BACK TO ARCHIVE INDEX © All written site content is copyright ComeOnBoro.com 2004-2007, unless otherwise stated, and is not to be used without prior permission.	CHELSEA 3 MIDDLESBROUGH 0, Premier League, Saturday 10th February 2007 Middlesbrough went into this game against the Champions full of confidence after holding Arsenal to a draw at the Riverside last week. The major team news was the return of Mark Schwarzer in goal after missing the last two games. Mark Viduka partnered Yakubu once more in a traditional 4-4-2 formation. The two Andrews, Davies and Taylor played at right and left back respectively as Abel Xavier was to partner Emmanuel Pogatetz in the heart of defence. Jonathan Woodgate was missing through injury, picked up on England duty in mid-week. Two further Academy players were on the left and right of midfield - Stewart Downing and James Morrison - whilst George Boateng and Julio Arca were in the centre. Schwarzer, Davies, Xavier, Pogatetz, Taylor, Morrison (Euell 73), Boateng, Arca (Rochemback 84), Downing, Viduka (Christie 84), Yakubu, Jones, Hines THE FIRST HALF The half started with Boro defending - Andrew Taylor squeezing the deadly Didier Drogba wide in the box, preventing him from taking a very early shot. Andriy Shevchenko was also causing problems, with Abel Xavier cutting out a dangerous run from the Ukranian in the fifth minute. The first shot of the game came on six minutes - and came from a Taylor defensive error. He wasn't aware of Drogba coming in on his blind side and as he accepted the ball from Frank Lampard, he lashed a shot at goal. He missed, but it was a sitter. And a warning for Boro. A minute later Salomon Kalou was causing the Boro all sorts of problems and after a passing move between Shevchenko, Lampard and finally Drogba, the Chelsea striker struck another shot which narrowly went wide. Chelsea were playing a 4-4-3 formation, their need for goals to close Manchester United at the top of the table evident. Chelsea were launching attack after attack, with Davies and Taylor often needing to be on the top of their game to content with their strikers. Boro's first attack came on twelve and came from Taylor. Boateng initially fed the ball to the right-back and he curled a splendid ball into the Chelsea box. Mark Viduka connected with it six yards out but the ball flashed wide. It was a free header, and it was a sitter. On fifteen Boro's compunction resulted in the drying up of a good opportunity. Chelsea's defence was in Harrods as Yakubu pumped his way into the box. He got to the by-line but found that he had no one to cut it back to. On twenty one Kalou ran into Drogba - what a bunch of jokers. This allowed Pogatetz to block. A few seconds later, Xavier dinked the ball off Shevchneko's toe just as he was about to strike. Thankfully the Ukrainian didn't boot the defender instead. Boro's defending was being outstanding at this stage - with Mark Schwarzer having very little to do. Chelsea meanwhile were still coming at the away side - but with Boro breaking - the game was actually quite even. Kalou nipped down the left channel and nicked the ball on to his right foot eighteen yards out. Aiming for the bottom left hand corner of the goal, he hit his shot just wide. It was the closest Chelsea had come so far. A Gareth Southgate/Jose Mourinho altercation caused some amusement in the stands - although it was just a little manbags about who would have to take out a mortgage for the halftime tea and oranges. Southgate was told to sit down and shut up by Mourinho so it was evident who was wearing the tank top in that relationship. On thirty-five Shevchenko launched another shot at the Boro goal but he failed to properly connect with it. Two minutes later Xavier's great defending saved the Boro once more after Shevchenko put the ball on a plate to Drogba - along with some rotisserie chicken, aubergine vol-au-vents and the finest Spanish Rioja money can buy. Boro were matching Chelsea at their own game. Their weakness however was too much pratting about in Chelsea's box. The need to be clinical was the key - Boro were being as clinical as a quack dentist that had gone into receiveship. Where Boro's attack was faltering, Boro's defending was blistering. On forty-one Davies' header cut out a dangerous ball that was heading for Drogba, getting injured in the process. It was more than just blisters as well - there may have been blood - but had he not intercepted - Drogba was on for a goal. Drogba was confusing the muddy pitch for a swimming pool - diving everywhere. That wasn't that surprising however - it was easy to confuse the pitch with a pigsty judging by the state of it. A minute later, Boro gave away an unnecessary free-kick in the D on the edge of the area when really they should have just cleared it. As Drogba stood over it, you feared the worst. Aiming for the bottom-left hand corner, the ball cut through the Boro wall and found itself in the back of Boro's net. Perhaps Schwarzer should have