking that many refs would have punished, but finally brought out the yellow when Ferreira brought down an attacking Rosicky.
Chelsea had a big escape when Rosicky sent over a cross soon after and Chamakh headed wide from six yards before the home team had every right to feel aggrieved over an offside flag when Ramires was played clean through. He had been a yard behind the defensive line.
Arsenal were looking stretched at the back when the Blues could push forward and Kosceinly was booked after he dragged Anelka to the ground 30 yards out.
Alex and Drogba lined up behind it but it always looked likely to be the Brazilian's turn. On Tuesday he hit the post, today he first found the gap left by Malouda pulling out the wall and then the top corner with an absolute screamer.
There were 85 minutes played. That was the game won, and Essien should have made Arsenal suffer further but their keeper saved one-on-one as the Ghanaian tried to chip over him.
The Pole had flapped once in the first half when he somehow pushed a ball from out wide back in front of his goal, but he did well again before the close when saving a powerful Malouda drive.
Stamford Bridge warmed up for one of those 'One Step Beyond' dances that follow our biggest home wins, but if there was anything that could put a slight dampener on the day it was more injuries.
A feature of the first half had been Arsenal players requiring treatment after seemingly routine challenges with some of Chelsea' strong men. But now it was Blues shirts leaving the pitch with neither Mikel nor Alex finishing the game. We were down to 10 men during stoppage time.
At least there is now a two-week international break for recovery, an interval we enter four points clear of the pack.
Match Reports
The inspirational finishing of Didier Drogba and the power of Alex produced the goals that decided the London derby and made it five straight wins over Arsenal.
They know all about him, they heard all the talk before the game but still they can't stop him. A first-half when both sides found space in the opposition half and saw chances come and go was drawing to an end when Didier Drogba converted an Ashley Cole ball from close range to score his 13th goal in 11 starts against the Gunners.
However if Stamford Bridge was expecting more of the same, even contest between the sides in the second-half it was disappointed as the away side took greater control of the game in a way that will have Arsene Wenger, if true to past form, claiming some sort of moral victory but their Achilles heel was exposed and they couldn't finish the pressure off.
Chelsea missed the chance to extend our lead near the hour-mark when Nicolas Anelka missed the type of chance you would put your house on him scoring but the Blues weren't made to pay, and we also suffered a couple of erroneous offside calls that prevented further goals.
Alex smashed in a free-kick with five minutes left on the clock and then it was the home team's turn to spurn openings. It was a Chelsea-Arsenal game with so much familiar about it, even with new players in both sides.
Carlo Ancelotti kept faith with the 11 that had started the defeat at Man City so Ramires tasted this London derby for the first time. Arsene Wenger made one change from his setback against West Brom the same day, Jack WIlshere returning to midfield with Emmanuel Eboue making way, and in a tactical tweak he pushed Abou Diaby into an attacking midfield role, and not without an impact.
Arsenal soon showed Chelsea would have to work hard for the three points by issuing a vigorous wake-up call after just 28 seconds.
Sagna crossed towards the penalty spot and Chamakh dived in front of Alex to head just wide. It didn't get any more secure for the Blues when the corner that followed flicked off Malouda and was headed over from just two yards out by Koscielny.
Drogba left Sagna on the seat of his shorts in his first physical contest and then fired a second-minute free kick well over.
Chelsea wee testing the new-look Arsenal rearguard with aerial balls. Malouda looped a shot over after their central defence dithered in dealing with a JT punt upfield.
It was true end-to-end stuff in the opening stages with Cech asked to save down low from Arshavin on seven minutes.
Drogba was looking very lively and popping up on the right, he skinned Clichy and belted the ball across to where Malouda lost out to Koscielny.
Then the Ivorian was only a yard or so away from finishing off a scintillating counter attack that was begun by Essien charging away from a foul challenge by Wilshere.
On 18 minutes the Essien-Drogba corner combination could have paid off again when the Ghanaian met the delivery with a thumping header but he diverted it wide.
A run of Chelsea chances came to an end on 27 minutes when Arshavin was afforded space to shoot from wide out on the left and Cech executed one of his saves of the season so far to tip the ball away from the top corner.Then Nasri cut inside Ramires and let fly as Terry slid in, but this time the attempt was off target.
On 34 minutes Essien and Drogba combined in open player, Drogba leaving his marker on the floor as he burst away onto a pass down the right-hand side of the area. The shot was accurate but a good height for Fabianski to save.
