Ominous Chelsea silence doubters

AVRAM GRANT is allowing his Chelsea team to do all the talking for him as they continue to strut the Premier League stage like potential champions.

While Jose Mourinho often provided great entertainment in his post-match ramblings, Grant is like his Chelsea side — direct and no-nonsense.

Game number 10 in the post-Mourinho era saw Chelsea move to within three points of the summit after a fourth successive clean sheet victory in the league.

Grant cleverly deflected questions about his side’s title potential, although he did raise concerns about the loss of Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou, Michael Essien and John Obi Mikel during the African Cup of Nations in January and February.

“We are developing our game all the time and we have a style of our own. It was never going to happen in one day but, in the last few games, we have played in the style we want,” said Grant.

“People keep asking me about Arsenal and Manchester United. But we have our own style. It may not be like theirs, but we still play positive football. And we have a very good team.

“This club was in a very difficult situation and I don’t think any other team could have turned it around the way we have. We have showed character and strength, played good football and come right back into the race.

“We’ll be missing four players for the African Cup of Nations, Kalou, Essien, Drogba and Obi Mikel and I don’t understand why the tournament is played in the middle of the European leagues and not in the summer. But there’s nothing we can do about it.”

The Chelsea manager saw his side move three points behind the leaders as they took full advantage of the lunchtime draw between Arsenal and Manchester United.

Wigan had spent the week carefully plotting how to stop Frank Lampard from dictating play yet their plans were in ruins inside the opening 20 minutes. Lampard opened the scoring before Juliano Belletti killed the game off as a contest with a wonder goal.

Belletti was impressive but the Brazilian full-back was outshone by Shaun Wright-Phillips who took full advantage of his first league start under Grant to show that he is worthy of a starting place in England’s crucial Euro 2008 qualifier with Croatia later this month.

Chris Hutchings saw his Wigan side battle in the second half but their poor start sentenced them to a sixth straight league defeat.

Wigan have dropped into the bottom three and their next two games are away to Tottenham and Arsenal.

“There could be quite a few managers under pressure,” said Hutchings.

“I have got belief in the players and confidence in the players, that when everyone is fit, I’m sure we’ll move up the table.

“We’ve got to be a strong group mentally and come through it. It’s a great challenge.

“It’s not where you stand in times of comfort, it’s where you stand in times of challenge. And this is a challenge for us now to get through these next few games.”

WIGAN ATHLETIC (4-4-2): Kirkland 6, Melchiot 6, Granqvist 5, Bramble 6, Kilbane 4, Valencia 5, Brown 5 (Skoko, 85, 3), Scharner 5, Landzaat 5 (Sibierski, 82, 3), Koumas 5, Bent 5.

Subs Not Used: Pollitt, Aghahowa, Boyce.

CHELSEA (4-4-2): Cech 7, Belletti 8, Alex 7, Carvalho 7, Bridge 7, Obi 7, Essien 7 (Sidwell, 76, 5), Lampard 7, Wright-Phillips 9, Drogba 7 (Kalou, 75, 5), Malouda 7.

Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Shevchenko, Ben-Haim.

REFEREE: Steve Bennett (Kent) 6 Found himself surrounded by furious Wigan players after turning down penalty claims in the first half but television replays showed he was right.

MATCH RATING: *** At times this match resembled a testimonial as Chelsea dominated from the moment they went ahead. Great entertainment for the 2,000 visiting fans. Not for the home support though.