4/12/04 EPL Round 33: Aston Villa v. Chelsea FC [R]

[mst77]

Important match today, we need to win out if we are going to challenge the Arse, but we also need to win to keep the Mancs of our backs.

Work has cut off all access to streaming media so Big Blue is a no go for me. They'll be showing a replay at 6:30 though so maybe I'll hit that up.

Claudio Ranieri is without injured Claude Makelele and Celestine Babayaro at Villa Park this afternoon. Makelele’s x-ray after the game on Saturday showed no bone damage in his knee from the collision with Boateng.

Everyone else is fit and all of Saturday’s absentees have returned to the squad: Mario Melchiot, Wayne Bridge, Scott Parker, Damien Duff and Adrian Mutu.

Chelsea (from): Ambrosio, Gallas, Melchiot, Terry, Desailly, Bridge, Lampard, Parker, Cole, Veron, Geremi, Gronkjaer, Duff, Mutu, Crespo, Huth, Gudjohnsen, Hasselbaink, Sullivan.

[BridgeMonkee]

We have struggled against the Villa in recent seasons for some un-known reason. Would be nice to get some goals in. Good to give Veron a run.

Btw - PSV Eindhoven's Arjen Robben, who will join Chelsea in the summer, is likely to miss the rest of the season after the recurrence of a hamstring injury. The modern winger is such a thoroughbred, hamstrings shall always be an issue with these guys, so finely tuned.

[paulo]

I am home from work today because I am sick (really) not playing hooky for footie :) I just realized the game is live on FSW. Right now it is 1-0 Chels
And Villa is currently having more possession in our half

[paulo]

don't know who scored.

I see huth out there.

big save by Terry for a villa corner
weak shot by Villa

[Gunners11]

1-0 to the Blues, Crespo in the 11th minute.

[Gunners11]

Through the first 22 minutes, Chelsea have 78% of the possession.

[paulo]

Marco Ambrosio 31
Wayne Bridge 18
Robert Huth 29
Mario Melchiot 15
John Terry 26
Damien Duff 11
Njitap Geremi 14
Frank Lampard 8
Scott Parker 19
Hernan Crespo 21
Adrian Mutu 7


scorere Crespo 11 minute
I missed the goal. will see the replay at halftime, surely

[paulo]

vassel is working Huth hard. But the young chelsea central defender is responding well to the challenge.

25 minute

[paulo]

2nd bad clearance by Ambrsosio in 5 minutes. villa throw 27 minute

[paulo]

After Huth chased down Vassel good tackle Vill corner
"for a big man he's not slow" announcer
Villa stopped at the goal line from teh corener ball was bouncing in front of goal for too long. bounced off of three people. Mellburg's back kept it from going in.
defense loked shaky til terry cleared it.
31 minute

[paulo]

free kick at midfield for chelsea 36 minute
nothing comes of it

[paulo]

good quick counter attack by Chelsea.
Geremi started it with an accurate clearance and Duff and Bridge worked with each other to set up a cross for Lampard.

[paulo]

penlty for villa
melchiot pushed garret barry
Vassel to take it
38

[paulo]

vassel scores 1-1.
39 th minute.
Melchiot did not have to foul Barry.
He went for the ball and pushed barry down.
Vassell has been dangerous throughout the first half.

[paulo]

parker with some good tackling and foot work in the center of the pitch.40th

[paulo]

Huth called for a push dangerous free kick for Villa Chelsea clears
42 minute
posession 70/30 Villa for the last 5 minutes

[paulo]

we are missing Makelele out there.
Villa has two much time in the midfield to pick their spots
2 min of stoppage time in first half
villa corner
pressure is heavy now
another corner

[paulo]

3rd corner for Villa 6 for the half

good save by ambrosio

"chelsea will be happy to hear the ht whistle"

[paulo]

HT
at the end of the half Villa was really pressuring.
Huth and Parker look good at times. But, I think
Gallas and Makelele are really missed. The defense
has been just barely hanging on and is often disorganized.

Melchiot will have to score to get out of Rainieri's
dog house. He didn't have to foul - it was almost
accidental but clearly he pushed the Villa player.

Mutu is a bit off today passes several times have been
just behind the mark. Crespo is working harder than I have
ever seen him. REally chasing down any opportunity.

Duff is having to play a lot of defense (center and his side).
Lampard is all over the field.

[paulo]

Geremi has been a little quiet in the first half. Mainly he has cleared balls in defense and getting a loose ball from Melchiot's or Huth's tackle on Vassell. Bridge has been getting forward and that has been working well.

Goal was just shown. Bridge with a great cross to Mutu who headed it hard into the corner Villa keeper (sorensen) did great to stop it from going in but no way could he hold on to the ball. Crespo taps it in.