Nine-man Chelsea lose London derby

QPR 1 Chelsea 0

Chelsea completely lost their discipline today as two sending offs, seven yellow cards and a penalty handed QPR a first win over their arch-rivals for 16 years.

Jose Bosingwa and Didier Drogba both saw red in the Barclays Premier League clash at Loftus Road, while Ashley Cole also picked up a suspension for his fifth booking of the season.

The rot set in when David Luiz needlessly conceded an eighth-minute penalty which Heidar Helguson scored, but the nine men wasted more than one chance to level, most notably when Nicolas Anelka headed straight at Paddy Kenny.

John Terry, Didier Drogba and Juan Mata all returned as Chelsea made five changes for today’s west London derby at QPR.

Daniel Sturridge and John Obi Mikel were also recalled after sitting out Wednesday night’s 5-0 Champions League thrashing of Genk.

The enigmatic Adel Taarabt was back in the QPR line-up, while Clint Hill also started a day after being recalled from his loan spell at Nottingham Forest.

The past month had seen Chelsea bounce back from their defeat at Manchester United, which left them five points adrift of Alex Ferguson's men at the top of the Barclays Premier League.

United’s extraordinary Manchester derby humiliation meant victory today would lift the Blues above United and, perhaps now more crucially, cut the six-point gap to Manchester City.

QPR were looking to spoil the party in what was the first league meeting with their arch-rivals in 15 years, as they sought their first home win since promotion.

Captain Joey Barton’s personal attack on opposite number John Terry six days ago did not prevent the pair shaking hands before kick-off but there was no love lost between the rival fans in what was a cracking atmosphere at Loftus Road.

The away supporters might have had something to celebrate twice inside four minutes when Sturridge scuffed his shot after a one-two with Drogba and David Luiz was unable to control Frank Lampard’s free-kick on his chest.

But Luiz’s habit of making daft challenges cost Chelsea dear in the eighth minute when they failed to deal with a long clearance and the defender nudged Heidar Helguson over in the box.

Referee Chris Foy pointed to the spot and Helguson snatched the ball from a far-from impressed Taraabt and sent the penalty into the top corner via Petr Cech’s fingertips.

Chelsea tried to respond and Lampard blazed over from distance but they were lacking the fluency of recent weeks, while Drogba’s performance was summed up when he sliced a 30-yard shot for a throw-in.

The visitors continued to boss possession but they were not creating anything of note, and their afternoon took another turn for the worse in the 32nd minute when Jose Bosingwa was controversially sent off.

Bosingwa hauled down Shaun Wright-Phillips when the winger threatened to burst clear, with Foy deeming the right-back to be last man and brandishing red.

Chelsea were livid with the decision, which was followed by Taraabt curling the resultant free-kick too close to Cech.

Blues boss Andre Villas-Boas sacrificed Sturridge for Branislav Ivanovic but his misery was far from over, with Drogba suicidally getting himself sent off four minutes before half-time.

The striker lunged in two footed on Taraabt and – unlike his other two major decisions – left Foy with little option.

Villas-Boas took action again in stoppage-time, withdrawing Mata for Nicolas Anelka.

It looked a lost cause for the nine men, who were sent out a full two minutes before their opponents at the start of the second half.

Incredibly, they went close to levelling straight away when Lampard was just beaten to Raul Meireles’ brilliant cross.

Paddy Kenny also flapped at a dangerous Ivanovic ball but they were soon hit on the break and Mikel was booked for upending Taraabt.

Lampard and Shaun Derry had to be dragged away from each other following a penalty-box scramble, with Foy booking both.

Luke Young screwed a great chance wide as Rangers finally began to make their advantage tell, while Ivanovic became the latest man cautioned for clattering Taraabt.

Barton picked up a customary yellow for going in late on Terry before Taraabt was withdrawn for Tommy Smith on the hour mark, the Moroccan also living up to his reputation for storming down the tunnel.

Young got in behind again five minutes later but he drilled his cross straight at Cech.

Lampard was furious again midway through the half when he felt Fitz Hall had bundled him over in the box, only to see the officials unmoved.

Luiz was booked for another poor challenge but Chelsea were somehow still in contention with 20 minutes remaining.

They had another penalty appeal turned down when Luiz hit the deck under a challenge from Helguson, Barton almost scored on the break, and Meireles was booked for dissent.

The latter was immediately withdrawn for Florent Malouda but there was no stopping the yellow tide, Ashley Cole almost made to pay for his booking when Helguson volleyed over from point-blank range.

Chelsea should have made him pay with just over 10 minutes left when Ivanovic put the ball on a plate for Anelka, who somehow headed the ball straight at Kenny from four yards.

Jamie Mackie replaced Derry but Chelsea wasted another great chance to level when Lampard deflected Luiz’s overhead kick over the crossbar.

With time running out, Villas-Boas made his feelings clear to the fourth official, while tempers flared late on when Terry closed down Kenny and the pair squared up on the six-yard line.

There was still time for Cole to nod a weak header at Kenny and Cech – of all people – to nearly get his head on the end of a free-kick.