The Sunday Times
April 6, 2008

Nervous Chelsea maintain pressure on Manchester United
Manchester City 0 Chelsea 2 Paul Forsyth at Eastlands

VULNERABLE they may be under the guidance of Avram Grant, but
Chelsea's title hopes are still alive. An own goal by Richard Dunne,
and a more conventional strike by their own Salomon Kalou, extended an
unbeaten league run that stretches back to December, and narrowed the
deficit by which they trail Manchester United to just two points.

Any lapse in concentration, like that which nearly cost them against
Middlesbrough last week, and eventually did in Turkey four days later,
could be fatal at this stage of the season, but here they are, with
five matches left, still breathing down Manchester United's neck. The
pressure is now on Sir Alex Ferguson's side to win their game in hand
against Middlesbrough this afternoon.

"If you ask Sir Alex, he will tell you that we have put them under
pressure for the last three months," said Grant. "We have won about
80% of our games, which is the form of champions, but they are also
doing very well. I don't think they will win it until the end of the
season."

A Freudian slip perhaps? United, certainly, will not be unnerved by
this Chelsea display, however effective. Gifted an early goal, they
allowed their opponents to take the initiative, and only came to life
after a second had settled the outcome.

Unlike their luminous yellow shirts, it was functional rather than
flashy, as professional as it needed to be.

As demonstrated against Fen-erbahce, Chelsea seem to lose the matches
in which they play best, and win those that are a grind. As Grant
pointed out last night, when they beat City 6-0 in November, they were
seventh in the league. "We have come a long, long way," said the
manager. "Now there is only one team ahead of us."

With one eye on this week's second leg, Grant made wholesale changes,
resting Didier Drogba and Ricardo Carvalho, who were not even on the
bench, and drafting in Shaun Wright-Phillips. The home support warmly
applauded their former winger beforehand, and again when he was taken
off early in the second half, which was maybe a measure of his
contribution.

Thanks to Arsenal's lunch-time draw with Liverpool, Chelsea had
slipped to third in the league without kicking a ball, so the goal
they were handed after only six minutes came as a welcome filip. Dunne
has been told by his manager, Sven-Göran Eriksson, to put contract
talks on the back burner, and focus instead on his football, but the
captain's response was overshadowed by an own goal. When Kalou,
surging towards the penalty area, was brought tumbling to the turf,
the ball broke to Michael Essien, who in turn fed Nicolas Anelka wide
on the right. When the former City striker cut the ball back into the
box, Dunne attempted a sliding interception that succeeded only in
diverting the ball past Joe Hart.

It was one of those goals that came before the match had been able to
take shape, which was just as well for Chelsea, who found themselves
on the back foot for the rest of the first half. Although dangerous on
the break, where Nedum Onuoha twice had to thwart Anelka with an
outstretched boot, the visitors were asked several times to take
desperate measures at the back.

Stephen Ireland would surely have converted a cutback from Benjani
Mwaruwari had it not been for Juliano Belletti's block that sent the
ball spinning over the bar. And Ashley Cole's scissor kick off the
line prevented the equaliser young midfielder Michael Johnson deserved
after a neat exchange with Ireland.

Johnson has had a frustrating time of it since undergoing an operation
last November, but his contribution here was a reminder of what he can
do. Although he snatched an early volley over the top, his delicate
touches in the middle of the park, intelligent balls wide and timely
dashes forward unsettled Chelsea, as did the left boot of Martin
Petrov.

One of his trademark efforts sailed narrowly past the upright from all
of 30 yards, and a free kick from the corner of the penalty box curled
just a fraction too much. If, as expected, City's interest in
Ronaldinho comes to nothing, this man will do to be getting on with.

Chelsea, though, were a different proposition in the second half,
especially after they had doubled their lead. Essien's cute reverse
pass on the edge of the area took a deflection on its way to Kalou,
who was composed enough to round the goalkeeper and slot over the
line.