gone down earlier as there was little pace on the ball but either way Chelsea were in front on the stroke of half-time. It was a bitter blow. CHELSEA 1 (Drogba, 45) MIDDLESBROUGH 0 And that was that. A wounded Boro had to go and lick their wounds, sort their heads out and come out in the same manner they came out in the first. THE SECOND HALF Chelsea signalled their intent early on - a Shevchenko header being headed off the line by Julio Arca within the first three minutes of the half. That would have been thank you and good night but alas Boro were still in it and streaming forward. Indeed Boro were a bit like a Moss Bros suit in a dry cleaning shop - after being scrubbed, they recovered with a bit of pressing. On fifty-one Andrew Taylor nearly scored. He launched a header towards Petr Cech's goal. The goalkeeper lost the flight of the ball but managed to tip it desperately on to the post. Like a bouncing cheque - Boro could not profit from the rebound. Boro were doing little in midfield and this was not allowing the strikers to strut their stuff. This was allowing Chelsea to behave like an incontinent caught short in public - dribbling their way out of a potentially difficult situation. Boro's defence however was still magnificent, denying Kalou, Shevchenko and Drogba time after time. On fifty-nine however a strong run from Morrison inside right fed Downing who in turn laid it on a plate to Yakubu. After all the dining analogies it was no wonder that Yakubu somewhat overcooked things. In fact he did everything right apart from the finish - adding all the herbs, spices and flavours to a delicate mix only to slop it out on dining plates suitable for prisoners. In other words, he blasted his shot wide. The call for the addition of a player with more beans - in particular Seb Hines - was resonating around, erm, my head. On sixty-four, Lassana Diarra was substituted for Arjen Robben and he had an immediate impact. He played a one-two as he darted into the box, doing the bolero around three red shirts with added do-cee-dos. His cross-come-shot deflected off Xavier's foot and into the back of the net. It was a cruel blow for the central defender - who had played imperiously in an unnatural position. CHELSEA 2 (Xavier (o.g.), 66) MIDDLESBROUGH 0 On seventy-two Robben ran into the box and tried to chip the ball across the face of goal. Schwarzer thwarted his attempt by catching it. A minute later Jason Euell was brought on for James Morrison, with the possibility of Boro matching Chelsea's 4-4-3 formation. Shevchenko meanwhile was still as scary as a turkey with a head cold - threatening to cull Boro with his clinical shot. Boro needed a goal (quote comes courtesy of "Commentators Stating the Bleeding Obvious" RRP £19.99 available from most bookshops, buy your copy today!) but Chelsea were pressing. Lampard had a crack, then Drogba and Shevchenko, but a string of fine saves from Schwarzer kept the hungry hounds at bay. Another deflection, another harsh goal conceded as Drogba hit a tame effort at goal that looped over Schwarzer and into the back of the net. The Chelsea fans were delirious, making noise for the first time today, but it was unlucky on Boro who did not deserve this comprehensive defeat. CHELSEA 3 (Drogba, 83) MIDDLESBROUGH 0 Southgate decided to shake things up after this, substituting Julio Arca for Fabio Rochemback. With an eye on Tuesday's important FA Cup clash against Bristol City, Mark Viduka was also substituted for Malcolm Christie. Boro refused to be beaten however and launched an attack of their own through Downing. The ball deflected out for a corner but nothing came of this, Davies misjudging his run and merely petting the ball delicately with his head instead of whacking it. On eighty-seven a Schwarzer strong save prevented a fourth from being conceded. It was Drogba with the effort after a flowing run. It was a necessary save with Chelsea strikers loitering near the goal like vulgar teenagers hanging around the local corner shop. Just with less litter. At the other end Yakubu snatched an effort when perhaps he should have passed it. After this the resident nutter launched a one-man pitch invasion whilst wearing a silly hat. He then went around hugging all of the players, thanking Yakubu in particular for doing his best impression of a Bernard Matthew's turkey, before he was dragged away for sedation. And that was that. The scoreline was harsh on Boro. Two goals were deflections and defensively we had been strong. We didn't really do enough in front of goal to warrant a win ourselves however and we were beaten by the better side. But as a team we played well, we just didn't have the luck. It was our first defeat in 2007 but not one to be disheartened about. It'll be back to business against Bristol City. FULL TIME FAN REACTION "It was expected but it would still have been nice to get a draw" Deeno SEND THIS TO A FRIEND BACK TO CHELSEA MATCH PROGRAMME INDEX
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