Classy Chelsea Regain Top Spot

[James 5,143]

Lampard had made it 2-0 with a rasping drive from outside the box, before his second deep into injury time ensured a fifth straight victory for Chelsea, who return to the top of the Premier League in style, whilst extending their unbeaten run at Stamford Bridge to 23 league matches.

With the Blues in FA Cup action at the weekend, Champions Manchester United had the opportunity to leapfrog the Blues to the summit of the Premier League, and a Wayne Rooney-inspired demolition of Hull meant that Chelsea entered this intriguing clash off top spot.

But Carlo Ancelotti’s side were excellent; demonstrating their superb confidence with a classy display against a team that had previously gone fifteen matches without defeat, since a defeat at the hands of Arsenal in October.

However, the visitors were shown up by a Chelsea side brimming with belief after securing safe passage to the last sixteen of the FA Cup thanks to a 2-0 victory at Preston, who now top the table by a point, with a game in hand over both Manchester United and Arsenal.

And with Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou returning from international duty ahead of the game away at Burnley on Saturday, few will fancy their chances against the Blues’ ruthless efficiency; a trait they seemed to surrender during a hapless December.

Chelsea won just one match all month as 2009 came to a close; a 2-1 triumph over strugglers Portsmouth at Stamford Bridge. Amongst the dropped points were the two thrown away at Birmingham, where Joe Hart was in fine form to deny Salomon Kalou and Frank Lampard.

Florent Malouda was sent off in that fixture with only minutes remaining, but the in-form Frenchman made up for his short-comings by opening the scoring after just five minutes.

Joe Cole showed great skill to out-run Lee Bowyer on the Chelsea right, and sent in a teasing cross that saw Malouda head home unchallenged past a beleaguered Hart, who could do little to deny the Frenchman his seventh of a productive season.

Chelsea were in the ascendency, and Birmingham’s only effort of note in the first half came from the boot of Cameron Jerome, whose volley took a deflection over Petr Cech’s crossbar. At the other end, the involved Cole tested Hart with a long-range shot, but the young keeper was equal to the strike.

Michael Ballack, in arguably his best run of form this season, then went close when he tested Hart, before Ricardo Carvalho saw his effort flick the post as it fell wide of the target.

It was no surprise when Chelsea went 2-0 thanks to Lampard’s superb finish. The Chelsea vice-captain had scored a screamer against Watford earlier in the month, and from a similar position, took a touch before rifling the ball into the bottom corner with pinpoint accuracy.

Ballack was involved with everything the Blues were creating, and he almost added to his seasonal tally when he tested Hart once more with a header before seeing his intelligent near-post flick go inches over the crossbar.

The first of Ballack’s chances had been fashioned by the magnificent Ashley Cole; enjoying one of the best performances of his Chelsea career – the highlight of which a clever nutmeg on débutante Michel.

Petr Cech was then called into action as Birmingham produced their first real spell of possession; McFadden first wasted a glorious chance before the Czech pulled off a wonderful flying save to tip over Keith Fahey’s toe-poke.

But Birmingham’s late rally was short-lived; Chelsea capped off a superb evening when Lampard strolled upfield and tucked the ball past Hart for his thirteenth of the season. Birmingham had tasted defeat for the first time in fifteen games – but there was no shame in coming second-best to a wonderful attacking performance from the hosts.

The Blues therefore go a point clear of Manchester United, and with the Red Devils away at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, there is opportunity for Chelsea to increase their lead this weekend.
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Chelsea: Cech; Ivanovic, Carvalho, Terry ©, A Cole; Deco, Ballack, Lampard; J Cole (Zhirkov), Malouda; Anelka (Sturridge)

Birmingham: Hart; Carr ©, Johnson, Dann, Ridgewell; Larsson, Ferguson, Bowyer, McFadden (Michel); Jerome (Fahey), Benitez.

The TalkChelsea.net Man of the Match was Chelsea’s number 13 – Michael Ballack

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