If a second goal was more than Chelsea deserved for a strategy based
largely on counter-attack, they responded to the comfort zone with a
spell of sustained pressure that confirmed their superiority. When
Anelka, their biggest attacking threat, was presented with a chance
almost identical to Kalou's, he hesitated long enough to let England
Under-21 goalkeeper Hart pluck the ball from his feet.

Then, when Frank Lampard picked out the Frenchman in the box, he was
twice denied by the goalkeeper. Not only did Hart touch his header on
to the bar, he lunged back to claw the dropping ball off his line.

A damaging passage of play for City then took a physical toll when
Onuoha had to be stretchered off. The challenge by Essien was harmless
enough, but the defender dislocated his shoulder in the fall. While he
was taken to hospital, City's hopes of salvaging anything were beyond
repair.
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Telegraph:

Chelsea refuse to give up on Premier League
By Derick Allsop at the City of Manchester Stadium

Manchester City (0) 0 Chelsea (1) 2

Love him or loathe him, no one can dispute Avram Grant has kept
Chelsea in a Premier League marathon that was surely reduced to two
contenders yesterday.

Hours after Arsenal's latest and seemingly fatal stumble, the
self-proclaimed Un-Special One shuffled his resources again and came
up with a formation that had too much guile and penetration - albeit
with a healthy helping of good fortune - for Manchester City.

Richard Dunne, City's generally dependable captain and central
defender, contributed to Chelsea's title mission with an own-goal and
inadvertent collaboration in the creation of the second, scored by
Salomon Kalou.

City had their moments, particularly during a 15-minute period of the
first half, yet ultimately had their goalkeeper, Joe Hart, to thank
for averting a more substantial defeat.

Chelsea were content to take the three points with a minimum of
effort, closing to within two of leaders Manchester United, who visit
Middlesbrough today. Grant's planning now turns to their next home
match, the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final against
Fenerbahce. Chelsea trail 2-1 but have fresh players to recall and
even those who put in a shift here were scarcely extended.

Given the strength and flexibility of Chelsea's squad, they look
eminently capable of emerging as United's challengers for the top
prizes in England and Europe.

Grant said: "We have come a long way, but still one team is in front
of us. I don't know if it will be enough to win every game. We need to
do our job. I don't know whether it is better to play before United.
We just need to do our job."

City's season, so bright and promising in its infancy, is in danger of
ignominious disintegration. Their miserable day was compounded by a
dislocated shoulder and wrist injury for the excellent Nedum Onuoha.

City's task became onerous in just six minutes. Chelsea's composed
approach play carried them into the penalty area and Nicolas Anelka's
low cross was turned past Hart by Dunne in his desperation to cut off
the supply to Michael Essien.

Onuoha's intervention denied Anelka the opportunity to capitalise on
Essien's service before City managed to venture out of their own
territory and launch a series of assaults. Most of them disturbed the
top tier rather than Carlo Cudicini until Gelson Fernandes eventually
dirtied the Chelsea goalkeeper's gloves.

Another crucial challenge by Onuoha checked Anelka's break as Chelsea
reminded City of their threat. Undeterred, Sven-Goran Eriksson's team
pressed forward again, Stephen Ireland and Michael Johnson going close
and Martin Petrov forcing Cudicini into a splendid save. For all
City's endeavour, they were relieved not to go further behind when
Kalou lofted over a beckoning goal. He atoned for that wretched miss
early in the second half, combining cleverly with Essien and accepting
another assist from Dunne before walking the ball around Hart.

The City goalkeeper somehow spared his side further damage, taking the
ball off Anelka's toe, then tipping the striker's header on to the
crossbar and clearing off the line.

Best moment: Joe Hart's fantastic save to tip former City striker
Nicolas Anelka's header on to the bar.

Worst moment: The freakish injuries that put the excellent Onuoha in
hospital last night. Another defensive nightmare for Sven.


