WOLVES 0-2 CHELSEA

Well, it wasn’t pretty football and we didn’t even look as if we got out of second gear but sometimes you have to take a win any way it comes and with United dropping 3 points to Everton earlier in the day, all that mattered was that we didn’t follow suit. Fortunately, whilst the Wolves defence was as tight as your average Scots wallet, we managed to prise it open in each half.
Zhirkov provided a cross for Ballack to have an early chance although the German midfielder headed wide. Then 15 minutes in, Cech had his first test from Doyle’s 20-yard drive, before the Republic of Ireland international turned provider for Foley who hit the side netting. Doyle, who was easily Wolves’ best player, brought Cech into action again, latching onto a Foley throw that our alert keeper push past the post.
Wolves were growing in confidence though so Didier Drogba’s opener in the 40th minute was perfectly timed. Yuri Zhirkov played a lovely one-two with Ballack before squaring it across the box for Drogba to tap home and the score remained in our favour going into the break.
Thankfully Petr Cech came out after the break as lively as he went in, pulling off a lovely reflex save from Guedioura about ten minutes into the second half. A break in play saw Zhirkov, (who’d played on with a dodgy calf in the first half) replaced by Bruma and as play resumed, it was Wolves who again threatened, with Cech again saving from Foley after a John Terry lapse.
Right on cue though, to quieten our nerves – and any building expectation from the home crowd, we come up with a second through every defender’s worst nightmare – yes, Didier Drogba again. Picking up a long clearance from Cech, the Ivorian slotted the ball wide of Hahnemann to claim his 25th of the season.
Overall then, whilst it was Didier Drogba bagging the goals, I think it’s fair to say Petr Cech played a blinder for us. Back to his best in this game, not just shot-stopping and great reaction saves but he could even claim the assist for Drogba’s second. And whilst you wouldn’t actually call it one of our more dominant displays, we were undoubtedly keeping something in reserve for midweek whilst making sure we took full advantage of United’s defeat.
Nice work Chelsea.
TEAMS
WOLVES: Hahnemann, Zubar, Craddock, Berra, Ward, Foley (75), Guedioura, Henry, Jones (75), Jarvis (75), Doyle
Subs: Ebanks-Blake, Halford, Mujanji Bia (all 75)
Unused subs: Hennessy, Elokobi, Vokes, Milijas,
CHELSEA: Cech, Zhirkov (55), Terry, Ivanovic, Ferreira, Malouda, Mikel, Ballack, J Cole, Anelka, Drogba
Subs: Bruma (55)
Unused subs: Hilario, Kalou, Sturridge, Matic, Kakuta, Borini