27th March 2004

THE TURNING point in this match came mid-way through the second half. Chelsea 'Keeper Marco Ambrosio made a spectacular save from Wolves Captain Paul Ince - From then on, it went downhill.

The 30yrd strike from Paul Ince was very well saved by Chelsea Keeper Marco Ambrosio. At that point Wolves were leading 2-1 but within a blink of an eye, a superb win turned into a 5-2 drubbing.

It was important not to give Chelsea an early goal. However, after just 4 minutes Mario Melchiot slot the ball under Paul Jones as Chelsea look set to surpass their 5-0 win against Wolves at Molineux earlier in the season.

However, with a slice of luck, Wolves were level on 23 minutes. Henri Camara, who at times has been unable to hit a barn door from ten yards charged down a John Terry clearance, sprinted through on goal and slotted the ball past the Chelsea 'Keeper. The 3,000 traveling Wolves fans had to do a 'double take', but Camara was confirmed as the scorer and Wolves were back in a game which they needed to win.

Less than two minutes later Wolves should have taken the lead. Alex Rae played a long diagonal ball to Henri Camara who crossed into the path of Mark Kennedy who, somehow, managed to miss from six yards. His first time left-footed shot drifted inches wide of Ambrosio's far post.

Wolves however wanted to take the lead - and that they did shortly after the break. Mark Kennedy swung in a corner from the left and centre back Jody Craddock found himself in between Ambrosio and Terry and the former Sunderland man powered a header into the net. Another 'double take' from the Wolves fans occurred, but Craddock was confirmed as the scorer and Wolves were leading at Stamford Bridge - and deservedly so.

Wolves best spell of the game followed and then came the moment we talked about in the opening of this report. Wolves Captain Paul Ince hit a first time effort from 30 yrds towards the left-hand post, but Marco Ambrosio made a terrific save to deny the former England Captain.

Hasselbaink then came on for the hosts and once Lampared had equalised with a superb 30yrd low drive, Chelsea went on to win the game.

Hasselbaink scored a hat-trick in just ten minutes and Wolves were dead and buried. Wolves Manager Dave Jones accused his side of failing to take advantage of such a superb opportunity, but as they say, 'quality always shines through'.

Well, it certainly did today.

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