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

Terry´s England captaincy questioned after ´affair´

January 30, 2010

John Terry’s future as England captain was called into question on Saturday when British newspapers responded to reports about his infidelity by demanding he be stripped of the role.

But despite the controversy surrounding his alleged extra-marital affair with the ex-girlfriend of a former Chelsea team-mate, the Premier League leaders insisted they had no qualms about selecting him to play against Burnley on Saturday.

“John has got his football head on,” Chelsea assistant manager Ray Wilkins told ESPN shortly before kick-off at Turf Moor.

“He is a fantastic professional as far as the footballing side of his life is concerned,” former England midfielder Wilkins added.

“He has done so wonderfully well for us and he will play today with no problem whatsoever.”

Earlier, Terry briefly signed autographs as Chelsea left their team hotel but refused to comment about the allegations.

Terry, 29, who was voted Britain’s Dad of the Year last year in a sponsored survey, has two children with his wife Toni.

The central defender was named on Friday as the sportsman behind a gagging injunction involving his private life.

A judge at London’s High Court subsequently lifted the order and Saturday’s papers alleged Terry had an affair with the ex-girlfriend of former Chelsea team-mate Wayne Bridge, Vanessa Perroncel.

Bridge, in a statement issued through his lawyer, said Saturday: “I have read the press reporting in the last two days. The reports deal with matters which are of a deeply personal and private nature.

“My primary concern is the welfare of my son. Therefore, I intend to make no comment whatsoever either now or in the future about these reports and ask that my privacy is respected,” added Bridge, who now plays for Manchester City.

The Daily Telegraph’s chief football writer Henry Winter, a prominent member of the England press pack, led the calls for Terry to hand in the captain’s armband.

“I like Terry, the one natural leader in the England dressing room, a player so passionately committed to the cause of St George that he willingly endures jabs just to get his stiff back through games, but this really is an embarrassment too far. It’s time for him to stand down,” Winter wrote.

Bridge played with Terry for six years during his time at Chelsea before leaving to join Manchester City in January 2009.

The left-back is widely expected to be called into Fabio Capello’s squad for this year’s World Cup in South Africa as cover for Terry’s Chelsea team-mate Ashley Cole.

Terry was named England captain by former England coach Steve McClaren in August 2006 and Capello confirmed he would continue in the role shortly after the Italian took charge in August 2008.

Vice-captain Rio Ferdinand and his Manchester United team-mate Wayne Rooney have been touted as the favourites to replace Terry as skipper if Capello, a renowned disciplinarian, decides to strip him of the captaincy.

England begin their World Cup campaign against the United States in Rustenburg on June 12.

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: british newspapers, central defender, CHELSEA, Cole, daily telegraph, England, england captain, espn, extra marital affair, fabio capello, football head, football writer, henry winter, John, john terry, league leaders, london, Manchester, manchester city, natural leader, premier league, private nature, ray wilkins, South Africa, st george, Steve McClaren, team hotel, team mate, Toni, turf moor, vanessa perroncel, wayne bridge, wayne rooney, wife toni

Blackburn frustrate West Ham

January 30, 2010

Blackburn earned a gritty 0-0 draw against struggling West Ham on Saturday to frustrate the east London club’s hopes of kick-starting the new era at Upton Park.

Gianfranco Zola’s side were playing at home for the first time since co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold finally completed their takeover of the Hammers, but there was precious little for the watching duo to get excited about.

Blackburn, who have scored just eight times in 12 away league matches, would have won with better finishing and West Ham – in 15th place – remain precariously close to the relegation zone.

Sullivan and Gold are well aware of West Ham’s troubles and have been attempting to sign several new players before Monday’s transfer deadline.

A deal for Blackburn striker Benni McCarthy is still in the pipeline but Zola may need more than that to save his side from the drop.

Rovers started well and appealed for a penalty when Nikola Kalinic went down under pressure from Jonathan Spector, but referee Peter Walton waved away their protests.

After 35 minutes, an inswinging corner from Morten Gamst Pedersen forced West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green to tip over the crossbar at full-stretch.

