EPL ~ Chelsea fall to shock 1 - 0 loss at Wolves
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Wolverhampton 1 - 0 Chelsea
The deadlock is broken after just six minutes thanks to a Boswinga own goalWolves rose out of the drop zone with a fully deserved win to add more pressure on to defending champions Chelsea.
The hosts opened the scoring on six minutes when defender Jose Boswinga stabbed the ball into his own net from Stephen Hunt's inswinging corner.
Chelsea improved with Salomon Kalou denied by goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey and Didier Drogba hitting the upright.
Florent Malouda shot wide for the Blues but they ran out of ideas as Wolves wasted chances to score again.
And so the stuttering form shows no sign of improving for the west Londoners, who have won only one of their last nine games - their worst league run for 14 years.
When these two sides met at Stamford Bridge in October, Chelsea won 2-0 to move five points clear at the top of the table. Less than three months on, and Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti sees his men struggling in fifth place and in danger of missing out on Champions League football next season.
Wolves manager Mick McCarthy's team on the other hand secured their fourth victory in seven games and, although they sit dangerously one place above the relegation zone, their battling qualities and form suggest they should have enough to stay up.
Ancelotti had said ahead of this match he felt lucky he still had the Chelsea job but the Italian would have been left reappraising his fortune after only six minutes at Molineux when his side conceded the sloppy opener.
The warning signs had been there as Peter Cech had already had to palm away a stinging shot from Ronald Zubar but immediately afterwards the Blues goalkeeper could only watch in horror as defender Boswinga shinned the ball into his own net from Hunt's corner.
Chelsea struggled to contend with Wolves' pressing nature of their 4-4-2 formation, as well as the slippery surface, and were grateful to see Kevin Doyle shoot tamely at Cech following a surging run towards the box by the impressive Zubar.
The visitors though gradually found more time on the ball with Portuguese midfielder Ramires pulling the strings and they came agonisingly close to an equaliser on the half hour.
Malouda burst through the left-side of the defence for the first time and crossed for Kalou, who toe-poked towards goal only for Hennessey's outstretched leg to deny him.
Wolves remained relatively comfortable as their battling defence only had to deal with a wild John Terry volley flying over the bar and a couple of dangerous crosses from Malouda.
Ancelotti's visitors began the second half in more determined fashion and soon after a weak Malouda shot at Hennessey, they wasted a glorious chance to get on the scoresheet.
It was Lampard, looking fresh from a three-month lay-off, to open up the increasingly edgy defence with a delicate back-heel through to Kalou but the Ivorian could only slot the ball wide with the goal at his mercy.
Drogba, so often a match-winner for the west Londoners, looked a forlorn figure but came the closest to turning the match around, hitting the post after taking advantage of a rare slip in concentration from his opponents.
While McCarthy prowled the touchline barking orders, his opposite number watched on motionless and expressionless and, with 25 minutes to go, decided to throw on Nicolas Anelka for Kalou.
The chances did eventually arrive for the visitors with Malouda wasteful when clean through and then substitute Daniel Sturridge volleyed high and wide to add to their manager's frustrations.
But with Richard Stearman guiding his resolute defence, it was the home side who came through as Drogba ended the game by wasting a good chance from a free-kick on the edge of the box.
Manchester City, Liverpool, Bolton and Manchester United come next for Wolves in the Premier League but McCarthy's men will fear no one after beating Chelsea for the first time in 18 years, while Ancelotti has much to ponder as his players continue to splutter.
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whats wrong with chelsea?
its over for them.
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Lolx
Wolves has beaten Liverpool 1-0
now Beat Chelsea 1-0
oo
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The Premier League this year is very tough cos even the bottom sides are not easy meat... So those in the mid table range are more dangerous and can beat the top sides on their day... But one thing for sure is, nowadays, the top sides have to battle really hard just not to get beaten... lol..
This league is very good and interesting as well cos the bottom dog fight is just as brutal...
