A Disappointing Display In Sunderland

For the first time this season, Chelsea failed to score, which is regrettable, but on the credit side, Thibaut Courtois and his defence earned their third consecutive clean sheet, which is no mean feat, considering that two of the matches were away from home. A draw at Sunderland is no disgrace, by any means, but with Manchester Mercenaries reducing the gap to six points, then it represents a better weekend for them than for the real Blues.

Chelsea did start where they left off in Germany, but this time there was no early goal which would have opened up the contest. Sunderland instead dug themselves in and defended superbly, denying Chelsea little more than a series of dreadfully impotent long-range shots. Unfortunately, Pantilimon did not have many [or indeed any] difficult shots to negotiate. Stan Collymore [a thoroughly under-rated and astute observer] accused Chelsea of trying to emulate Arsenic by walking the ball into the net. Comparing us avec the tossers of the Emirates is as scornful as it gets!

Meanwhile, I was far from impressed with Mourinho sneering that only one team wanted to win the match. That talk simply won't do. I recall Chelsea painfully doing likewise away to Atletico Madrid and Liverfools last spring. If such backs-to-the-wall performances by Mourinho are hailed as tactical masterstrokes in some quarters, then we have to be adult enough to accept it when others imitate our bus-parking exploits. Besides, it was the team that wasn't trying to win [according to Jose] which almost did precisely that. It was the hosts who carved out the best chances in the second half, as often happens when the team that is soaking up pressure then proceeds to try and land one or two sucker punches. The dastardly Mackems came close to ending Chelsea's unbeaten run. So much for not trying to win. Even Jose's excuse that Sunderland had all week to prepare for the fixture while Chelsea had not does not cut much ice with me [nor anyone]. The Blues have a big enough squad to rotate it and bring in fresh reinforcements against mediocrities like Sunderland. Even Jose took his time about bringing on substitutes. An Alex Ferguson would have whipped Costa off in double quick time before he got himself sent off. Quite frankly, he should have been red-carded, and as often happens in soccer, he will some day get his marching orders for lesser antics. It's funny how things even themselves out in perverse ways.

Still, Chelsea are now unbeaten after twenty matches. The autumn is over and let's see if the table-toppers can be the winter champions too. It would be nice to get back to winning ways against Tottensham who predictably are talking themselves up and speaking of a new dawn. When will those deluded folk ever learn? Let's remind the mighty Spurs just who is mighty. Let's also hope that Manchester Wannabes impersonate Chelsea and misfire at Sunderland, though somehow I doubt it.

Sunderland 0 CHELSEA 0; half time: 0-0. Saturday 29th November 2014.

CHELSEA team: Courtois, Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta, Matic, Fabregas, Hazard, Oscar, Willian, Costa. Used substitutes: Drogba, Remy, Schurrle.

CHELSEA LEADING SCORERS:

Costa - 11 goals

Hazard - 6 goals

Drogba and Oscar - 4 goals

Matic - 3 goals

Fabregas, Ivanovic, Ramires, Remy, Schurrle, and Willian - 2 goals