Rovers came agonisingly close to taking the lead just before half-time when Pedersen’s free-kick flashed past Green and cannoned back off the bar.

Zola sent on England forward Carlton Cole, in action for the first time since November following a knee injury, with 30 minutes to play but even he couldn’t spark West Ham into life.

Green was called into action again to push Pedersen’s goal-bound drive away, then Cole cleared Gael Givet’s shot off the line after it appeared to hit Mark Noble on the arm.

Blackburn goalkeeper Paul Robinson had barely been troubled all game but he was finally forced to save in the final minutes as he pushed Alessandro Diamanti’s free-kick over to preserve the draw.

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: Alessandro Diamanti, benni mccarthy, Carlton, Cole, crossbar, david gold, david sullivan, diamanti, east london, England, free kick, gael givet, gianfranco zola, jonathan spector, knee injury, london, london club, Mark Noble, Morten Gamst, morten gamst pedersen, Nikola Kalinic, paul robinson, Peter Walton, playing at home, relegation zone, robert green, transfer deadline, upton park, west ham, Zola

Terry could lose England role over affair

January 30, 2010

John Terry’s future as England captain was called into question on Saturday when British newspapers responded to reports about his infidelity by demanding for him to be stripped of the captaincy.

The centre-back, who also captains Chelsea, was named on Friday as the sportsman behind a gagging injunction involving his private life.

A judge at London’s High Court subsequently lifted the order and Saturday’s papers were full of accounts alleging that Terry had an affair with the ex-girlfriend of former Chelsea team-mate Wayne Bridge, Vanessa Perroncel.

The Daily Telegraph’s chief football writer Henry Winter, a prominent member of the England press pack, led the calls for Terry to hand in the captain’s armband.

His words were echoed by The Independent’s chief sports writer James Lawton, who said Terry’s misdemeanours would not be taken lightly by England coach Fabio Capello.

“Capello is the most strenuous of disciplinarians, a fanatic for professional rigour in all matters,” he said.

“Claims of carrying on an affair with a team-mate’s girlfriend is surely not Capello’s idea of the self-control and example and heightened sense of camaraderie implicit in the assignment.”

The Sun, the United Kingdom’s most popular daily, claimed that Bridge was so distraught by news of the affair that he was contemplating retiring from England duty.

“… Bridge told pals he did not even want to be picked for England’s next friendly match (against Egypt) in March,” read The Sun’s article on the affair.

“The Sun understands that not only is Terry’s betrayed best mate refusing to talk to the Three Lions skipper any more — but he is considering quitting international football entirely.”

Bridge played with Terry for six years during his time at Chelsea before leaving to join Manchester City in January 2009.

The left-back is widely expected to be called into Capello’s World Cup squad as cover for Terry’s Chelsea team-mate Ashley Cole.

Speaking at the time of Bridge’s departure from Chelsea, Terry said: “He’ll be missed. It’s a shame to see one of the lads go who you have grown up with and been with for a long time.”

Terry was named England captain by former England coach Steve McClaren in August 2006 and Capello confirmed he would continue in the role shortly after the Italian took charge in August 2008.

Current vice-captain Rio Ferdinand and his Manchester United team-mate Wayne Rooney have been touted as the favourites to replace Terry as skipper if Capello, a renowned disciplinarian, decides to strip him of the captaincy.

England begin their World Cup campaign against the United States in Rustenburg, South Africa on June 12.

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: british newspapers, coach fabio capello, Cole, daily telegraph, Egypt, England, england captain, england coach, fabio capello, football writer, friendly match, henry winter, international football, james lawton, john terry, london, Manchester, natural leader, rigour, South Africa, Steve McClaren, stiff back, team mate, Terry, three lions, United Kingdom, United States, vanessa perroncel, wayne bridge, wayne rooney

Chelsea make light of Drogba absence

January 17, 2010

Carlo Ancelotti believes Nicolas Anelka has shown he can cover for the loss of Didier Drogba following the striker?s two-goal display in the 7-2 thrashing of Sunderland.

Drogba is on international duty with Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations, leaving Anelka as the club’s senior striker during January.

