Ancelotti backs Terry as Chelsea held by Hull

February 3, 2010

Carlo Ancelotti has backed John Terry to come through his personal crisis and lead Chelsea to the title despite his side’s disappointing failure to overcome Hull City in a 1-1 draw at the KC Stadium.

Terry’s week of woe showed no signs of improving as he was subjected to abuse on Humberside on Tuesday evening.

And just to make matters worse he was booked before having to watch his side drop two crucial points against Phil Brown’s struggling team, blowing their chance to open up a four-point lead over Manchester United at the top of the table.

Terry had to run a gauntlet of hate from the home supporters that promises to become a regular event for the defender, but Ancelotti insists his captain can handle the flak and will carry on playing.

Terry will meet England manager Fabio Capello later this week to discuss his future as his country’s captain following reports of his affair with the former girlfriend of international team-mate Wayne Bridge.

But he has the backing of Ancelotti, even if the Italian admits he might give the centreback a family holiday later this month when Chelsea face Cardiff City in the FA Cup fifth round at Stamford Bridge.

Ancelotti said: “Nothing can distract our concentration in this competition. In every game the Chelsea team has good focus and we can play good football.

“Concentration is always on top. This is an issue for me and John Terry. I think it’s not a problem. You can see the line-up against Cardiff.

“If he needs a holiday he will have one and if not, he will play against Cardiff.

“I don’t like to speak about this. It’s not a question I want to speak about.

“For him (Terry) nothing has changed. He continues to play a very good game and every game he’s living a good moment.

“He’s doing his best. The atmosphere in the team is the same. There has been no change.

“We are in a good position now. We are top. We know Manchester United are very good and it will be a long race until the end of the season.

“We are happy to have a two-point lead. This was an opportunity, but it’s impossible to win every game.”

Chelsea had to rely on Didier Drogba’s clinical free kick to salvage a point for the league leaders. It was his 20th goal of the season and cancelled out Stephen Mouyokolo’s opening goal for Hull, his first for the club.

Ancelotti praised the impact Drogba had on his return to the side following international duty at the African Cup of Nations and believes his form and fitness will be key as the season enters its final third.

Ancelotti added: “It’s an important moment for us, but we need to have all the players in good condition between now and the end of the season.”

Hull rode their luck at times with goalkeeper Boaz Myhill once again impressive but Brown is convinced this result can provide his side with the belief that they have what it takes to go on and avoid relegation for the second season in succession.

“Against the quality of the opposition, that performance is right up there. I’m just disappointed we can’t perform like this on a more regular basis,” said Brown.

HULL (AFP)

Tags: Boaz Myhill, cardiff, cardiff city, carlo ancelotti, CHELSEA, England, england manager, FA Cup, fabio capello, family holiday, flak, former girlfriend, gauntlet, good game, home supporters, HULL, hull city, humberside, john terry, kc stadium, Manchester, personal crisis, phil brown, stamford bridge, Stephen Mouyokolo, team mate, wayne bridge

Hull apply the brakes to Chelsea title charge

February 3, 2010

Didier Drogba celebrated his return to Premier League duty with a first half equaliser at the KC Stadium to cancel out Stephen Mouyokolo’s earlier effort on a frustrating night for Carlo Ancelotti’s Chelsea.

Drogba struck his 20th goal of the season on 43 minutes to haul the Premier League leaders level after Hull defender Mouyokolo had headed Phil Brown’s Hull City side into a surprise lead with his first ever goal for the top flight strugglers.

But despite Drogba coming to the rescue it wasn’t enough to help Chelsea secure the win they so badly needed to restore their four point advantage over Manchester United at the top of the table.

The London club now have a lead of just two points and United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will be thankful to Hull for holding his great rivals to a draw to blow the title race wide open.

Ancelotti had the luxury of recalling Drogba for the first time since he departed for the African Cup of Nations over four weeks ago, while England internationals Joe Cole and Ashley Cole had to be content with a place on the bench.

John Terry also maintained his place in the side despite the on-going pressure on him to resign as England captain following his off-field problems while Deco was recalled to the starting line-up.

Brown, meanwhile, made just one change to the side which was held to a disappointing draw with Wolves last weekend, recalling Craig Fagan on the right wing in place of Bernard Mendy. The Hull manager resisted the temptation to hand a full debut to new loan signing Amr Zaki.

Hull had gone nine games without a victory and found themselves entrenched in the relegation zone. Considering Manchester City were the next visitors to the KC Stadium then the immediate future looked bleak.

But Chelsea struggled to find their rhythm from the start and seemed to make Hull’s evening easier than expected.

Frank Lampard worried Boaz Myhill with a swerving drive inside nine minutes which the Hull goalkeeper could only palm straight to Nicolas Anelka but the French striker stubbed his shot badly wide with the goal at his mercy.

It wasn’t until the 24th minute that Chelsea threatened again when Branislav Ivanovic sent over an inch-perfect cross for the waiting Michael Ballack but all the German midfielder could do was power his diving header straight at Myhill from close range.

The longer the game went on the more Hull seemed to grow in confidence but it still came a surprise when they took the lead with their first real attack of the game.

Terry was nowhere to be seen as Stephen Hunt swung over a corner and Mouyokolo rose the highest to head past the helpless Petr Cech.

But Hull’s lead always looked fragile and it lasted just 13 minutes before Drogba levelled the scores with a powerful free kick into the bottom corner of Myhill’s goal.

Hull could have restored their lead on the stroke of half time when Tom Cairney’s free kick found the head of the unmarked Anthony Gardner, but the defender could only direct his effort over the crossbar.

Yet Chelsea always carried a threat and Myhill had to be at his best to keep the scores level with a fine double save just before the hour mark.

