Despite a woeful recent record away from home, you might have expected Allardyce’s Blackburn to have put up more of a fight against Chelsea yesterday. But this was a masterclass performance from the Ancelotti’s men who unleashed a second half blue-coloured blitzkrieg to put five past a hapless Blackburn Rovers.
It didn’t look like the final score would be so comprehensive after the first half, however. Dominating both possession and territory, Chelsea should have put two or three past a Blackburn side that looked dumbstruck in the face of some top class one-touch passing. Joe Cole, Anelka and Lampard each passed up opportunities that arguably they should have scored.
But it was nevertheless an impressive first 45 in which Joe Cole – making his first start in the Premier League for ten months – was at the heart of a side playing football that was on another level to anything Chelsea fans have seen so far this season. It was a half characterised by everything that has always been good about Chelsea for the last few years: strength and industry from Essien, exquisite long passing from Ballack, Lampard making dangerous late runs into the box and the front two causing havoc either through the middle or by pulling the defence down the channels.
But there was more than the normal yesterday. Spurred on by a confident and driven performance from Joe Cole, this was a Chelsea that had added tricks, flicks and sharp one touch passing to their game. Blackburn were chasing shadows, and the one nil half time scoreline (an own goal created by a fine first time cross from the left by Anelka) was no reflection of the balance of play. Had it not been for lax finishing and three world class saves from Paul Robinson, the scoreline might have already been embarrassing.
The second half saw Chelsea finally rewarded for the quality of their play as four goals were put past the ex-England keeper in the space of fifteen minutes. The first came from Lampard who broke his barren run in the Premiership with a driven shot after Drogba had cut the ball back from the byline. The next came from an Essien 30 yard strike – arguably Robinson should have done better. Next Drogba was brought down in the box to set up Lampard to score his second of the day from the spot. Drogba got in the act to head Chelsea’s fifth from a Ballack corner.
This was the footballing equivalent of blitzkrieg. As if spurred on by not making the most of their first half chances, Chelsea cut loose and hit top gear for the first time this season. Even having gone three nil up, Chelsea still played a high tempo, positive game of the like we don’t usually see at Stamford Bridge unless the side go behind.
The scoreline allowed Ancelotti some freedom from the bench, with Bruma getting an unexpected chance to show his ability at centre half. Sturridge was given 10-15 minutes – that he wasn’t given longer would be my only criticism of an otherwise excellent display from both players and manager.
A great performance all round – and one that finally shows just what Chelsea are capable of when the pedal is pushed to the metal.
bridgeviews.co.uk man of the match: Lampard might be scoring again and Drogba might have scored his eighth goal in just 10 league games, but in bringing much needed creativity to a sometimes lifeless midfield Joe Cole was the difference yesterday. Quite simply, Chelsea looked a different side with him in it. He was the both the team’s metronome and its ‘fantasy’: the craft that put Blackburn out of the game. A very impressive comeback.
What the papers said
The Times
“Chelsea did all they could to soothe their manager, brutalising Blackburn, and Paul Robinson in particular, with their fluent, powerful and penetrative football. If all their games were at Stamford Bridge, Ancelotti’s side would be certainties for the Premier League.”
The Guardian
“During the second-half tornado, a blue force ripped through Blackburn, inhabitants of the Shed End jumped with enough vigour to test the stand's foundations, and there was a buzz in the air that made you wonder if Carlo Ancelotti had found the X-factor Roman Abramovich has long been after. This was a thrill-a-minute Chelsea, a forward-thinking Chelsea, a team brimming with goals and attacking intent.”
Telegraph
“With Cole playing as if he had never been away, Chelsea annihilated an inept Blackburn side to reclaim top spot in style. Frank Lampard, who has had an unusually quiet campaign in front of goal so far, was back to his menacing best, scoring twice. Chelsea…were rejuvenated by Cole. He instantly looked back to his effervescent best and should have scored.”
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- The Chelsea season in stats – goals, assists and results analysis
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