Tuesday, November 05, 2013

Yo-Yo and Lo(ic) sink Jo(se)

Newcastle Utd 2 - 0 Chelski

Well fuck me, I didn't see that coming.

I went into this match with low expectations, thinking that we would be lucky to somehow scrape a point and well, wow...

Having been overwhelmed by the Great Unwashed last Sunday, a modicum of pride had been restored in our added-time defeat to Man City in midweek. However, we went into this game against a resurgent Chelski team unbeaten in six games and boasting a staggering array of talent to call upon.

In contrast to the visitors, who were able to rest the majority of their team in the cup, the Silver Fox fielded seven of the team who played the full 120 minutes against Man City, with Big Lad partnering Papiss Cisse up front in a 4-4-2 formation which saw Goofy and Moussa Sissoko down the flanks with Dreamboat and captain Mr T in the middle of the park.

It was, unsurprisingly, the visitors who started the stronger, with Newcastle content to sit back, stay tight and seek to defend in numbers, a tactic which largely worked. The closest Chelsea came was a header by the world's biggest full kit wanker and all-round upstanding team mate John Terry, when he outjumped Mike Williamson at a corner but saw his attempt cannon back off the bar.

At the other end, our best chance of the half came from a swift counter-attack after a Davide Santon goal-line clearance was swiftly ushered forward.

Invigorated at half-time, it wasn't long before the Silver Fox sought to add fresh legs, and when Vurnon Anita replaced Mr T we started to get a foothold in the match. Sissoko in particular was enjoying a game to remember, causing Ashley Cole no end of trouble and narrowly failing to get on the score sheet when he latched onto an excellent through-ball only to see his low shot brush Petr Cech's fingers and go beyond the post.

Thankfully, we didn't lose momentum and when Cole fouled Sissoko it presented us with another chance. The Silver Fox issued Dreamboat with a whole raft of instructions (which were later revealed to essentially amount to "hit it over their defence"), and the Frenchman duly obliged, flighting a brilliant ball over the static Chelski backline for Goofy to rush onto and score a fine header into the Gallowgate net.

Inevitably, Jose Mourinho's side started to press further forward and create chances, the best of which fell to substitute Willian whose shot was saved at point blank range by Tim Krul, with Mathieu Debuchy flinging himself in front of Samuel Eto'o's follow-up.

With time running out, the game was settled following neat interplay between substitute Obertan Kenobi and Anita ultimately saw the Dutchman beat two men and pull the ball back for Loic Remy (who had been a constant threat all afternoon) to fire home off the inside of the post.

Sometimes, football has the amazing capacity to surprise. Saturday was one of those days. Savour it.

Chelsea fans' perspectives: Chelsea FC Blog, We Ain't Got No History

Other reports: BBC, Guardian

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1 Comments:

Blogger 63soul said...

Aside from Remy and Sissoko having great matches, I was particularly impressed with the back four. Yanga-Mbiwa and Williamson both were excellent, and our fullbacks kept shape and resisted the tendency to get caught up too high.

11:02 pm  

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