Sunday Times
March 16, 2008

Chelsea hold firm against Sunderland
Sunderland 0 Chelsea 1

Pete Oliver at Stadium of Light

The claim from chief executive Peter Kenyon that Chelsea manager Avram
Grant has the absolute confidence of the Stamford Bridge hierarchy
will no doubt be reviewed at the end of the season. But for now, Grant
appears to be doing just enough as his side ground out an unconvincing
win to sustain their challenge for the title.

Chelsea's hopes of regaining the championship, and therefore offering
Grant the chance of job security, are likely to lie with their results
in home games against Arsenal and Manchester United in the closing
weeks of the season, but it is debatable whether they will face a much
sterner examination than provided here.

Maximum points from the post-Barnsley FA Cup debacle against Derby and
Sunderland were a minimum requirement and John Terry's early goal
yesterday ensured that was the case. But whereas Derby had simply laid
down and died in midweek, the Black Cats bared their claws and made
Chelsea fight all the way.

The visitors did at least prove they have that invaluable quality in
their armoury and Roy Keane must also know that his side is up for
their particular battle. No goals and no wins in five games are a
concern but Sunderland did create chances and had Chelsea hanging on
at the end. Similar performances against Fulham, Newcastle,
Middlesbrough and Bolton during their run-in should bring them the
rewards needed to stay up.

It took Chelsea just 10 minutes to take the lead, which would have
been damaging enough at the best at times but, for a goalshy
Sunderland side going behind, even so early in the game, looked likely
to be catastrophic.

Keane had brought back Carlos Edwards and Roy O'Donovan to try and
increase Sunderland's potency and Kenwyne Jones did trouble both Terry
and Alex with his aerial power.

One flick-on from Jones allowed O'Donovan to get goal-side of Terry
but even though the Irishman went to ground under the Chelsea
captain's challenge, even Keane would have been hard pressed to claim
a penalty.

Terry was soon making his muscular presence felt at the other end when
he headed home his first goal of the season. Sunderland had already
been reliant on a superb tackle from Jonny Evans to halt Salomon
Kalou's run on goal and a Danny Collins block from Joe Cole's
follow-up to keep Chelsea at bay but when the England midfielder
delivered a corner from the left, Terry gave Jones the slip to head in
at the near post.

Chelsea appeared set for a comfortable afternoon and having put six
past Derby days earlier might have envisaged further shooting practice
as the fluidity of their attack, led by Didier Drogba rather than
Nicolas Anelka, had Sunderland fully stretched.

Yet despite a record of six defeats in six matches against the top
four this season, Sunderland's inferiority complex did not last long
as they refused to be cowed. Andy Reid led the riposte, with Jones and
O'Donovan continuing to cause a nuisance, particularly to Carlo
Cudicini whose overreaction to a slight, if out of order, touch from
O'Donovan confirmed the impression that Chelsea did not enjoy not
having it all their own way. Cudicini did, though, deserve credit for
a fine save to deny Reid, who makes up for a lack of athleticism with
a wonderful left foot that would have brought Sunderland level by the
break but for the Chelsea goalkeeper, who diverted his free kick away
from the top corner.

Unfortunately for Sunderland, Reid's right foot is not so cultured, as
he showed in fluffing a chance early in the second half, although when
his miscue found its way to Grant Leadbitter the midfielder had
Cudicini scrambling to concede a corner that Collins headed not too
far wide.

Chelsea needed the cushion of the second goal that Frank Lampard
nearly gave them in first-half stoppage time when Craig Gordon was
forced to make a rare save but Sunderland allowed Lampard, Michael
Ballack and Joe Cole so little time on the ball that the paucity of
chances created made Drogba a virtual spectator.

Grant's concern was reflected in his replacement of Ballack with
Michael Essien as the visitors looked to protect their lead, while at
the same time Keane sent on Dwight Yorke as a replacement for
O'Donovan.

Within moments of his arrival, Yorke provided the chance for Jones
that should have seen Sunderland equalise with 15 minutes to go.
Drifting into the penalty area, Jones was superbly picked out by Yorke
but the striker could only head weakly at Cudicini from 10 yards.

Jones had the opportunity to make amends in the 90th minute, again
from a Yorke cross, but despite outjumping Terry the chance was more
difficult and his header flew over the bar. Still Chelsea were not
quite over the line, though, as with virtually the last kick of the
match Dean Whitehead volleyed wide by inches, a margin that could yet
have an effect at both ends of the table.

