Ballack calls a two-horse race

MICHAEL Ballack dismissed Liverpool's title challenge yesterday and predicted a two-horse race between Chelsea and Manchester United.

Only goal difference separates Liverpool from Chelsea at the top of the table, but the Germany midfield player believes the Merseyside club is more suited to the UEFA Champions League because its squad lacks the depth to compete for the entire season.

Liverpool has won one Champions League and reached another final in four seasons under Rafael Benitez, but Ballack's views will not go down well at Anfield. Liverpool has been in the top two all season and became the first side to win a league match at Stamford Bridge in 4 1/2 years last month when it beat Chelsea 1-0.

"It's always the big four that everyone speaks about, but it's still about Chelsea and Man U," Ballack said. "Arsenal are already behind, which makes it very difficult for them. Liverpool are very good at this moment, but they are always a club for the Champions League, partly because they can put all their focus on one or two matches.

"But when you look at results and squads over the past couple of seasons, I think us and Man U are just a little bit stronger."

In yesterday's games, Roman Pavlyuchenko scored an early goal to give Tottenham a 1-0 win over 10-man Blackburn and lift Harry Redknapp's team out of the relegation zone.

Spurs outplayed Rovers for long spells at White Hart Lane, even before Blackburn lost left back Martin Olsson in the 39th after he received his second yellow card. The defender was also at fault for the goal. He tried to beat Aaron Lennon but lost possession, and the winger burst down the right flank and pulled the ball back to the unmarked Pavlyuchenko. The Russian striker beat former Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson with a first-time shot.

Lennon repeatedly created openings for Spurs with his weaving runs, and Olsson was sent off for hauling the winger down.

"Aaron's a terrific player," Spurs coach Harry Redknapp said. "He's a threat, he carries the game to the opposition, he's got pace, he excites people and his confidence is sky high at the moment."

While Spurs climbed out of the last three spots, Blackburn slipped to second last. Wigan, which hosts Everton overnight, also dropped into the relegation zone.

In the other game, West Ham won 1-0 at Sunderland to end a run of seven games without a win and inflict a fourth home loss in a row on the Black Cats through a Valon Behrami goal.

Scolari Still Invite Robinho

Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari still hasn’t given up on his summer target Robinho and announced that the Stamfort Bridge side's doors are “always open for him ”.

Chelsea were linked with the Brazilian international attacker throughout the summer but on the final day of the transfer window, Manchester City snatched the player for a 32million deal from Real Madrid.

During that time Scolari was fuming with Anger for not having being able to bring Robinho to Stamford Bridge and claimed that the former Real Madrid man could have been the best player in the world if he was at Chelsea.

"I am sure that Robinho would be the best player in the world if he came to play at Chelsea," he told Brazilian daily O Globo. "The Chelsea doors are always open to him."

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - CHELSEA - TERRY AIMING FOR KNOCKOUT STAGES

Chelsea captain John Terry wants the Blues to bounce back from their Roma mauling to make sure of a place in the knockout stages of the Champions League.

The club head to Bordeaux on Wednesday looking for a victory to erase the nightmare 3-1 defeat in Rome.

Chelsea gave the French side a 4-0 hammering at Stamford Bridge and Terry is confident they can bounce back from the disappointment of the Rome game.

"The lads bounced back from the disappointment of Rome with everyone showing a great attitude to give a great performance in Blackburn (a 2-0 win)," said the England skipper.

"Blackburn is a notoriously tough place to go but with the bad weather and Rome behind us, it was an even tougher fixture.

"Rome apart we are not conceding many goals and Nicolas Anelka is on fire, not just with his goalscoring but in his all-round link-up play.

"It is tight at the top both in the Premier and the Champions League, so we cannot afford to slip up.

"The defeat in Rome put a little bit of a bad taste in our mouths and was a bitter reminder that we have to keep on winning until the other teams crumble around us.

"It is not just the management who can be important after a result like the one in Rome, it is all the backroom staff.

"They play a big part in getting us right. Darren, the young chef, brings his guitar along now and sings a few songs. There were a few Elvis Presley numbers played before the Blackburn game."

Although Anelka is in the best form of his Chelsea career, Luiz Felipe Scolari will have Didier Drogba available for the Bordeaux match even though he is serving a domestic suspension.

But it is the timely return of Germany midfielder Michael Ballack that has team-mate Deco drooling.