Anelka?s display against a hapless Sunderland suggested he is ready to rise to the challenge as Chelsea took their tally to 12 goals in two games without their four-strong contingent of African players.

Ancelotti said: “We played a lot of times without Didier and Nicolas did very well in the past. And also he did very well today. Nicolas is a fantastic striker, he is a top striker, and we are very happy to have him in our squad.”

Midfielders Michael Essien and John Obi Mikel are in Angola along with Drogba’s Ivory Coast team-mate Salomon Kalou but Ancelotti is satisfied he has sufficient strength in his squad to compensate for their absence.

“I think that was maybe the best performance this season, we played very well until the end of the match,” he said.

“We started the game very well. I’m very happy because it’s an important time for us. Without the African players we maybe could have some problems. I always said I have a fantastic squad and today other players played very well. I think for us it is a good moment for us.

“I think these are important matches for us because I think we can also play without the African players.

“We missed important players because Didier is an important player for us, also the others. I have a fantastic squad and in this period I will use other players.”

The result against Sunderland will inevitably be seen as significant in the context of the Premier League title race but Ancelotti insisted his only concern is his own team?s form and not that of his rivals.

“We don’t want to send a message to the other teams,” he added. “I think this performance for us is very good because it improves our motivation, and improves our determination to do better if possible.”

Chelsea’s victory was so comfortable, Ancelotti was able to withdraw Ashley Cole and John Terry at half-time.

Cole picked up an ankle knock scoring his side?s third goal while Terry was rested ahead of a gruelling schedule of games.

“Maybe the best goal was Ashley’s goal,” said Ancelotti. “Fantastic movement, fantastic dribbling and a fantastic goal. Then he had a problem with his ankle so we took him off for precaution.

“John doesn’t have a big problem. It was precaution because we didn?t need him. It will be no problem for the next match.”

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce is hopeful his lengthy injury list will be reduced ahead of their next game, the FA Cup meeting with Portsmouth.

He said: “We hope that we’ve got four or five back next week and that will give everyone a lift and a boost because it’s been a struggle over the last six weeks to be without eight, nine, 10 of your first-team players. We hope we get a few back and that will give everyone a lift.”

And the manager refused to rule out a move into the January transfer market.

He added: “The one thing I?m not going to do is panic over the hiding we’ve got at Chelsea, they can do that to a lot of teams. If there is anybody available we’ll have a look at it, but I can’t envisage me being ultra busy, that’s for sure.”

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: absence, Africa, africa cup of nations, Angola, best performance, carlo ancelotti, Cole, contingent, Drogba, Ivory Coast, John, John Obi, john obi mikel, london, match, Michael Essien, Mikel, motivation, Nicolas, Nicolas Anelka, Portsmouth, premier league, rivals, Salomon Kalou, Steve Bruce, striker, tally, team mate, two games

Carlton Cole frustrated with his injury

December 21, 2009

Carlton Cole has sounded out his disappointment and frustration at being sidelined with injury. As Cole looks on from the stands, other English strikers, who hope to make it in England’s World Cup squad, have the chance to impress on the pitch.

The West Ham striker is currently battling a knee injury. Cole has been tipped to make Fabio Capello’s squad. However, there will be fierce competition for the 23-man list.

The likes of Wayne Rooney and Emile Heskey are almost certain to feature in England’s squad, but Cole, Jermain Defoe, Peter Crouch, Darren Bent and even Michael Owen can only hope to fly to South Africa with the rest of the team.

Cole was in good form for Gianfranco Zola’s Hammers, scoring 7 goals in 13 Premier League games before he suffered his injury.

“It doesn’t feel good to see these guys scoring all the time,” he said in the Daily Star.

“But they’re all top players and it’s what you expect. That’s why I was so disappointed when I got injured because I knew I would be overtaken in the goal rankings.

“I’ve been trying to keep up with the likes of Defoe, Bent, Rooney and others – and to make sure I stayed in the top ten all season.

“I think I was seventh before my injury – so I know I’ve got to work hard to get the problem out the way and come back strong in the second half of the season.

“It’s been my dream to play and score at a World Cup finals since I was little kid. Hopefully, I can keep that dream alive.”

