Still Six Left

By Since66
August 13 2012

Captain, Leader, Legend JT has had his European ban reduced to two matches on appeal this afternoon by UEFA, meaning that he will miss on one Champions League game (the opener) when the Champions of Europe begin their campaign to retain Big Ears. JT still misses the Super Cup in two weeks.

Branislav Ivanovic was told today that he will not serve a three match ban after his sending-off at Villa Park yesterday as the FA deemed the game NOT COMPETITIVE.

Shame the message didn’t get across to the players and it is also a shame the referee Kevin Friend became confused by his role on the pitch.

After booking Savic early in the first-half, Friend mysteriously awarded a free-kick in favour of the defender after he blatantly blocked Torres not just with his body, but with an arm across Torres’ throat.

A second yellow at least would have seen Savic given a red card and City would have been down to 10 men minutes before Chelsea were when Ivanovic slid into Kolarov.

To compound Friend’s confusion even more he allowed Ramires to stay on the park after blocking off Silva and Super Frank could have easily gone for his tackle on Milner.

City started off all the feistiness and Yaya Toure (scorer of City’s equaliser) spent all afternoon moaning and whinging and if you can’t take it, don’t bring it!

It was good to see Torres get his first 90 minutes of the season and to witness his finely taken goal to give Chelsea the lead six minutes from half-time.

The lead wasn’t to last too too long. First Toure cracked home from the edge of the area after JT’s weak clearance fell straight at his feet.

Then, Luiz allowed Tevez to run across the 18 yard line before he cracked in a high thunderous drive and all in the space of a fun-packed twelve minutes, Nasri was allowed to ghost in to score past the hapless Cech.

Substitute Ryan Bertrand fresh from celebrating his England call-up stabbed home Chelsea’s 2^nd after another sub Danny Sturridge stung the hands of City’s ‘keeper Pantilimon.

The heart is there, the fight is there and the creativity is there but Chelsea are wanting in defense and the service provided to the front men or man!

Five pre-season defeats and six goals conceded in two games doesn’t inspire optimism or hope but lets reserve judgment until after Wigan (A), Reading (H), Newcastle (H).

Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Luiz, Terry (c), Cole, Mikel, Lampard, Ramires, Mata (Sturridge 74), Hazard (Bertrand 71), Torres

Goals: Torres 39, Betrand 79

Booked: Ramires 31, Mikel 42, Lampard 45, Betrand 79

Sent Off: Ivanovic 41

Man City: Pantilimon, Savic (Clichy h/t), Kompany (c), Zabaleta, Milner, Y Toure, De Jong, Kolarov, Nasri (Silva 77), Tevez (Dzeko 88), Aguero

Goals: Toure 52, Tevez 58, Nasri 64

Booked: Savic 11, Kompany 48, Pantilimon 79

NEXT UP: Wigan Athletic (a) Sunday 19^th August 2012, K.O. 1.30pm

2012 CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE, 2012 FA CUP WINNERS

TWITTER: @WVOMChelsea