Chelsea 0 Sunderland 3
Carlo Ancelotti’s side missed the chance to go six points clear of Manchester United and five above Arsenal after an abject home display that saw the visiting Mackems win there for the first time in eleven attempts. In recent years this had been a fixture that saw Sunderland travel to the Capital and go back to Wearside with nothing, having received a good hiding. Chelsea had put five, six and seven goals past the Stadium of Light outfit in previous meetings, but without key personnel it was the away side that took the points.
Nedum Onuoha must be wondering if now he has got the attention of Fabio Capello, after the versatile defender scored a sublime opener with a superb run, magnificent skill to take on four or five top international footballers and then coolly slot past Petr Cech like a predatory striker. It was coolness personified and yet he has been overlooked for the friendly with France with only one recognised right back in the squad. Not only did he score one of the finest goals I have ever seen a player from the back four net in Premier League history but defensively he was outstanding. Both he and Jagielka in the earlier game put in marvellous tackles, showing tremendous bravery, as if they didn’t get the ball their dismissals would’ve been certainties.
Not only was the win a huge scalp for Steve Bruce’s side to take but the Mackems kept a clean sheet against the deadly front three of Drogba, Malouda and Anelka, a twenty four goal attack so far this season. With performances like this you can see why Michael Turner has been on the fringe of the fringes of the England squad for some time now. The former Hull City defender who was named on standby may finally get the call-up to replace the injured John Terry. Another uncapped Englishman did his claims of earning the opportunity to represent the Three Lions some good when Jordan Henderson provided an assist for the second goal. Both he and Lee Cattermole, who has had notable disciplinary problems this season, worked superbly in the centre of the park for the Wearsiders, the latter hurrying Chelsea players into mistakes.
There’s no getting away from the fact Chelsea were missing injured quartet Terry, Lampard, Benayoun and Alex, with the influential Michael Essien also unavailable through suspension. Their absence was telling. It was alarming to see Paulo Ferreira at centre half and much as I have sung the praises of Branislav Ivanovic he needs a partner with pace and experience. The Serb should’ve been sent off for a trip on Danny Welbeck late in the first half as he was the last man, but like the earlier game which contained a similar incident, referee Chris Foy brandished yellow instead of red. Carlo Ancelotti’s side created a mere brace of clear openings. First a lofted through ball into Anelka played by Mikel saw the recently returned Craig Gordon in the Mackems goal smother bravely at the Frenchman’s feet. The other chance fell to Yuri Zkirkov, who showed quick feet, but dragged his effort wide. Without Lampard the lack of cut and thurst from central midfield is so noticeable and I am getting sick and tired of mentioning it.
This Sunderland side looked worlds apart from the disgraceful performance in the Tyne-Wear Derby where they were demolished by bitter rivals Newcastle 5-1. Since then the Mackems have taken seven from a possible nine and to put that into perspective top scorer Darren Bent has been injured. It’s hard to majorly fault any of Steve Bruce’s players based on today’s performance. Their change in form seems down to the predatory instincts of Asamoah Gyan, who has impressed from a starting place, and Welbeck finding his feet on Wearside, as well as shoring things up at the back. Both players got on the scoresheet in the second half, the former slotting home coolly less than ten minutes after the break, while the latter ensured criticism for spurning earlier chances would be forgotten pouncing on an uncharacteristic mistake by Ashley Cole late on. The England left back played a horrendous back pass and Welbeck tapped the ball past the advancing Cech to put an exclamation point on this resounding victory.
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