Many said it couldn’t be done, the table now shows that it’s entirely possible.
This has been the season of shocks, and none will be more so than if Chelsea take the charge and win the Premier League this season.
Out of the blocks like a whippet, and striding into the lead until a November slump became a December disaster, and we were hoping, if not praying we could hold on to a Champions League position.
Now unbeaten in the league since early February, we find ourselves only three points behind first placed United, with a trip to Old Trafford up next, the destiny of our season lays squarely in our hands. With an identical goal difference, a win will see us take the lead in the title race, then it’s up to us to hold onto it.
The weekend’s football couldn’t have worked out better for Chelsea, and for once many of us will be kind to our Gooner friends, for doing us the favour we so desperately needed, but before that we had to see off the old enemy in Tottenham.
Chelsea lined up with Torres and Drogba up front, with Malouda and Lampard alternating at the tip and left of a diamond, Essien right with Mikel holding, although the two African internationals both switched at times too. Ancelotti opted for a strong defence with Ivanovic at right back, David Luiz and Terry centrally, with Ashley Cole at left back, and Petr Cech as ever in nets behind them.
Spurs turned up at Stamford Bridge without a win on our turf since 1990, yet just keeping level terms wasn’t enough and so Chelsea started the match in determined fashion, knocking the ball around freely and with pace, with Torres looking sharp and confident after last weeks goal.
Drogba went close with a rasping free kick that bounced off the bar, and Torres got onto a ball and tested Gomes, and it was against the run of play though that Spurs took the lead. Van der Vaart found Sandro about ten yards outside the area, and struck well smashing the ball past Cech into the top corner to stun Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea were shocked and took a few minutes to settle, but were then back into striking at the Spurs goal, with Torres looking mostly likely to score, with Essien also going close. Yet it was in the final moments of the half that the officials changed the course of the game.
Frank Lampard took a shot at distance that Gomes looked to have covered. The keeper made a Tiaibi like mistake, allowing the ball through his arms and legs to spin towards the goal line. He dived to pull the ball back, but the linesman made the call that it had crossed the line. Replays since have shown that the whole ball didn’t cross the line, Harry went mental.
Half time came and went and the second half kicked off with Chelsea attacking Spurs, looking for the all important second goal, and Chelsea supporters mocking Gomes at every opportunity, however he then pulled off a good save to deny a Drogba shot from 20 yards, palming it to safety.
Ramires came on for Essien, and Kalou came on for Torres as Chelsea went in hunt of the winning goal. Malouda felt he should have had penalty after a foul by Kaboul but the ref played on, as well as making some odd decisions when our lads were fouled, no doubt trying to atone for his earlier mistake.
His afternoon was to get worse though, when in the dying minutes Drogba charged into the area, holding off two players before shooting at goal, his scuffed shot span across goal where Kalou was advancing and slid home the ball to make it 2-1 and send Stamford Bridge wild.
Ancelotti spoke after the match, stating; “Obviously we would like to win the game with a different situation because today we were lucky, we have to be honest and say this. Looking at the situation on television, we can say the decision was wrong and we were lucky. We have to accept when things are wrong like that but also when things are against us. ”
The Italian added; “In this moment we have to prepare for the next game, which is against Manchester United, and we must win that game.”
With Ferguson in the crowd having left 15 minutes early he will have missed our winning goal, however he won’t be missing the fact that we’re right on his shoulder, and breathing down his neck.
United – we’re coming for you.
Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, David Luiz, Terry (c), Cole, Essien (Ramires 56), Mikel, Lampard, Drogba, Torres (Kalou 62), Malouda (Anelka 73).
Goals: Lampard 44, Kalou 88
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