Cole is an integral part of West Ham’s squad and the sooner he returns the better for his struggling team. The Hammers are keen to perform well again in order to pull themselves away from the relegation zone.

The English striker wants to come back from injury, focus on his club career, perform well again and earn a place in Capello’s 23-man squad in the process.

“I really want to focus on West Ham,” he added.

“But, if you’re going to be injured in World Cup year, I suppose the earlier in the season it happens, the better it is.”

Tags: Carlton Cole, Cole, daily star, Darren Bent, Emile Heskey, England, fabio capello, gianfranco zola, hammers, jermain defoe, knee injury, little kid, man squad, michael owen, peter crouch, premier league games, South Africa, strikers, wayne rooney, west ham, world cup finals, world cup squad, Zola

Lampard puts nervy Chelsea back on track

December 17, 2009

Chelsea moved three points clear of Manchester United at the top of the Premier League as Frank Lampard’s late penalty clinched a 2-1 win over Portsmouth on Wednesday.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side were in danger of failing to win for the fifth successive match in all competitions when Portsmouth’s Frederic Piquionne cancelled out Nicolas Anelka’s first half opener.

But Lampard, making his 300th league appearance for the Blues, held his nerve to drive home a spot-kick with 11 minutes remaining and reestablish his team’s lead over United, who had beaten Wolves to draw level on points 24 hours earlier.

Ancelotti can take heart from Chelsea’s ability to grind out a win when the fates seemed to be conspiring against them, but this was another less than convincing display.

Pompey boss Avram Grant received a warm reception from Chelsea’s fans on his first return to the Bridge since being sacked in 2008, but he was always facing an uphill struggle to depart with the points.

Grant, whose team are bottom of the league, must have breathed a sigh of relief to see Didier Drogba sidelined after suffering a back injury in training this week.

Salomon Kalou came in from Drogba, while Ricardo Carvalho paid the the price for Chelsea’s recent defensive woes and was dropped for Brazil centre-back Alex.

With Drogba out, Anelka had to be at his best and the France striker forced Portsmouth goalkeeper Asmir Bergovic into action early on with a low shot from the edge of the penalty area.

Kalou should have put Chelsea ahead from the resulting corner but somehow headed over from point-blank range after Michael Ballack flicked on.

Chelsea took the lead in the 23rd minute as Anelka showed Kalou how to deliver the knockout blow.

Alex was the unlikely provider, popping up on the right wing to muscle his way past Marc Wilson and drive a low cross to Anelka, who side-footed past Begovic via the near-post.

Grant’s decision to play Piquionne as a lone striker gave Chelsea’s back-four an opportunity to rediscover their composure after leaking 10 goals in four games.

But they still looked shaky at times and Piquionne, shooting from just inside the penalty area, forced Petr Cech to make a sprawling save in the 34th minute.

Alex may not have cured Chelsea’s defensive ills, but he certainly added some pep to their attack and went close to scoring with a ferocious free-kick that flashed past the far-post.

Ancelotti had called on his side to concentrate better when defending set-pieces but Kalou appeared not to have heeded the warning.

He let Tal Ben Haim escape his attentions at Jamie Hara’s free-kick and the former Chelsea defender headed over when he should have scored.

After controlling the first-half, Chelsea surrendered their advantage in the most unfortunate manner in the 51st minute.

O’Hara’s free-kick was too close to the Chelsea wall and hit Kalou, but the ball then rebounded off Cole before falling perfectly for the unmarked Piquionne to lash past Cech.

It was a freak goal but Chelsea were rattled and it took a fine tackle from Cole to deny Kevin-Prince Boateng.

Ancelotti sent on Joe Cole for the injured Deco, then introduced Florent Malouda and young forward Fabio Borini soon after that.

Finally Chelsea recovered their rhythm well enough to regain control in the closing stages.

Begovic had to be alert to save when Ben Haim nearly turned Malouda’s cross into his own net, then Lampard drew a good stop from the Portsmouth keeper.

They broke Portsmouth’s resistance in the 79th minute. Serbian defender Branislav Ivanovic poked the ball past Wilson and the centre-back conceded a penalty with a wild lunging challenge.

