Chelsea gets the blues as QPR rejoices
Source: Agencies |
October 25, 2011, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
CHELSEA had two players sent off in a 0-1 defeat at Queen Park Rangers on Sunday as Andre Villas-Boas' team lost its discipline to fall six points behind Premier League leader Manchester City in the title race.
Heidar Helguson put QPR ahead from the penalty spot in the eighth minute after being fouled by David Luiz before the visitors' calm deserted them in a fiery west London derby at Loftus Road.
Jose Bosingwa was the first Chelsea player to receive a straight red card, for pulling back Shaun Wright-Phillips when the winger was through on goal in the 33rd, although John Terry seemed to be covering the Portugal defender.
Didier Drogba was given the same treatment by referee Chris Foy four minutes before halftime after a two-footed lunge on Adel Taarabt.
Chelsea also had seven players booked but Villas-Boas stuck up for his team, preferring instead to criticize the officials.
"I'm very disappointed with Chris' performance," the Portuguese coach said. "With nine players, we kept our emotions very well. Chris and his team (of officials) managed to play an emotional game and they conceded to the crowd and committed tremendous mistakes."
Villas-Boas added: "The ref was poor, very, very poor ... I spoke to him at the end and I was very aggressive to him. I don't care if he's OK or not."
It was third-place Chelsea's second defeat of the season, and first loss to QPR in 16 years, but the team had only itself to blame by getting wound up in front of a hostile crowd and in the face of provocation by Joey Barton and his QPR teammates.
"Our boys did fantastically, we had a plan and it worked a treat," said QPR manager Neil Warnock, whose team climbed up to 10th place in the table.
"To get three points against Chelsea is like a dream."
Despite playing more than a half with nine men, Chelsea still had chances to come away with a point.
The best fell to Nicolas Anelka, who headed straight at QPR goalkeeper Paddy Kenny from four yards. England left back Ashley Cole, one of the players to receive a yellow card, also went close late on.
"I have to praise the players because they were amazing," Villas-Boas said. "For 45 minutes, we played with nine men and that takes courage. It shows the strength and commitment of squad."
Since joining Chelsea from Benfica in January, Luiz has made a name for himself with his attacking forays, scoring three goals in the process, but his defending has not been as impressive.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
