• Date: Sat 27 September 2008
  • Venue: Britannia Stadium
  • Ref: Atkinson, M
  • Attendance: 27,500
0 - 2
Chelsea

Chelsea

Bosingwa (36)

Anelka (76)

Stoke City vs Chelsea

Team Lineups

Stoke City

Thomas Sorensen
Andy Griffin
Leon Cort
Abdoulaye Diagne-Faye
Danny Higginbotham
Seyi Olofinjana
Salif Diao
Liam Lawrence (Michael Tonge, 65)
Richard Cresswell
Dave Kitson (Ricardo Fuller, 53)
Mamady Sidibe (Amady Faye, 81)

Chelsea

Petr Cech
John Terry
Ashley Cole
Jose da Silva Bosingwa
Rodrigo da Costa Alex
Florent Malouda
Michael Ballack (Paulo Ferreira, 89)
Frank Lampard
John Obi Mikel
Salomon Kalou (Nicolas Anelka, 46)
Didier Drogba (Juliano Belletti, 73)


Live Text Commentary
Full time
 

Full-Time: STOKE CITY 0-2 CHELSEA. Both sets of fans applaud their players off after a deserved victory for a quality Chelsea side

90

Stoke have never given up and continue to chase everything

90

There are three minutes of added time to go

90

Stoke come forward but Michael Tonge's effort is high and wide

89
Substitution
 

Michael Ballack makes way for Paulo Ferreira

88

Things are looking ominous for the other sides at the top of the league when you consider the players Chelsea have out

86

it's all Chelsea and all Stoke can do is block effort after effort

84

Ricardo Fuller makes a theatrical effort for a penalty but is not booked for his dive

83

Lampard has a chance from Michael Ballack's header down but his effort is weak and Sorenson can gather

82

Chelsea are playing well and Lampard is only just offside as they come forward again

81
Substitution
 

Amady Faye takes over from Sidibe.

81

The atmosphere has dropped noticeably in the ground since the second goal

80

Florent Malouda plays a ball to Michael Ballack who could have made it three but puts his shot a foot wide

76
Goal
 

Nicolas Anelka is presented with a gift as he pounces on a poor Stoke clearance and finishes low under Thomas Sorensen

75

Stoke have another corner which Petr Cech finally takes

73

Jose da Silva Bosingwa is booed after exaggerating an injury following a challenge

72
Substitution
 

Juliano Belletti replaces Didier Drogba in a tactical change for the Blues

70

Ricardo Fuller is playing well but his latest effort is well wide

69

Stoke waste a corner as Tonge's ball in is cleared by the goalscorer Bosingwa

68
Yellow Card
 

Richard Cresswell is booked for a reckless challenge on Florent Malouda

67

Nicolas Anelka has a great chance to double Chelsea's lead from Drogba's pass but his shot goes high into the stand

65
Substitution
 

Michael Tonge is coming on for Liam Lawrence as Tony Pulis tries to shake things up

64

Stoke win a free-kick and Fuller tries to take it quickly but Richard Cresswell has his back to the ball and they give it away

61

Chelsea break quickly but Nicolas Anelka's cross is cut out by Danny Higginbotham

61

Stoke will feel they have a chance from a dead-ball situation as long as it stays 1-0

60

Stoke are trying to build some pressure and win another corner, Salif Diao's header is cleared off the line

57

Chelsea break quickly with Nicolas Anelka and Jose da Silva Bosingwa but Thomas Sorensen deals with the threat

57

Stoke win their second corner and the crowd are on their feet, but Petr Cech comfortably takes the ball

55
Yellow Card
 

Griffin and Malouda are both booked for their tiff

54

Andy Griffin and Florent Malouda have a bit of an argument over the award of a free-kick

53
Substitution
 

Dave Kitson is replaced by Ricardo Fuller for the Potters

51

Michael Ballack runs into the penalty area and shoots but his effort is blocked

49

Danny Higginbotham is receiving treatment after taking a knock making that clearance but looks to be okay

48

Florent Malouda forces a great save from Thomas Sorensen who pushes the ball onto the post and Danny Higginbotham stops Drogba tapping into an empty net

46
Substitution
 

Nicolas Anelka is on for Salomon Kalou who picked up a knock towards the end of the first half

46

Chelsea have started the second half just as they finished the first, Lampard shot flashes past the goal and is deflected behind

Second half
 

The second half is underway as Chelsea look to build on their lead

Half time
 

Chelsea go into the break ahead and Stoke need to change things in the second half if they're to get anything from this game

45

Stoke can't find their way through this Chelsea defence

44

Didier Drogba's free-kick goes well over the bar to the delight of the Stoke fans

42

Thomas Sorensen saves well at the feet of Salomon Kalou but Stoke can't clear their lines and concede another free-kick

41

The goal has knocked the stuffing out of Stoke just as they were starting to get into the game

38
Goal
 

Chelsea's pressure finally tells as Jose da Silva Bosingwa controls the ball on his chest from a fine pass from Frank Lampard and fires past Thomas Sorensen from an acute angle

37

Stoke win their first corner and Sidibe forces a save from Cech

36

Stoke have weathered Chelsea's pressure and are now starting to put a few passes together

34

Lampard's effort from the edge of the area is blocked by Stoke and then Drogba overruns the ball

33

Frank Lampard goes for goal from a long way out from another free-kick but sends the ball a yard over the bar

31

Stoke waste a good chance from a free-kick and Petr Cech has not really been troubled

28

Abdoulaye Faye is receiving treatment for an injury so Stoke can take a breather

27

The corner ends up in Thomas Sorensen's grateful hands

26

Amady Faye concedes a corner as he heads Frank Lampard's free-kick behind, just in front of Alex

24

Another cheer as Florent Malouda's pass bounces off Didier Drogba's shin and into touch

21

A huge cheer goes up as Michael Ballack tries to find Ashley Cole but his pass is way behind his team-mate and Stoke have the throw-in

20

Mamady Sidibe and Dave Kitson exchange passes but the return is too far ahead of Kitson and Chelsea clear

19

Liam Lawrence is blocked by Ashley Cole and Stoke have a free-kick, which is taken quickly but Chelsea clear

16

Stoke are second to every ball at the moment

14

Frank Lampard sends a brilliant ball to Didier Drogba who then tries to flick the ball over Thomas Sorensen but the Stoke keeper reacts quickly

12

Stoke clear from the corner but only to Ashley Cole, who shoots well wide

11

Michael Ballack's effort is deflected wide and Chelsea have a corner

10

Salif Diao is struggling to contain Frank Lampard in midfield and concedes a free-kick in a dangerous position

8

Chelsea are playing the better of the two and Thomas Sorensen makes a good save from a header from Michael Ballack, Didier Drogba was hovering nearby

6

Stoke are having to do without the long throw of Rory Delap today as he is out with an injury

4

It's a bit scrappy so far as the teams are feeling each other out

2

Petr Cech is forced into some early action as he retrieves the ball almost at the feet of Liam Lawrence

1
Kickoff
 

The match is underway and the crowd are in full voice

Awaiting Kickoff
 

It's a beautiful day for football as Stoke prepare to take on Chelsea at the Britannia Stadium