Blues lurch from bad to worse

EVEN Carlo Ancelotti’s match predictions have been affected by the alarming malaise at Stamford Bridge.

The Chelsea manager had insisted the only result here would be a victory for his team against the Premier League’s bottom club, but Jose Bosingwa’s calamitous own goal leaves his other forecast of a league title appearing even more remote.

“Obviously I am under pressure,” Ancelotti said afterwards, then clarifying: “My position is solid at this moment. I’m under pressure because the team didn’t reach the result we wanted.”

Bosingwa’s fifth-minute mistake leaves Chelsea nine points behind Manchester United, having played a game more, and owner Roman Abramovich is surely running out of reasons to keep the beleaguered Italian in charge. Previous managers have been dismissed for far more impressive records than one win in nine matches.

But Mick McCarthy’s humbler mission of survival looks far more achievable after this fourth win in seven matches, adding Chelsea to a list of prized scalps that includes Manchester City and Liverpool. Wolves were elevated out of the bottom three.

What a difference a couple of months make.

Ancelotti appeared well on course for a second successive title the last time these two sides met in October. A 2-0 canter at Stamford Bridge established a five-point lead at the summit and not even the Italian can have envisaged the malaise he is currently experiencing then.

Every defeat and even draw has been blown into a mini-crisis in west London and one can only wonder how much longer the patience of Russian oligarch Abramovich will last.

Ancelotti has remained dignified despite his problems, and adamant that Chelsea can still retain the title.

But the hammer blow of losing a 3-2 lead in added time against Aston Villa on Sunday once again proved that the reigning champions have lost their sheen and veneer of invincibility.

However, a trip to the Premier League’s bottom club should have presented an ideal opportunity for Ancelotti to cure the alarming downturn in fortune. But it did not get any easier here in the Black Country.

Ronald Zubar had tested Petr Cech from distance with a swirling effort from 30 yards after four minutes, and from the resultant corner the hosts were ahead in fortuitous circumstances.

Stephen Hunt’s corner was inexplicably missed by Ashley Cole at the near post and took a deflection off Bosingwa to condemn Chelsea to another set piece calamity.

Wolves produced arguably their worst display of the campaign in their last outing at Molineux, in an insipid 2-1 defeat to Wigan. But they have been playing far better than their humble league position suggests.

However, they required Wales international Wayne Hennessey to produce an excellent save just before the half hour.

Florent Malouda cut into the area and his cross was poked towards the corner by Salomon Kalou but Hennessey frantically dived to keep it out.

With so much at stake for either side, tempers inevitably got frayed. And Hunt, who has history with Chelsea after fracturing the skull of Cech when he was at Reading, earned himself a shove in the back of the head from John Terry after a dispute over a free kick.

Chelsea should have been level eight minutes into the second period, as the Wolves defence was caught out. Frank Lampard’s clever back heel bamboozled Richard Stearman and Christophe Berra to leave Kalou with Hennessey to beat but he dragged his shot horribly wide.

The sight of his team-mates either holding their head in hands or beating the turf in frustration only emphasised what a poor miss it had been.

Didier Drogba was given a sight of goal as the visitors piled on the pressure and struck the outside of the post from 10 yards.

Ancelotti simply had to act and introduced Nicolas Anelka midway through the half in an attempt to ease his embarrassment.

But Wolves refused to submit and Hunt bent a free kick against the top of the crossbar. And Wolves clung on to secure a surprise, but fully deserved, win.

McCarthy’s humbler mission of survival looks far more achievable after this fourth win in seven matches.

WOLVES (4-4-2): Hennessey 7; Zubar 8, Stearman 8, Berra 8, Elokobi 8; Jarvis 7, Foley 7, Edwards 9, Hunt 7; Fletcher 7 (Ebanks-Blake 70, Milijas 83), Doyle 8 (Ward 70).

CHELSEA (4-3-3): Cech 7; Bosingwa 5, Ivanovic 6, Terry 6, Cole 7; Ramires 6 (Sturridge 73), Essien 7, Lampard 6; Kalou 5 (Anelka 66), Drogba 6, Malouda 6.

Referee: M Halsey