September in review

[BlueLion. 21,491]

For Chelsea Football Club, September was the month people stood up and realised that Roberto di Matteo's side aren't actually half bad.

After the shambles of a performance against Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup at the end of August, there was something of a sour taste in the mouth for Blues supporters.

August had otherwise proved a fruitful month. Despite a battling defeat to Manchester City in the Community Shield, the Blues were sitting pretty with three wins from three in the league (the most impressive of which being a 2-0 win over Newcastle at Stamford Bridge), and new signing Eden Hazard was the heart of everything good about the West London outfit.

Yet with a lengthy international break sandwiched in-between that pathetic performance in Monaco and the next game against Queens Park Rangers, Chelsea fans were left all the more disappointed when the Blues barely turned up for the local derby against Mark Hughes' side.

Chelsea were turned down two blatant spot-kicks - first when John Terry was hauled to the ground in the box by Ryan Nelsen, before ex-Blue Shaun Wright-Phillips clearly tripped Eden Hazard in front of the travelling supporters - but the fact of the matter is they were indebted to Petr Cech for rescuing them, as a shocking back-pass by John Mikel Obi was pounced upon by Djibril Cissé. Thanks to the Czech custodian, however, the Blues were able to maintain their unbeaten start to the campaign.

Roberto di Matteo was rueful of missed chances and complained of a lack of urgency against their neighbours, and that was something of a recurring theme as the Blues let slip a two-goal lead against Juventus in the Champions League the following Wednesday, to make it three games without a win.

The Italian champions cantered to the Serie A last term in scintillating style, and based on their resilient showing at Stamford Bridge, it was hardly difficult to see how the Old Lady had completed the season undefeated domestically. A brilliant brace from Oscar on his European debut for the Blues - the second a sumptuous turn and finish beyond one of the world's finest goalkeepers - looked like it would be enough for the hosts to begin the defence of their trophy in winning fashion.

Yet the European champions were guilty of taking their foot off of the gas, and were duly punished by a side boasting a vast array of attacking talents. Arturo Vidal pulled one back moments before half-time with a fine low finish into the bottom corner, before substitute Fabio Quagliarella completed the come-back by nutmegging Petr Cech with a tidy effort. The Italian forward almost won it for the visitors as his shot on the turn kissed the top of the crossbar, after Juan Mata had wasted a guilt-edged chance to redeem his side's shortcomings.

The Blues had only ever surrendered a two-goal lead in a Champions League match once before - against AS Monaco in 2004 - and there was evidence of a European night hangover against Stoke the following weekend, too.

Tony Pulis' side are one of the most frustrating teams in the Premier League to play against, and through a mixture of a stout defensive performance and lightning-fast counter-attacks, the Potters were proving a tough nut to crack.

It was one of those games crying out for Didier Drogba. The now-departed Ivorian forward was the man who made the breakthrough in the corresponding fixture last season, and his strength and power was clearly missing against Stoke, who were holding the Blues back effectively, limiting them to efforts from outside the area.

One player who did at least test Asmir Begovic with a couple of stinging efforts was Oscar, who produced two decent stops from the Stoke keeper - but it was not until the 85th minute when substitutes Frank Lampard and Victor Moses combined to tee up Juan Mata, whose exquisite flick allowed Ashley Cole to poke home the winner.

His first goal since May 2010, Cole was the unlikely match-winner in a game that called upon reserves of spirit. The next match would not be quite so difficult, though, as Chelsea attentions were turned towards the newly-christened 'Capital One' Cup.

Wolverhampton Wanderers were unfortunate recipients of the occasional Chelsea rout - made all the more prevalent since the days of Carlo Ancelotti, who used to see his side score five, six, seven or more without too much trouble with startling regularity. Six goals scored, each by a different player, was only a shadow of the dominance Chelsea exerted over their Black Country opponents - it could quite easily have been double-figures!

Two-up in eight minutes despite seven changes from the weekend win, the Blues were in fine form in front of goal; the pick of the bunch coming from the revitalised Juan Mata, who exchanged passes in an all-Spanish affair with Oriol Romeu and then Fernando Torres, before slotting home. Romeu and Victor Moses also found the net, whilst Lucas Piazon and Cesar Azpilicueta made their first competitive appearances for the club.

That set up the crunch clash with Arsenal up in perfect style. The Gunners also recorded an emphatic win (themselves notching six against lowly Coventry City) to continue their strong start to the season. A well-earned point at champions Manchester City and a comfortable win at Anfield suggest that Arsene Wenger's side are heading in the right direction despite the loss of Robin van Persie, but the Blues were in no mood to let their hosts dictate the play to them.

In a switch that seemed to puzzle the Arsenal coaching staff, di Matteo opted for an attacking mentality and his side put the hosts under concerted pressure for much of the match. Torres opened the scoring with a deft finish inside 20 minutes, before Gervinho levelled with a fine turn and shot from eight yards. Juan Mata's free-kick then evaded everyone in the box and nestled in the side netting for his second goal in as many games, before Petr Cech produced two excellent saves to protect his side's lead - the best being when Olivier Giroud's deflected effort struck David Luiz and looked for all the world to be looping in, only for the Czech giant to reach out and pat it around the post by mere centimetres.

With goals comes confidence, and with confidence comes improved performances. That was certainly the key as Chelsea improved with every match in the month of September. The worrying thing for their rivals, is that the Blues have barely even got out of second gear yet...

...players are gelling together and partnerships are forming across the pitch. Roberto di Matteo is earning his wages, also, having dropped his habit of picking his favourites; the likes of Frank Lampard and John Terry no longer have automatic places in the line-up, regardless of their past heroics for the club. The emergence of young Oscar has added an extra layer of flair, whilst Fernando Torres appears to have regained some of his own form with two well-taken goals in the final brace of games this month.

Most importantly, however, is the return of Juan Mata. The Spaniard played more games than anyone last season, and come the Springtime, it was showing. He has returned refreshed, revitalised and raring to go, and four assists and two goals in the month mark his out as the Blues' stand-out performer.

An unbeaten month will offer great confidence - but can the Blues continue their form with clashes against Manchester United and Tottenham to come..?

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[Spike 12,049]

My only regret is that Sparky's team was not deliberatly dismantled and annihilated each minute for ninety minutes. Like a well played game of chess, each turn should have furthered their demise into losing their king.

[Strike 6,961]

good read...well compiled as well..

good month overall for cfc. top of the league. unbeaten. 4 cleansheets and 11 goals in 6 games. Not bad at all