Man of the match

Salomon Kalou (Chelsea) 8

Scored Chelsea's second goal

Set up one chance

Completed 82 per cent of his distribution
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Mail:

Dour one is now special one: Grant takes a lesson from Mourinho's old play book
Manchester City 0 Chelsea 2

By Joe Bernstein

Avram Grant does not sound like Jose Mourinho very often but, in the
afterglow of a hard-earned win at Eastlands, he very definitely laid
down the title gauntlet to Sir Alex Ferguson.

A goal in each half, with plenty of dogged defending in between, took
Chelsea to within two points of longtime leaders Manchester United
with a tasty encounter between the two scheduled for Stamford Bridge
on April 26. No wonder the Dour One came over almost as bullish as the
Special One as Chelsea extended their incredible league run to just
one defeat in 26 matches.

"I think if you ask Alex he will say we have been putting them under
pressure for a while," said Grant. 'We have the record of champions
over the past three months. When I arrived, we were five points behind
Manchester City, we were behind Liverpool and other clubs, too.

"We have been playing without a lot of important players since January
as well, but the squad have brought us to this point. Psychologically,
I'm not sure if it's better to play first or second [United meet
Middlesbrough today], but now that we've won, I think it's better to
play first."

Grant promised to change Chelsea when he replaced Mourinho in the
autumn. Instead of all-out entertainment, however, he is threatening
to grind his way to silverware just as his predecessor would have
done.

City skipper Richard Dunne put into his own net to gift Chelsea the
opening goal after six minutes. The home side threatened an equaliser
for long periods after that, but a clinical finish by Salomon Kalou in
the 53rd killed the contest. A dislocated shoulder and possible broken
wrist late on for Nedum Onuoha, who required nearly five minutes'
treatment before he was carried off in clear distress, summed up the
dismal second half of City's season.

"It is always awful when you lose but I am less depressed than when we
were beaten at Birmingham a week ago," said manager Sven Goran
Eriksson. "We showed spirit against a good team and made more chances
than them."

However, ambitious owner Thaksin Shinawatra will want to see an
improvement on one win in seven games if he is to trust Eriksson with
the summer war chest.

Home fans generously applauded their former heroes Shaun Wright-
Phillips and Nicolas Anelka on to the pitch before kick-off, but it
was not long before the grumbling began.

Anelka was given time in the penalty area to deliver a low cross
towards Michael Essien. And the only reason it did not reach the
Ghanaian was that Dunne foolishly slid in and stuck out a left leg to
divert the ball past goalkeeper Joe Hart.

The Irishman's forlorn expression told its own story. It was the fifth
owngoal of his City career, nearly as many as the six he scored at the
other end in more than 300 appearances.

City fans must have feared a repeat of the 6-0 drubbing they suffered
at Stamford Bridge earlier in the season. But, inspired by Martin
Petrov, they instead had numerous chances to level. Petrov was denied
by Carlo Cudicini with a stinging shot and set up Benjani and Stephen
Ireland with excellent crosses that were not capitalised upon. Ashley
Cole then headed off the line from Michael Johnson.

Having weathered the storm, Chelsea sealed the points early in the
second half on a breakaway. Mourinho would have been proud. Poor Dunne
was involved again, deflecting Essien's pass into the path of Kalou.
Once free, there was no doubting the Ivory Coast forward would score
as he rounded Hart before tapping in. That was game over and it was
left to Hart to keep the score down with two excellent stops from
Anelka, as Chelsea moved down the gears to save themselves for
Tuesday's key Champions League home tie against Fenerbahce. However
disappointed City felt, the result was put into perspective when
Onuoha fell awkwardly after tangling with Essien and dislocated his
shoulder. The pain-stricken defender was offered oxygen before being
carried off and taken to hospital.

The result means Chelsea can begin to dream of being champions for the
third time in four seasons.

"You never know in football," said Grant, when asked to consider the
possibility. "If I knew what would happen in this game, I would gamble
and be a millionaire."

There is always Eriksson to bring them down to earth, though. "Chelsea
are strong but so are Manchester United. If I had to bet £10 on it, I
would go for United," he smiled.