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Originally posted by zocoss:
The Premier League this year is very tough cos even the bottom sides are not easy meat... So those in the mid table range are more dangerous and can beat the top sides on their day... But one thing for sure is, nowadays, the top sides have to battle really hard just not to get beaten... lol..
This league is very good and interesting as well cos the bottom dog fight is just as brutal...
ya la.. now most teams got full internationals inside and they are very determined to battle for the tv money..
anyway, awaiting the returns of the clones to see what they got to say about the refs/mu diving/ fa...
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wtf
This kind of thing is like happened in FM only
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other than man u the other teams on top of chelsea all dropped points. yet chelsea did not capitalise.
i think they should focus on qualifying for CL instead of defending their title.
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Originally posted by dragg:
other than man u the other teams on top of chelsea all dropped points. yet chelsea did not capitalise.
i think they should focus on qualifying for CL instead of defending their title.
still early... got 18 games to go.. and one transfer window to go.
Roman may need to sell a few yachts..
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Originally posted by iceFatboy:
still early... got 18 games to go.. and one transfer window to go.
Roman may need to sell a few yachts..
9 points behind man u and played a game more is bad enough. there is still a 7-goal difference to make up.
to add to the diiffculty there are man city, arsenal and spurs in between.
it'll take a real miracle to win.
and frankly i am starting to have doubts about ancelotti's ability to buy suitable players. he must know he is now in england, not italy.
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Drogba is another lazy ass.
Kalou is not Chelsea quality
Chelsea need to sign at least 2-3 more players!!!
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Originally posted by dragg:
9 points behind man u and played a game more is bad enough. there is still a 7-goal difference to make up.
to add to the diiffculty there are man city, arsenal and spurs in between.
it'll take a real miracle to win.
and frankly i am starting to have doubts about ancelotti's ability to buy suitable players. he must know he is now in england, not italy.
if not wrong, lotti's plan is to try their hardest to get as close to the leaders, then win the rescheduled game vs mu to clinch the title in a dramatic fashion..
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Wolves was right at the bottom of the league before the match right?
This is another very big win for them... And if they manage to stay in the league and win by 2 to 3 points... They have to look back to this match where they got the unexpected points that saved them.
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Originally posted by iceFatboy:
if not wrong, lotti's plan is to try their hardest to get as close to the leaders, then win the rescheduled game vs mu to clinch the title in a dramatic fashion..
... best plan ever
anyway last nite results simply rocks~ all the contenders fubar and liverpool was the icing on the cake
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what's fubar?
well anyway, i think the signs are there. The squad has to be renewed. Kakuta was brought on to change the game.....something's terribly wrong. They were terrifying in the first 10 games and i'd seriously thought they would march on to their next title until kalou said they could wrap the title up by xmas lol.
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chelsea wont win any trophies this season from looks of it.
never replaced cavarlho and ballack, and the squad all getting old.
problem still lies in their defence. need a good CB before they can work on their attack. as long as they dont concede needlessly is half the battle won.
bosingwa, ferreria, ramires, kalou all suck
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Originally posted by Rock^Star:
what's fubar?
well anyway, i think the signs are there. The squad has to be renewed. Kakuta was brought on to change the game.....something's terribly wrong. They were terrifying in the first 10 games and i'd seriously thought they would march on to their next title until kalou said they could wrap the title up by xmas lol.
maybe they misquoted kalou. he meant to say wrapped up the title and give to man u.
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Then people still have the cheek to say the La Liga is a two club monopoly.
EPL has 4 to 5 clubs "challenging as a smoke screen of competitiveness" in the end.. A two club monopoly league as well.
