Chelsea 1 - 0 Portsmouth

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Saturday Aug 25 2007 03:00

Sleepy Chelsea squeezed out a narrow victory over Portsmouth thanks to saviour Frank Lampard at Stamford Bridge.

The England midfielder scored his third goal of the season to put the Blues top of the Premier league, but Pompey fought all the way and were unlucky not to come away with a point.

Chelsea signalled their intent from the first minute to extend their unbeaten home record to 65 matches, when good approach play saw striker Claudio Pizarro strike a low right-footer from the edge of the box, but wide of David James' goal.Nwankwo Kanu, on nine minute, produced a speculative long-range effort that failed to trouble Petr Cech.Florent Malouda inched closer to goal with a daisy cutter from the left but the ball hit the side netting.

But the Londoners should have taken the lead on 12 minutes when Malouda's right-wing free-kick was met by the glancing header of Pizarro from six yards out. But the ball went over the bar.Michael Essien was called on to make a fierce last-ditch challenge on Kanu on 20 minutes to prevent the visitors from taking the lead.

The deadlock was eventually broken on 31 minutes when Lampard latched onto a deft back-heal from Didier Drogba and rammed home a piledriver under the body of James from 15 yards out.Shaun Wright-Phillips could have had another within a minute, but James managed to get hold of the England wingman's shot from the edge of the area.

Lampard almost scored with a quick-thinking long-range effort on 44 minutes but James was alert to the strike.

Pompey narrowly missed an unlikely equalier seconds later when Matt Taylor's audacious chip from 20 yards faded away from Cech's right post.

Wright-Phillips should have scored Chelsea second goal a minute into the restart.

Malouda passed to Drogba, who fed Wright-Phillips inside Portsmouth's penalty area. The wingman got past Gary O'Neil but his right-footer was well wide of the target.Sean Davis had a glorious chance to level on 54 minutes when Kanu held up the ball for the in-running midfielder, who lashed at it first time and sent it over the bar.

Harry Redknapp changed Portsmouth's tactics to bring on a third striker in Benjani Mwaruwari for O'Neil on 60 minutes. Mourinho responded in kind by replacing Pizarro with Salomon Kalou.

Brazilian full-back Juliano Belletti joined the fray on 65 minutes to make his Chelsea debut at the expense of Jon Obi Mikel.

An Essien piledriver forced a fine save from James on 73 minutes. And with the England management duo of Steve McClaren and Terry Venables watching, he must be in with a shout for a full England recall.

James was again called into action five minutes from time to smother a left-footed Drogba effort.Ashley Cole spared Chelsea's blushes late on by heading a powerful header from Hermann Hreidarsson off the line.

Portsmouth continued to push for the equaliser but the Blues held out.

