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| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| Sheff Utd 0-2 Chelsea | Sheff Utd 0-2 Chelsea |
| (4 days later) | |
| Sheffield United paid the price for a first-half penalty miss as champions Chelsea coasted to a comfortable win. | Sheffield United paid the price for a first-half penalty miss as champions Chelsea coasted to a comfortable win. |
| Henrique Hilario had little difficulty in saving Danny Webber's poorly-taken spot-kick after Didier Drogba was adjuged to have fouled Claude Davis. | Henrique Hilario had little difficulty in saving Danny Webber's poorly-taken spot-kick after Didier Drogba was adjuged to have fouled Claude Davis. |
| Frank Lampard put Chelsea in front just before the break, with a swerving free-kick that fooled Paddy Kenny. | Frank Lampard put Chelsea in front just before the break, with a swerving free-kick that fooled Paddy Kenny. |
| Early in the second-half Lampard crossed for Michael Ballack, who made it 2-0 with a powerful far-post header. | Early in the second-half Lampard crossed for Michael Ballack, who made it 2-0 with a powerful far-post header. |
| href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/video_and_audio/help_guide/4304501.stm">Interview: Jose Mourinho href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/video_and_audio/help_guide/4304501.stm">Interview: Sheffield Utd boss Neil Warnock | |
| If Webber had scored the course of the game might have been different, but once he had missed, Chelsea steadily assumed control. | If Webber had scored the course of the game might have been different, but once he had missed, Chelsea steadily assumed control. |
| Jose Mourinho's side had the better of the possession and in Lampard and Ballack, players who were able to turn that dominance into goals. | Jose Mourinho's side had the better of the possession and in Lampard and Ballack, players who were able to turn that dominance into goals. |
| The one worry for Chelsea, who play Barcelona in midweek in the Champions League, was that the in-form Drogba did not emerge for the second half due to a foot injury. | The one worry for Chelsea, who play Barcelona in midweek in the Champions League, was that the in-form Drogba did not emerge for the second half due to a foot injury. |
| 606: DEBATE Chelsea are looking as consistent as ever FA 606: Have your say | 606: DEBATE Chelsea are looking as consistent as ever FA 606: Have your say |
| United also lost a player in the first half, Michael Tonge limping off early on, after he fell awkardly on his ankle after tackling Joe Cole. | United also lost a player in the first half, Michael Tonge limping off early on, after he fell awkardly on his ankle after tackling Joe Cole. |
| Before Drogba's withdrawal the Ivory Coast striker had a busy time of it - unusually in his own penalty area. | Before Drogba's withdrawal the Ivory Coast striker had a busy time of it - unusually in his own penalty area. |
| Drogba did well to slide in ahead of Claude Davis after Alan Quinn's cross had got past Hilario. | Drogba did well to slide in ahead of Claude Davis after Alan Quinn's cross had got past Hilario. |
| Soon after Drogba again found himself marking Davis, though this time referee Martin Atkinson ruled the Chelsea striker fouled that the United defender for a penalty. | Soon after Drogba again found himself marking Davis, though this time referee Martin Atkinson ruled the Chelsea striker fouled that the United defender for a penalty. |
| To Chelsea's relief, Hilario comfortably saved Webber's underhit spot-kick. | To Chelsea's relief, Hilario comfortably saved Webber's underhit spot-kick. |
| Either side of Webber's penalty, both teams claimed they should have been awarded spot-kicks. | Either side of Webber's penalty, both teams claimed they should have been awarded spot-kicks. |
| Ricardo Carvalho might have been penalised for using his arm to stop Rob Hulse's jump, while after Webber's miss Chelsea appealed when Paulo Ferriera tumbled following a Davis challenge. | Ricardo Carvalho might have been penalised for using his arm to stop Rob Hulse's jump, while after Webber's miss Chelsea appealed when Paulo Ferriera tumbled following a Davis challenge. |
| It was not until the latter stages of the opening half that Chelsea began to create clear chances. | It was not until the latter stages of the opening half that Chelsea began to create clear chances. |
| A cross from Ballack almost saw Chris Armstrong put the ball into his own net as he tried to clear under pressure from Arjen Robben. | A cross from Ballack almost saw Chris Armstrong put the ball into his own net as he tried to clear under pressure from Arjen Robben. |
| Kenny did well to quickly to push away Lampard's close-range header, though soon after the United keeper's reactions proved altogether slower. | Kenny did well to quickly to push away Lampard's close-range header, though soon after the United keeper's reactions proved altogether slower. |
| Lampard's long-range free-kick swerved marginally and with Kenny diving too early, the ball ended up in the middle of the net. | Lampard's long-range free-kick swerved marginally and with Kenny diving too early, the ball ended up in the middle of the net. |
| Lampard's goal might have had an element of fortunte about it, but there was nothing lucky about Chelsea's second. | Lampard's goal might have had an element of fortunte about it, but there was nothing lucky about Chelsea's second. |
| Some slick combination play between Robben and Lampard provided the space for the England international to hang up a cross that Ballack forcefully headed in. | Some slick combination play between Robben and Lampard provided the space for the England international to hang up a cross that Ballack forcefully headed in. |
| With a two-goal cushion, Chelsea should have won more comfortably, but Lampard shot over from a good position, while Robben was denied by Kenny after the United defence was carved apart. | With a two-goal cushion, Chelsea should have won more comfortably, but Lampard shot over from a good position, while Robben was denied by Kenny after the United defence was carved apart. |
| Sheffield United boss Neil Warnock:"We are a little bit naive. Their players sometimes go down where we stumble on. We have to learn what to do in certain situations. | Sheffield United boss Neil Warnock:"We are a little bit naive. Their players sometimes go down where we stumble on. We have to learn what to do in certain situations. |
| "We will be looking to add some quality in January but we need to stick in there in the meantime. Â | "We will be looking to add some quality in January but we need to stick in there in the meantime. Â |
| "We are easy to referee because we never try to convince him." | "We are easy to referee because we never try to convince him." |
| Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho:"Hilario is amazing. He is cool and comfortable in goal and I think the penalty save was a three-point save. | Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho:"Hilario is amazing. He is cool and comfortable in goal and I think the penalty save was a three-point save. |
| "If Hilario doesn't save it maybe we are in trouble." | "If Hilario doesn't save it maybe we are in trouble." |
| Sheff Utd: Kenny, Bromby (Kozluk 65), Davis, Jagielka, Armstrong, Alan Quinn, Leigertwood, Tonge (Montgomery 7), Gillespie (Kabba 67), Hulse, Webber.Subs Not Used: Morgan, Nade. | Sheff Utd: Kenny, Bromby (Kozluk 65), Davis, Jagielka, Armstrong, Alan Quinn, Leigertwood, Tonge (Montgomery 7), Gillespie (Kabba 67), Hulse, Webber.Subs Not Used: Morgan, Nade. |
| Booked: Leigertwood, Montgomery. | Booked: Leigertwood, Montgomery. |
| Chelsea: Hilario, Paulo Ferreira, Terry, Ricardo Carvalho, Bridge, Essien, Ballack, Lampard, Joe Cole (Wright-Phillips 67), Drogba (Kalou 46), Robben (Makelele 83).Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Boulahrouz. | |
| Goals: Lampard 43, Ballack 49. | Goals: Lampard 43, Ballack 49. |
| Att: 32,321 | Att: 32,321 |
| Ref: M Atkinson (W Yorkshire). | Ref: M Atkinson (W Yorkshire). |