Blues stutter to another draw
Source: Agencies |
December 27, 2009, Sunday
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CHELSEA missed the chance to go seven points clear at the top of the English Premier League when it was held to a 0-0 draw at Birmingham City yesterday.
Chelsea created a handful of second-half chances but has now won just one of its past five league matches, and that only with a late penalty against last-place Portsmouth.
The Blues are now five points clear of defending champion Manchester United, which could trim the deficit to two with victory at Hull City today - when third-place Arsenal hosts fourth-place Aston Villa.
Tottenham Hotspur drew 0-0 at Fulham yesterday, while West Ham United beat Portsmouth 2-0.
Birmingham was unlucky not to be ahead at halftime against a Chelsea side featuring Daniel Sturridge in attack alongside Didier Drogba.
Birmingham striker Christian Benitez was called for a contentious offside when through on goal and then had a goal ruled out by a decision from the same linesman. The referee ruled out his close-range finish for offside, even though Drogba was playing everyone on by lying on the floor apparently injured.
Chelsea's best effort came right at the end of the first half when central defender Alex smashed a 35-meter free kick against the post.
Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti eventually replaced Sturridge with Salomon Kalou in the 68th minute and the Ivory Coast striker, playing his last match before he and Drogba depart for the African Cup of Nations, wasted a pair of chances within two minutes.
He miskicked when totally unmarked and then had a shot saved by 'keeper Joe Hart.
Nicolas Anelka is already out injured and Chelsea's attacking options for tomorrow's game against Fulham were further reduced when Florent Malouda was sent off for a second yellow card late on. The France international will be suspended.
Mark Schwarzer earned Fulham a point with a late double save, stopping Peter Crouch's long-range volley and blocking Jermaine Jenas's effort on the rebound, but Tottenham's Heurelho Gomes was the busier goalkeeper at Craven Cottage.
Fulham had the better chances all game and the Brazilian 'keeper was forced into two stellar second-half stops by Bobby Zamora, one of three former Tottenham players in the Fulham lineup.
West Ham won for the first time in five games through a first-half penalty by Alessandro Diamante, awarded for a foul on on-loan midfielder Luis Jimenez by Hayden Mullins, and late goal by Radoslav Kovac.
Chelsea created a handful of second-half chances but has now won just one of its past five league matches, and that only with a late penalty against last-place Portsmouth.
The Blues are now five points clear of defending champion Manchester United, which could trim the deficit to two with victory at Hull City today - when third-place Arsenal hosts fourth-place Aston Villa.
Tottenham Hotspur drew 0-0 at Fulham yesterday, while West Ham United beat Portsmouth 2-0.
Birmingham was unlucky not to be ahead at halftime against a Chelsea side featuring Daniel Sturridge in attack alongside Didier Drogba.
Birmingham striker Christian Benitez was called for a contentious offside when through on goal and then had a goal ruled out by a decision from the same linesman. The referee ruled out his close-range finish for offside, even though Drogba was playing everyone on by lying on the floor apparently injured.
Chelsea's best effort came right at the end of the first half when central defender Alex smashed a 35-meter free kick against the post.
Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti eventually replaced Sturridge with Salomon Kalou in the 68th minute and the Ivory Coast striker, playing his last match before he and Drogba depart for the African Cup of Nations, wasted a pair of chances within two minutes.
He miskicked when totally unmarked and then had a shot saved by 'keeper Joe Hart.
Nicolas Anelka is already out injured and Chelsea's attacking options for tomorrow's game against Fulham were further reduced when Florent Malouda was sent off for a second yellow card late on. The France international will be suspended.
Mark Schwarzer earned Fulham a point with a late double save, stopping Peter Crouch's long-range volley and blocking Jermaine Jenas's effort on the rebound, but Tottenham's Heurelho Gomes was the busier goalkeeper at Craven Cottage.
Fulham had the better chances all game and the Brazilian 'keeper was forced into two stellar second-half stops by Bobby Zamora, one of three former Tottenham players in the Fulham lineup.
West Ham won for the first time in five games through a first-half penalty by Alessandro Diamante, awarded for a foul on on-loan midfielder Luis Jimenez by Hayden Mullins, and late goal by Radoslav Kovac.
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