The breakthrough came on 39 minutes and goes down as Ramires's finest moment in a Chelsea shirt so far.
He won the ball deep inside the Arsenal half and after receiving it back off Mikel, drove a perfectly weighted ball through the Arsenal defence for Cole to run on to and strike a first-time ball in towards the near post.
There was only one way for Drogba to score and he delivered. Diverting it off his heel, where fortune had favoured Carlos Tevez last week, so it did Chelsea this time as the ball bounced off the inside of the post and in.
Drogba after running away behind the Shed End goal in celebration, pointed to the sky, presumably a sign of sympathy for his manager's bereavement. Ashley Cole in the Shed End/East Stand corner enjoyed the goal too.
Chamakh tried to con the ref into awarding a penalty as he fell over Cech's stationary body early in the second half, and Arsenal caught Chelsea napping and won a corner on the break, one of three in quick succession as they again were sharpest out of the dressing room.
The pressure kept coming as a Diaby shot deflected off Cole and dropped wide of the Chelsea goal.
There then came a tale of two penalty decisions. Koscielny won the benefit of the doubt when he took the ball and Drogba at the same time in the area and then Ramires made a goal-saving challenge on Chamakh and again referee Mike Dean waved play on.
Arsenal were well on top yet ironically this was the spell when Chelsea could have gone a long way to putting the game to bed.
Squillaci dawdled as he ran the ball back towards his own goal, Anelka picked the pocket of his compatriot and went wide of Fabianski in text-book style but then with the goal gaping rolled his shot just wide.
On 69 minutes, Ashley Cole rifled Anelka's pass into the net but the whistle had gone for offside. Replays showed the Chelsea left-back was level with the last Arsenal defender.
On 72 minutes there was a direct swap of Ferreira on for Ivanovic and shortly after Chelsea finally broke the shackles to threaten the Arsenal goal once more.
Mikel it was who brought the ball under control and then the excellent Essien found the run of Anelka. This time his aim was true and although Fabianski could only push the ball back into play, it evaded Drogba's charge into the box.
Referee Dean had allowed the game to ebb and flow by showing restraint with his whistle and let at least two fouls go without a booking that many refs would have punished, but finally brought out the yellow when Ferreira brought down an attacking Rosicky.
Chelsea had a big escape when Rosicky sent over a cross soon after and Chamakh headed wide from six yards before the home team had every right to feel aggrieved over an offside flag when Ramires was played clean through. He had been a yard behind the defensive line.
Arsenal were looking stretched at the back when the Blues could push forward and Kosceinly was booked after he dragged Anelka to the ground 30 yards out.
Alex and Drogba lined up behind it but it always looked likely to be the Brazilian's turn. On Tuesday he hit the post, today he first found the gap left by Malouda pulling out the wall and then the top corner with an absolute screamer.
There were 85 minutes played. That was the game won, and Essien should have made Arsenal suffer further but their keeper saved one-on-one as the Ghanaian tried to chip over him.
The Pole had flapped once in the first half when he somehow pushed a ball from out wide back in front of his goal, but he did well again before the close when saving a powerful Malouda drive.
Stamford Bridge warmed up for one of those 'One Step Beyond' dances that follow our biggest home wins, but if there was anything that could put a slight dampener on the day it was more injuries.
A feature of the first half had been Arsenal players requiring treatment after seemingly routine challenges with some of Chelsea' strong men. But now it was Blues shirts leaving the pitch with neither Mikel nor Alex finishing the game. We were down to 10 men during stoppage time.
At least there is now a two-week international break for recovery, an interval we enter four points clear of the pack.
Spartak Moscow 0v2 Chelsea
Match Reports
Yury Zhirkov's first Chelsea goal and Nicolas Anelka's 50th put the Blues on the verge of qualifying for the knockout stage of this season's Champions League.
The better side in a first half that yielded both goals, the visitors soaked up plenty of pressure after the break without ever truly looking like conceding and now sit clear at the top of Group F with a perfect nine points from three games.
The team made light of any concerns about the artificial surface and it was pretty much business as usual.
Carlo Ancelotti decided Ashley Cole and Michael Essien suffered no significant reaction to training on the pitch yesterday so started them both.
He brought fit-again Salomon Kalou into the front three in place of Gael Kakuta and having spoken glowingly about Zhirkov yesterday, asked him to take the place left in midfield by injured Ramires.