Lampard stepped up to crash the spot-kick straight down the middle for his first goal since October.

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: alex, back injury, brazil, carlo ancelotti, CHELSEA, Cole, defensive woes, Drogba, fates, France, frank lampard, Goalkeeper, Jamie Hara, Joe Cole, Kevin Prince, knockout blow, london, Manchester, manchester united, marc wilson, Michael Ballack, Nicolas Anelka, Petr Cech, point blank range, pompey, Portsmouth, premier league, ricardo carvalho, Salomon Kalou, sigh of relief, uphill struggle, warm reception

Ancelotti backs under-fire Lampard and Cech

December 8, 2009

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti has backed goalkeeper Petr Cech and Frank Lampard to bounce back from being blamed for the club’s defeat to Manchester City at the weekend.

Cech was criticised for allowing Carlos Tevez to score City’s winner from a 25-yard free-kick while Lampard has been under the spotlight for having an 83rd-minute spot-kick saved by Shay Given.

But Ancelotti shrugged off both incidents as minor blips and insisted Chelsea had played reasonably well at Eastlands.

“This season, I think Cech did very well,” the Italian said. “I like him. He takes the responsibility and likes to come out and catch the ball in the box.

“He could do better if you ask me about the free-kick on Saturday. I think the goalkeeper has to stay on his post and, if the player puts the ball over the wall and in, we have to congratulate him.

“Even a good goalkeeper can make a mistake sometimes but this season Petr has been doing very well.”

Ancelotti added: “I can say that, at our training ground, Lampard is the player who practices penalties more than any other player.”

With Chelsea having already won their group in the Champions League, Ancelotti has the option of resting key players for Tuesday’s clash with Apoel Nicosia.

Captain John Terry could be allowed to rest a sore knee while Michael Ballack and Ashley Cole are struggling with ankle and knee problems respectively.

APOEL have yet to win a match in group D but their coach, Ivan Jovanovic, insisted they have learned from their experience amongst Europe’s elite this season.

“Chelsea are the best team in this group,” said Jovanovic. “They are certainly one of the teams capable of winning the tournament.

“We will try our best as we have done in every game we have played this season.

“My team has exceeded itself. We will try and do the same tomorrow and hope for the best possible result. Our progress in the last six months is what we will take out of this Champions League experience.

“We will try to do everything to be here again next year. It is the greatest recognition we have had.”

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: ashley cole, blips, captain john, captain John Terry, carlo ancelotti, carlos tevez, champions league, CHELSEA, clash, Cole, free kick, ivan, Ivan Jovanovic, john terry, Jovanovic, knee problems, league experience, london, manchester city, Michael Ballack, Nicosia, Petr, Petr Cech, shay, Shay Given, sore knee

Anelka clinches Chelsea group win on the nod

November 26, 2009

A second half header from Nicolas Anelka handed Chelsea victory in Champions League Group D on Wednesday, securing a 1-0 win over Porto to clinch top spot.

Anelka had been the Portuguese side’s assassin in the opening match in the group and once again the Frenchman made the difference, launching himself to connect with Florent Malouda’s cross from the left after good approach work from Yuri Zhirkov, the Russian making a rare start.

The 69th-minute effort, Anelka’s third goal of the competition this season, left Chelsea as clear group victors with 13 points though Porto had already ensured qualification with the nine points they had racked up beforehand to secure a spot in the last 16.

Chelsea skipper John Terry said the win underpinned the English Premiership leaders’ confidence ahead of a tricky weekend match against Arsenal.

“We’ve done what we had to do today and that was get the win. We’re playing with confidence at the moment,” Terry told Sky Sports.

Anelka’s strike partner Didier Drogba was also ebullient, noting that “it was important for us to finish top of the group.”

Coach Carlo Ancelotti, determined to lead the Londoners to their first title, echoed the Ivorian.

“To finish top of our group was our objective, it was the most important thing. This means we could have a good draw. It is not easy to come here and win. The Champions League is our aim.”

