Wolverhampton Wanderers 0 Chelsea 2: match report

20 February 2010 17:13
Two attempts on target, two goals from Didier Drogba, it was a case of minimum input for maximum reward at Molineux, and one which afforded Chelsea some breathing space at the top of the table, now four points clear of Manchester United. They could not have been anymore businesslike. [LNB]But of course, after Tiger Woods' 'mea culpa' on Friday turned everyone into amateur psychologists, the real interest here was not whether Chelsea would increase their lead over United, but on what effect a week spent endeavouring to repair his marriage in Dubai has had on John Terry. [LNB] Related ArticlesPremier League actionPremier League tableTelegraph player raterPremier League fixturesSport on televisionChelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti tells players to 'protect club's image'So what to take from his gaffe in the second half? [LNB]Attempting a volleyed clearance in his own box, the centre-back muffed it in fine style, leaving Kevin Foley clean through. Wolverhampton Wanderers were unfortunate that Petr Cech provided a super save, and by the time Adlene Guedioura had latched onto the rebound Terry was back, his mind reordered, to clear off the line. But it was chink in the armour, nevertheless, and one which gave the Molineux crowd an excuse renew their vocal expression of schadenfreude. [LNB]Not that there had been much else to occupy their time. Someone had clearly filled the football with helium for the first half, for nearly all of the shots Michael Ballack's and Stephen Ward's the most notable for their potential to cause damage but their inability to do so sailed innocently over the respective cross-bars. [LNB]Kevin Doyle gave the home crowd an opportunity to leave off Terry, for a while, with two shots which tested Cech, particularly a fizzing drive to the near post, but the goalkeeper swatted it aside, just as he did a first time volley from Guedioura five minutes into the second half. So much for the Czech being a fading force. [LNB]It was only a matter of time before Chelsea struck, it appearing almost effortless when they did. Yuri Zhirkov slid the sort of simple ball across the goal-line that Drogba, arriving at the far post, could not fail to convert, and the second was even more economical. Cech found Drogba with long kick from his own box, and the striker took a touch and rounded Marcus Hahnemann. Job done. [LNB]

Source: Telegraph