And what a reward the Italian was given by the Russian who lashed in the opener from outside the area midway through the opening period, followed by a typical Anelka finish shortly before the break.
The Blues had been the more dangerous but then showed our ability at the back after the interval with Petr Cech the busier of the two keepers, although Michael Essien should have added a third near the end.
Back at the start of the game, that was played in below-zero conditions, Kalou looped a shot over after four minutes and a quick-thinking combination between Malouda and Zhirkov threatened to put Anelka through. There was plenty of early possession for Chelsea.
The first injection of attacking pace however came from Spartak's right-back, Parshivlyuk, steaming from his own half past several blue shirts into the area. The ball moved square as Cole challenged and fell to unmarked Kombarov who fortunately blasted over.
The home side were finding their rhythm and Cech had to save with his feet at the near post after Kombarov was allowed to find Welliton who turned Ivanovic and shot.
Chelsea responded through Malouda who beat his man but shot wide from outside the area and through Cole who won the first corner of the game which was well defended.
Malouda took a second corner on 18 minutes but Essien headed tamely wide.
There was nothing tame about Zhirkov's contribution five minutes later as he picked out the top corner of the Spartak net from 25 yards, Mikel's pass headed back to the Russian by the home defence for a sweet strike of a bouncing ball.
Stunned silence in the packed Luzhniki was followed by a cacophony of whistles, but the former CSKA man was too busy celebrating with his team mates to notice.
Chelsea were looking good. Essien almost saw his cross deflected goalwards by a covering defender, and then Anelka raced away after a defensive mistake but took a touch too strong and the keeper intervened. The ball ran loose but Anelka, back in possession, failed to find a team mate.
The Blues centre-forward made no such mistake when given a second bite at the one-on-one cherry three minutes before half-time. Cutting inside chasing defender Parshivlyuk, this time he slotted expertly.
The Cech save apart, Spartak hadn't mounted a serious strike on target as the teams went down the tunnel at the break. Terry was enjoying physical superiority over Welliton, even if he did suffer one painful kick along the way.
The opening few minutes of the second half were lively. Welliton shot over, much to the home fans' derision and Anelka was dispossessed in the Spartak six-yard box.Then a goalbound shot from the Russian side was deflected over off the back of Terry.
Cech was much more busy than in the opening 45 minutes but was confidently catching every cross or shot.
He was properly extended by McGeady on 63 minutes however but tipped over and then punched another shot over the bar when the corner was played deep to Ibson.
There was a loose moment from the Chelsea keeper on an otherwise good night when he cleared with his feet straight to McGeady but the Blues survived.
The chance to put the game totally safe came Essien's way with 20 minutes left to play after Kalou slipped past his man out wide and Malouda helped the pass on, but the Ghanaian missed when well placed.
That build-up play was the last action for Kalou who was replaced by McEachran for the game's first substitution. Malouda made way for Kakuta with 10 minutes to play.
Before the end the only outfield player on the Chelsea bench out of his teens, Van Aanholt, was given some time on the pitch. The Dutch left-back is as old as 20!
The home crowd was given the chance to whistle Zhirkov further when he became the game's only booking for fouling Suchy, but by that stage many wearing red and white were heading for the exits, knowing their side had been well beaten.
Yury Zhirkov's first Chelsea goal and Nicolas Anelka's 50th put the Blues on the verge of qualifying for the knockout stage of this season's Champions League.
The better side in a first half that yielded both goals, the visitors soaked up plenty of pressure after the break without ever truly looking like conceding and now sit clear at the top of Group F with a perfect nine points from three games.
The team made light of any concerns about the artificial surface and it was pretty much business as usual.
Carlo Ancelotti decided Ashley Cole and Michael Essien suffered no significant reaction to training on the pitch yesterday so started them both.
He brought fit-again Salomon Kalou into the front three in place of Gael Kakuta and having spoken glowingly about Zhirkov yesterday, asked him to take the place left in midfield by injured Ramires.
And what a reward the Italian was given by the Russian who lashed in the opener from outside the area midway through the opening period, followed by a typical Anelka finish shortly before the break.
The Blues had been the more dangerous but then showed our ability at the back after the interval with Petr Cech the busier of the two keepers, although Michael Essien should have added a third near the end.
Back at the start of the game, that was played in below-zero conditions, Kalou looped a shot over after four minutes and a quick-thinking combination between Malouda and Zhirkov threatened to put Anelka through. There was plenty of early possession for Chelsea.
