No Contest - An Easy Chelsea Stroll

By a strange quirk of fate I happened to look up at the scoreboard clock at The Shed End of the ground and it showed 5mins and 22secs played. From that moment Portsmouth were not at the races. Why? I don't know. As I say a strange quirk of fate. Within the next thirty-four minutes - bang, bang and bang again, Chelsea were 3-0 up and looking so comfortable and formidable, the hordes of Pompey faithful must have had their calculators in hand to keep a note of the score.

Mike Riley was again the man in charge. I have in the past criticised this man's performances in previous Chelsea games but I have to admit that it was Riley's advantage decision that led to Chelsea's first goal.

Arjen Robben, who was described this week by Damien Duff as being the catalyst of Chelsea's success, tore down the Chelsea right before cutting in behind the Portsmouth defence. At this point the Assistant Referee flagged for a foul, but Riley let the play flow, Robben crossed the ball low, for Didier Drogba to side foot into the Pompey net after fifteen minutes. The TV replays suggest that the Assistant Referee perhaps made a mistake as there didn't appear to have been a foul committed on Robben. Thank you Mike RIley for allowing play to continue.

From this moment on Chelsea dominated. Sweet passing, Duff and Robben interchanging on each wing. Lampard cruising through midfield and Makelele majestic in front of John Terry and co.

It wasn't long after that Makelele began the move that lead to Chelsea's second goal. A goal of one touch, one pass precision. Beginning with Makelele forwarding a pass to Drogba who in turn spotted Lampard's surging run towards the Pompey penalty area, slid the ball through only for Lampard to caress the ball onto Robben straight into the penalty area. Robben had to control the ball on his left foot, fortunately as Robben tried to remain balanced the ball skipped up, hit Ashdown on the body as he dived to smother, the ball rebounded back to Robben who this time on his right foot, steered the ball into the net. 2-0. 2-0 up after nineteen minutes. The game as a competition was over.

Shortly before Chelsea's third, Yakubu had a clear cut opportunity to reduce the arrears and the possibility of changing the way the game was being played. Taking advantage of some messy Chelsea defensive play, Yakubu found himself clear on goal leaving Super JT and co in his wake. One on one the Cech, Yakubu saw his hard shot go past the far post. Surely it would have been easier to score. Within minutes of that miss, Robben again on Chelsea's right cut inside the Portsmouth rearguard before being cruelly bounced of the ball just outside the Pompey area. Up stepped Didier Drogba who curled a wonderful free-kick past the wall and a diving but helpless Ashdown in the Portsmouth goal, six minutes before half-time.

The second half was a half that just had to be played out. It was a question of how Chelsea would perform. Go for the absolute slaughter, or stick at 3-0 and start thinking of the impending Carling Cup Semi-Final. It was the latter, but it gave JM a chance to make three substitutions. Tiago, Kezman and Eider replacing Robben, Duff and Drogba. There were a few chances that had they gone in, the score would not have flattered Chelsea, due to their complete dominance over a period of eighty-five minutes.

It is going to take a monumental Chelsea collapse for the Premiership title not to be going to Stamford Bridge during the month of May. On this form and if other results go Chelsea's way, the title could arrive as early as April.

GLORIOUS UNPREDICTABILITY

v Man Utd (L) W1-0

v Birmingham (L) W1-0

v C Palace (L) W2-0

v Southampton (L) W2-1

v Aston Villa (L) D0-0

v PSG (CL) W3-0

v Spurs (L) D0-0

v Middlesbrough (L) W1-0

v Porto (CL) W3-1

v Liverpool (L) W1-0

v Man City (L) L0-1

v CSKA Moscow (CL) W2-0

v Blackburn Rovers (L) W4-0

v West Ham Utd (CC) W1-0

v WBA (L) W4-1

v CSKA Moscow (CL) W1-0

v Everton (L) W1-0

v Newcastle Utd (CC) W2-0

v Fulham (L) W4-1

v Bolton (L) D2-2

v PSG (CL) D0-0

v Charlton Athletic (L) W4-0

v Fulham (CC) W2-1

v Newcastle Utd (L) W4-0

v Porto (CL) L1-2

v Arsenal (L) D2-2

v Norwich City (L) W4-0

v Aston Villa (L) W1-0

v Portsmouth (L) W2-0

v Liverpool (L) W1-0

v Middlesbrough (L) W2-0

v Scunthorpe Utd (FAC) W3-1

v Man Utd (CC) D0-0

v Tottenham Hotspur (L) W2-0

v Portsmouth (L) W3-0