Chelsea prove they are the real deal
By Henry Winter
Sport.Telegraph, 6th May 2008
Manchester United remain favourites for the title, courtesy of their
superior goal difference, but such is the closeness of the race that
the Premier League have ordered that two sets of winners' medals be
minted for 'Showdown Sunday'.
The real trophy is being taken to the JJB Stadium, where United face
Wigan Athletic this weekend, but the Premier League are leaving nothing
to chance and will have a replica at Stamford Bridge, where Chelsea host
Bolton Wanderers.
This may simply be a copy of the original, but there is nothing fake
about an enthralling championship chase involving the thoroughbreds of
Chelsea and Manchester United.
Whatever the displeasure within football over the way in which Avram
Grant replaced Jose Mourinho at Chelsea, nothing can detract from the
reality that his strong, lean machine of a team are pushing United all
the way to the line.
Grant acted decisively at a key moment yesterday, demanding his players
raise their tempo at the break, and also making a significant tactical
switch that built the platform for this deserved victory.
As if heralding Grant's change, the St James' DJ played Pink Floyd's
Shine On You Crazy Diamond and it was a diamond formation that duly
glistened for Chelsea. With a narrow midfield, and Michael Ballack in
the hole behind Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka, Chelsea laid siege
to Newcastle's area, pouring through the middle in blue waves.
Cometh the hour, cometh the German: Ballack headed home his ninth of
the season before Florent Malouda added a second. In all probability,
United will need to win at Wigan, because Chelsea surely boast too
much belief and firepower for Bolton.
In the run-up to Sunday's date with destiny, the conspiracy theorists
will have a field day with the Wigan-United game coming under the
microscope. Anyone who knows Wigan's manager, Steve Bruce, will
realise that it is not in his mentality to tell his players to ease
up, simply to help out his old United manager.
Bruce's first love, Newcastle United, only briefly threatened to
do Ferguson a favour yesterday. Before the sheer power and quality
of Grant's players ground them down, Newcastle's hopes flickered
brightest in the earliest stages.
Looking organised and confident in Kevin Keegan's 4-3-1-2 formation,
Newcastle did sit a little deep, but their work-rate was impressive,
with Joey Barton a disciplined, energetic presence in midfield and
even Mark Viduka tracking back to put a tackle in. Keegan's verdict
on the team's future, with Shangri-La being fifth place, seemed
gloomy. Michael Owen and company have perked up under Keegan.
Pulling the strings behind Viduka and Obafemi Martins, Owen's
clever movement occasionally caught out John Terry and his fellow
defenders. When he raced on to Nicky Butt's lob over Chelsea's
back four, the Gallowgate stood in anticipation of an expert
finish, but Owen flicked his volley into a frustrated crowd.
Martins' wriggling runs often lacked thought but his pace and
touch also worried the visitors. And if Habib Beye had got his
radar working, Newcastle would have been ahead.
Certainly Chelsea were indebted to Petr Cech and Terry to thwart
Newcastle midway through the half. Cech spread himself brilliantly
to block Viduka's shot but still the danger did not ebb. Owen,
fastest to the rebound, shot goalwards but there was Terry, the
rock of ages, stationed on the goal-line to clear.
It was the type of determined defending that has characterised
Terry's career, but it also showed his intelligence, instantly
realising that Cech was exposed on saving from Viduka; Terry
immediately dropped back to protect the untended goal. Such tiny
details shape a game's destiny.
Down the other end, Steven Taylor relished his physical duel with
Didier Drogba. Even a late challenge from the Chelsea striker, who
left his foot in on the Newcastle centre-half, must have felt
almost like a compliment to Taylor, albeit a painful one.
So Chelsea seized control. Michael Essien, again outstanding, this
time in a midfield role, shot wide. Ballack skewed an effort wide.
So did Anelka. John Obi Mikel fired over. Only Nicky Butt's wonderful
tackle then thwarted Drogba. When Viduka hobbled away at the break,
Chelsea's hopes increased.
The siege began. Ricardo Carvalho headed wide. Terry headed Malouda's
inswinging corner on to the bar. TWith an impressive away contingent
raising the steel rafters of St James', the black-and-white dam finally
yielded on the hour.
When Abdoulaye Feye clipped Malouda's heels on the edge of the area,
the Frenchman dummied the free-kick and Drogba lifted the ball in.
Ballack, so deadly in the area, escaped from Alan Smith to glance an
unstoppable header past Steve Harper.
The lead gained, Grant removed Anelka, introducing Frank Lampard, who
received warm applause from Newcastle fans following the recent tragic
death of his mother. Lampard ran into midfield and ensured Chelsea
kept the ball and the lead.
One scare needed negotiating, Owen prodding Butt's pass just wide,
but the force remained with the Blues. When Lampard gained possession
with eight minutes remaining, the England international beautifully
slid the ball down the inside-left channel and Malouda swept Chelsea's
second past Harper.
Down at the Premier League HQ, two miles from the Bridge, plans were
being changed for the final weekend. "The practical difficulties of
the title race going into the final day of the season means that the
Barclays Premier League trophy will be on stand-by at both the JJB
Stadium and Stamford Bridge," said a Premier League spokesman last night.
By dusk next Sunday, when the dust has settled on a thrilling season,
a set of unused winners' medals will head for the furnace as the
Champagne corks pop elsewhere.
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