ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: Sunderland 1 Chelsea 3:FOR THE second time in four days Chelsea lulled opponents into a false sense of security, imbuing them with real optimism before delighting at their eventual undoing.
As against Hull City at Stamford Bridge last Saturday, Carlo Ancelotti’s side fell behind fairly early on Wearside, huffed and puffed for a bit and then, belatedly, reminded everyone why they are widely tipped to win the Premier League.
Steve Bruce, in charge of his first competitive game at the Stadium of Light, had cautioned that Sunderland faced an “ultimate test”. He was not wrong. Bruce should take considerable heart from a resolute first-half display which suggested Sunderland will not be the soft touches they have so often proved in the past.
When Fabio Capello was spotted in the directors’ box, a Chelsea fan quipped “he must be here to watch Darren Bent”. Such sarcasm caught in visiting throats in the 18th minute when the former Tottenham striker scored his second goal in as many games for Sunderland.
Bent also had a hand in its creation, whipping in a cross which Lorik Cana flicked in Kenwyne Jones’s direction. Although boxed in by Branislav Ivanovic and John Terry, the Trinidadian managed to turn and take a swipe at the ball, this effort deflecting off Terry’s heel. Alert to the ricochet, Bent surged in front of his marker before directing his goal-bound shot beneath Petr Cech.
Bruce has made much of the Wearsiders reinforced spine this summer but, apart from the newfound physical strength down their centre, his charges were showing off the sort of mental backbone all too often missing in recent times.
Similarly Deco, an arguably controversial starter at the apex of a visiting diamond with Michael Essien at its base, did not enjoy being constantly closed down so assiduously by Cana and company.
Eyebrows were similarly raised at Ancelotti’s decision to leave Nicolas Anelka on the bench in order to start Salomon Kalou alongside Didier Drogba.
Ancelotti’s English may still leave something to be desired but he has clearly mastered sufficient to deliver a half-time ticking off and it was a newly galvanised Chelsea which re-emerged for the second period.
Perhaps inspired by the chants for Anelka as the French striker began warming up, Drogba finally started putting himself about and went mighty close with a header shortly after Ivanovic had nearly eluded Marton Fulop from Frank Lampard’s cross.
Finally fully under the cosh, Sunderland had Jordan Henderson to thank for bravely nicking the ball away from Ashley Cole just as the left-back looked poised to level.
By now though an equaliser was in the air. It arrived when Ivanovic flicked on a Lampard corner and Michael Ballack, swivelling adroitly as the ball dropped, beat Fulop with a low shot which passed between the legs of Lee Cattermole.
Suddenly Sunderland were struggling to get out of their half and looking increasingly dizzy and disorientated. George McCartney conceded a penalty after fouling Drogba. Lampard made no mistake from 12 yards and a hint of a smile began playing at the corners of Ancelotti’s mouth.
Bruce withdrew the hitherto dominant but now apparently exhausted Jones and Cattermole, sending Fraizer Campbell and Grant Leadbitter on in their stead.
It made little immediate difference, Drogba heading over from close range before Deco – how did we doubt Ancelotti’s selection? – shrugged off Leadbitter and sent a shot curving in off a post.
GuardianService
SUNDERLAND: Fulop, Bardsley, Ferdinand, Collins, McCartney, Henderson, Cattermole (Leadbitter 62), Cana, Richardson (Reid 84), Jones (Campbell 62), Bent. Subs Not Used: Gordon, Nosworthy, Edwards, Healy. Booked: Richardson, Cana. Goals: Bent 18.
CHELSEA: Cech, Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, Ashley Cole, Essien, Ballack, Lampard, Kalou (Malouda 76), Drogba (Sturridge 84), Deco (Shevchenko 86). Subs Not Used: Hilario, Carvalho, Mikel, Anelka. Booked: Ivanovic, Drogba. Goals: Ballack 52, Lampard 61 pen, Deco 70.
Referee: Steve Bennett (Kent).