The first injection of attacking pace however came from Spartak's right-back, Parshivlyuk, steaming from his own half past several blue shirts into the area. The ball moved square as Cole challenged and fell to unmarked Kombarov who fortunately blasted over.
The home side were finding their rhythm and Cech had to save with his feet at the near post after Kombarov was allowed to find Welliton who turned Ivanovic and shot.
Chelsea responded through Malouda who beat his man but shot wide from outside the area and through Cole who won the first corner of the game which was well defended.
Malouda took a second corner on 18 minutes but Essien headed tamely wide.
There was nothing tame about Zhirkov's contribution five minutes later as he picked out the top corner of the Spartak net from 25 yards, Mikel's pass headed back to the Russian by the home defence for a sweet strike of a bouncing ball.
Stunned silence in the packed Luzhniki was followed by a cacophony of whistles, but the former CSKA man was too busy celebrating with his team mates to notice.
Chelsea were looking good. Essien almost saw his cross deflected goalwards by a covering defender, and then Anelka raced away after a defensive mistake but took a touch too strong and the keeper intervened. The ball ran loose but Anelka, back in possession, failed to find a team mate.
The Blues centre-forward made no such mistake when given a second bite at the one-on-one cherry three minutes before half-time. Cutting inside chasing defender Parshivlyuk, this time he slotted expertly.
The Cech save apart, Spartak hadn't mounted a serious strike on target as the teams went down the tunnel at the break. Terry was enjoying physical superiority over Welliton, even if he did suffer one painful kick along the way.
The opening few minutes of the second half were lively. Welliton shot over, much to the home fans' derision and Anelka was dispossessed in the Spartak six-yard box.Then a goalbound shot from the Russian side was deflected over off the back of Terry.
Cech was much more busy than in the opening 45 minutes but was confidently catching every cross or shot.
He was properly extended by McGeady on 63 minutes however but tipped over and then punched another shot over the bar when the corner was played deep to Ibson.
There was a loose moment from the Chelsea keeper on an otherwise good night when he cleared with his feet straight to McGeady but the Blues survived.
The chance to put the game totally safe came Essien's way with 20 minutes left to play after Kalou slipped past his man out wide and Malouda helped the pass on, but the Ghanaian missed when well placed.
That build-up play was the last action for Kalou who was replaced by McEachran for the game's first substitution. Malouda made way for Kakuta with 10 minutes to play.
Before the end the only outfield player on the Chelsea bench out of his teens, Van Aanholt, was given some time on the pitch. The Dutch left-back is as old as 20!
The home crowd was given the chance to whistle Zhirkov further when he became the game's only booking for fouling Suchy, but by that stage many wearing red and white were heading for the exits, knowing their side had been well beaten.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
MATCH REPORT: MANCHESTER CITY 1 CHELSEA 0
Chelsea's first League loss of the campaign came in a tense, close encounter decided by a second-half Carlos Tevez goal.
In a goalless first half with few chances at either end, Carlo Ancelotti's side did hit woodwork, and Nicolas Anelka tested Joe Hart early in the second half, but this was not the potent attacking machine seen in every game this season up to this point.
Trailing in the second-half, the Chelsea manager was not afraid to take off some of his major players this season who were underperforming on the day. Didier Drogba and John Mikel Obi were two to make way, and there was a late Premier League debut for Josh McEachran.
There were two changes to the side which lined-up against Blackpool, with Branislav Ivanovic returning to right-back instead of Paulo Ferreira and Anelka back instead of Salomon Kalou.
Michael Essien and John Mikel Obi were back in midfield following a midweek rest against Newcastle, while a young contingent of Josh McEachran, Gael Kakuta, Patrick van Aanholt and Daniel Sturridge took their positions on the bench.
Ancelotti selected his main attacking trio, with Didier Drogba flanked by Florent Malouda on the left. Anelka took up his position on the right.
Ramires started in midfield and was involved from the off, dispossessing David Silva with a neat tackle from the side before feeding Malouda on the left flank.
But it was the hosts who had the first shot when Carlos Tevez broke down the centre and drilled goal-ward, only for the ball to skim across the face of Cech's goal and go wide.
Our keeper was then forced to collect a hanging Silva cross, intended for Tevez, as City made a break down the left, and soon Zabaleta won a free-kick after colliding with Ivanovic.
The resultant free-kick went nowhere but Manchester City could boast the better of the opening exchanges.
