Terry: We're up for a battle

Chelsea skipper John Terry has warned the rest of the Barclays Premiership that bullying tactics will not stop them.

Terry hit back at claims by Everton’s James Beattie that Chelsea could be muscled out of their stride following their 1-1 draw at Goodison Park on Sunday.

Beattie scored from the penalty spot and left Terry nursing a smashed nose after a collision with the Everton striker.

Charlton then sent Carling Cup holders Chelsea crashing out of the competition with a 5-4 win on penalties after the two sides had drawn 1-1 after extra-time.

The two games have given the rest of the Premiership hope that Jose Mourinho’s all-conquering side can be stopped.

But Terry, who scored his first goal of the season to put Chelsea 1-0 against Charlton on last night, was furious about Beattie’s claim they were not interested in meeting the challenge of a purely physical encounter.

“I read that Beattie said they had worked us out and by battling against us, getting amongst us, they were able to equal us an get a result.

“Let me make it quite clear that apart from the penalty – and they were lucky to get it because they weren’t threatening – they didn’t create a chance.

“We had a lot of chances we might have put away. If Beattie or anyone else thinks that by coming and battling and trying to bully us they can get anywhere, the message is clear: ‘We’re up for it!’

“We can take anyone on in a physical battle and we’ll win and then we’ll get the ball down and play football and we’ll win that as well.”