Shocking The Drog Behavior !

The oddest aspect of the Didier Drogba coin toss was that he was allowed to carry on by the referee after aiming an abusive gesture at the Burnley fans, exchanging a few choice swear words and then forcibly returning a coin that a Burnley fan may or may not have 'dropped' on the pitch. The precedents are pretty clear on the matter.

The other incidents that I can recall that are similar are when Jamie Carragher under-armed a water bottle back into the crowd in 2002 (some people seem to recall that he threw a coin, but I remember it as a plastic bottle) and Gary Neville attempting to wind up buoyant Everton fans, in April 2005, by crashing a dead ball into the advertising hoardings - but inevitably missing and striking a spectator. Both received straight reds.

When El Hadji Diuof spat at Celtic fans at Celtic Park in March 2003 he was responding to being patted on the head following a slip; the referee was obviously unsighted otherwise another straight red would have been issued.

When Eric Cantona went somewhat further at Selhurst Park he had already been sent off - and was subsequently banned for six months.

That Drogba was booked can only suggest that the referee didn't see the whole incident and the FA will now inevitably respond with a minimum charge of bringing the game into disrepute. Add to this a possible court case - especially as there is a massive potential for ricochets in a situation where a rich man like Drogba is caught bang to rights. I would be surprised if fewer than 50 Burnley fans were 'hurt' by the coin!

Didier Dogba was clearly wound up by the loss of an automatic first team slot - Nic Anelka seems to be Scolari's first choice - and responded to that as well as some probably quite heated baiting. But there are no excuses, the apology was a good first step and may reduce the inevitable ban to just three games. Drogba has recently stated his intention to see out the remaining years of his contract - but if a bid comes in in January he may not now get the chance. Chelsea's finances are under a little pressure and if Scolari wants a little elbow room in the transfer market, Drogba could well be the catalyst.

CHELSEA VS BURNLEY - Match Result.

VS

Burnley caused the biggest upset of the round as they ensure Chelsea leave Stamford Bridge with a case of the blues as the visiting Clarets claim victory through a sudden death penalty shoot out. Both teams ended the affair with ten men. Chelsea 1-1 Burnley (Burnley win 5-4 on pens)

Lower league Burnley traveled to west London this evening looking to cause an upset in an old fashioned English cup tie. The league cup threw up some interesting results last night, and the 6,000 fans making the trip down from Lancashire would have been hoping for another this evening.

Chelsea are the only member of the top four that do not treat the tournament as an opportunity to test out either their youth players or their younger squad players, and the Blues had two time Champions League winner Deco; three Brazilian internationals: Alex, Belletti, and Mineiro; and two Ivorians, Kalou and Drogba, all making the starting eleven.


FIRST HALF

It took both teams a long time to settle into the fixture, and neither goalkeeper had a save to make for the opening stages of the game.

The most considerable piece of action arrived in the 20th minute when Salomon Kalou was clean through on goal but Burnley's Jensen was there to deflect the ball clear. Drogba then pounced on the rebound but Jensen stayed strong to ensure Chelsea's scoreline remained at zero.

The Blues got off the mark seven minutes later, though, when Didier Drogba, who has an arduous task knocking Nicolas Anelka off pole position considering the Frenchman's form, burst into the penalty box and slotted a right foot shot over the line and into the net.

Frank Lampard, who came on in place of Belletti, was largely responsible for Chelsea's improved passing play.

Burnley did not roll over after the Blues' opener, but lacked creation and vision in the final third despite playing with an increased pace and urgency.


SECOND HALF

Burnley's reaction after the break was in a similar vein to their play in the first half. They were lively and eager for the ball, but Chelsea dominated possession.

The visiting Clarets desperately tried to level the scoreline but the home side were, in typical Chelsea fashion, solid in defense.

Burnley's efforts were finally rewarded in the 70th minute, though, as Christopher Eagles, formerly of Manchester United, sent a low drive toward Cudicini, who couldn't claim the ball cleanly and spilled the shot.

Akinbiyi, with a true goal-poaching instinct, pounced on the rebound and made no mistake in thrashing the ball into the net.

The Blues could have won the game moments before the whistle for the full 90 when Di Santo was teed up an opportune strike but sent his shot wide of the marker.


EXTRA TIME

Franco di Santo injured his hamstring during extra time and because Luiz Felipe Scolari had used all three substitutes the Blues were forced to play the rest of the fixture with ten men.

Lampard had the ball in the net within four minutes of the restart, but he was flagged for offside and any celebrations in the crowd were premature.

Both sides have chances to score, with Lampard firing a shot high and wide after being set up by Malouda, and Elliot for Burnley had a volley saved by Cudicini.

In the second half of extra time it appeared as though both sides were content to play for penalties as Chelsea kept the ball around the midfield areas, and the initial energy that Burnley showed in normal time had taken an understandable back seat.

Relentless drama ensued in the closing stages of added time. Chelsea may have rued their spurned efforts as Wayne Bridge sent in a well-weighted cross only for Alex to miss the target from inside the six yard box.

Then, a minute later, Clarets captain Caldwell was sent for an early bath for a second bookable offense. Due to the earlier limping off of di Santo for Chelsea, the game finished ten against ten.


PENALTIES

Burnley - Graham Alexander - GOAL 1-0

Chelsea - Frank Lampard - GOAL 1-1

Burnley - Alan Mahon - GOAL 2-1

Chelsea - Wayne Bridge - MISS 2-1

Burnley - Chris Eagles - GOAL 3-1

Chelsea - Salomon Kalou - GOAL 3-2

Burnley - Alex Macdonald - GOAL 4-2

Chelsea - Paulo Ferreira - GOAL 4-3

Burnley - Wade Elliott - MISS 4-3

Chelsea - Florent Malouda - GOAL 4-4

Sudden death

Burnley - Michael Duff - GOAL 5-4

Chelsea - John Obi Mikel - MISS 5-4


LINE UPS

Chelsea: Cudicini, Ferreira, Alex, Ivanovic, Bridge, Mineiro, Kalou, Deco, Belletti, Malouda, Drogba.

Burnley: Jensen, Alexander, Duff, Caldwell, Jordan; Elliott, Gudjonsson, McCann, Eagles, Blake, Paterson.