Frank Lampard struck an 89th minute winning goal to give fourth placed Chelsea a vital 2-1 win at Wolves.
Brazilian midfielder Ramires opened the scoring for Chelsea during the second half, before Stephen Ward equalized in the 84th minute. The Wolves fans thought their side had earned a battling point, but Lampard broke the hearts of the Molineux faithful when he volleyed home Ashley Cole’s cross.
Wolves almost took a first minute lead, but David Jones cold not finish after pouncing on Jose Bosingwa’s errant back-pass.
The visitors settled into the game and began to dominate possession for long spells. Heavily criticized striker Fernando Torres looked sharp in the opening exchanges, and released Juan Mata with a slick through ball, only for Wayne Hennessey to rush out and smother the shot.
Another Torres through ball released Lampard, only for defender Richard Stearman to clear up the danger for Wolves.
Torres must have had his confident lifted by his bright play, as he chose to shoot from inside his own half soon after, only for his effort to fly miles wide. Ramires then shot wide with Chelsea seemingly on cruise control, but tempers were soon raised.
Lampard was lucky not to be sent off after clattering into Adam Hamill with a clumsy challenge. Wolves were irritated by Lampard’s challenge, and Hamill, Karl Henry and Kevin Doyle all received bookings within a five minute period. Chelsea midfielder Oriol Romeu was also booked for a foul on Hamill, as the game threated to boil over.
Wolves responded well to the heated atmosphere, and the heavily involved Hamill swung over a free kick that Roger Johnson headed wide. Ward also headed off target when he got on the end of another Hamill cross.
John Terry, Bosingwa and Lampard all failed to convert chances for Chelsea before the whistle blew on an enthralling first half.
The Blues took the lead nine minutes after the restart, Terry redirected Mata’s corner, and Ramires reacted quickest to lash the ball high into the net. Ramires had another chance when he was released in the penalty area, but Hennessey was on hand to block his powerful shot.
Wolves continued to battle, and grabbed a late equalizer when Matthew Jarvis sent over a high cross, and Ward latched onto Steven Fletcher’s knockdown to beat Petr Cech.
Chelsea had the last word though, when England left-back Cole raced away down the left and sent over a cross for Lampard to volley home and break the hearts of the Molineux faithful.
Andre Villas-Boas was pleased with the result, and said his team are “united in our objectives.” However, the words of Lampard after the game could cast doubt on that assertion.
Only seven days ago, Villas-Boas said that “maybe the Premier League is over for us.”
The words of Lampard after his late Molineux winner were in a very different tone. The England international midfielder insisted that Chelsea “can’t just drop our standards and just think ‘let’s just fight for fourth’ or whatever. We’re too good for that. In my eyes we should be challenging for the top.”
Chelsea fans will be hoping the team can back up Lampard’s words with a lengthy winning streak, and possibly a couple of additions in the January transfer window.
LINEUPS
WOL – Hennessey, Stearman, Ward, Johnson, Berra, Edwards (Foley 76), Henry, Frimpong (Fletcher 61), Hammill, Forde (Jarvis 46), Doyle.
CHE – Cech, Cole, David Luiz, Bosingwa, Terry, Romeu, Ramires, Lampard, Meireles, Torres, Mata (McEachran 83).
SCORING SUMMARY
CHE – Ramires (John Terry) 54’
WOL – Stephen Ward (Steven Fletcher) 84’
CHE – Frank Lampard (Ashley Cole) 89’
LiveSoccerTV Man of the Match: Oriol Romeu (Chelsea)
Attendance: 27,289
Wolves almost took a first minute lead, but David Jones cold not finish after pouncing on Jose Bosingwa’s errant back-pass.
The visitors settled into the game and began to dominate possession for long spells. Heavily criticized striker Fernando Torres looked sharp in the opening exchanges, and released Juan Mata with a slick through ball, only for Wayne Hennessey to rush out and smother the shot.
Another Torres through ball released Lampard, only for defender Richard Stearman to clear up the danger for Wolves.
Torres must have had his confident lifted by his bright play, as he chose to shoot from inside his own half soon after, only for his effort to fly miles wide. Ramires then shot wide with Chelsea seemingly on cruise control, but tempers were soon raised.
Lampard was lucky not to be sent off after clattering into Adam Hamill with a clumsy challenge. Wolves were irritated by Lampard’s challenge, and Hamill, Karl Henry and Kevin Doyle all received bookings within a five minute period. Chelsea midfielder Oriol Romeu was also booked for a foul on Hamill, as the game threated to boil over.
Wolves responded well to the heated atmosphere, and the heavily involved Hamill swung over a free kick that Roger Johnson headed wide. Ward also headed off target when he got on the end of another Hamill cross.
John Terry, Bosingwa and Lampard all failed to convert chances for Chelsea before the whistle blew on an enthralling first half.
The Blues took the lead nine minutes after the restart, Terry redirected Mata’s corner, and Ramires reacted quickest to lash the ball high into the net. Ramires had another chance when he was released in the penalty area, but Hennessey was on hand to block his powerful shot.
Wolves continued to battle, and grabbed a late equalizer when Matthew Jarvis sent over a high cross, and Ward latched onto Steven Fletcher’s knockdown to beat Petr Cech.
Chelsea had the last word though, when England left-back Cole raced away down the left and sent over a cross for Lampard to volley home and break the hearts of the Molineux faithful.
Andre Villas-Boas was pleased with the result, and said his team are “united in our objectives.” However, the words of Lampard after the game could cast doubt on that assertion.
Only seven days ago, Villas-Boas said that “maybe the Premier League is over for us.”
The words of Lampard after his late Molineux winner were in a very different tone. The England international midfielder insisted that Chelsea “can’t just drop our standards and just think ‘let’s just fight for fourth’ or whatever. We’re too good for that. In my eyes we should be challenging for the top.”
Chelsea fans will be hoping the team can back up Lampard’s words with a lengthy winning streak, and possibly a couple of additions in the January transfer window.
LINEUPS
WOL – Hennessey, Stearman, Ward, Johnson, Berra, Edwards (Foley 76), Henry, Frimpong (Fletcher 61), Hammill, Forde (Jarvis 46), Doyle.
CHE – Cech, Cole, David Luiz, Bosingwa, Terry, Romeu, Ramires, Lampard, Meireles, Torres, Mata (McEachran 83).
SCORING SUMMARY
CHE – Ramires (John Terry) 54’
WOL – Stephen Ward (Steven Fletcher) 84’
CHE – Frank Lampard (Ashley Cole) 89’
LiveSoccerTV Man of the Match: Oriol Romeu (Chelsea)
Attendance: 27,289