Ballack played half-an-hour as a substitute in the 3-0 win over West Brom last week and is set to start against the French side.

"It is good for us to have him back because he is a great, great player," said Deco.

"We need more players because we are playing many games and have some injuries.

"It is difficult to play against him because he is a strong player, very competitive and experienced. I have played against him three or four times for Portugal."

The Drog Returns Again!

Didier Drogba is set to return to the Chelsea side as they prepare to face Champions League opponents Bordeaux on Wednesday. The Ivorian has missed the first match in a three game ban that was imposed after he threw a coin into the crowd during the Carling Cup match at Stamford Bridge in which Chelsea were beaten by Burnley.

However, the ban does not apply to European matches and, after Chelsea could only stutter to a goal-less draw last Saturday against Newcastle, manager Phil Scolari will be hoping that Drogba will give his attack the bite that they lacked in the league game.

His team mate Florent Malouda has spoken in support of Drogba's return saying: It will be a good thing for us because with what is happening now. I think he will be angry and show he has things to do for the team."

The French winger continued: "Didier is the type of player who can find a solution when you play these teams but as you can see Nicolas Anelka is doing well at this moment."

He added: "We had the players and the mentality to reach victory against Newcastle but we have to keep on trying and we hope the next game at home will find the solution."

Chelsea will need record 97 points to win league title, says Luiz Felipe Scolari

Chelsea only head Liverpool on goal difference despite having dropped just seven points from the opening 13 games of the season.

And manager Scolari believes it will take a record-breaking campaign to guarantee Chelsea their third title in five years in his debut season in charge.

The Brazilian, who spoke glowingly of the harmony inside his squad, said: "We know that if we want to win the Premier League, we need to win 85 per cent of the points on offer.

"We have a focus for the Premier League games. Three points is important for every game. But we have a good balance and the players know this.

"After the games we lost, we showed the players why we lost and they tried to change that for the next game. In each case, in the next game we have played well."

Scolari's 85 per cent target equates to 97 points over the season, two more than Jose Mourinho's Blues side accrued to set the current record mark and take their first title in 2005. After Manchester United's 2-1 defeat at Arsenal, which has left them languishing eight points behind Chelsea and Liverpool, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said: "We have got to get above 85 points to have a chance of winning the league, so we must keep going for it."

Chelsea are behind the schedule set for them by Scolari, although back-to-back wins over Newcastle today and Bolton next week would take them within a fraction of the target figure.

Scolari added: "I need to look at the schedule again. After we have played Newcastle and Bolton I will have a better idea about the points we have and what we wanted to have. I will tell you then."

The Brazilian, however, was far more emphatic about the value of a squad willing to exchange views and opinions without it descending into damaging acrimony.

And while he pointedly insisted he was not referring to Arsenal, Arsene Wenger or William Gallas, the contrast between the sweetness and light he described at Stamford Bridge and the apparent civil war across the capital could not have been more evident.

Scolari, set to have Frank Lampard, Joe Cole, Ashley Cole and Petr Cech all back this afternoon, added: "Having a good atmosphere in the squad is 50 per cent, minimum, of what you need to win a game, because if that atmosphere is not good, you start the game in a bad situation.

"It is something the players create between themselves and with me and my staff. But once it is there it is easy." Scolari insisted that, for all his image as a hardliner, he actually encourages argument between his players - but only when it is for constructive purposes, and on the condition that nothing is allowed to fester.

"I want the players to speak their minds, to talk between themselves and me, even if it's negative," he added.

"We need to look and talk and think about what has happened, before games, even at half-time. But after they have spoken, it is my time.

"Bad results can create problems.

But what is important is that you've involved the players so they understand one bad result doesn't change our focus.

"In that time what you have to say i s: 'Remember, remember, remember; OK, go'. I'm the man who needs to decide what happens."

Scolari said he had been in such situations many, many times, but that he was happy for players to speak their minds as long as they did not breach his code of respect for the structure of the club.

"Sometimes you give the players the chance to say something and they go too far," he explained. "Then we need to say: 'Look, the position is this'.

"I am a coach, and at times I am a friend or a father too, because I am older than them and have had more experiences.

"But when I am a coach, I need to be able bring a player into my office and tell him the way we have to follow and if it is required, to say: 'You are wrong; out'. My job is to solve the problem and finish it."

