Another Away Day Success

After coming unstuck in mad March with away defeats to mediocre Aston Villa and Crystal Palace, Chelsea bounced back with three straight wins on the road at Swansea, Liverpool, and finally Cardiff, not to mention a commendable 0-0 draw at Atletico Madrid. Ultimately, it was failings at home to lowly Sunderland and Norwich City which depressingly ruined Chelsea's hopes of winning the Premiership.

Anyhow, it was good to see the team eventually stagger to a season's total of one hundred goals, which only arrived with the winner from the much-maligned Fernando Torres. This is actually the third consecutive year that Chelsea have bowed out of their Premiership campaign with a two-one win, and Torres scored in the final fixture last year too. Furthermore, it was good to see the apparently departing Ashley Cole appointed as captain for the day in his last outing for the Blues. In fact, the legendary left back was the only English starter in the visitors' team. Meanwhile, Tomas Kalas was deservedly upgraded to a first-team start, and again the young Czech prodigy has proven himself to be a good luck charm. Of course, the away team reminded us all of their struggles in the final third of the field (and indeed the final third of the season) as they did their very best to maintain Cardiff's early lead by failing for almost an hour to record an equaliser. Then, lo and behold, two goals come in quick succession, much like London buses. Ah yes, it's almost impossible to compile a Chelsea match report without mentioning those public transport vehicles.

Jose  Mourinho might be able to skilfully manoeuvre his way out of a season of no silverware by turfing out the 'spin' that the squad is experiencing an "evolution". Well, knowing Mr Abramovich as I do, the impatient Russian will be demanding revolution, and not evolution, next season. I cannot envisage Mr Mourinho being able to explain his way out of a second successive trophy-less season.

CHELSEA'S LEADING SCORERS:

Hazard 17

Eto'o 12

Oscar and Torres 11

Schurrle 9

Demba Ba and Lampard 8

Ramires and Willian 4

Ivanovic 3

CHELSEA'S LEADING PREMIERSHIP SCORERS:

Hazard 14

Eto'o 9

Oscar and Schurrle 8

Lampard 6

Demba Ba and Torres 5

Willian 4

Ivanovic 3