40 AND OUT
By 40 Years A Blue
November 7 2005
Well. It has finally happened. Like Man Utd beat Arsenal to end their unbeaten run, Man Utd did it to Chelsea who went into the clash looking for their 41st unbeaten Premiership League game. Alas its 40 and OUT.
As a Chelsea fan, I didn't enjoy the game one bit and that is the truth. As Man Utd fans celebrated into the wee hours of the night I can emphaise with them. Nice one, well done and all that. But like 54 weeks or so ago when Chelsea lost their first League game under the tenureship of Jose Mourinho against the blue half of Manchester, City - after yesterday I have to ask the same question. How in the hell did Chelsea lose yesterday? Taking nothing away from United and it does pains me to say, but once JM bought on Gudjohnsen, there was only likely to be one winner and that wasn't United to be fair. For thrity-five minutes of that second-half, Chelsea battered at the United defence. Chelsea pillaged and tore away in search of goals that would have seen them regain their nine-point lead over their nearest challengers, Wigan Athletic. Wigan, not Arsenal, not Man Utd but little Wigan Athletic who are still there, doing their town proud and the millionaire owner Dave Whelan. But it wasn't to be. Despite the efforts of Drogba, Duff (who must be embarrased at seeing the air-kick again and again and again, when it looked so much easier to score) Lampard and the heroics of Van Dar Sar, Chelsea were denied and credit must be given to a resolute Utd defence who held out in 100% defiance. Credit must be given to Alan Smith. The major wrath of Man U's skipper Keane's tongue won him the Man of the Match award. Having boasted of the chances that Chelsea wasted, had Nistlerooy's second-half effort gone in instead of over the bar from about eight yards, there would certainly be a different complexion on this article. The winner came from Darren Fletcher, making his 50th appearance who looped a diagonal header back across the goal from a Ronaldo cross, under the despairing efforts of Captain John Terry before the ball just crossed the line inside the far post. This game was certainly for the rest of Premiership. I have been known say in the past ie the bad old days - DOES ANYBODY KNOW CHELSEA'S REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER? and I have moaned in the past about the International breaks for which we are heading for another one. After the week that Chelsea have had. I think I am quite glad that there is a break. GLORIOUS UNPREDICTABILITY 40 YEARS A BLUE!!