LAST 11 WINNING POINTS TOTALS
2007-08: MAN UTD 87PTS
2006-07: MAN UTD 89PTS
2005-06: CHELSEA 91PTS
2004-05: CHELSEA 95PTS
2003-04: ARSENAL 90PTS
2002-03: MAN UTD 83PTS
2001-02: ARSENAL 87PTS
2000-01: MAN UTD 80PTS
1999-00: MAN UTD 91PTS
1998-99: MAN UTD 79PTS
1997-98: ARSENAL 78PTS

Lampard fit for Chelsea's Premier match with Newcastle

LONDON, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chelsea coach Luiz Felipe Scolari was slightly relieved as England captain Frank Lampard is expected to be fit for the Premiership leaders' home match on Saturday.

The midfielder missed England's win in Germany on Wednesday with sore ribs but will return to the field for Chelsea this weekend when they host Newcastle United at Standford Bridge.

Joe Cole is also back in the squad and goalkeeper Petr Cech is also fit again after recovering from a calf strain that kept him out against West Bromwich Albion last week.

Striker Didier Drogba, however, begins a three-match ban, while Scolari was sweating over his Portuguese contingent who played the international friendly for their country in Brazil.

"I didn't receive Deco, Jose Bosingwa or Paulo Ferreira because they arrived from Brazil at 6pm (on Thursday). After 15 hours flying it's impossible to train," he told Chelsea's website.

Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari underlines squad importance

The Brazilian was adamant that he would not discuss the situation at Arsenal, yet was happy to outline the "very, very good atmosphere every day" at Chelsea, a quality he considers fundamental to the team's success.

"If you don't have a good atmosphere you will start the game in bad condition," he said. "I think [it's importance to the club is] 50 per cent minimum. If you are happy, your job is fantastic. We created that atmosphere and after this, it is easy."

Chelsea captain John Terry was openly critical of the team following the recent defeat against Roma but, unlike Gallas, there was an emphasis on collective responsibility rather than any individual incident. Scolari says that he encourages his players to speak frankly, whether exchanging positive or negative views. "John Terry may be critical because he is more angry than other players," he said. "But, in the dressing room, all of the players are critical. The players respect my level and I respect the players. We have lines.

"We talk – I understand, the player understands, the board understands, we finish the problem. They are very professional and I like this so much. My authority is the normal authority. Sometimes I am a friend, a father and sometimes I am a coach. Sometimes, as a coach, I need to say 'you are wrong'."

Scolari's man-management has extended to his supportive handling of Dider Drogba following the coin-throwing incident that has resulted in a three-match Football Association ban that will rule him out of today's game against Newcastle.

It is also understood that he has been fined two weeks' wages for the lapse in discipline, but Scolari said: "Didier did not go to the pitch with the coin, Didier is not the man that started it."

Scolari also expressed his hope that Michael Ballack will extend his contract beyond next season. "He is young and plays very well, if he wants, I want and if Chelsea have a deal it's fantastic," he said.

Although top of the league, Chelsea are one point adrift of Scolari's "85 per cent" ratio that he regards as necessary to be sure of winning the Premier League. It is a standard that would result in a record-breaking haul at the end of the season of 97 points.

Although Drogba is suspended, Scolari is likely to welcome back Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole and Joe Cole to his squad after the England trio all missed the 2-1 win against Germany on Wednesday. Petr Cech is available again, while Alex could also return.

Anelka expresses sympathy for Drogba

CHELSEA striker Nicolas Anelka has expressed sympathy for team-mate Didier Drogba who was given a three-match ban by the Football Association after admitting a charge of violent conduct for throwing a coin into the crowd.

"Didier threw back a coin that supporters had chucked at him. It's not something serious. It's a gesture like any other," Anelka said of the incident in Chelsea's Carling Cup defeat by Burnley.

The full article contains 75 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.

Chelsea VS Newcastle United

VS

Chelsea face Newcastle at home on Saturday with some of the injured players making a comeback this weekend, while others still sit and wait. Cole and Cech are confirmed, Lampard is a very slight doubt. Ballack is back, but the newly returned Drogba is banned for 3 matches and won't be making an appearance until December.

With 6 players still out with injuries, the bench line is looking rather sparse. But the squad is full of talent.

So what will the starting line look like? Here's my prediction.