Live Commentary

  • 90
    It is all over at the Bridge and Jose Mourinho will be delighted that his side have managed to hold on for the win as Portsmouth were good value for at least a share of the spoils having dominated the game for long periods.
  • 89
    Chelsea are having to resort to hacking the ball away and if they hold on for the three points then they will not believe their luck.
  • 86
    Great chance for Nugent with his first otuch but he miskicks it into the floor from 10 yards out but Hermann Hreidarsson gets the loose ball and Ashley Cole somehow clears it off the line to save his team.
  • 82
    Harry Redknapp is going all out for a goal as he sends on David Nugent for Matt Taylor to add another goal threat.
  • 81
    Joe Cole manufactures himself some space for a shot and curls it towards the top corner and it only just drifts wide of the far post.
  • 79
    Pompey on the break now as Muntari picks it up on the edge of the box and eyes up the top corner but Cech gets across well to stop it.
  • 78
    Kalou finally gets a meaningful touch oif the ball and it almost settles the game as he tricks his way into a shooting position and James makes a good diving stop.
  • 78
    Muntari has a reputation for collecting yellow cards, and he has another one here as he brings down Essien from behind.
  • 77
    Again Pompey are on the attack as Utaka fires just wide from the edge of the box with Cech scrambling and then Ben-Haim is forced into a last ditch block to prevent Kanu tapping in Davis' cross.
  • 76
    Shaun Wright-Phillips has looked good again when he got the ball but he is going to be replaced by Joe Cole.
  • 75
    Another opportunity for Benjani as he twists and turns on the edge of the box but screws it wide.
  • 74
    Finally Chelsea are able to get forward as Essien picks it up and drives at the defence, with nothing on he takes on the shot fro 25 yards and forces a good save from James who can only parry it away.
  • 72
    Benjani has the ball on the edge of the 6-yard box, back to goal, he gets the ball onto his right foot and Cech makes a superb save with his feet to deny him an equaliser.
  • 70
    Chelsea cannot get out of their own half at the moment and Portsmouth are constantly coming forward but can they grab what would surely be a deserved equaliser?
  • 66
    Taylor whips a great corner in from the right and everyone misses it, including Cech, and it only just drifts wide of the far post.
  • 65
    Another change for the hosts as Juliano Belletti gets his debut as he comes on for Mikel, sending Essien into midfield.
  • 63
    Chelsea are making a change of their own as Pizarro who was well marshalled by Campbell and Distin being replaced by the Salomon Kalou.
  • 61
    Portsmouth clearly fancy thermselves to get back into htis and O'Neil is replaced by Benjani so presumably Utaka will get the chance to run at Ashley Cole.
  • 60
    Pompey again on the charge with Gary O'Neil - who has been quiet - finding himself on the left corner of the penalty area and curling it towards the near post and Cech has to scramble across as the ball clips the side netting.
  • 57
    Portsmouth are all over Chelsea at the moment and frantic clearances from a free-kick and resulting corner eventually give Muntari the chance to strike it from the edge of the box but again it flies just over the bar.
  • 56
    Chelsea are back under pressure as they were for long periods in the first half and Mikel brings down Lauren on the half way line, more out of frustration than anything else.
  • 53
    Davis now though has a superb chance to equalise but he has blazed the ball over the bar from 6 yards out and he is left with his head in his hands.
  • 51
    Sean Davis picks up the first booking of the game as he brings down the impressive Malouda as the Frenchman tried to set up a Chelsea counter attack.
  • 49
    A well worked Pompey free-kick gives Taylor the chance to shoot from long range and he strikes it well and it whizzes fractionally over the bar with Cech well and truly beaten.
  • 47
    An early opportunity for Wright-Phillips who ended the first period well but a bit of indecision means he doesn't get teh ball out of his feet and he drags it wide from 12 yards out.
  • 46
    Traditionally Chelsea are able to close out this sort of game at home but Portsmouth looked good before the break and with a bit of good fortune they could force their way back into it.
  • 45
    And there is the whistle! Chelsea have been second best for much of the half but as ever they have grabbed a goal through Lampard and Pompey will have a job on their hands to change it in the second period.
  • 45
    Taylor with in all porbability the last chance of the half as he runs forward with the ball and looks to lob Cech with his right foot but he can only loop the ball over the bar.
  • 44
