Terry happy with scrappy victory

CHELSEA captain John Terry was content with his team’s fighting display against Apoel Nicosia in the Champions League last night.

The Blues were far from their best in the workmanlike defeat of their Cypriot Group D opponents, but coming on the back of a ragged display in defeat against Wigan, Terry was satisfied after Nicolas Anelka secured victory with the game’s only goal.

“It’s a very difficult place to come in, we see it year in, year out in the Champions League, the teams getting better,” Terry said.

“At times we were a little slow in tempo but we’ve responded with a win and that’s all we ask.

“You can’t afford not to believe in yourself and your team-mates. We’ve responded to Wigan well but you don’t get too much time to think about it.

“Three points puts us top of the group and it’s six points from two games which is a very good start.”

He added: “Ideally, you want to play well; we didn’t play at our best tonight but we have come away with a win.”

Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti said: “I don’t want to find an excuse but the pitch was not good, that is an objective thing.

“The match was difficult for us but we came away with a win.”

Despite a bright opening, Apoel created little to concern the English side who began to take control of the midfield.

Chelsea’s first real opportunity arrived in the ninth minute when Michael Essien sent a 20-yard drive wide of the right-hand post.

Frank Lampard should have done better when a mistake by Chrysostomos Michail allowed Chelsea to create an opening on the edge of the penalty area in the 13th minute.

But the England midfielder’s effort ran tamely wide from 20 yards while Salomon Kalou also wasted an opportunity when the ball fell to him inside the penalty area.

Chelsea went ahead in the 18th minute though when Juliano Belletti made a fine run down the right flank before pulling the ball back superbly for Anelka to send a curling drive into the roof of the net.

Anelka’s fourth goal of the season was his second in this Champions League campaign, the France international having scored the only goal of their opening round victory over Porto at Stamford Bridge.

There was little guile in Apoel’s attacks and consequently they had no cohesion about their play.

The home side gave the ball away far too cheaply but Chelsea failed to make the most of their possession. Ancelotti was clearly unhappy, although a sublime reverse pass in the 41st minute by Lampard almost conjured a second for the Blues.

However, Ashley Cole’s cross was cleared by the home defence before Anelka had chance to pounce.

Chelsea were guilty of giving the ball away cheaply at the start of the second-half but Apoel were unable to make the Blues pay.

Apoel had more of the possession but despite some neat approach play from Apoel, the final ball let them down time and again.

In the 64th minute Chelsea had Petr Cech to thank for preserving their lead when he saved superbly from Savvas Poursaitides.

The Apoel midfielder surged into the area after Florent Malouda’s attempted headed clearance had fallen into his path and Cech had to save with his feet to prevent the home side scoring a shock equaliser.

Apoel were now testing the Blues and Cole had to clear a dangerous cross as the home side increased the pressure.

Joe Cole was introduced with 10 minutes remaining as a replacement for Kalou. Constantinos Charalambides almost shocked Chelsea with an equaliser in the 85th minute but he headed wide at the far post.

But Chelsea held on to record a second success that keeps them top.Subs for Apoel Nicosia: Kosowski for Alexandrou 58, Breska for Michael 80, Paulista for Charalambidis 85. Subs for Chelsea: Deco for Belletti 68, J Cole for Kalou 80.