Anelka’s class shows as Blues end Preston dreams
Fortunately for the Chelsea manager, his players did make an appearance at Deepdale and, as a result, are much closer to Wembley and a third FA Cup final triumph in four seasons.
On a misty Lancashire lunchtime and facing an opposing manager called Ferguson, the cup holders had every right to feel apprehensive, particularly after surrendering their 12-week reign at the top of the Premier League to Arsenal three days before the tie.
Yet Chelsea remain confident their own special weapon can fire them to a league and cup double. Nicolas Anelka’s opening goal provided the platform for his club to saunter into the last 16 of the competition despite leaving out half a dozen players who had demolished Sunderland the previous week.
That took the French forward’s tally to 11, still 14 short of last season’s total.
And while Anelka still trails Wayne Rooney and even Fernando Torres, Liverpool’s injury-prone forward, in the scoring charts, Chelsea’s followers have good reason to believe he can help deliver the silverware they crave this season.
His goal at Deepdale means he has scored in four successive matches, a first in Anelka’s two-year Stamford Bridge career. And it left Chelsea players and management singing his praises.
“I think he’s maybe our best player at the minute,” said Deco, after the Portuguese midfielder’s first appearance for a month ended in success.
“He has so much quality and experience as well of this kind of game. Every time he got the ball, he knew when to go and when to hold it up. He was fantastic.”
Assistant manager Ray Wilkins, doing media duty for Ancelotti, went one step further.
“Nicolas is as good as any centre forward in England at the moment,” he said. “Nicolas is playing some of the best football of his career. He’s always been a wonderful footballer, but he’s added more to his game. He’s in training every day, he works his socks off and he’s just a world class footballer.
“I think deep down, to his peers, they rate Nico extremely highly. That’s the important bit. If your peers are rating you extremely highly.”
Preston, 17th in the Championship, worked hard for Darren Ferguson, their new manager. But having denied his father, Alex, the Community Shield back in August before taking three points off Manchester United in November, Ancelotti ruined Fergie Jnr’s first home game in charge.
It might have been different had Darren Carter not produced one of the misses of the season from three yards. Had he scored Preston would have gone in 1-1 at half time.
Any encouragement the home team and a capacity crowd could derive from a near-miss was squashed within two minutes of the restart as Chelsea killed the tie, Daniel Sturridge pouncing from close range.
“I thought we gave Chelsea a game,” said Ferguson. “They’re a fantastic team with world-class players. Our players took confidence from the first half but two minutes later the place is deflated.”
And Ferguson is facing a battle to keep his better players. Republic of Ireland defender Sean St Ledger, who was one of Preston’s best players against Chelsea, is wanted by Celtic but Ferguson will not allow the Ireland defender to go cheaply.
“I’ve known Shaun for a while and we’ve had a couple of conversations since I arrived,” added Ferguson. “He is perfectly happy here and I definitely want to keep him.
“He is one of the best defenders in the league. I’ve no doubt he can play at a higher level. Celtic have shown interest, but they’ve got no chance with what they’re offering and I don’t want to lose him.”
REFEREE: Mike Dean (Wirral) 5: Wrong to disallow Malouda’s goal after Lampard had been fouled. Chelsea should have had the advantage but Dean thought otherwise.
MATCH RATING: *** Routine win for Blues. May’ve been different if Carter scored.
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