Cech
Bosingwa - Ivanovic - Terry - Bridge
Mikel
Lampard - Deco
Cole - Anelka - Malouda


Bench: Cudicini, Ferreira, Mineiro, Sinclair, Ballack, Kalou, Woods

Newcastle at times has proven difficult, and Chelsea has struggled at home at times, although the last Premier League match at Stamford Bridge had a fantastic result. So here's hoping that the boys can keep the momentum going.

My Verdict: A win of course

EPL 2008-09 Season: English life suits Scolari but Chelsea come first

LONDON: Luiz Felipe Scolari has quickly grown to love life in England but the Chelsea manager has put sight-seeing to the back of his mind as he tries to keep the Londoners on top of the English Premier League.
Scolari and his family have settled well in their new home near Chelsea's training ground in leafy Cobham, south of London, but the Brazilian has made only a handful of trips into the capital because he is so focused on winning silverware this season.

Like Arsene Wenger, who once claimed he only knew the way to Arsenal's stadium, training ground and Heathrow airport, Scolari is too consumed by success to worry about trips to Big Ben and the Tower of London.

That didn't change this week ahead of Newcastle's visit to Stamford Bridge today, even though he had only a handful of players to work with due to the international friendlies.

"My life in England is a normal life as a coach. I have more time for the club, for training, and I spend some time with the family when I have time for this," he said.
"My family like to stay in England, my son is studying at a beautiful, big school and he visited some more places than me and has more friends.

"London? No, I have visited three or four times when I was free with my family, but when I go to London it is to play at Stamford Bridge!"

Scolari has more pressing concerns as he waits to see whether Frank Lampard and goalkeeper Petr Cech can shakes off their injuries.

Seven other first team players are expected to be out of action too, as Alex, Joe Cole, Juliano Belletti, Ricardo Carvalho, Michael Essien, Ashley Cole and Franco Di Santo are all still struggling.

With a third of the season now played, the signs are looking good for the Blues.

Didier Drogba was wrong, but blame the fan

Chelsea striker deserves to be punished but whoever threw coin at Stamford Bridge is real villain of the piece

All the talk is about how long Didier Drogba's ban should be and that's taking the focus away from the person who started the whole thing - the fan who threw the coin at him.

There's no doubt Drogba was irresponsible and deserves to be punished by the FA, though not in my opinion the police. But it would be ridiculous if he paid a heavier penalty than David Norris, the Ipswich Town player who made the “handcuffs” sign in support of Luke McCormick, the goalkeeper who was sent to prison for causing the deaths of two kids in a car accident. That idiotic gesture must have been premeditated on some level while Drogba's was spontaneous. To me, Norris's behaviour was worse.

Incidents of players abusing fans, as the Chelsea striker did, are very rare while week in, week out, footballers are on the receiving end of disgusting abuse. It's human nature that occasionally some will crack. I certainly did a couple of times in my playing days. When Eric Cantona karate-kicked that Crystal Palace fan, a lot of players thought: “Good on you, Eric.” No player runs on to the pitch planning to start trouble with supporters, but at every game a percentage of fans turn up intending to dish out verbal abuse or worse.

In my Millwall days in the 1980s, I remember warming up at Upton Park and fans in the Chicken Run terrace were calling out my name for ages until I finally looked round - and 30 of them chorused “w***er”. Apparently they used to do it to someone every week, like it was their hobby. Grown men.

During a game at The Den, David Byrne, our winger, told a Millwall fan who was running along the terrace and giving him stick to “f*** off”. The fan took out a knife and said he was going to “do him” after the match. David went as white as a ghost.

Footballers don't worry about security arrangements at stadiums, but deep down they know that if a fan really wants to invade the pitch and get at them, he will. It is a shame that Aston Villa were not able to catch the supporter who threw a coin at Harry Redknapp last month and hit an assistant referee. A heavy punishment for that might have made the Burnley supporter think twice.

Drogba is not a popular player. He's done and said some daft things, but he wasn't trying to wind up the Burnley fans - he scored and in the adrenalin rush that followed he probably didn't realise where he was celebrating. He's got a big ego, so he's not the kind of character to laugh off having something chucked at him, spoiling his moment of glory. He reacted because he felt insulted.

Drogba must be held accountable, but he's not the main villain here. Stop fans abusing players and you stop the problem of players being pushed past breaking point.

Terry Issues Gunners Warning

Chelsea captain John Terry has warned it would be a big mistake to rule Arsenal out of the race for the Premier League title.

