SOCCER FA PREMIER LEAGUE - Chelsea 1 Wigan 1:IT HAD been billed as the archetypal home banker. Chelsea's trip to Everton on Thursday night would see their every sinew stretched ahead of the mouthwatering showdown against Manchester United on Saturday week, but lowly Wigan Athletic?
Well Chelsea were brought to their knees by a stunning injury-time volley from Emile Heskey. The striker made the sweetest of connections with the substitute Jason Koumas's cross from the left to spark delirium on the visiting bench and nothing short of horror from those in blue. Avram Grant was jeered with chants of "you don't know what you're doing" as Chelsea's title chances received a potentially fatal blow.
Chelsea had looked like edging home when Michael Essien, back in his favoured midfield role, strode onto Nicolas Anelka's lay-off 10 minutes into the second half to swell the net with a sweetly-struck drive. Before the game Grant had said five wins from the final five league games of the season would see the Premier League trophy draped in blue and white. He must now hope that four wins will suffice.
Chelsea started brightly and Nicolas Anelka had the opportunity to dispel the nerves of the home support with a headed opportunity after just six minutes. Having stolen a yard from Emmerson Boyce, he rose to meet Salomon Kalou's cross but glanced well wide. Moments later he raced onto Mikel John Obi's through-ball and was only thwarted by Chris Kirkland's bolt from his line.
Chelsea welcomed back Petr Cech, the goalkeeper, ahead of schedule after a horrific facial injury in training nine days ago that required 50 stitches, wearing a protective chin strap to go with his head guard. Grant had lost Frank Lampard before kick-off to a virus, while Didier Drogba, who continues to carry a knee problem, was not risked.
Steve Bruce's selection indicated he had not travelled with the intention merely to frustrate. Although Heskey or Marcus Bent were asked to track to the left flank when Wilson Palacios pressed the ball, Wigan stepped on to the front foot and worried Chelsea. Palacio and Antonio Valencia caught the eye and the latter warmed Cech's palms with a drive during a first-half Wigan purple patch. Terry also needed to throw himself in front of a Paul Scharner shot.
Chelsea probed without result in the first half, the growing unrest at Stamford Bridge illustrated moments before the break when Mikel's back pass to Cech was greeted by boos. There was another round when the half-time whistle went.
Chelsea needed a lift and after even Grant had presumably raised his voice during the half-time team talk, the crowd were delighted to see Joe Cole reappear in place of Florent Maloud.
Wigan remained resolute. Having entered the game five points clear of the relegation zone, they played as if their Premier League lives depended on it. Chelsea, inspired by Cole, increased the pressure. From a Juliano Beletti corner, Terry volleyed against the crossbar; shortly afterwards Kalou was denied at point-blank range by Kirkland.
The breakthrough arrived when Cole's cross was held up by Anelka. His cushioned lay-off invited Essien to strike and the Ghanaian aim was unerring.
Guardian Services
CHELSEA:Cech, Belletti, Alex, Terry, Bridge, Ballack, Essien, Obi (Shevchenko 90), Kalou, Anelka, Malouda (Joe Cole 46). Subs Not Used: Hilario, Pizarro, Wright-Phillips. Goal: Essien 55.
WIGAN:Kirkland, Melchiot, Scharner, Boyce, Kilbane, Valencia,Skoko (Koumas 56), Palacios, Taylor (King 79), Heskey, Bent (Sibierski 64).Subs Not Used: Pollitt, Brown. Booked: Koumas, Valencia. Goals: Heskey 90.
Referee:Andre Marriner (W Midlands).
