Chelsea refuse to give up on Premier League
By Derick Allsop
Sport.Telegraph, 6th April 2008
Love him or loathe him, no one can dispute Avram Grant has kept Chelsea in
a Premier League marathon that was surely reduced to two contenders yesterday.
Hours after Arsenal's latest and seemingly fatal stumble, the self-proclaimed
Un-Special One shuffled his resources again and came up with a formation that
had too much guile and penetration - albeit with a healthy helping of good
fortune - for Manchester City.
Richard Dunne, City's generally dependable captain and central defender,
contributed to Chelsea's title mission with an own-goal and inadvertent
collaboration in the creation of the second, scored by Salomon Kalou.
City had their moments, particularly during a 15-minute period of the
first half, yet ultimately had their goalkeeper, Joe Hart, to thank for
averting a more substantial defeat.
Chelsea were content to take the three points with a minimum of effort,
closing to within two of leaders Manchester United, who visit Middlesbrough
today. Grant's planning now turns to their next home match, the second
leg of the Champions League quarter-final against Fenerbahce. Chelsea
trail 2-1 but have fresh players to recall and even those who put in a
shift here were scarcely extended.
Given the strength and flexibility of Chelsea's squad, they look eminently
capable of emerging as United's challengers for the top prizes in England
and Europe.
Grant said: "We have come a long way, but still one team is in front of us.
I don't know if it will be enough to win every game. We need to do our job.
I don't know whether it is better to play before United. We just need to
do our job."
City's season, so bright and promising in its infancy, is in danger of
ignominious disintegration. Their miserable day was compounded by a
dislocated shoulder and wrist injury for the excellent Nedum Onuoha.
City's task became onerous in just six minutes. Chelsea's composed
approach play carried them into the penalty area and Nicolas Anelka's
low cross was turned past Hart by Dunne in his desperation to cut off
the supply to Michael Essien.
Onuoha's intervention denied Anelka the opportunity to capitalise on
Essien's service before City managed to venture out of their own
territory and launch a series of assaults. Most of them disturbed the
top tier rather than Carlo Cudicini until Gelson Fernandes eventually
dirtied the Chelsea goalkeeper's gloves.
Another crucial challenge by Onuoha checked Anelka's break as Chelsea
reminded City of their threat. Undeterred, Sven-Goran Eriksson's team
pressed forward again, Stephen Ireland and Michael Johnson going close
and Martin Petrov forcing Cudicini into a splendid save. For all City's
endeavour, they were relieved not to go further behind when Kalou
lofted over a beckoning goal. He atoned for that wretched miss early
in the second half, combining cleverly with Essien and accepting
another assist from Dunne before walking the ball around Hart.
The City goalkeeper somehow spared his side further damage, taking the
ball off Anelka's toe, then tipping the striker's header on to the
crossbar and clearing off the line.
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