Chelsea are nine points clear of their London rivals after a 3-0 victory at West Brom.

Arsene Wenger's side lost at home to Aston Villa on Saturday but Terry insists they remain a title threat along with Liverpool and Manchester United.

Luiz Felipe Scolari's side host Arsenal at Stamford Bridge on Sunday week and go to the Emirates Stadium in May, and Terry says Chelsea will have to win both games to stay ahead of the Gunners.

"I still consider Arsenal a contender, you should never write off the big sides," said Terry. "They have the players to do it and they will put a run together.

"We still have to play them at home and away and anything can happen. We have to make sure we pick up the six points against them in those two games.

"It is really close at the top at moment. Liverpool are playing well. I watched them before we played West Brom and Manchester United had a good result against Stoke.

"The main thing for us is to keep winning and try and frustrate the teams below us. We have experienced that in chasing Manchester United the last couple of years. It does get to you.

"They had the advantage of a better goal difference on us before but we have it now. If we can keep scoring and not conceding it's like another three points."

Rejuvenated striker Nicolas Anelka scored twice against Albion to take his tally for the season to 13, but defender Jose Bosingwa began the rout with a stunning long-range effort.

The right-back, who joined the club in a £16.2million move from Porto in the summer, has been hailed as a top addition to the squad by Terry.

"He is one of the best signings of the year," he added. "He gives us a lot going forward and can defend.

"He has a great left and right foot and he shows that in training. He scores goals and is so quick people find it hard to get by him."

Meanwhile, shock England new boy, Chelsea's on-loan defender Michael Mancienne, says Terry's rise from Chelsea youngster to England captain has provided him with massive inspiration.

Both players came through the youth ranks at the club and both had to go out on loan to gain first-team experience - Mancienne at QPR and now Wolves while Terry went to Nottingham Forest.

But Mancienne, 20, earned a call-up to the England squad two years quicker than Terry and his chances of playing against Germany may increase further if the England captain pulls out with a foot injury.

"I have played with John Terry before in training at Chelsea and our games compliment each other because I'm a different kind of defender," said Mancienne.

"I model myself more on Ricardo Carvalho and Rio Ferdinand because of the way I play. My tackles are all about timing and I like to get my foot on the ball.

"The game has just come naturally to me, I used to play in midfield so when I went to the back I had a lot of confidence.

"John is captain of the full national side and is someone I look up to. He plays a big part in my belief that I can make it in the game because he made the breakthrough.

"He started out at Chelsea having to compete with Frank Leboeuf and Marcel Desailly who had won the World Cup with France and look where he is now."

A few weeks ago Mancienne admitted that he may have to leave Chelsea for the good of his career, but his England recognition has provided him with fresh optimism that he can make an impact under Scolari.

He added: "I was on the bench for Chelsea a few times, but I haven't played a first-team game for them yet. Long term I would like to go back there, because I have been with the club since I was eight.

"But I am at Wolves until the end of December and I don't know if the loan deal will be extended.

"I would like to think that one day I can play regular Premier League football, but being at Wolves is a great stepping stone.

"The move to Wolves, the fact they like to play good football and are top of the Championship, has definitely helped me get selected for England."

Meanwhile, Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard has been forced to pull out of the squad to face Germany with a rib problem.

Chelsea's Drogba reportedly on Real Madrid's radar

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has joined the likes of Andriy Shevchenko, Ricardo Olivera, Hernan Crespo and many more in Real Madrid's frantic search for a top-class hitman.

It has been rough days for Real fans across the world, and last weekend brought no consolation as Bernd Schuster's men dropped three more points against an extremely determined Valladolid outfit at the Estadio Jose Zorilla.

The Madrid hierarchy is in a desperate search for a world-renowed striker who can bring back the glory days to the Bernabeu after the team's sudden drop of form.

Barcelona-based Sport claims that the capital side have begun preliminary negotiations with Chelsea about the signing of Drogba this winter.

Real Madrid sporting director Predrag Mijatovic is a huge fan of the Ivorian hitman and is aware of his effectivness in front of goal, an aspect that Real Madrid has been lacking ever since the injury to Ruud van Nistelrooy, which will keep him out for around nine months.

Los Blancos came very close to capturing Drogba this summer, but Ramon Calderón had his focus on Cristiano Ronaldo and neglected Schuster's repeated cries for a striker. By the time the Ronaldo saga had ended, Drogba decided to stay put at Stamford Brdige for another year.