Star man: Dean Whitehead (Sunderland)

Player ratings: Sunderland: Gordon 6, Bardsley 6, Evans 7, Nosworthy
7, Collins 6, Edwards 5 (Prica 62min), Whitehead 8, Leadbitter 7
(Harte 85min), Reid 7, O'Donovan 6 (Yorke 73min), Jones 7
Chelsea: Cudicini 7, Ferreira 6, Alex 6, Terry 6, A Cole 6, Mikel 6, J
Cole 7 (Wright-Phillips 82min), Ballack 5 (Essien 73min), Lampard 7,
Kalou 6, Drogba 6

Yellow cards: Sunderland: Leadbitter Chelsea: Mikel

Referee: M Dean

Attendance: 44,679
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Terry plunders the points as Chelsea have to dig deep


Paul Wilson at the Stadium of Light
Sunday March 16, 2008
The Observer


This was not the most fluent display from Chelsea - it was a
hard-fought win on a bitterly cold afternoon in the North-East - but
you cannot play Derby every week and you get the same number of points
for a single-goal victory as for a six-goal rout. Chelsea would have
been even happier had Derby managed to hold out against Manchester
United for another 14 minutes because Avram Grant's team play Arsenal
next weekend and are definitely still in the title race. But, after
taking an early lead, they never quite managed to make their
superiority count against a gritty Sunderland who improved throughout
the game and the final whistle came as a relief to the visiting team.


'It's not easy to play here. We had a very difficult time,' Grant
said. 'Sunderland are fighting for their lives and they played very
well.'
Indeed they did and, with a bit of luck and better finishing at the
end, might have claimed a point. Yet Chelsea are no mugs at defending
a lead - however slender - and though the Sunderland fans applauded
their team at the end for their efforts to get back into the game,
they must have feared the worst after giving away a goal after 10
minutes.

The trouble with ranting against refereeing injustices, as Roy Keane
was to discover, is that it often makes it even harder for officials
to award borderline decisions in your favour. So it proved in the
seventh minute here, when Kenwyne Jones won a header from Craig
Gordon's clearance and a flat-footed John Terry brought down Roy
O'Donovan with a sprawling challenge in the penalty area. Some
referees would have awarded a penalty - Mike Dean did not.

O'Donovan did not complain too much and Keane later agreed it was not
a penalty, but, three minutes later, it was all academic because
Sunderland went a goal behind. There was nothing controversial about
this one. Terry slipped his marker at a corner and scored with a free
header. Sunderland had no excuses because Michael Ballack had been
presented with a free header from Frank Lampard's previous corner and
might have opened the scoring, or at least got his attempt on target,
had he reacted as sharply and decisively as his captain. There is not
much point complaining about decisions going against you if you put
yourself under a handicap through dozy defending. 'It was a sloppy
goal to give away,' Keane said.

Chelsea could have scored a couple more during a short, but effective,
spell of pressure midway into the first half. But Jonny Evans made a
terrific saving tackle on Didier Drogba, Gordon got his body behind
Ballack's speculative shot and Joe Cole failed to get a touch after
Ashley Cole had done the hard work by cutting in from the left and
crossing low. Sunderland's best chance of the first half came when
Jones was bundled over by John Mikel Obi on the edge of the box and
Andy Reid's free-kick had Carlo Cudicini scurrying to keep the ball
out of his top corner.

Cudicini was involved in another telling incident just before the
interval, when he came out to gather at O'Donovan's feet and was
incensed when the Irishman left his foot in. Replays suggested the
striker might even have purposely kicked the goalkeeper in the face.
The referee could hardly be blamed for missing that, although
O'Donovan going unpunished did rather undermine Keane's claim that
Sunderland have not had any lucky breaks all season.

Chelsea appeared in no hurry to extend their lead and they almost came
to grief in the 54th minute thanks to a moment of dingbat defending.
Attempting to clear, Alex sent one header straight up into the air and
then, when the ball came down, failed to find a safe way to get it
back to Cudicini. Reid could not take immediate advantage, but Grant
Leadbitter did better with a shot that Cudicini only just kept out
with slight assistance from an upright.

Chelsea carved out a decent opening when Joe Cole played Drogba in
behind the Sunderland defence, only for his cross to elude Lampard by
a yard. Lampard seemed unimpressed by Drogba's delivery, whereas the
centre-forward appeared to feel Lampard could have attacked the ball
more.

