Chelsea return to winning ways
Sunday, 28 December 2003 14:45
Chelsea bounced back from their St Stephen's Day mauling by Charlton Athletic with an emphatic 3-0 win over Portsmouth at Stamford Bridge today. Chelsea, whose 4-2 defeat by the Addicks was their second loss in three league games, were kept scoreless until a second half blitz from defender Wayne Bridge and midfielders Frank Lampard and Geremi.
Bridge broke the deadlock with a solo effort in the 65th minute, Lampard, who had hit the post in the first half, found the roof of the net off an Adrian Mutu pass eight minutes later and Geremi volleyed his first goal for Chelsea in the 82nd minute.
Ranieri made some key changes for the match after the defeat to Charlton, mainly in defence where he left veteran French World Cup winner Marcel Desailly on the subs bench alongside 19-year-old Glen Johnson. Chelsea's defence had been sorely exposed against Charlton and Ranieri's decision to bring in Bridge and the more experienced Mario Melchiot to join his back four proved inspirational.
In a first half littered with fouls and few chances on goal, it took Blues midfielder Lampard to threaten Harald Wapenaar in the Portsmouth goal with two shots inside the space of two minutes. Lampard's first effort from 18 yards out came close to breaking the deadlock, hitting the woodwork in the 40th minute.
Another long-range effort moments later sailed wide of Wapenaar's post, and the keeper had to look lively again to keep out an attempt from Icelandic striker Eidur Gudjohnsen on the stroke of half-time.
After the break Chelsea moved up a gear, although it took for just after the hour for the hosts to grab the opener. Unlikely scorer Bridge collected a pass from midfielder Geremi on the left flank before driving a left-footed effort past the Pompey keeper.
Eight minutes later Lampard confirmed his first half promise by latching on to a pass from Mutu to send a magnificent 18-yard drive past Wapenaar.
Chelsea gave their wounded fans another post-Christmas gift eight minutes from time when Geremi volleyed a right-footed shot past the helpless Wapenaar into the top right hand corner from 25 yards.
The win means Chelsea stay third on 42 points on goal difference behind Arsenal.
Filed by James Boylan
