Cech hits back at Blues boo-boys

PETR CECH has hit back at a section of Chelsea supporters who turned on their team during Saturday’s frenetic meeting with Everton.

The Czech Republic international is normally one of the Premier League’s more sanguine souls but he could not contain his irritation after his team’s 3-3 draw with the Merseysiders, a game which saw the home defence exposed on several occasions.

A group of fans targeted Cech and the midfielder John Obi Mikel, who was ironically cheered when he was substituted in the second half, but the goalkeeper insisted the criticism was grossly unfair.

“I was surprised at the reaction of the fans because this was the first draw at home this season,” he said. “If you look at the games we played here in the cups, in the Champions League, in the Premier League, we’ve had clean sheets, all with a lot of goals.

“We have beaten Liverpool here, we have beaten Manchester United here, Tottenham when they were second, we beat them all. So I was really surprised to hear the boos from the fans.”

Cech has looked unusually shaky this season, particularly from set-pieces, but the 27-year-old maintains neither his nor the team’s self-belief has been dented and believes Chelsea will prove as much in Wednesday’s encounter with Portsmouth.

“The confidence has not been affected,” he added. “When you concede one goal at home, it would be really strange if you lose your confidence. We just have to make sure on Wednesday we get back to having a clean sheet and getting three points.”