The reports suggest that Chelsea will ask a fee in the region of $25 million for its striker, a sum that Calderon will not have too much trouble dishing out, especially after selling Robinho for double that price to Manchester City in late August.

Drogba will not be able to play for Madrid in the Champions League, as he is cup tied.

West Bromwich Albion VS Chelsea - Match Result.

0 - 3

Nicolas Anelka continued his free-scoring form as Chelsea regained leadership of the English Premier League with a 3-0 rout of bottom club West Bromwich Albion in Saturday's late kickoff.

Anelka has prospered since Luiz Felipe Scolari took charge at Chelsea.

Chelsea head Liverpool on goal difference with both teams on 32 points after 13 matches.

Champions Manchester United are eight points adrift, with a game in hand, in third place.

Full-back Jose Boswinga opened the scoring for Chelsea on 34 minutes at The Hawthorns with Anelka all but wrapping up the three points with a double strike just before halftime.

It was the French international's seventh goal in his last three Premier League games and continued his

improved Chelsea form since the arrival of manager Luiz Felipe Scolari at the start of the season.

West Bromwich manager Tony Mowbray had predicted a tough test and his worst fears were confirmed as a comprehensive defeat leaves them propping up the standings on 11 points.

After a quiet start, Chelsea found their rhythm and Frank Lampard tested Scott Carson with a powerful drive.

A superb strike from Boswinga gave the Blues the lead after 34 minutes.

There appeared to be little danger but Boswinga suddenly unleashed a powerful left-footed drive from 25 meters out which Carson could not prevent from finding the back of the net.

After 38 minutes Anelka doubled Chelsea's lead as the excellent Florent Malouda headed the ball into his path and he ran on to dink the ball past Carson.

In first half injury-time Anelka struck again from a narrow angle with Salomon Kalou giving the assist this time.

Anelka, who had kept Didier Drogba on the bench, had chances to complete a hat-trick after the break.

The first came as he unselfishly chose to set up Deco rather than shoot from 12 meters out and later Abdoulaye Meite threw himself in front of his goalbound shot.

Malouda should have capped a fine individual performance with Chelsea's fourrth but shot across the face of goal with only Carson to beat.

Scolari was pleased to see his team back to their best after a penalty shootout defeat to Burnley in the League Cup in midweek and was particularly pleased by Anelka's contribution.

"When you receive the ball one or two times, 10 times, and you don't score, some players in the team lose confidence in him," Scolari told the Associated Press.

"But when he receives the ball one or two times and scores, players try to give more chances to Anelka for him to score more."

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.

The Drog Returns

Didier Drogba is set to start for the first time in six weeks with the Chelsea manager, Luiz Felipe Scolari, ringing the changes for the visit of Burnley in the Carling Cup tonight. Drogba has not started a game since picking up a knee injury against CFR Cluj in the Champions League on 1 October and has been forced to watch Nicolas Anelka seize his chance to become the club's main goalscorer.

Anelka has scored 11 goals so far this season but may be rested or moved out to the flanks to accommodate Drogba against Burnley. "Hopefully Didier faces quite a fight to get back into the side because that's what being at a big club is all about," said Chelsea's assistant coach Ray Wilkins yesterday. "Didier trained very well yesterday and today so he's back in the squad. That's very pleasant from our situation.

"We do have Nicolas in fantastic form, so with Didier breathing down his neck to have a game it is lovely. I am sure there is a very healthy rivalry between the two guys as to who will score the most goals and I do think they can play together. At the moment Felipe is managing to get the best out of Nic. The player has worked extremely hard to get himself in this situation so we must give him a lot of respect for what he's done.

"I think Nic has had a few arms round the shoulder from Felipe, a few chats and he's been told just exactly what's required of him. There are a lot of players you have to treat differently. It is a skill of the manager to select the right people and to get the right response from them. Nic has different attributes to Didier. His pace can take him beyond defenders in a flash. If you were to blend the two of them together you would have the best striker in world football.

"We've done exceptionally well over the last couple of years in the Carling Cup," Wilkins added, "and the boys have been to Felipe and expressed the fact they don't want to be left out and want to play in every game. That is an extremely positive attitude to take and I am delighted because it shows there is this winning mentality in the club."