The tables began to turn when Anelka twice sent searching balls into the box, the first landed for Drogba who couldn't find space to shoot, while the second was deflected from danger.
It was the Frenchman who would produce Chelsea's first real chance on goal when he curled a shot inches past the top right from just outside the box. That was with 18 minutes gone.
City retaliated well, hindered only by the accuracy of their final ball, but when Alex nodded a Malouda cross on for Ivanovic to head off the bar, the tempo of the game changed.
City continued to pressure but Chelsea looked a lot more threatening on the attack, and soon Ivanovic won a free-kick for which Zabaleta was shown a yellow 30 yards out from goal.
Drogba took the set piece, which was cleared from danger before City broke down Chelsea's right once more and Cole coolly put the ball out for a throw.
With 35 minutes gone the game was still 0-0. It was end-to-end football with Cech the more tested keeper.
After shots from Malouda and Essien both went astray, a tense first half ended 0-0 but City fans would not have been blamed for feeling optimistic.
Ancelotti made no changes before the second half and within minutes Chelsea were showing their intent once more when Anelka forced Hart into an acrobatic save to tip his 25-yard shot away for a corner.
Chelsea had control in the early stages of the second half, although Cech's quick reactions did come into play when Silva's left-footed strike towards the near post was pushed away for a corner.
But with 58 minutes gone, the hosts took the lead. When Tevez collected a Yaya Toure ball, he ran deep into Chelsea's half of the pitch, cut outside Cole and drilled into the far corner via the inside of the post.
It was against the run of the play for the second half and a well-taken goal by the Argentine, although he was gifted space as the Blues failed to close him down. It was the first time Chelsea had conceded the opening goal this season.
The visitors immediately tired to pull one back, with Ramires latching onto a Malouda through ball before being denied by Nigel De Jong.
Frustrations began to show as Gareth Barry collided with Ivanovic before Mikel was shown yellow for a late challenge on Tevez, resulting in the goalscorer briefly receiving treatment on his ankle.
Despite the deficit, and the noise from a buoyant home crowd, Chelsea continued the hunt for an equaliser, as Ramires edged further and further forward with each move. He wanted a debut goal.
Lifted by the support, City began to threaten further, while Mikel made way for Yury Zhirkov in midfield after 68 minutes on the pitch.
Essien then sent a ball screaming past the post from 25 yards before Drogba was replaced by Sturridge in the 74th minute. Anelka moved into the centre and the young number 23 moved out on the right.
Referee Andre Marriner then brandished yellow at Ramires for knocking Yaya Toure to the ground. It was the last thing he'd do in the game as McEachran came into midfield.
Emmanuel Adebayor was next to make an appearance, replacing Tevez while Yaya Toure took the armband for City. Jerome Boateng then replaced Dedryck Boyata with two minutes left.
City's changes made little difference to the remainder of the game. Sturridge looked bright on the right and teamed up well with Anelka but the host's tight defence denied Chelsea a path through.
In a goalless first half with few chances at either end, Carlo Ancelotti's side did hit woodwork, and Nicolas Anelka tested Joe Hart early in the second half, but this was not the potent attacking machine seen in every game this season up to this point.
Trailing in the second-half, the Chelsea manager was not afraid to take off some of his major players this season who were underperforming on the day. Didier Drogba and John Mikel Obi were two to make way, and there was a late Premier League debut for Josh McEachran.
There were two changes to the side which lined-up against Blackpool, with Branislav Ivanovic returning to right-back instead of Paulo Ferreira and Anelka back instead of Salomon Kalou.
Michael Essien and John Mikel Obi were back in midfield following a midweek rest against Newcastle, while a young contingent of Josh McEachran, Gael Kakuta, Patrick van Aanholt and Daniel Sturridge took their positions on the bench.
Ancelotti selected his main attacking trio, with Didier Drogba flanked by Florent Malouda on the left. Anelka took up his position on the right.
Ramires started in midfield and was involved from the off, dispossessing David Silva with a neat tackle from the side before feeding Malouda on the left flank.
But it was the hosts who had the first shot when Carlos Tevez broke down the centre and drilled goal-ward, only for the ball to skim across the face of Cech's goal and go wide.
Our keeper was then forced to collect a hanging Silva cross, intended for Tevez, as City made a break down the left, and soon Zabaleta won a free-kick after colliding with Ivanovic.
The resultant free-kick went nowhere but Manchester City could boast the better of the opening exchanges.
