still singing the blues

it was an early scare for the London side, but the result was as expected. the blues go marching on. Chelsea extend their lead at the top of the table with a convincing 4-1 win at the bridge. The visitors opened the scoring against the run of play through Grant Holt but couldn't hold their lead for long as the home side equalized minutes later through a Fernando Torres’ header, before the hosts quickly ran off with the game with Frank Lampard and Eden Hazard getting on the score sheet before half-time.

Chelsea duo Ashley Cole and John Terry started the game, as Roberto Di Matteo made just three changes from his side’s midweek Champions League win over Nordsjaelland. Meanwhile, after seeing his Norwich side beaten 5-2 in their last Premier League outing, Chris Hughton logically made five changes, including handing Alexander Tettey his first taste of premier league football.

Given their last game ended in a 4-0 win, it was no surprise to see Chelsea begin the encounter stroking the ball around a bemused Norwich side. the home side almost got their reward for their early domination but saw Torres stall after beating the offside trap, allowing Leon Barnett back in to snuff out the danger.

That incident seemed to give Norwich some belief, as the Canaries went up the other end and grabbed the first goal just 11 minutes into the match. Wes Hoolahan floated the ball into the far post and found Barnett, who had remained forward from a set-piece, and the defender coolly nodded down for Holt to apply the finishing touch to the ball.

 the Blues wasted little time in netting the equalizer as Just four minutes later, an inventive Juan Mata back heel allowed Ivanovic to cross from the right and Torres made no mistake this time, heading into the corner after getting a run on Barnett.

The visible drop in Norwich’s confidence proved that it would not take long for the league leaders to get another chance, and so it proved as Lampard doubled his side’s lead in the 22nd minute. Torres saw his athletic bicycle kick attempt parried by Russell Martin but the ball fell straight to the midfielder, who smashed home from his usual position on the edge of the box.

The visitors  attempted to crawl their way back into the game but saw their opponents show their superiority  just seconds after defending a corner at the other end. The Blues cleared their lines as far as Mata, who charged up the pitch before sliding the ball into Hazard for the Belgian to place the ball past John Ruddy.

 Di Matteo’s  out for the second period in similar mood, and got rewarded for their patience with 15 minutes remaining as Mata brilliantly controlled an over-hit cross in the box, setting up Ivanovic to strike first-time beyond the Norwich keeper.

from then on, it was exhibition football from the hosts as they continuously proving their worth as they sit at the summit of the league.

till next time.............