In the same group, Atletico Madrid had to come from behind to draw 1-1 at minnows APOEL Nicosia, likewise winless to date.

Chelsea were good value for their win in a tight encounter which saw the visitors settle quickly.

Michael Ballack fired an early deflected effort wide as the visitors settled quickly and Drogba then sent a header from a Deco cross off target.

But Porto came close to taking the lead on 21 minutes when Petr Cech saved well from Fernando Belluschi, who then hit the bar with a rasping drive after latching on to a pass from Silvestre Varela.

Drogba started despite Ancelotti hinting beforehand he might rest the Ivorian, suspended for the opening three pool games following his outburst at the referee of the Blues’ semi-final against Barcelona last season.

Ancelotti also handed a start to Deco, in place of Joe Cole. The Brazilian-born Portuguese lifted the trophy with Porto under Jose Mourinho in 2004.

Porto Jesualdo Ferreira left Brazil striker Hulk on the bench and also had to field second choice keeper Beto after regular Helton failed a fitness test on an ankle problem.

Deco fired inches wide following a probing Anelka run down the left as Chelsea came out in attacking mode after the break.

Porto responded as Ferreira withdrew Varela, giving Hulk half an hour to prove his worth and add to his two-goal tally in the competition.

Hulk – who won his first two Brazilian caps in their recent friendlies against England and Oman – put himself about but a late close-range drive was well smothered by Cech.

The home fans roused themselves for a belated cheer as Deco made way for Cole with minutes remaining.

PORTO (AFP)

Tags: approach work, Barcelona, brazil, carlo ancelotti, champions league group, Cole, England, english premiership, fernando belluschi, florent malouda, frenchman, ivorian, Joe Cole, john terry, Jose, londoners, Michael Ballack, minute effort, Nicolas Anelka, Nicosia, Oman, Petr Cech, PORTO, Silvestre Varela, Sky Sports, taking the lead, target, victors, yuri, Yuri Zhirkov

Faithless Ferguson sounds a familiar tone (Updates with ban)

November 13, 2009

Thursday update: Nothing to do with this incident, of course, but worth noting that Ferguson has been banished to the stands, receiving a two-match ban and a fine of 20,000 quid for the comments he made about Alan Wiley in October.

So, the FA has decided to get tough with the United boss. Are they right to do it? Read the full story here.

You might think Alex Ferguson would have realised, after half a century in the professional game, that the view from the manager’s dug-out is rarely objective or entirely accurate.

And if a referee does happen to make a mistake, which he is bound to do in the high-speed hurly-burly of a Premier League match, the Scot might also have come to the conclusion that venting your spleen at the powerless fourth official is a waste of everybody’s time.

But no, it seems not. Week after week, month after month, season after season, barely a match passes without Ferguson complaining about something that didn’t go United’s way.

On Sunday, when he might have been questioning his decision to play only one striker in a cautious approach to the showdown with Chelsea or berating his walkabout defence for failing to defend the key free kick, he found three reasons why John Terry’s goal should not have stood.

The initial foul on Ashley Cole by Darren Fletcher should not have been given, he said. Wes Brown was impeded in trying to defend the subsequent Frank Lampard free kick and Didier Drogba was offside and obscuring Edwin van der Sar’s view of the ball when it went in.

Of the hat-trick, the initial one appeared to have the most merit but any number of aggressive tackles are deemed fouls these days and Cristiano Ronaldo used to benefit as much if not more than anyone else in that regard.

The marginal contact between Drogba and Brown is also small beer in the current climate where wrestling in the box ahead of free kicks and corners has become an established part of the game. Rest assured that when Steve Bruce was patrolling the centre of United’s defence he would not have allowed himself to so easily be taken out of the game at a vital moment.

TV replays were inconclusive over Drogba’s position and, even if all three moans were justified, people have surely just stopped listening.

“You lose faith in refereeing sometimes, that’s the way the players are talking in there — it was a bad one,” he said, with Wayne Rooney chipping in by apparently mouthing “12 men” at a TV camera as he trudged off at the end.

PHOTO: Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson reacts during their English Premier League soccer match against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in London November 8, 2009. REUTERS/Eddie Keogh

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