The tables began to turn when Anelka twice sent searching balls into the box, the first landed for Drogba who couldn't find space to shoot, while the second was deflected from danger.
It was the Frenchman who would produce Chelsea's first real chance on goal when he curled a shot inches past the top right from just outside the box. That was with 18 minutes gone.
City retaliated well, hindered only by the accuracy of their final ball, but when Alex nodded a Malouda cross on for Ivanovic to head off the bar, the tempo of the game changed.
City continued to pressure but Chelsea looked a lot more threatening on the attack, and soon Ivanovic won a free-kick for which Zabaleta was shown a yellow 30 yards out from goal.
Drogba took the set piece, which was cleared from danger before City broke down Chelsea's right once more and Cole coolly put the ball out for a throw.
With 35 minutes gone the game was still 0-0. It was end-to-end football with Cech the more tested keeper.
After shots from Malouda and Essien both went astray, a tense first half ended 0-0 but City fans would not have been blamed for feeling optimistic.
Ancelotti made no changes before the second half and within minutes Chelsea were showing their intent once more when Anelka forced Hart into an acrobatic save to tip his 25-yard shot away for a corner.
Chelsea had control in the early stages of the second half, although Cech's quick reactions did come into play when Silva's left-footed strike towards the near post was pushed away for a corner.
But with 58 minutes gone, the hosts took the lead. When Tevez collected a Yaya Toure ball, he ran deep into Chelsea's half of the pitch, cut outside Cole and drilled into the far corner via the inside of the post.
It was against the run of the play for the second half and a well-taken goal by the Argentine, although he was gifted space as the Blues failed to close him down. It was the first time Chelsea had conceded the opening goal this season.
The visitors immediately tired to pull one back, with Ramires latching onto a Malouda through ball before being denied by Nigel De Jong.
Frustrations began to show as Gareth Barry collided with Ivanovic before Mikel was shown yellow for a late challenge on Tevez, resulting in the goalscorer briefly receiving treatment on his ankle.
Despite the deficit, and the noise from a buoyant home crowd, Chelsea continued the hunt for an equaliser, as Ramires edged further and further forward with each move. He wanted a debut goal.
Lifted by the support, City began to threaten further, while Mikel made way for Yury Zhirkov in midfield after 68 minutes on the pitch.
Essien then sent a ball screaming past the post from 25 yards before Drogba was replaced by Sturridge in the 74th minute. Anelka moved into the centre and the young number 23 moved out on the right.
Referee Andre Marriner then brandished yellow at Ramires for knocking Yaya Toure to the ground. It was the last thing he'd do in the game as McEachran came into midfield.
Emmanuel Adebayor was next to make an appearance, replacing Tevez while Yaya Toure took the armband for City. Jerome Boateng then replaced Dedryck Boyata with two minutes left.
City's changes made little difference to the remainder of the game. Sturridge looked bright on the right and teamed up well with Anelka but the host's tight defence denied Chelsea a path through.
MATCH REPORT: ASTON VILLA 0 CHELSEA 0
Chelsea failed to score for the second away league game running but did hit the woodwork twice in the second half.
Branislav Ivanovic and Nicolas Anelka were the players denied, the Frenchman in the 88th minute, however the home side also struck the post as the second-half warmed up following a stagnant opening 45 minutes at a chilly Villa Park.
Chelsea often cope admirably without Didier Drogba but in the first half today clearly missed the Ivorian who was recovering from illness.
Villa Park is the ground that has given Chelsea the fewest average points per game in the Abramovich era and the home side began this game well.
However Chelsea improved greatly in the second half, Carlo Ancelotti making changes from a bench which had an average age of 21 years. The big chances for the away team came late on although Villa missed a sitter in stoppage time, as they had in the opening two minutes.
The manager sprung no late surprises with his team selection. The side was the one he named on Friday so Gael Kakuta made his first league start and the 19-year-old made a confident couple of early touches.
However but for a glaring miss by Stephen Ireland, Chelsea would have been behind within two minutes of the start.
Opened up by a counter-attack down our left, the Blues defence failed to pick up the run of the Republic of Ireland international who took Downing's pass but with only Cech to beat, chipped his shot wide.
Ireland was playing behind Carew in a changed Villa attack which was missing injured Heskey. Gerard Houllier for his first Premier League home game in charge of Villa moved Ashley Young back out onto the left wing.