Chelsea will still be without England midfielder Joe Cole and the game will come too early for Michael Ballack. "We are going to have to wait and see on Joe," Wilkins added. "He has got a couple of little niggles that he has been carrying for a couple of weeks. Michael Ballack has joined the group and is doing very well. He is back in the fold but the weekend is more likely for him."

Wilkins said Chelsea would not be treating their Championship opponents lightly as they attempted to reach the quarter-finals. "We have prepared for Burnley as we would for a Premier League side," he said. "It is important for us. We must pay them the utmost respect and impose our Premier League status on them when they come and play. It will be up to us to make sure they do most of the defending."

The Burnley manager, Owen Coyle, is aiming to dump Chelsea out of the competition then after the game ask Scolari the secrets of his success. For Coyle crossing swords with the World Cup winner is another notable step in the former Bolton striker's managerial education. Coyle and his players won the respect of the Arsenal manager, Arsène Wenger, after the Gunners edged a hard-fought FA Cup encounter at Turf Moor last season. Coyle said: "I felt privileged when Arsène Wenger was here and to stand in the opposite dugout to a World Cup winner will be another privilege. Hopefully I can learn and I will certainly be looking to pick his brains after the game when we sit down for a chat.

"For my own personal development it's tremendous and obviously I am looking to continue that, so I'll cream what I can off him to try to make me and this football club better."

Coyle has won many admirers since taking over at Burnley 12 months ago and his commitment to attractive, passing football has made the dour, sterile style under predecessor Steve Cotterill a distant memory.

Players such as Robbie Blake, Martin Paterson and Chris Eagles have given the Clarets a significant attacking threat, and Coyle admits his players can only benefit from the experience of playing Chelsea.

He said: "They're so fluent and they've got pace and strength – everything you'd ask of an individual, and as a team, they have it. But as a player I wanted to play against the very best players and go to the best arenas and stadiums, and Wednesday provides that. There is a big financial outlay from our fans, so it's important that we, as a group, show our appreciation to those coming down to London. We can do that by performing to our maximum and hopefully giving them something to shout about."

Lampard fires warning to United

Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard says Manchester United cannot afford any more slip-ups if they are to successfully defend the title.

Lampard has helped Luiz Felipe Scolari's side set the early pace this term, opening up an eight-point gap on the Red Devils along the way though United to have a game in hand on the Blues.

That advantage was helped by United's 2-1 defeat at Arsenal Saturday, while Chelsea made light work of Blackburn at Ewood Park 24 hours later.

The Emirates setback was United's second loss of the season, while Chelsea have lost just once in the Premier League.

And with that in mind, Lampard believes the Blues' fellow contenders for the crown can't afford anymore slip-ups.

"It's a nice gap for us," the England international told the Evening Standard.

"It is far from over, but in the last two years it's been the other way around. We've been five points behind and it is not easy. When you are chasing, you really can't afford to lose games.

"You have to remember Liverpool are neck and neck with us. But Man United and Arsenal, who are always big contenders, are those few points behind."

Chelsea came desperately close to taking the title last season, eventually ending the campaign just two points adrift.

Their failure to keep pace with United at the top ultimately proved costly and Lampard is determined to avoid a similar occurrence this time around.

"It is not easy to chase, the pressure builds up and if you drop points you fall further behind," he added.

"It's difficult either way, because the big four don't lose too many games or drop too many points.

"You certainly don't want to be too far behind at this point.

"We did it last year and we made a lot of ground up. However, in the end we lost the title by two points, so it feels nice to be in the lead at the moment."

BPL Match : Blackburn Rovers VS Chelsea - 9 November 2008.

VS

Ince relishes physical challenge from Chelsea

BLACKBURN, England- Paul Ince, the Blackburn Rovers manager, faces Chelsea on Sunday expecting the Premiership title hopefuls to provide his team with a strong, physical challenge.

In a week in which Arsene Wenger publically criticised Stoke City for their physical approach in the recent victory over Arsenal, the issue of underdog teams trying to out-muscle the Premiership elite has been to the fore.

But Ince, a former midfielder well known for relishing the physical side of the game in his own playing days, believes that Chelsea are now capable of mixing both styles of football.

"Chelsea can do both sides of the game now. They can play and they can also handle the physical side of the game," said the former England international.

"You look at the likes of John Terry, Carvalho, John Obi-Mikel and you can see that they are a big side.

