Popular Post! BlueLion. 21,491 Posted December 28, 2014 Popular Post! Share Posted December 28, 2014 Chelsea lost crucial ground in the title race as they slipped up against a superb Southampton side.The Blues fell behind when Sadio Mané lobbed Thibaut Courtois with a deft finish, but Eden Hazard's moment of brilliance just before half-time deservedly earned Chelsea parity heading into the break. But referee Anthony Taylor ridiculously decided to book Cesc Fabregas for what he deemed to be a dive, when the Spaniard was quite clearly tripped by young Saints full-back Matt Targett. Morgan Schneiderlin was later dismissed for two second half yellow cards, but Southampton managed to survive the Blues' late aerial bombardment to earn a point their excellent defensive display perhaps warranted. It is tough luck for Chelsea, who, in a week where Branislav Ivanovic was booked for simulation, they have again been vilified - this time incorrectly - by a terrible call from Taylor and his nearside assistant referee; both of whom would have had excellent views of the incident.It would have been harsh on young Targett, admittedly, but by the letter of the law Fabregas was illegally upended and a spot kick should have been the only reasonable outcome.In truth, Chelsea were not quite up to their own high standards set by a comprehensive defeat of West Ham on Friday, but whether it was a case of tiredness - or indeed complacency - creeping into their game, José Mourinho's men were some way from their best today.Ronald Koeman's Saints were well-drilled and took the lead inside the opening fifteen minutes, but from the moment Mané capitalised on slack defending by John Terry there was little more than one-way action in this game. Chelsea dominated for long spells, yet but for Hazard's eventual equaliser - beautifully crafted by a dinked Fabregas pass and wonderfully executed by the Belgian - the Blues failed to test Fraser Forster in the Southampton goal even once.In truth, Taylor's decision to book Fabregas for diving, however wrong it might be, is simply an excuse to be waved around by Chelsea fans following a sub-par showing. True, Chelsea had the lion's share of possession, but they did very little with it, and ultimately, despite Mourinho throwing on both Didier Drogba and Loic Remy as the Blues battled for a late winner against their handicapped opponents, it was in fact the home side that showed the greater incisiveness in offence on the rare occasion they forayed forwards. These were two precious points that slipped away from the Blues, but Mourinho may take some solace in the fact that Chelsea are the first side this season to prevent Southampton from winning a game having taken the lead - on the previous ten occasions that the Saints had opened the scoring, they had gone on to record victory. Yet that will be little consolation for the Portuguese, who, even with Manchester City letting slip a 2-0 lead to draw with Burnley at the Etihad Stadium, will now look down on the rest of the Premier League with a slender three-point advantage.2014 ends sadly not how it began - the Blues won here 3-0 in January, with even Fernando Torres amongst the goals - but Chelsea will be encouraged to have emerged relatively unscathed from another testing away trip. They now enter the second half of the season having played all of Manchester United, City, Liverpool, Everton, Newcastle, and now Southampton - with Spurs to come on New Year's Day - away from home.A win at White Hart Lane is now an absolute must on Thursday considering City - again at home - will no doubt sweep aside a Sunderland team who were frankly pathetic against Hull on Boxing Day.Recording three points against Tottenham would, in truth, have made this a very merry Christmas indeed for Chelsea; with three games out of their four away from home, and the solitary fixture at Stamford Bridge against another top four side in West Ham, this has been one of the trickiest festive fixture lists for Chelsea in many a year - but regardless of who plays who, Mourinho will know his side need to up their game if they are to take three points and begin 2015 on a high. Click here to view the article zolayes, bluephoenix, sutro and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zolayes 14,489 Posted December 28, 2014 Share Posted December 28, 2014 An excellent and fair account .. I hope Choulou is taking notes ,, Of course it was written before the clarets stopped Citeh .Hope you are enjoying your vac CHOULO19 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueLion. 21,491 Posted December 28, 2014 Author Share Posted December 28, 2014 Edited now Ron.When I published this, City were 2-0 up. I jinxed them. You're all fucking welcome. Thanks for reading. zolayes 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drakey 36 Posted December 28, 2014 Share Posted December 28, 2014 Excellent account BlueLion. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueLion. 21,491 Posted December 29, 2014 Author Share Posted December 29, 2014 Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluephoenix 1,131 Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 Nice read... me wondering why there was no article for the Spuds game ! BlueLion. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueLion. 21,491 Posted January 9, 2015 Author Share Posted January 9, 2015 Nice read... me wondering why there was no article for the Spuds game !Do you even have to ask? I'd have ripped each of the players new ones if I had! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jase 43,479 Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 Nice read... me wondering why there was no article for the Spuds game !Do you even have to ask? I'd have ripped each of the players new ones if I had! He should be banned for asking the silliest question in 2015! bluephoenix, BlueLion. and MichaelDance 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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