Drogba would certainly have thrown more of his weight into a header
than Jones managed, 15 minutes from the end, when he wasted a great
diagonal pass from Dwight Yorke, and a free header in front of goal,
by glancing the ball into Cudicini's arms. Almost anything with power
or direction would have troubled Cudicini, yet Jones managed neither.
He got another chance from the same provider in the final minute and,
this time, managed a much more powerful header, only to see it fly
over. Dean Whitehead then sent a shot on the turn inches wide in
stoppage time, but Chelsea held out.

'We played well as a team. Our reaction after going behind was
brilliant,' Keane said. 'But top teams are capable of winning 1-0. We
had chances - they took theirs. That's how football works. It's not
rocket science.' Keane's task now will be to keep the players' spirits
up and take this level of self-belief into more winnable games to
come. 'Correct,' he said. 'With my personality, that's easy.'

Man of the match: Frank Lampard

Kenwyne Jones deserved something until blotting his copybook by
missing the best chance of the game, but he has been a success for
Sunderland this season. Lampard did not fill his boots as he did in
midweek, but, for the first hour, he was quietly authoritative in
midfield and his passing was excellent.

THE FANS' PLAYER RATINGS AND VERDICT

Phil Wilson, Observer reader We played well and matched Chelsea for
large parts of the game, but they had that extra bit of quality. The
defence has been better recently, but we're always liable to concede
and, despite all our efforts, they clung on. Reid played well again
and is proving a good signing. Jones benefited from having some
support - Keane has been isolating him up front too much recently, but
he had O'Donovan alongside him. In fact, everyone did pretty well for
us, we just couldn't do a Barnsley. I'm still generally optimistic,
despite two home defeats in a week. Everton and Chelsea are two of the
better teams in the division and we have some winnable home games to
come.

Fan's player ratings Gordon 6; Bardsley 7, Evans 7, Nosworthy 8,
Collins 7; Edwards 6 (Prica 6), Whitehead 6, Leadbitter 7(Harte n/a),
Reid 9; O'Donovan 7, Jones 8

Trizia Fiorellino, Chair, Chelsea Supporters' Group We started well,
but not long after we scored we went to sleep and almost played like
it was a training game. Sunderland really fought and, if it hadn't
been for Cudicini, they would have got something out of it. Joe Cole
played well and Lampard was involved in everything, but we missed
Makelele - there was no link with the strikers and a lack of
creativity generally. For them, Jones gave Terry the runaround - Alex
was a bit rusty in place of Carvalho.

Fan's player ratings Cudicini 9; Ferreira 8, Alex 7, Terry 7, A Cole
6; Lampard 7, Mikel 7, Ballack 6 (Essien 6); J Cole 8 (Wright-Phillips
n/a), Drogba 7, Kalou 6
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Mail:

Terry's goal gives Grant a pass mark but tougher exams await
Sunderland 0 Chelsea 1


By MALCOLM FOLLEY

Chelsea had no reason to beware the ides of March in the North East yesterday.

Yet the week ahead in London, when Chelsea must meet Tottenham and
Arsenal in five days, is fraught with danger for the team Avram Grant
inherited from Jose Mourinho with the good fortune of a man finding a
winning lottery ticket blowing in the wind.

Against a Sunderland team goalless for six hours 15 minutes, Chelsea
prised another three precious points from a road trip to remain in
pursuit of Arsenal and Manchester United.

They took the lead with a 10th-minute goal from John Terry, passed the
ball with sharpness and precision through Frank Lampard and Michael
Ballack for the next 20 minutes and then shut out the game with the
kind of pragmatic football that is their hallmark.

For Grant, the stakes just keep mounting, however. The Premier League
cannot be won this week, but, arguably, it can be lost if the results
against Tottenham at White Hart Lane on Wednesday, and against Arsenal
at Stamford Bridge on Sunday are unfavourable to Chelsea.

"I am positive and optimistic by nature," said Grant last night. "If I
was in a situation where I didn't believe in winning the title, I'd be
looking for another job."

At face value, Grant's record is outstanding. His team have not been
defeated in the league since they were beaten by a solitary goal by
Arsenal three months ago, and they have qualified to meet Fenerbahce
in the quarterfinals of the Champions League. But it is a record with
significant blemish.

A week earlier, they were evicted from the FA Cup at Barnsley; and his
team failed him in the Carling Cup Final when Tottenham denied him the
chance to win his first piece of silverware.

Those losses will be forgotten if Grant delivers the Champions or
Premier League titles, as demanded by proprietor Roman Abramovich. But
Grant, for all his protestations, has little margin for error.