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Indy:

Manchester City 0 Chelsea 2: City Dunne and dusted by Chelsea

Own goal helps Londoners keep up pressure on Manchester United as
Eriksson's team look forward to end of season
By Guy Hodgson at the City of Manchester Stadium
Sunday, 6 April 2008

Chelsea have five matches to catch Manchester United at the top of the
Premier League, and if they are all as easy as this they will have
every chance of succeeding. This makes it eightgoals for and none
conceded against Manchester City this season; who needs friends with
opponents like these?

This was a stroll on a cool but sunny afternoon for Avram Grant's team
against a City side who have won one match in their last seven and
who, apart from a 15-minute spell before half-time, looked like they
cannot wait for the season to end. Slow, sloppy and dull, just about
the only imagination anyone with Sky Blue affiliation showed came from
the announcer on the public address system, who billed the start of
the second half as "the push for Europe". Push for mid-table
mediocrity more like.

City gave the visitors a goal start when Richard Dunne put through his
own goal after six minutes, and although Michael Johnson had a shot
cleared off the line they never seriously suggested they would
discomfort Chelsea. Instead the visitors made the points safe when
Salomon Kalou dribbled round Joe Hart in the 53rd minute.

The romp pushes Chelsea, who rested Ricardo Carvalho, Claude Makelele
and Didier Drogba, to two points behind United, who face Middlesbrough
this afternoon, and ensured they will go into Tuesday's Champions'
League quarter-final second leg against Fenerbahce with two prizes
very much in mind.

"Now we have to hope for a good result at Middlesbrough," Grant said.
"I never know whether it's better to play first or second but I know
it's always best to play first and win."

The City manager, Sven Goran Eriksson, also struck a positive note.
"I'm less depressed than I was a week ago," he said, referring to the
lame 3-1 defeat at Birmingham City. "It was impor-tant for the players
to know they can play good football against a team like Chelsea."

City lost 6-0 at Stamford Bride in October so the portents were not
good, and they looked even less promising after six minutes. They had
endured almost unceasing Chelsea possession without alarm when Michael
Essien moved forward and then passed to Nicolas Anelka on the right.
Even then, there seemed little danger from a low cross until Dunne
slid in to clear but instead thumped the ball past his own goalkeeper
from10 yards.

Chelsea would have taken advantage of more sloppiness in the home
rearguard but for two immaculate tackles on Anelka from Nedum Onuoha.
It appeared City were dozing their way to another reverse until they
woke up after half an hour and could have scored twice. First Juliano
Belletti stopped a goal-bound shot from Stephen Ireland, then Ashley
Cole cleared off his line from Johnson.

Despite the number of incidents round the goalmouths, the first half
had been played at a pedestrian pace, but the introduction of Joe Cole
for the disappointing Shaun Wright-Phillips brought an injection of
thought if not pace and a notable sense of urgency from Chelsea. Their
second goal, after 53 minutes, came almost immediately after the
substitution when Essien placed a clever through- pass that deflected
off Dunne into the path of Kalou. The Ivory Coast striker coolly went
round Hart and rolled the ball intothe net.

Suddenly the shackles were off Chelsea and they could have scored
twice more within two minutes. First Hart flicked the ball away from
Anelka's feet as he bore down on goal, then the City goalkeeper tipped
Anelka's header on to the bar and recovered well to scoop away from
his line when the ball hit his back.

After that Chelsea could ease up with Fenerbahce in mind, secure that
the gauntlet has been thrown in the champions' direction. Who will win
the title? The answer from the City manager was unexpected. "If I had
a £10 bet," Eriksson said, "it would be on United."

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Chelsea stay in hunt as Kalou hits target


Jamie Jackson at Eastlands
Sunday April 6, 2008
The Observer


Chelsea deserve a little of the stuff they sometimes lack - goodwill -
for at least keeping the Premier League title race alive with this
victory, which maintains the pressure on Manchester United. They
deserved this win, though their performance was, like the match,
hardly vintage. Still, with Arsène Wenger fielding a virtual second
string against Liverpool earlier in the day who could earn only a
draw, Avram Grant's team deserve credit for a surge that has not
included a league defeat since 16 December.


