Malouda winner eases European qualification doubts

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Chelsea 1-0 Wigan Athletic

Saturday 9 April 2011 - Stamford Bridge

Florent Malouda's second half winner was enough to see Chelsea overcome a resolute Wigan side and move back into third position ahead of Manchester City.

An incredibly frustrating - and at times insipid - first half performance had failed to inspire with Tuesday's crunch European clash with Manchester United looming ever closer, but Florent Malouda's drive from close-range was enough to settle a keenly-contested fixture between two teams in desperate need of points, though for hugely contrasting reasons.

The implications of such a result mean that Chelsea return to third place and are a solitary point behind second-placed Arsenal, who kick off at Blackpool this afternoon under intense pressure with both the Blues and league leaders Manchester United winning on Saturday - but the outlook is far less optimistic for Wigan supporters, who will wake up this morning to see themselves rooted to the foot of the table and two points adrift of 'safety.'

A defeat is little reward for a stubborn and resolute Wigan showing, and the Latics did, on occasions, show some attacking menace - but manager Roberto Martinez can take some comfort from the knowledge that similar performances at lesser teams than Chelsea will give his side every chance of avoiding the drop. Further good news for the Spaniard can be seen in the scoreline - a 1-0 defeat is lot easier to stomach than a 6-0 mauling in front of your own supporters, or again suffering an 8-0 demolition away from home.

Chelsea were disappointing for long periods of the game, with their play lacking creativity and a spark to link up the void between the midfield and the attacking trio of Malouda, Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka. In fact, but for the introduction of Yossi Benayoun - thankfully back to full fitness after seven months out of the game due to injury - there was only Drogba who sought to offer any microcosm of creative invention in the Blues' otherwise-dull play, which reflected a sub-par team showing all-round.

Manager Carlo Ancelotti will see this as cause for concern with a date with destiny fast-approaching, but in reality this was a game that will mark low in terms of meaningfulness to both the Italian manager and the Blues faithful - the Premier League title race is up after last weekend's disappointing result away at Stoke, and Ancelotti's charges can perhaps be forgiven for taking this game at walking pace knowing that they will need to play at their absolute best to stand any chance of progressing to the semi finals of the Champions League.

It was no surprise that Ancelotti was planning on shuffling his pack, and that was seen in four changes to the side that were so farcically denied a blatant penalty and frustrated by a combination of goal-line clearances, wonderful goalkeeping and the width of the post against United on Wednesday. In came Paulo Ferreira, David Luiz, John Mikel Obi and Nicolas Anelka, whilst Fernando Torres was on the bench alongside Benayoun and Alex, both long-term absentees.

Nerves could and perhaps should have been settled less than a minute into the match when Didier Drogba's cross from the right was miscued by both Frank Lampard and then Ramires at the back post as the Blues sought to impose themselves early on, before Malouda warmed Ali al Habsi's palms with an angled drive.

It was clear to see from the early tempo set by the marauding Drogba that Chelsea meant business, but with the Wigan rearguard resolute and al Habsi in exceptional form, the Blues were becoming increasingly frustrated, with the crowd certainly expecting more. Despite the best attempts of the players to ignite the atmosphere inside Stamford Bridge, generally insipid play devoid of creativity - a tale that has plagued Chelsea's quest for silverware this season - was undermining the Blues' challenge and the best that could be mustered was a Drogba effort that was well wide of the far upright.

Blunted without an end product, Chelsea changed tactic and the long-ball routine almost paid off as Drogba flicked on a monster goal-kick from Cech to set Malouda free - only to see al Habsi deny him with a magnificent save to maintain parity between the two sides. Then, moments before the whistle was blown for the interval - in an incident that perfectly summarised Chelsea's disappointing first half showing - Drogba did magnificently to create space for a shot before ballooning the effort high, wide and not-at-all handsome.

The game was finally injected with an inch of ingenuity when Yossi Benayoun came on for Mikel, before Torres made his belated entrance as the hour mark approached. With Anelka withdrawn and Torres moving to the tip of the attacking three, there seemed an increased urgency about Chelsea's play that coincided with the opening goal. Minutes after Drogba's deflected free kick had produced the best out of al Habsi, Malouda netted his eleventh goal of the season and first since a 4-0 win at Bolton when he lashed the ball home from five yards after a mêlée inside the penalty area.

As soon as that chance was taken, a sigh of relief swept across the Blues faithful, who suddenly surged into life. From this point onwards it was almost exclusively action inside the Wigan half - a Franco di Santo header apart which was excellently tipped wide by the attentive Petr Cech. It would have been a poetic moment had the young Argentine scored against his former club, but that was the closest Wigan would come all afternoon.

Enter Torres. First he saw Maynor Figueroa block a drive after he attempted to lash home, before a superb turn and run on half-way saw him only find al Habsi's gloves with a second effort. However the best chance came as a result of some incisive play on the edge of the area by Benayoun, who, with a clever reverse pass set up his former Liverpool team-mate with a cute set-up that saw Torres again denied at the death by some exceptional goalkeeping. That saga of Torres' elsuive first goal rages on - but the Spaniard injected some pace and potency into the Chelsea line-up and should certainly start against Manchester United based on this half-hour cameo.

It is a result that heaps pressure on second-placed Arsenal and can be looked back upon as one that looks to have eased concerns over Champions League qualification for next season - but with bigger fish in need of frying, this game can certainly offer the team a little confidence before the big one in Manchester.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech, Ferreira (Alex 74), Ivanovic, Luiz, Cole; Ramires, Mikel (Benayoun 46), Lampard; Anelka (Torres 59), Drogba, Malouda.

Wigan (4-2-3-1): Habsi; Boyce, G Caldwell ©, Alacaraz, Figueroa; Watson, McCarthy; Cleverley, N'Zogbia (di Santo 62), Diamé (Moses 84); Rodallega (Sammon 62).

The TalkChelsea.net man of the match was Chelsea's number 11, DIDIER Drogba

[Tomo 21,681]

good review

Was a tough game but good to come out with 3 points.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

Good report as always!

the Spaniard injected some pace and potency into the Chelsea line-up and should certainly start against Manchester United based on this half-hour cameo

Indeed, but not at the expense of Drogba. If Torres is to start is must be along side Drogba with Benayoun behind him, otherwise we'll see the same lacklustre Torres we did last Wednesday & no-one wants to see that in such an important game!

[Tomo 21,681]

Good report as always!

Indeed, but not at the expense of Drogba. If Torres is to start is must be along side Drogba with Benayoun behind him, otherwise we'll see the same lacklustre Torres we did last Wednesday & no-one wants to see that in such an important game!

I dont honestly think Torres was that bad last wednesday, on another day his 2 shots would have gone in off the post and been too far for Van Der Sar.

[Madmax 9,219]

I missed the game, thanks for the report, Alex!

[BlueLion. 21,491]

No worries mate

[Fulham Broadway 16,386]

Good report mate. Wigan were never going to be the pushover that they've been recently in their precarious position.