The Villa fans screamed their displeasure at the early waste of a chance and they were howling again before five minutes were up when Cech hit the floor and tipped wide a Carew shot. Kakuta losing the ball in his own half was the source of the danger on this occasion.
It was a strong start by the home side but they went down to 10 men when Dunne went off for treatment and the centre-half was replaced by Clark after only 12 minutes.
There was a sign that pressure on referees following the ongoing dangerous-tackle debate is clouding judgment when Essien was booked for a very ordinary foul on Petrov.
The Drogba-less Chelsea were finding it hard to keep the ball down the Villa end although we were winning our fair share of corners.
At the other end of the pitch, Cech survived when the ball slipped from his grasp in a physical contest with Carew, grabbing it again on the floor.
Essien sliced a 29th minute shot wide, as Kakuta had done earlier on. On 33 minutes Essien was found by Mikel during one of Chelsea's better attacking spells but didn't find the power to beat Friedel. That was the Blues' first shot on target.
Seven minutes from the break, Ivanovic brilliantly charged and blocked Ireland's goalbound shot after Ramires had only cleared to a Villa shirt in the area. The Serbian had been the pick of the Chelsea players in his central defensive role, enjoying some tussles with the like of Reo-Coker and Carew and not coming off second best.
Ramires has blocked an earlier shot, his major contribution to an opening half that had left no-one in doubt this was another difficult day at Villa Park. Looking for positives at half-time, the home side's early pressure had at least slackened off.
Ancelotti swapped Zhirkov for Kakuta at the break, Malouda switching over to the right. The two of them almost created a goal within two minutes of the restart, Collins not too far away from putting through his own net after Malouda had crossed hard and low.
There was far more purpose to Chelsea in these opening stages of the second half. The ball was being moved quicker and some link-up play was working smoothly. On 53 minutes Friedel saved with his legs from Anelka after the centre-forward was found by a lovely Mikel long pass.
Zhirkov had the legs on the right side of the Villa defence and slipped past Beye to nearly set up Anelka in the six-yard box.
Terry became the game's second booking for a foul on Ashley Young in the centre-circle. Warnock soon became Villa's first cautioned player for chopping Anelka in a promising position, but a stretching Zhirkov couldn't direct Malouda's free-kick on target.
On 67 minutes Anelka should have done better than fire over after a lightning fast break from deep in our half. Malouda did superbly to take the ball past three opponents (Ireland booked for his failed attempt to stop the Frenchman) and Zhirkov burnt his lungs to support and draw defenders but cutting inside, Anelka's attempt didn't do justice to the move.
With 15 minutes remaining Chelsea made two subs. Bosingwa made his first appearance since his injury on this ground a year ago, and McEachran came on for Ramires.
Ivanovic saw off Carew who limped off to be replaced by Delfouneso.
Chelsea won a 77th minute corner, drilled near post to Ivanovic who was denied the goal his performance warranted when his header struck the upright.
Within two minutes Villa levelled the woodwork count. A disputed free-kick was fired across by Young and looked to have flicked off Downing before beating the diving Cech but bouncing back off the far post.
The bookings were coming fast now - Young for dissent and McEachran for a foul on fellow sub Delfouneso.
It was all Chelsea in the final five minutes. Cole and McEachran both wormed away in the Villa area without delivering the killer blow before the true chance to win it came.
With two minutes left on the clock the ball was delivered in from Cole where a stretched Villa defence couldn't prevent an Anelka header but he directed it too far down and it bounced up onto the crossbar with Friedel for once beaten. Where Ivanovic had been unfortunate, Anelka had been wasteful. Ancelotti looked frustrated on the touchline.
He was feeling relieved however in stoppage time when Reo-Coker missed the target after chipping over Cech when given a clear run at the goal. McEachran had been caught in possession.
So the Blues drop points for the second away game running, although do improve on the result here last season.
Branislav Ivanovic and Nicolas Anelka were the players denied, the Frenchman in the 88th minute, however the home side also struck the post as the second-half warmed up following a stagnant opening 45 minutes at a chilly Villa Park.
Chelsea often cope admirably without Didier Drogba but in the first half today clearly missed the Ivorian who was recovering from illness.
Villa Park is the ground that has given Chelsea the fewest average points per game in the Abramovich era and the home side began this game well.
However Chelsea improved greatly in the second half, Carlo Ancelotti making changes from a bench which had an average age of 21 years. The big chances for the away team came late on although Villa missed a sitter in stoppage time, as they had in the opening two minutes.