"Every game at the end of the season will be difficult," he said, "but
from the second week I was manager I saw reasons why we can believe in
this team. Chelsea is a big club. When we lose a game, like the one to
Tottenham, and the one at Barnsley, it makes us stronger not weaker."

Grant has shown that, contrary to the perception of some critics,
Lampard and Ballack compliment one another. A man who likes to be
emotionless under public scrutiny, Grant managed a rare smile as he
said: "We need to play as much as we can with attacking players, with
intelligent players. Yes, Lampard and Ballack can play together."

In midweek, Lampard went on a scoring rampage with four of the six
goals that humiliated Derby. Yesterday, he provided the corner that
Terry met at the near post to render Sunderland goalkeeper Craig
Gordon a spectator in what proved to be the game's decisive moment. It
was Terry's first Premier League goal since August, 2006.

At least Sunderland refused to surrender with the meekness Derby had
illustrated at Stamford Bridge. Indeed, Sunderland's persistence in
the second half threatened to create an equaliser.

Kenwyne Jones, who drew a game of high quality from Terry with his
muscular presence, squandered a wonderful chance from an astute
diagonal ball from substitute Dwight Yorke in the 74th minute.

Jones cushioned his header into the arms of goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini
who, in his career, will have been more inconvenienced by headed back
passes.

"Sometimes, a player can have too much time in the box," said
Sunderland manager Roy Keane.

"He just didn't get enough on it."

In the final moments, Sunderland captain Dean Whitehead struck a drive
narrowly past the right-hand post of Cudicini, who, as at Barnsley
last week, looked less than impressive under crosses. Yet Cudicini,
deputising for the injured Petr Cech, won the gratitude of his
team-mates with an athletic save from Andy Reid's deft free-kick from
the edge of the area in the 26th minute.

These are alarming times for Sunderland, now without a goal since
February 9 and reliant on their form at the Stadium of Light to secure
their Premier League survival.

Yet Keane was not downcast. "If we keep that persistency, that level
of intensity and commitment, I'm pretty sure we'll be fine," he said.
"But as always, this game is all about what happens in both boxes.
Terry took Chelsea's chance and we didn't take ours. It's not rocket
science."

At the final whistle, Sunderland supporters rose to offer their team a
standing ovation. It was an appropriate gesture to reward the team's
manful endeavour, if not their finishing. But the afternoon belonged
to Chelsea, a team still pressing hard at home and abroad under
Grant's understated management style.

SUNDERLAND (4-4-2): Gordon; Bardsley, Evans, Nosworthy, Collins;
Edwards (Prica 62min), Leadbitter (Harte 85), Whitehead, Reid;
O'Donovan (Yorke 73), Jones. Subs (not used): Fulop, McShane. Booked:
Leadbitter.

CHELSEA (4-3-3): Cudicini; Ferreira, Alex, Terry, A Cole; Ballack
(Essien 73), Obi, Lampard; J Cole (Wright-Phillips 82), Drogba, Kalou.
Subs (not used): Hilario, Carvalho, Shevchenko. Booked: Obi.

Referee: M Dean(Wirral).
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Indy:

Sunderland 0 Chelsea 1: Terry's all gold as sputtering Blues leave
Keane frustrated

Captain's first Chelsea goal in 19 months gives battling Sunderland a headache
Michael Walker< at the Stadium of Light

Sunday, 16 March 2008


One week after Barnsley, Chelsea have re-established some semblance of
self-esteem. Seven goals and six points have come, albeit against two
relegation contenders, Derby County and Sunderland. But if Chelsea are
to regain the title, it is their next two games that will shape their
fate, Tottenham away on Wednesday night followed by Arsenal at
Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

Avram Grant's team will need to play more sustained football in those
180 minutes than they displayed here. Having gone ahead through John
Terry's 10th-minute goal, Terry's first for Chelsea for 19 months,
Grant saw his team promise considerably more than they delivered. Had
Sunderland a more potent strikeforce, Chelsea would have been
punished.

But Kenwyne Jones is Sunderland's leading scorer and he has now one
goal in his last 20 matches. Jones is not alone in his drought,
Sunderland have not scored as a team since 9 February.

This was their fourth consecutive game without a goal and Roy Keane's
team couldbe third-bottom by tomorrow night. Hence Chelsea were able
to take a lead and then witdraw into themselves for the last hour.

