Chelsea fail to get much needed win against Everton
Last week, Chelsea surrendered their lead at the top of the table to rampant Manchester United. And they also allowed Arsenal to catch up with them with both teams sitting on twenty nine points each, but with Chelsea second due to a superior goal difference
over Arsenal. That week Chelsea had faced Newcastle United in a hostile environment at St. James Park. Chelsea needed to win as both Arsenal and Manchester United had won their respective matches to leapfrog Chelsea.
Chelsea started the game horrendously. A back pass from Alex caught out Petr Cech completely and Newcastle's Andy Caroll raced onto the ball to nod it into the unguarded net. Chelsea responded just before the break when Kalou broke through the Geordies'
defence, played a one two with Malouda and slotted a deflected effort past the Newcastle keeper Krul. But that was all the champions could muster, and so they succumbed to another match day where they dropped priceless points.
This week though Chelsea faced an Everton side who are currently, like the Champions, also on a downward curve. Everton are in desperate need of some results and some goals, in a season that promised so much, they have yet again managed to underachieve with
an above average squad. Both teams were looking for something to take home with them, and they both needed a confidence boost to elevate them from their current dilemma.
Carlo Ancelloti opted to start with a three pronged attack, and Didier Drogba, Nicholas Anelka and Soloman Kalou were it. Behind them, Ancelotti deployed Michael Essien, Florent Malouda and Jon Obi Mikel for a stable midfield with good defensive prowess.
Chelsea welcomed back Capain John Terry in the heart of defence to give them a much needed mental boost. Branislav Ivanovich slotted in next to him and Ashley Cole and Jose Bosingwa were on the flanks. Petr Cech continued in goal, as always.
This was an attack minded formation employed by Ancelotti, he was clearly looking for goals and there were many outlets in the form of Drogba, Anelka, Kalou, Malouda and Essien. And Chelsea were unlucky not to take the lead when, after a corner caused mayhem
in the box, John Terry shot the ball only to see his effort come off the crossbar. But Chelsea eventually took the lead when Anelka was awarded a penalty after he was felled in the area by Tim Howard. But replays showed that it was the Frenchman who clattered
into the American and not the other way around. But Drogba didn't care as he sent the ball home from the penalty spot. 1-0 Chelsea, and the fans finally were starting to believe that the team had turned a corner.
In the second half though, Chelsea lacked drive, and the alarm bells went ringing when Jack Rodwell was left unmarked in the penalty area only to head the ball onto the post, Everton were highly unfortunate there and Chelsea were extremely lucky, they should've
learned from that close call but they failed to do so. In the 86th minute, Seamus Coleman dodged past two challenges to whip in a perfect cross; the cross was nodded down straight into the path of the unattended Beckford who couldn't miss from two yards out.
Now it was 1-1, the fans left in utter disbelief, the players dowsed in utter disappointment, the manager overtaken by rage. Everton showed spirit to come back in the match and over the course of things they deserved it.
Chelsea though are on a slide with a steep angle. They are falling fast, from top spot to third in the blink of an eye and who's to say the slide won't take them further down the pecking order with Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur knocking on the door.
Chelsea's slip has left supporters incensed as they demonstrated by booing the players off the pitch after the final whistle had gone. Chelsea need to rekindle the flair with a rasping win at White Hart Lane next week or they will slue down to the Champions
League hopefuls dogfight if things don't change fast. And Chelsea as a brand need things to change, superfast.
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