Straight from the press box at Stamford Bridge
John Terry grabbed a vital goal to lift a lacklustre Chelsea to an unconvincing 2-0 win over French side Marseille in the Champions League tonight at Stamford Bridge.
The skipper was first to react to a Gael Kakuta corner on seven minute to tuck home a smart finish at the near post to send the home fans into delirium.
Chelsea added a second goal from the penalty spot on 28 minutes to put the Londoners firmly in control and three vital points in Group F.
But from the halfway point onwards, The Blues retreated into their shells and failed to show any sustained period of dominance.
It was as if they already felt they had the points in the bag and were saving themselves for Sunday’s titanic derby at the Bridge against Arsenal in the Premier League.
Such was the Blues ability to take their foot off the pedal that it reduced Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti into shaking his head and waving his arms in utter frustration.
Luckily for Chelsea, Frenchman Florent Malouda was inspired form in the first period and tormented the Marseille right flank.
On 14 minutes, Malouda zipped past three French defenders like a ghost and arrowed a fine left-footer on target, but goalkeeper Steve Mandanda tipped over the fine effort.
An Anelka blaster five minutes from the break was the best the home side could then muster - but the striker’s shot, although powerful, went straight into the keeper’s midriff. From the second half onwards there was only one side trying g to be positive and that was the visitors.
A Brandao shot on 58 minutes forced Petr Cech into a fine save.
Despite not appearing to care too much, Chelsea still managed to hit the Marseille woodwork twice.
A magnificent, trademark free kick by Alex on 66 minutes took a slight deflection on the way towards goal but smacked off Mandanda’s left upright.
Michael Essien, for once, almost anonymous, saw a fine shot from just outside the penalty area rebound to safety with 15 minutes remaining.
This was not a vintage Chelsea performance in Europe and serious question marks must be levelled against their ability to play a consistent high tempo game for the full 90 minutes.
Chelsea(4-3-3):Cech; Ivanovic, Alex, Terry (c), Cole; Essien, Mikel (McEachran 87), Zhirkov (Sturridge 72); Malouda, Anelka, Kakuta (Ramires 61).
Scorers Terry 6, Anelka (pen) 27
Booked Mikel 81
Marseille (4-3-3): Mandanda (c); Kabore, Diawara, Mbia, Heinze; Lucho Gonzalez, Cisse, Cheyrou (Ayew 58); Remy, Gignac (Valbuena 58), Brandao.
Booked Mbia 26, Heinze 28