There had been a shock before kick-off nestling in the opening column
of Sven-Göran Eriksson's programme notes. 'I was really disappointed
with our defeat against Birmingham last weekend... It happens from
time to time that a team does not play well, but when that happens,'
wrote the City manager, no doubt to the mood music of a Swedish
hairdryer, 'it is vital to at least show maximum effort and I'm not
sure that is what I saw on Saturday.'
Eriksson hiding any passion he may have is a hoary old topic, of
course. But to be talking about the tame 3-1 defeat at Birmingham
seven days later was a fair indication he still had a fume on.

Well, that took about six minutes to get a whole lot worse. His team
had hardly touched the ball when Salomon Kalou wandered down the
centre of City's midfield before laying the ball off. In doing so, the
Ivory Coast forward fell awkwardly, but referee Chris Foy allowed what
proved to be a good advantage. The ball came to Nicolas Anelka on the
right and the former home favourite - who had received more cheers
than boos before kick-off - played it into the area. Michael Essien
had made a run, but was not needed because Richard Dunne, maybe
unaware the midfielder was a few yards away, panicked and finished
past Joe Hart.

Although Chelsea dominated this opening period, encouragement came for
City. After 14 minutes, Michael Johnson skied a volley from close
range following a weak header by Juliano Belletti. Martin Petrov went
closer with a sweet 30-yard shot and Mwaruwari Benjani then headed
over when free inside the area. Gelson Fernandes also made goalkeeper
Carlo Cudicini think, with a long-range effort.

Chelsea's approach to attack throughout the first half was to get
Frank Lampard on the ball and wait for Anelka or, in lesser fashion,
Shaun Wright-Phillips to make the break behind the home defence. After
23 minutes, the routine worked well - the England midfielder playing
the striker in with the outside of his right foot. Nedum Onuoha's
intervention as the Frenchman shaped to shoot was timely.

Chelsea, though - and surprisingly for a team led by John Terry - were
standing off the home team too much and Grant's team should have paid
the price around the half-hour as City created a series of chances.

First, Benjani raced down the right and his pull-back, via Terry,
found Stephen Ireland. But he could not finish. Seconds later,
Petrov's dipping effort with his left foot was denied a place in the
net only by a Cudicini fingertip. Michael Johnson went nearest when
his cross, from close in on the left, was cleared off the line by
Ashley Cole, following a deflection by Alex. But no goal came and, at
the break, Chelsea were heading for the three points.

That prospect blossomed further eight minutes into the second half.
City's defence was slumbering when Kalou and Essien swapped one-twos,
the second of which clipped Dunne's heel and, when Kalou made it 2-0,
the Irishman had added an assist to the earlier own goal.

That compounded Eriksson's frustrations and hardly helped to kindle
hopes of European football here next season, though at least the blue
half of this city could watch on, knowing defeat for their team would
mean the title still needed to be won by Manchester United.

Chelsea should have had a third when, again, the Lampard-Anelka axis
created an opening for the latter. This time, Lampard stood the ball
up for his team-mate with a delicate cross from the right and the
header from Anelka was superbly tipped on to the bar by Hart. The City
goalkeeper then somehow plucked the rebound away from the striker and
to safety.

By the 75th minute, the atmosphere in the City of Manchester Stadium -
hardly lively at the best of times - had become soporific. Eriksson
had also used up his attacking options by introducing Felipe Caicedo
for Ireland, having earlier switched Darius Vassell for Elano.

It all made little difference, though. Eriksson's next programme notes
should contain more despair at a season now dying, while Grant and his
team might still snatch the title.

Man of the match: Joe Hart

Was not to blame for either goal and made a series of saves that at
least provided damage limitation for Manchester City's goal difference
by keeping the score down. England need a keeper and, while judgment
is sometimes offered too hastily on a young prospect, Hart is worth
keeping an eye on.
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