Middlesbrough 0 Chelsea 2
22 October 2007
Middlesbrough 0 Chelsea 2
If past history was going to play a part in this match then Boro were going to be in with a chance because, over recent years, they have always caused Chelsea problems at The Riverside. However, it was not to be.
Tales of disharmony in the Chelsea camp were shrugged aside as they went on to win comfortably and the man who made the major disclosures about the "problems", Didier Drogba, became the major torturer of Boro.
He scored as early as the eighth minute when he caught the home defence spreadeagled across the pitch and slipped the ball delicately past Schwarzer. He then went on to put in a fine shift and cause endless problems.
It was always going to be an uphill struggle for Boro after losing this early goal and the only time they threatened was with a couple of headed efforts from Mido. However, in football, when there is only one goal in it, no matter how much one team is on top, there is always the chance of a break and an equaliser out of the blue.
The game was settled with Chelsea's second goal after 57 minutes and what a goal it was! Lampard tapped a free-kick to the Brazilian defender, Alex, some 35 yards out and he hit it magnificently into the top corner. It may have taken a very minor deflection en route but no credit should be taken away from the goalscorer.
So where does this leave Boro. Perilously close to the bottom three and only a point ahead of Spurs who have a game in hand. Unfortunately, a relegation battle is looming unless there is a big improvement and there is going to be a massive test at Old Trafford next week against a Man Utd side who have found there goalscoring form of late.
» top | more articles | 
| 
| shown 80 times
