FULHAM 2 - CHELSEA 2

Clint Dempsey's last-minute header dented Chelsea's Barclays Premier League title challenge as Fulham earned a battling 2-2 draw at Craven Cottage. Chelsea, who have now taken just 10 points from their last 21, had been on course for a west London derby win after two second-half strikes from Frank Lampard.

 

But Dempsey, who had given Fulham the lead after 10 minutes, popped up with seconds remaining to extend the Cottagers' unbeaten run to nine games. Chelsea now head into the new year three points behind league pace-setters Liverpool, who had signed off 2008 earlier in the day with a 5-1 win at Newcastle.

 

BOLA BOYZ  CHELSEA

CHELSEA 2 - WEST BROM 0

Chelsea went back to the top of the Premier League with a comfortable 2-0 win over rock-bottom West Brom at Stamford Bridge. Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard were on target for the Blues as they recorded their first home league win in four games.

 

The Blues took just three minutes to go in front with Drogba, making his first league appearance since the end of September, heading home a cross from Joe Cole. It was the Ivorian's second goal of the season and his first in the Barclays Premier League this term. Lampard, captain in the absence of the suspended John Terry, scored Chelsea's second goal in the first half injury time.

 

BOLA BOYZ  CHELSEA

MICHAEL ESSIEN IS GHANA'S BEST

Michael Essien has been named Ghana Footballer of the Year after a media poll in Accra. Inter Milan's Sulley Muntari and Hearts' Laryea Kingston came second and third respectively.

 

Essien is a regular African Footballer of the Year finalist, has been sidelined since mid-year after picking up an injury while playing for Ghana against Libya in 2010 World Cup qualifier. His absence has been a major factor for Chelsea's inconsistent form lately.

 

BOLA BOYZ  CHELSEA

EVERTON 0 - CHELSEA 0

Chelsea had John Terry sent off at Goodison Park but were able to hold Everton to a goalless draw. The Blues relinquish their 100 per cent away record and miss the opportunity to sit top of the Premier League table at Christmas, while the Toffees remain in the European hunt despite their failure to breach 10-men.

 

The hosts began the game in the more positive fashion, making a mockery of their failings on home turf this season. However, despite Phil Neville and Marouane Fellaini keeping Petr Cech on his toes, the Chelsea rearguard was rarely threatened.

 

BOLA BOYZ  CHELSEA 

SCOLARI OKAY WITH FANS BOO

Luiz Felipe Scolari has admitted that supporters were entitled to boo the side after Chelsea dropped further points at Stamford Bridge and missed the chance to leapfrog Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table.

 

The 1-1 draw against West Ham means that Chelsea have already dropped 14 points at home, the same as the whole of last season, and has left Scolari admitting that he needs to bring about a rapid improvement.

 

BOLA BOYZ   CHELSEA 

DECO WANTS TO IMPROVE HOME SHOW

Deco maintains Chelsea can work out their Stamford Bridge problems and end a run of poor home form. Despite their superb 100% away form which has yielded eight straight victories, Luiz Felipe Scolari's men have managed only three league wins at home.

 

Liverpool brought an amazing 86-match unbeaten league run to an end on October 26 and the Blues are without a domestic win at Stamford Bridge ever since. Portuguese midfielder Deco is convinced the squad will soon put the issue right.

 

BOLA BOYZ   CHELSEA 

CHELSEA 1 - WEST HAM 1

Gianfranco Zola enjoyed a successful return to Stamford Bridge as his West Ham side held Chelsea to a 1-1 draw. The ex-Chelsea striker, voted the club's best-ever player after a memorable seven-year spell with the Blues, inspired the Hammers to a resolute performance which prevented his former club climbing back to the top of the table.

 

Chelsea dominated possession throughout but the visitors were solid at the back and snatched a surprise lead through a 33rd-minute strike by Craig Bellamy. Didier Drogba replaced Michael Ballack at the break and top scorer Nicolas Anelka equalised within six minutes of the restart with his 100th Premier League goal.

 

BOLA BOYZ   CHELSEA

CHELSEA 2 - CFR CLUJ 1

Chelsea qualified to the knockout stages of the Champions League with a 2-1 victory over CFR Cluj. Ivory Coast striker Salomon Kalou opened the scoring from close range for his fourth of the season. But, Yssouf Kone headed beyond Peter Cech into the top corner from Panin's cross for the equaliser.

 

In the 65th minute, Scolari sent Didier Drogba to replace Kalou, and he scored the winner to mark his comeback. However, Drogba's efforts were not enough for Chelsea to finish top of Group A after Roma defeated Bordeaux. Chelsea have only themselves to blame for finishing second. They squandered two chances to top the group, but Scolari insists he feels `zero pressure' as coach of Chelsea.

BOLA BOYZ   CHELSEA 

NOW SCOLARI WANT ANOTHER STRIKER

Chelsea coach Luiz Felipe Scolari will ask owner Roman Abramovich for
the cash to sign a striker in the January transfer window. Scolari has
only one fit striker for the Premier League game against Bolton
Wanderers with Didier Drogba suspended and Franco Di Santo sidelined
by a hamstring injury.

Chief executive Peter Kenyon has insisted Chelsea will do little, if
any, business when the window opens next month but Scolari has his
eyes on some much-needed firepower in attack.

BOLTON 0 - CHELSEA 2

Nicolas Anelka struck the 99th goal of his Premier League career to help Chelsea to a 2-0 win and place in the record books. On his old Bolton stamping ground 11 months after a £15million move, a diving header from Anelka gave the Blues an 11th consecutive away win in the league, with eight this season.

 

Deco's sumptuous scissor-kick 12 minutes later sealed the victory as Chelsea rewrite the record set 48 years ago by Bill Nicholson's Tottenham side.With leaders Liverpool winning at Blackburn, the win keeps Chelsea hot on the heels of the Merseyside club at the top of the table.

BOLA BOYZ    CHELSEA 

LAMPARD WANTS CHELSEA TO TRY DIFFERENT STYLES

Chelsea may have to ''mix things up'' to get themselves back on track in the title race according to Frank Lampard. The defeat to Arsenal last weekend makes Luiz Felipe Scolari's men have failed to beat any of their top three rivals at home.

 

The Blues are already out of the Carling Cup and need to beat CFR Cluj next week to qualify for the last 16 of the Champions League. Lampard, though, believes the Blues have got plenty of different options to get the job done.

BOLA BOYZ   CHELSEA 

DROGBA FULLY COMMITTED TO CHELSEA

Didier Drogba's agent insists the player never met anyone from Inter
Milan last month. Drogba was reported to have attended a dinner with
Inter's sporting director Marco Branca and Jorge Mendes, agent of
Nerazzuri coach Jose Mourinho.

Chelsea have refused to comment on the reports, as has Drogba, but now
Thierno Seydi has stated that no meeting took place. Seydi insists
that Drogba is fully committed to the Chelsea cause.

CHELSEA 1 - ARSENAL 2

A dramatic second-half Robin van Persie brace saw Arsenal come from
behind to secure a vital 2-1 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. The
Gunners imploded to gift the Blues the lead on 31 minutes when keeper
Manuel Almunia collected a corner but threw the ball to Jose Bosingwa,
who put in a great cross from the right which the unlucky Johan
Djourou steered into his own goal.

But Van Persie equalised on 59 minutes when smashing a right-footed
effort into the top corner from the edge of the box, although replays
showed he was offside. He then added a second three minutes later to
stun Stamford Bridge when latching onto a fine header down by Emmanuel
Adebayor and hitting a great left-footed effort on the turn into the
bottom right-hand corner past the despairing dive of Petr Cech.