    Lampard is in confident mood and he fires a free-kick goalwards from 30 yards and James does well to parry it out of immediate danger.
  • 43
    The game is drifitng towards the break now with both sides probably wanting to get out of the searing heat and into the comfort of the dressing rooms.
  • 40
    Pompey have a free-kick that Muntari and Taylor have their eyes on and Muntari strikes it but its poor as he drives it into the wall.
  • 38
    Malouda once more gets the ball on the corner of the six yard box as he tries to turn the ball home but he drags it wide of the far post for a goal kick.
  • 34
    Chelsea are all over Pompey now and Malouda drives a cross in and Wright-Phillips has another chance but his left foot volley rises over the bar from the edge of the box.
  • 33
    Wright-Phillips has barely seen the ball in the opening half hour but he has it now and unleashes a shot on goal which James does well to gather at the second attempt.
  • 30
    Typical Chelsea, they have been very poor so far but Cech launches it to Drogba who knocks it down well and Lampard strides onto it and rifles the ball passed James from 25 yards.
  • 26
    Muntari again breaks from the centre of midfield and has a crack from 30 yards that curls wide off the outside of his foot, but it would need to be some strike to beat Cech from that distance.
  • 25
    From the corner the ball drops onto the left foot of Muntari who strikes it well and it rises just over Cech's crossbar but Chelsea are looking a touch vulnerable at the moment.
  • 24
    Pompey are coming again and Taylor from the left of midfield comes forward and chances his arm and it deflects just wide via the shin of John Terry.
  • 20
    The Stamford Bridge crowd are becoming a bit subdued as their team are unable to get themselves going and Portsmouth have not been in any great danger so far.
  • 19
    Good movement and passing from the visitors and Lauren has broken from right back and in behind Ashley Cole and only a superbly timed tackle from Essien prevents Utaka tucking it home.
  • 16
    Pompey are exerting a bit of pressure now as Muntari's effort is blocked by Ben-Haim on the edge on the six yard box and tehn Drogba brings him down as he attempts to get to the loose ball and cross it back in.
  • 13
    Chelsea have a free-kick near the right touchline and Malouda whips it in and Pizarro rises to meet it at the near post but he gets too much on his glancing header as it loops over the cross bar.
  • 11
    The game has come to life a bit all of a sudden as Malouda first escapes down the left and eventually his cross comes back to him via Drogba and he shoots this time but drags it wide.
  • 9
    Pompey now at the other end and Kanu hits a snap shot from outside the penalty area but it is not on target and Cech just watches it wide.
  • 9
    But here is Drogba with the ball on the edge of the box, escaping the attentions of Campbell and curls the ball over the bar, but it was only a half chance.
  • 8
    Pompey have made a promising start and the are disrupting Lampard and Mikel in the Chelsea midfield who are not being allowed to get the ball down and look for passes.
  • 5
    It has been a slightly niggly start to proceedings with a few fouls being committed and both sides trying to find their rhythm.
  • 2
    Interestingly Redknapp's team are playing with two up front with Utaka lining up alongside Kanu early on so an open game could be in prospect.
  • 1
    An early effort from Pizarro as he picks up the ball from Malouda in the left channel and drives the ball towards the far corner and it just flies wide.
  • 0
    Alan Wiley gets the game underway and it promises to be an interesting one as the main contenders for Manchester United's title take on Harry Redknapp's team who are aiming for Europe.
  • 0
    Portsmouth: James, Lauren, Distin, Campbell, Hreidarsson, O'Neil, Davis, Utaka, Muntari, Taylor, Kanu
  • 0
    Chelsea: Cech, Essien, Terry, Ben-Haim, Ashley Cole, Wright-Phillips, Mikel, Lampard, Malouda, Drogba, Pizarro
  • 0
    Portsmouth make a number of changes meanwhile as Harry Redknapp sets his side up to frustrate Chelsea as Benjani, Traore and Hughes are replaced by Sol Campbell, Lauren and Sulley Muntari.
  • 0
    Chelsea make just the one change from last week's more than controversial draw at Anfield as Claudio Pizarro replaces Salomon Kalou, while new signign Juliano Belletti must wait to make his debut from the bench.
  • 0
    After a short international break, the Premier League is underway again and Chelsea host Portsmouth with both sides looking to continue their promising starts to the new campaign.

Statistics

Chelsea
Shots on target 7
Shots off target 11
Shots off bar/post 0
Fouls 16
Offsides 3
Corners 4

Portsmouth
Shots on target 4
Shots off target 14
Shots off bar/post 0
Fouls 12
Offsides 5
Corners 6

See Live Commentary