First he got down sharply to tip wide a skidding drive from Florent Malouda before producing an even better stop to keep out Drogba’s downward header from Malouda’s cross as Brown’s men hung on for a point that is of much more use to them than Chelsea.

HULL, England (AFP)

Tags: african cup of nations, alex ferguson, Anthony Gardner, ashley cole, bernard mendy, Boaz Myhill, Brown, carlo ancelotti, CHELSEA, Cole, Craig Fagan, didier drogba, England, england internationals, frank lampard, frustrating night, HULL, hull city, Joe Cole, john terry, kc stadium, london, london club, Manchester, manchester city, Michael Ballack, Nicolas Anelka, Petr Cech, phil brown, point advantage, premier league, relegation zone, sir alex ferguson, Stephen Hunt, Stephen Mouyokolo, Terry, Tom Cairney, Zaki

Wolves rob Hull of precious points

January 30, 2010

Hull City remained in the Premier League relegation zone after twice squandering the lead in a 2-2 draw at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.

Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink gave Hull, who remained second bottom, an early lead only for Wolves, now a point above the bottom three, to draw level through Anthony Gardner’s farcical own-goal at the KC Stadium.

Stephen Hunt restored the Tigers’ lead from the penalty spot but there was still time for Matthew Jarvis to rescue a point for Wolves.

Former Celtic striker Vennegoor of Hesselink opened the scoring in the 11th minute with a 20-yard shot after the Dutchman had been played in by American forward Jozy Altodore, who had held off two defenders.

It was a lead that lasted until four minutes after half-time when Wolves drew level in comical fashion.

Hunt allowed Wolves’ Ronald Zubar to chase down a ball the Republic of Ireland midfielder felt was going out of play.

Zubar’s hopeful cross appeared easy enough for Gardner to clear but his sliced kick spiralled over Hull goalkeeper Boaz Myhill and into the net.

Minutes later, however, Zubar returned the favour when he clattered into Altidore and Hunt scored from the penalty spot.

But Hull were pegged back again when Matthew Jarvis’s right-footed shot beat Myhill in the 67th minute.

The visitors then had a chance to win it late on but Myhill saved well from new Wolves on-loan signing Geoffrey Mujangi Bia after a free-kick caused problems in the Tigers’ box.

HULL, England (AFP)

Tags: bia, Boaz Myhill, dutchman, England, four minutes, free kick, Geoffrey Mujangi, Goalkeeper, HULL, hull city, hull england, Jan Vennegoor, jan vennegoor of hesselink, kc stadium, matthew jarvis, midfielder, precious points, premier league, relegation zone, republic of ireland, ronald zubar, Stephen Hunt, Wanderers, wolves

Redknapp won’t let Spurs dwell on Leeds let-down

January 26, 2010

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has told his players to put recent disappointments behind them and renew their push for a top four Premier League finish when Fulham visit White Hart Lane on Tuesday.

Redknapp’s side have endured a frustrating week in which they were denied victory against Hull by goalkeeper Boaz Myhill’s impressive display and then out-played by Liverpool, one of their main rivals for a Champions League place.

Saturday’s FA Cup fourth round clash with League One Leeds was meant to provide an opportunity to get back on track but Jermaine Beckford’s stoppage time penalty condemned Tottenham to a replay at Elland Road.

Spurs remain in the coveted fourth spot for the time being but will be overhauled if either Aston Villa or Manchester City win their games in hand while Liverpool sit just one point behind having played the same number of games.

Despite their recent slump, Redknapp knows his squad can still enjoy a successful season if they pick themselves up quickly.

“We won’t dwell on it. I’m disappointed because we threw the game away when we had it in the bag but you have to pick yourself up and go again Tuesday,” Redknapp said.

Unsettled Russia striker Roman Pavlyuchenko scored in the 2-2 draw with Leeds and earned praise from Redknapp, who scotched rumours he was about to be sold to Birmingham.

“Pav is here, he’s part of the squad and if he plays like he did when he came on every week he will be in the team every week. There’s nothing in the offing,” Redknapp said.

One player less likely to figure in Tuesday’s game is David Bentley after Redknapp left the former Arsenal man out of the squad for the cup clash in favour of youngster Danny Rose, paving the way for a possible move away from the Lane.

“He (Bentley) is here and he has to work hard to get in the team. That is all I asked them to do – come in every day, train hard and work hard,” Redknapp added.

“Footballers have a fantastic living, so it is not a lot to ask, is it? Come in every day, train hard and show a good attitude.”

Fulham are equally in need of a change of fortunes as their impressive start to the league campaign has spluttered in recent weeks.

Although Roy Hodgson’s team are still sitting pretty in ninth place, the west London club have lost their last three league games and haven’t won in the league since their 3-0 demolition of Manchester United in December.

The Cottagers claimed a 3-1 victory in Saturday’s FA Cup tie against Accrington Stanley, but Hodgson’s team struggled in disposing of their lower league opposition.

Hodgson also faces an anxious week as he waits to see if highly rated young defender Chris Smalling is the subject of a bid by Arsenal before the transfer window closes on February 1.

“If Arsenal are interested then I guess they better get in touch with us,” Hodgson said. “I have not spoken to Arsene (Wenger) at all. It has never been mentioned, and our chief executive has not spoken to their chief executive.

“Presumably that means they have got no interest, or the interest is being generated by someone else in the club or outside the club,” he added.

Hodgson will be without American striker Clint Dempsey who injured his knee during their 2-0 defeat by Blackburn last week.

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: aston villa, Boaz Myhill, cup clash, David Bentley, day train, FA Cup, fulham, Goalkeeper, Harry Redknapp, impressive display, jermaine beckford, manchester city, paving the way, stoppage time, white hart lane, youngster