Horror Show as Chelsea Lose Two Goal Lead
By BlueBlood
November 23 2004
I can see why JM hates International breaks. For the third time this season after International matches, Chelsea fail to register a win and Bolton take a share of the spoils.
If there is any consolation after today's draw with Bolton, Chelsea are still top of the league and two points clear of 'The Arse.' In reality Chelsea should be four points clear of 'The Arse' and six points clear of third place EverScouse. But tonight as Chelsea remain at the helm even this obvious fact does not begin to describe the deflation and concern about the team after they had thrown away a two goal lead. Having said that one defeat in 20 games in all competitions, a defence so tight as scrooges wallet, until today for me and I know of a few others set the alarm bells ringing. The preview I wrote yesterday didn't really describe the nervousness that I was feeling, which was made worse this morning, matchday morning. This game made me nervous. You know what Bolton are about. You know that they had already taken points off 'The Arse', Man Ure, Newcastle etc. Why not take points of of us too. Negative thinking you might say. No is my answer, just being realistic. Bolton are no mugs. SA the manager is no fool either. You know what type of game plan he was setting out from the morning papers, atlhough he didn't line his penalty box up with a Red London Bus. In fact completely the opposite. I actually think Bolton's tactics took Chelsea completely by surprise. With the way the day panned out. Nightmare journey to the ground. Thirty minute delay to the kick-off. These events alone set those pessimistic alarm bells ringing. But believe it or not, 36 seconds into the game thanks to the Duffman Chelsea were 1-0 up. Chelsea didn't play particularly well. Come to think of it I have to admit it really wasn't a good game, however two minutes in the second half Tiago scored from a sweet interchange of passes from Robben and Duff from a corner ending with a flick from Tiago into Jussi's right hand side of the net. 2-0 all said and done and wrapped up. At 2-0 up you aint gonna worry anymore whether or not it is a good game. All you start to think about is consolidation at the top of the Premiership. Even when Bolton pulled the game back to 2-1, news started to spread around the Bridge that WBA had scored at 'The Arse' which obviously had to have got the players attention and even more so when the final score came through. By this time the atmosphere at The Bridge had hit a high crescendo of noise and excitement. But it must of got too much because with less than three minutes to go, the player I had warned about yesterday, Jaidi, popped up unmarked to score an equaliser that was met with the kind of mad celebrations that Chelsea had been involved in about eighty eight minuted before. Mad, mad. Had Eidersson's terrific shot gone in at 2-1 instead of hitting the bar, we would all be singing, dancing, drinking and dreaming deeper tonight of the title coming to Stamford Bridge (where it belongs) but as it stands at the moment we have to wait a week to see how and if Chelsea can find the Premiership BOUNCEBACKABILITY at another of our recent 'bogey' clubs, Charlton at The Valley.