"For the first 30 minutes we played very well," Grant said. "We passed
the ball very well and could have scored more. But after that it was
more difficult. It's not easy to play here, Sunderland are fighting
for their lives and they fought very well. I'm happy with the result."

After Barnsley, as with after Tottenham in the Carling Cup final,
Grant said he was pleased with the reaction. "When we lose a game it
makes us stronger, not weaker."

Chelsea will be stronger for the inclusion of Nicolas Anelka on
Wednesday. Anelka had a hamstring niggle and was missing. That meant
another start for Salomon Kalou, who was as sprightly as most in a
bright blue opening half-hour. But Kalou faded markedly, as did Joe
Cole, leaving Didier Drogba to carry the attack.

Not that Drogba was doing much attacking for the bulk of this game.
Yet he looked capable of piercing Sunderland at will in the beginning
and contributed to the early pressure that led to home panic and away
corners.

It was from one of these that Terry rose to score. It was too easy for
both parties, Terry moving away from Jones as Frank Lampard's curling
centre reached the six-yard box. Terry's header was firm and gave
Craig Gordon no chance, though the goalkeeper might have come to claim
the ball away from Terry.

Jonny Evans had already made one block from Joe Cole and when the
lively Ashley Cole supplied Joe Cole with another opportunity on 18
minutes it should have been 2-0 and game over.

But there was no second and gradually Sunderland edged their way back
into contention. Roy O'Donovan had an optimistic claim for a penalty
when dragged down by Terry shortly before the goal – "No penalty,"
said Keane afterwards – and Dean Whitehead plus Andy Reid grew in
influence.

When Reid clipped an exquisite free-kick over the blue wall on 27
minutes it appeared the equaliser was on its way.

But Carlo Cudicini produced a prodigious leap and a firm hand to save.
Cudicini was also impressive later on when under pressure at
set-pieces. TheItalian was happy to be in the right place when saving
from Grant Leadbitter on 53 minutes and then, decisively, from Jones
with 15 minutes left.

Dwight Yorke, on as a substitute, floated a perfect cross over Terry
and on to Jones's head eight yards out. Any force or direction and
Jones's header would have beaten Cudicini but it lacked either of
those commodities.

The Stadium of Light groaned, just as it did when Jones missed with
another header and when a Whitehead shot slithered past the post in
injury time.

But when the whistle went there were thunderous claps and Keane said:
"Very rarely do you get applauded off when youlose a game. There were
a lotof pluses today, AndyReid, Carlos Edwards, Roy O'Donovan -
Kenwyne Jones was outstanding. "It was a sloppy goal from a needless
corner so I've mixed emotions. But over the 90 minutes I thought the
reaction was brilliant."
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Telegraph:

John Terry effort keeps Chelsea on track
By Martin Hardy at the Stadium of Light

Sunderland (0) 0 Chelsea (1) 1

"If there was even one person in the club who did not believe we could
win the title, they should not be in football," whispered Avram Grant.
There was no sign of that person yesterday, as Chelsea, with spirit
dripping from their sweat-drenched blue shirts, further clawed their
way back into the race for the Premier League title.

"I am positive and very optimistic by nature," Grant added. "If I was
in a situation where I did not believe, I would look for another job."

Unbeaten in 12 - in the league at least - belief grows within Grant
and his players that the timing of their run for the line could not be
better.

Certainly, in John Terry they have a captain with the drive and steel
to ensure that Manchester United and Arsenal cannot sit comfortably.
Terry was all things yesterday. He scored in the 10th minute, losing
Kenwyne Jones, his marker, before nodding a Frank Lampard corner home.
Then he was the defensive fulcrum, winning headers, cajoling,
questioning decisions. Inspiring.

"I am delighted with John Terry," said Grant. "We need him and Frank
Lampard and Didier [Drogba]. We are very happy they are back. I hope
it is the right moment. JT was excellent today.

"From September we have been in good form. The last few games we have
been even better. There are nine games to go and we have to do our
job."



Their job for the most part yesterday was surprising, forced onto the
back foot by a rejuvenated Sunderland side, who themselves seem to
have awoken to the seriousness of their situation.

At least they found the collective spirit that has deserted them in
cup competitions. There were no hiding places at a raucous Stadium of
Light - not that any of Grant's players suggested they were looking.

Roy Keane bemoaned another defeat, but he could not fault the desire.
Crucially, they lacked quality, and goals are becoming extremely
difficult to find.

