Curse at Stamford Bridge?
Goals Drying Up?
By Since66
January 20 2009
Rory Delap's goal at Stamford Bridge on Saturday was the first goal scored at the Matthew Harding End this season by a visiting player. Can you remember the last Chelsea player to score a League goal at the Matthew Harding End this season? Answer: Nicolas Anelka, his third goal and Chelsea's 5th in the 5-0 demolition of Sunderland on Saturday 1st November 2008.
Can you remember the last goal in any competition to be scored by a Chelsea player at the Matthew Harding End this season? Answer: Didier Drogba against Cluj in the Champions League on Tuesday 9th December 2008.
It seems inconceivable that the Matthew Harding End which use to be a hotbed of goals has had its goal supply almost dried up.
Back in August I wrote a report after the Tottenham game, which ended in a 1-1 draw, and jokingly said that the reason why Chelsea did not win the game is because Tottenham made us attack in the Matthew Harding End in the first half.
We equalised at the Matthew Harding End from Juliano Belletti and I got slated for even suggesting such a situation.
Since that day I have been following closely the amount of goals that Chelsea have scored in ALL competitions at the Matthew Harding End and the total is a STAGGERINGLY LOW 6 goals in 14 games.
During Chelsea's 86 match unbeaten run in the League, you were guaranteed that at kick-off time, Chelsea would attack The Shed End in the first-half and then attack the Matthew Harding End in the second-half.
Tottenham were one of the first clubs to cotton on to the fact that Chelsea were a powerful force attacking the Matthew Harding End in the 2nd half and let's be fair, the Matthew Harding End does house the singers who create the Stamford Bridge atmosphere.
This season however a lot more teams have come to Stamford Bridge and won the right to turn Chelsea around to attack the Matthew Harding Stand in the first half.
After Tottenham and the 1-1 draw, Man Utd did it and we drew 1-1 both goals were scored at the Shed End.
We beat Aston Villa 2-0 and we attacked the MH Stand in the 2nd half, but both goals were scored in the first-half at The Shed End.
Liverpool became the next team to 'turn us around' and they won 1-0 and their goal was scored at The Shed End in the first-half.
Sunderland played ball and we scored three times at the Shed End in the first-half and two at the MH End in the second-half. Burnley 'turned us around in the Carling Cup.'
They scored at The Shed End and we equalised through Didier at The Shed End in the second-half.
Newcastle United became the next team to make us attack the Matthew Harding End in the first-half. The game ending in 0-0 draw.
Against Arsenal, despite attacking the Matthew Harding End in the 2nd half, Arsenal scored two second-half goals and won the game 2-1 after Chelsea scored at The Shed End in the first-half.
Against Cluj in the Champions League, we got the second goal in the 2-1 win at the Matthew Harding End in the second-half. West Ham, both goals came at the Shed End and West Ham won the toss.
WBA came to the Bridge on Boxing Day and parity was restored or so we thought. 2-0 up at half-time after attacking and scoring at The Shed End, goals were bound to come at the Matthew Harding End in the second-half.
No it wasn't to be.
Next up were Southend in the FA Cup. Even 'The Shrimpers,' had the gall to turn us around at kick-off time, making us attack The Shed End and thats the end where Kalou scored and we all know what happened in the 90th minute, don't we?
That brings this article right up to date to the Stoke game last Saturday.
Again we were 'forced' to attack the Matthew Harding End in the first-half and the rest they say is history.
All the critics say that Chelsea aren't the force they were once at home - maybe its true and could one of the reasons be psychological (dare I say it) when teams win the toss-up and take us out of our comfort zone?
Attacking the Matthew Harding End in the second-half is our comfort zone, our powerhouse, but it is not happening at all this season as it used to happen each season for the last four or five seasons and although this article has been written tongue-in-cheek, superstitious as I am, I cannot help thinking that the Matthew Harding End is becoming cursed.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
SIX goals in the last fourteen games - frightening!!!
That formed part of our once inpenetrable fortress.
Don't Gamble, Bet Risk Free
What´s the betting that the NEXT player to score in the MH End is Drogba? It´s written in the stars I tell thee!
.
"It is born out of hypocrisy and fundamental insecurity. There have been two kids on the block for the past 12 years. Suddenly, there is a third and that one is threatening to be more successful than the others and they don’t like it." P Kenyon.
you still me fav pops(Sm127)