"Last season, they had a lot of 1-0 wins, so that shows they are a team well capable of defending a lead. They defend, they can tackle and they are strong players.

"But since Luiz Scolari came in, he has taken them to another level and they are now playing Manchester United-style football. So that makes them twice as hard to beat because they are top notch at both aspects.

"They have world-class players, so when you come up against them, you have to rely on your work ethic and getting in people's faces to get results against the big boys.

"But when the big boys are capable of exactly the same thing, but with world-class players, they are going to out-play you and you can't do anything about it. That's a fact."

Ince, a former favourite with Manchester United and Liverpool, believes those two clubs are genuine title contenders, along with the team he faces at Ewood Park on Sunday.

And the Blackburn manager finds it difficult to separate the three early-season pace setters. "Are Chelsea better than United? I don't think so, and you shouldn't forget Liverpool in there either," he said.

"They've changed as a team and the players seem to be enjoying what they are doing. With the likes of Deco in there, Chelsea are now playing football the way it should be played. We just need to hope they have an off day if we are to get the win.

"But if Hull and Stoke can beat Arsenal, then there is no reason why we can't beat Chelsea."

Scolari, however, has been shocked at the physical style of Premiership football despite making an instant, and impressive, impact on English football.

"Yes, I have been surprised at how physical it is," he said. "You never look at a club in English football and think their players are small. They all have big bodies.

"Sometimes, there is more physical contact in games but, hopefully, we're not bad at that.

"All the teams have a minimum ten players who are about 1m 90cm (6'3") so sometimes you need to do something different in training because you are playing against a team that has six or seven players inside your area and that makes a big problem for us because we're not that big.

"We need some strategic movements to control the game and control throw-ins and corner kicks."

Scolari is expected to hand veteran Brazilian midfielder Mineiro his debut on Sunday with Nigeria midfielder John Mikel Obi making way as a result of the mistakes which contributed to two of Roma goals in their 3-1 midweek win over Chelsea in Rome.

England defender Ashley Cole misses the trip with a calf problem while Michael Essien, who had knee surgery earlier in the season, and Michael Ballack (foot) are long-term absentees.

SCOLARI: MANY MISTAKES WERE MADE IN THE MATCH AGAINST ROMA

'We lost because Roma played better than us,' were Felipe Scolari's straight-forward closing words to his post-match press conference after defeat in Rome.

It was a statement that drew applause from the assembled Italian media but before that thought, the Chelsea manager had highlighted a few ways his team had fallen short.

Mistakes when in possession, an over-eagerness to attack in numbers when just one goal down, and simple lax defending were some of his points. He was clearly not happy after his first away defeat in charge of Chelsea.

'We made mistakes at critical times and gave two good chances to Roma, and they took the goals and killed the game,' he said.

'The first goal there was a foul for us and we tried to play a short ball we shouldn't. Roma pressured us because two or three players were near the ball. We make a foul and after this, no-one followed Panucci in the area and they made the first goal.'

The former Chelsea loanee's close-range 33^rd minute strike was a strong tonic for a side low on confidence and second best in this game until that point.

'Roma played some games in Italy not very well but they have very good player and when you make mistakes as we did, it gives chance to these players. And when Roma make the first goal in any game, it is difficult to draw.

'After this first goal, Roma play with five in midfield and they control the game. The second goal, the ball was for us. Then Mikel made a mistake and they make the third goal - finish!'

Deco's second yellow card, for taking a free-kick too early, would not have received the same punishment had it been a Roma player Scolari suggested. But by then there were only 10 minutes left with the scoreboard reading 3-1. The damage had been done.

'Until 30 minutes we had three or four very good shots and later we tried again with Drogba, Anelka and Kalou but Roma closed very well, Scolari said, agreeing with a comment that Chelsea's determination to surge forward in the second half left dangerous room for counter-attack.

'Many mistakes were made, we need to think for the next games what happened. Maybe for the future we need to be more relaxed at 1-0 - it is not the finish of the game,'

The defeat was Chelsea's heaviest in Europe since the 3-1 away loss in Monaco in 2004. That was a semi-final first leg and the deficit proved insurmountable at Stamford Bridge.

This time with a one-point lead over Roma and Bordeaux in Group A and three points over Cluj, there are two games to make amends.

'It is open for all,' Scolari summed up, before estimating, 'We have seven points and if we win one game we should be there because Roma play Bordeaux and they both can't win.'