2004–05 Chelsea2005–06 Chelsea
2006–07 Manchester United
2007–08 Manchester United
2008–09 Manchester United
2009–10 Chelsea
2004–05 Barcelona
2005–06 Barcelona
2006–07 Real Madrid
2007–08 Real Madrid
2008–09 Barcelona
2009–10 Barcelona
Just because some ENGLISH pundits and an ignorant French said the La Liga is uncompetitive the rest just agree blindly. Laughable. And dont get started with this season, with shock results like Wolves beat Chelsea, blah blah.. In the end Man Utd will win the title..Same goes for La Liga..either Real or Barca.. Yawn
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Jus, if U go into the entire history, then U will see it clearer..
RM has won it 31 times, Barca, 20.. RM was runner up for 19, and Barca, 22. other than these two, who else?
AlteticoM, 9, 8, AlteticoB, 8,7 and Valencia, 6,6.
so effectively, RM has occupied the top 2 positions, 36%, Barca, 30%, AM 12.5, AB 11%, Valencia 8%. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Liga).
if just EPL (started from 92), MU won it 11 times, runnerup 4 times, gunners 3 times winners 5 runnerup, chelsea 3 times 3 runnerup and Pool 2 runnerups..
so MU occupied 48%, Gunners, 25%, Chelsea, 19% and Pool.. so it may be a gradual spread as compared to La Liga.
just for interests sake.
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Originally posted by Bus&Soccer l0v3r (VO3x 1):
Lolx
Wolves has beaten Liverpool 1-0
now Beat Chelsea 1-0
oo
giant killer
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Originally posted by dragg:
maybe they misquoted kalou. he meant to say wrapped up the title and give to man u.
really? lol. Maybe hor.
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Originally posted by JusStatic:
Then people still have the cheek to say the La Liga is a two club monopoly.
EPL has 4 to 5 clubs "challenging as a smoke screen of competitiveness" in the end.. A two club monopoly league as well.
2004–05 Chelsea2005–06 Chelsea
2006–07 Manchester United
2007–08 Manchester United
2008–09 Manchester United
2009–10 Chelsea
2004–05 Barcelona
2005–06 Barcelona
2006–07 Real Madrid
2007–08 Real Madrid
2008–09 Barcelona
2009–10 Barcelona
Just because some ENGLISH pundits and an ignorant French said the La Liga is uncompetitive the rest just agree blindly. Laughable. And dont get started with this season, with shock results like Wolves beat Chelsea, blah blah.. In the end Man Utd will win the title..Same goes for La Liga..either Real or Barca.. Yawnin terms of transfer budgets, epl is really more competitive....even smaller clubs can sign big players like ben arfa, gyan, zigic...but in la liga only barca and both the madrid sides are spending the cash...
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i believe among all the major leagues, EPL has the highest foreigners to locals ratio. Tune into the la liga and those smaller teams like levante etc....u see a lot of spanish names. I believe the same for bundesliga and serie a.
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Originally posted by iceFatboy:
Jus, if U go into the entire history, then U will see it clearer..
RM has won it 31 times, Barca, 20.. RM was runner up for 19, and Barca, 22. other than these two, who else?
AlteticoM, 9, 8, AlteticoB, 8,7 and Valencia, 6,6.
so effectively, RM has occupied the top 2 positions, 36%, Barca, 30%, AM 12.5, AB 11%, Valencia 8%. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Liga).
if just EPL (started from 92), MU won it 11 times, runnerup 4 times, gunners 3 times winners 5 runnerup, chelsea 3 times 3 runnerup and Pool 2 runnerups..
so MU occupied 48%, Gunners, 25%, Chelsea, 19% and Pool.. so it may be a gradual spread as compared to La Liga.
just for interests sake.
Quite a fair statement. But aint you Man U fans like to remind people not to "live" in the past hehe?
I am no Liverpool fan btw ;)
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Might as well compare to Scottish League.
It's either Celtic or Rangers.
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Originally posted by CKeer:
Might as well compare to Scottish League.
It's either Celtic or Rangers.
Actually most of the leagues are either dominated by one club or two. If you like the BPL only, good for you. End of story. No need going around bashing other leagues. Different people different taste.
