Relishing a proper Bridge bashing

THERE have been a few games where I could claim Chelsea could have scored seven or eight, but not one where we can say we could have had 15 or more – and still be on the conservative side.

The game against Sunderland was indeed such a match. It was so refreshing to see us take the initiative so early and then put a team to the sword – a fact not lost on the DJ at the Bridge who played La Roux’s “In for the kill” at the final whistle. More expansive formation, more goals – it’s not rocket science, is it?

Sunderland are habitually poor performers at Stamford Bridge, and their defence was enough to make a seasoned ex-defender like Steve Bruce consider bringing himself on, but the football we played was breathtaking.

Ashley Cole’s goal was sublime, and invited comparisons with Lionel Messi; Belletti’s reading of the game was spot on; Malouda’s fabulous talent was in evidence again while Anelka was magnificent. If he doesn’t win player of the season this year, then we simply do not deserve him!

It seems the anguished cries of “who will score the goals when the African Cup of Nations is on” have ceased for the moment, 12 goals in two games isn’t a bad return. I think these last few weeks have been as much of an education for Ancelotti as it has the team. A man historically not open to different ways of playing has embraced the 4-3-3 and is seeing the quality of the squad he has to work with. I just wish he’d worked this out sooner.

It would be good to be top of the league and cruising when we face Mourinho in Europe. I think his influence was so Svengali-like that some players may not believe they can win the league without him. Rubbish. He no doubt aided them to unearth their true potential, but they should be now taking that on, no matter who is in charge.

The Chelsea team are talented enough to win this league, but I do wonder about their psychological mettle, especially if Arsenal temporarily usurp our position at the top of the table. The two titles we won under Mourinho were done almost at a canter and when the gap opened up between us and the others, we not only maintained it, but extended it. This season we (and United) have allowed Arsenal to get back into the title race and we now need the strength of character to keep them at bay. That means winning our game in hand, our scheduled games and the fabled six-pointer against the Gunners in three weeks.

Arsenal are over-reliant on the fragile Fabregas, whereas Chelsea have proved that we have influential players throughout the team – many of whom are capable of changing a match. The thing about Fabregas (apart from his unquestionable talent) is that he is somewhat of a talisman for Arsenal. When he is fit and plays, it lifts the club – the players, the supporters, the manager even, to believe that they can win. He gives them their mojo.

That said, Fabregas has rarely performed well against Chelsea, and we don’t want that to change now. As good as the result last week was, it will be meaningless if we allow it to herald another bout of complacency (as happened after our emphatic win over Arsenal) and start to drop points.

But in a welcome break from the trials and tribulations of the Premier League, 6,000 Blues head up to Preston on Saturday lunchtime for the FA Cup. Because of allocation restrictions and police interference it is unusual these days to have the opportunity to travel in such numbers so I am looking forward to this. It will be a new ground for me too, as the last time we played there I was only 11 and wasn’t allowed go to away games.

The ground has been largely rebuilt since, so it will be a new experience for most of the travelling support. Also rather than those clubs that bleat about their tradition and history (we all know who I am talking about), I always regard Preston as one of the forebears of the game of today.

Founder members of the football league, with a pedigree of success in early years – influential players and managers at various stages of their careers have graced Deepdale and for me they are one of those clubs that represent the English game at its best. It’s a pity we have to smash them!

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