The manager sprung no late surprises with his team selection. The side was the one he named on Friday so Gael Kakuta made his first league start and the 19-year-old made a confident couple of early touches.
However but for a glaring miss by Stephen Ireland, Chelsea would have been behind within two minutes of the start.
Opened up by a counter-attack down our left, the Blues defence failed to pick up the run of the Republic of Ireland international who took Downing's pass but with only Cech to beat, chipped his shot wide.
Ireland was playing behind Carew in a changed Villa attack which was missing injured Heskey. Gerard Houllier for his first Premier League home game in charge of Villa moved Ashley Young back out onto the left wing.
The Villa fans screamed their displeasure at the early waste of a chance and they were howling again before five minutes were up when Cech hit the floor and tipped wide a Carew shot. Kakuta losing the ball in his own half was the source of the danger on this occasion.
It was a strong start by the home side but they went down to 10 men when Dunne went off for treatment and the centre-half was replaced by Clark after only 12 minutes.
There was a sign that pressure on referees following the ongoing dangerous-tackle debate is clouding judgment when Essien was booked for a very ordinary foul on Petrov.
The Drogba-less Chelsea were finding it hard to keep the ball down the Villa end although we were winning our fair share of corners.
At the other end of the pitch, Cech survived when the ball slipped from his grasp in a physical contest with Carew, grabbing it again on the floor.
Essien sliced a 29th minute shot wide, as Kakuta had done earlier on. On 33 minutes Essien was found by Mikel during one of Chelsea's better attacking spells but didn't find the power to beat Friedel. That was the Blues' first shot on target.
Seven minutes from the break, Ivanovic brilliantly charged and blocked Ireland's goalbound shot after Ramires had only cleared to a Villa shirt in the area. The Serbian had been the pick of the Chelsea players in his central defensive role, enjoying some tussles with the like of Reo-Coker and Carew and not coming off second best.
Ramires has blocked an earlier shot, his major contribution to an opening half that had left no-one in doubt this was another difficult day at Villa Park. Looking for positives at half-time, the home side's early pressure had at least slackened off.
Ancelotti swapped Zhirkov for Kakuta at the break, Malouda switching over to the right. The two of them almost created a goal within two minutes of the restart, Collins not too far away from putting through his own net after Malouda had crossed hard and low.
There was far more purpose to Chelsea in these opening stages of the second half. The ball was being moved quicker and some link-up play was working smoothly. On 53 minutes Friedel saved with his legs from Anelka after the centre-forward was found by a lovely Mikel long pass.
Zhirkov had the legs on the right side of the Villa defence and slipped past Beye to nearly set up Anelka in the six-yard box.
Terry became the game's second booking for a foul on Ashley Young in the centre-circle. Warnock soon became Villa's first cautioned player for chopping Anelka in a promising position, but a stretching Zhirkov couldn't direct Malouda's free-kick on target.
On 67 minutes Anelka should have done better than fire over after a lightning fast break from deep in our half. Malouda did superbly to take the ball past three opponents (Ireland booked for his failed attempt to stop the Frenchman) and Zhirkov burnt his lungs to support and draw defenders but cutting inside, Anelka's attempt didn't do justice to the move.
With 15 minutes remaining Chelsea made two subs. Bosingwa made his first appearance since his injury on this ground a year ago, and McEachran came on for Ramires.
Ivanovic saw off Carew who limped off to be replaced by Delfouneso.
Chelsea won a 77th minute corner, drilled near post to Ivanovic who was denied the goal his performance warranted when his header struck the upright.
Within two minutes Villa levelled the woodwork count. A disputed free-kick was fired across by Young and looked to have flicked off Downing before beating the diving Cech but bouncing back off the far post.
The bookings were coming fast now - Young for dissent and McEachran for a foul on fellow sub Delfouneso.
It was all Chelsea in the final five minutes. Cole and McEachran both wormed away in the Villa area without delivering the killer blow before the true chance to win it came.
With two minutes left on the clock the ball was delivered in from Cole where a stretched Villa defence couldn't prevent an Anelka header but he directed it too far down and it bounced up onto the crossbar with Friedel for once beaten. Where Ivanovic had been unfortunate, Anelka had been wasteful. Ancelotti looked frustrated on the touchline.
He was feeling relieved however in stoppage time when Reo-Coker missed the target after chipping over Cech when given a clear run at the goal. McEachran had been caught in possession.
So the Blues drop points for the second away game running, although do improve on the result here last season.
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