In a second half in which they outplayed their visitors, five good
chances were spurned. Danny Collins, Rade Prica and Dean Whitehead
went close but Jones, now without a goal in 10, was profligate in the
extreme, heading lamely at Carlo Cudicini in the 76th minute and then
heading over in added time.

"It's very rare you lose a game and get applauded off, but we got
that," said Keane. "Great credit to our supporters for that.

"I have mixed emotions. It was a sloppy goal we gave away but I
thought the players' reaction over the 90 minutes was brilliant.
However, we lose 1-0. The level of commitment for the club was very
good. We created chances. They took their chance, we didn't, but there
are a lot of pluses for us.

"We didn't pin them back but I am very happy with our performance. We
got the balance right today. The players can take great satisfaction
from their level of effort.

"If we can persevere like that, we will be fine. With my personality
it is easy to keep their spirits up! Who will win the title? My money
is where it's always been, on United."

Keane denied that the rested trio of Kieran Richardson, Daryl Murphy
and Michael Chopra had been left out because of disciplinary issues.


Man of the match
John Terry (Chelsea) 9

• Passing accuracy 78 per cent
• One shot, one goal
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NOTW:

Sunderland 0 Chelsea 1
WORTH A FLUTTER

DAVID HARRISON at The Stadium of Light

WHAT was once a faraway rumble of hooves has turned into a loud roar.

Make no mistake, Chelsea's entry into the Premier League title race is
now a stampede.

They won this match at a canter — rather like the mean and majestic
Denman, who powered his way to victory in the Cheltenham Gold Cup —
hurdling over the desperate and defiant challenge of their opponents.

Chelsea threatened to trample Sunderland underfoot and it might have
been more of a runaway victory but for the Black Cats' spirited
second-half response.

Passion

Suddenly Arsenal and Manchester United can no longer afford to view
the Blues as a distant threat.

They are right in their faces and ready to go head-to-head in what
promises to be one of the top-flight's most compelling finishes for
many seasons.

Blues boss Avram Grant is not one for delivering powerful messages but
there was a Mourinho-like passion last night.

Grant said: "If there is one person at the club who doesn't believe we
can win the title he should not be in football. If I was in a
situation where I didn't believe it, I would be looking for another
job.

"We got off to a bad start but we have always believed. From the
second week I was in the job I have thought we could win it."

Chelsea have proved repeatedly they have staying power. There is a
robustness about them now and a strong suggestion they have hit their
best form at the right time.

There is a belligerence, too. They have smarted all season at being
written off. 'Ignore us now — if you dare' seems to be their rallying
cry.

Slick

The challenges ahead of them will be more strenuous than this —
notably the visits of Arsenal next Sunday and then Manchester United
in late April.

But titles are won with performances like this — dogged and determined
but with moments of real class.

For the first 30 minutes there was a look about Chelsea which would
not have been tolerated in the days of the Special One.

Now they are allowed to slick their passes around and rely less on
Route One to Didier Drogba.

But when they are up against it, like when Sunderland threw themselves
into the fight after half-time, they can revert to type and dig in.

Some things never change. When the going got tough, John Terry rose to
the challenge.

If there was a header to be won, a tackle to be made, the Chelsea
skipper was always in the thick of it.

The game's only goal was a bit of a throwback as well.

Terry's majestic, soaring header from a corner was the skipper's first
of the season.

After their slow start Sunderland contested every ball, launched
several goal-worthy attempts and tested Carlo Cudicini with fine
efforts from Andy Reid's free-kick and Grant Leadbitter's 20-yarder.

Trouble

But it was not until the 73rd-minute arrival of veteran striker Dwight
Yorke that the Black Cats found the subtlety or craft to seriously
trouble the Blues.

Twice the 36-year-old picked holes in their defence with astute passes
to Kenwyne Jones, but one was headed straight at Cudicini, the other
over the bar.

Sunderland were full pelt at the finish and the final whistle came
right on cue for the visitors as they began to flag.

The harsh truth for Roy Keane's team is they have now gone 375 minutes
without a goal and the threat of relegation will not fade as long as
they are so feeble in front of goal.

Boss Keane said: "Chelsea had their chance and took it. We didn't.
It's not rocket science.

"I thought my players' performance was brilliant. These top teams are
always capable of winning games 1-0, that is the difference."

Sunderland did leave their mark on the match but in a less than
savoury manner with Dean Whitehead and Rory O'Donovan leaving trailing
feet in the faces of Joe Cole and Cudicini.

Keane the player would have relished such moments of edgy confrontation.

As a manager, he would have preferred a point — or even a goal.
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