From My Seat: Chelsea (H)

A Spanish-themed day seemed to be going well in the fans quarter as we all gathered to witness the post-window team take on many people's tip for the league title – Chelsea.

We all assembled in a packed L4 boozer and the conversation was of our chances against the cockneys. Many thought it may well be a game that a point would be a result; others pondered on the team to be selected and would any of our new men be risked and a genuine moan all around that Lukaku was ineligible. He seemed to be the one signing that excited most.

As the teams came through on mobile devices, the word ‘Naismith?!’ rang loud in derogatory fashion; many would eat humble pie later. Barry was the only new man involved in the starting line-up and, by the end of the game, it was his name that was on most lips. The look of strength on the bench was also noted considering Pienaar, Gibson and Alcaraz all unavailable due to injury.

Just over 36,000 of us assembled while the walk up to the ground seemed to suggest something like a 40,000 gate, such were the queues at venues such as the fat-van, Blue Dragon, the chippy and café on Goodison Road, plus a big queue to pick up tickets along a road just filled with bluenoses.

Lukaku was presented pre-kick-off and he duly waved his No 17 shirt and a big unit he looked. I can’t wait to see him start up front at Villa. Howard Webb was our ref.

As we kicked off, I was interested in seeing Eto’o in the flesh but he looked more than rusty since his Barca / Inter Milan days as early doors he headed a very presentable chance wide and a little later he ballooned one high into the Gwladys Street stand upper tier.

We started brightly with Barry and Osman looking composed in midfield and with us playing the customary ball out from the back we no more than threatened without much threat in the final third. Barkley started well up for it but seemed to fade out of it as the ball was played around him rather than to him, as we looked for avenues to attack whilst having to be very aware of the Chelsea threat, as they poured forward with confidence but the back four held their nerve and position whilst being protected primarily by the Osman-Barry axis.

Chelsea were the more dominant but never really looked like undoing us until Howard had one of his now familiar moments and tried – well I think he tried passing out from his six yard box but was soon under pressure as Chelsea had sussed this play out from the back ploy and had men pushing onto our rear-guard with pace and the upshot was he gave the ball to Schurrle who squared for Eto’o to hit the empty net – but for superb work from Barry, who read the situation and raced back and slid in on the forward with superb timing and deflected the ball for a corner, we would have been one down.

Barry was now well into the game and, although Jags is captain, it was the former City man who was dictating affairs both verbally and by example. It was just as well because Chelsea put us under sustained pressure for the last 15 mins of the first half. Jags and Distin came to the fore as they headed, hacked or booted attacks from the danger area, Osman and Barry provided a welcome shield and Naismith put in a lung-bursting stint to both get back to help out and be the recipient of the out-ball and his ability to leap and head well was appreciated by players and fans alike.

Eto’o put the midfield runner Ramirez in on goal but Howard saved well; then, in a crowded box the ball appeared from a mass of bodies and someone took a swipe at it only sending it high in the air and Howard withstood four Chelsea players jumping both with him and at him to successfully gather, fall on and allow composure to be regained.

This must have worked well as, with just about half of one minute added remaining and loads of fans heading to bars and bogs, Osman did really well to use the fast feet to get in a position to make a very good cross to the far post. It seemed just too far for Jelavic to reach and many thought it went wide but somehow Jela got something on his head to guide it back enough to elude the keeper and find the lurking Naismith with the luxury of a simple header home. The ground erupted with a noise that would stretch from L4 to L1, leaving those at bars and bogs to dash for screen replays. From thinking 0-0 to be a good half-time score, we now had the euphoria of the lead.

The chat at the break was of the transfer window and how the signings had given everyone a lift and also fans bemoaning the fact that Lukaku was ineligible today. I was most interested to look out for how the Martinez style would go about defending the lead in comparison to the man who has just left for the other end of the East Lancs Road. It was obvious Chelsea would come out at pace and they did not disappoint and we did have 15 mins of solid pressure to deal with.

Tippy-tappy went out of the window, to be replaced with gritty gutsy defending, yet always seeming to have someone forward to receive the out-ball and the willingness of players to hurry to support, which resulted in the ball not coming straight back as it had done previously. Chelsea did cause us some scares, none more so than the effort early doors that saw Ramirez do us for pace and play in Schurrle one-on-one and from a good angle he hit the net to a roar from the travelling fans only for it to die instantly as the net it hit was the side netting. How he missed, I don’t know... but all assembled celebrated his miss with gusto.

The half became more even as it went on and, in an open game, both teams threatened in turn; in our case, although the tippy-tappy had gone, there were some periods of excellent joined-up play as well as some well received hoofs as we defended our slender lead.

To this end, the manager started his subs: first it was McCarthy for Jelavic with Mirallas going up front. His speedy running would cause the Chelsea defence to think twice before bombing forward, but get forward they did and the nearest to an equaliser was in the last 10 mins or so when the speedy Ramirez came from deep and got on the end of a cross but thankfully he too hit the side netting.

Barkley was still full of running and putting himself about which was occupying the Chelsea defence as the clock ticked down. Mirallas was full of running upfront and left Luiz for dead only for the Brazilian to haul him back. "Off! Off!! Off!!!" yelled the faithful but it was only a yellow – maybe because, although he was the last man, the offence was just in our half. We seemed to be growing in confidence but had to be vigilant as just one mistake could spoil the day. Jags and Distin headed and hoofed as necessary. Osman and Barry got it down and played out and as good a team performance as I have seen for some time was taking place.

Minutes to go and Naismith was replaced by Deulofeu and the Scot received a standing ovation as he left the field. Moments later, Barkley was yet again felled and Baines took a free kick that beat the keeper but was fractionally high and clipped angle of bar and post.

Three minutes added, the whistles from the faithful reaching crescendo point, the manager sends on Stones for Mirallas after signalling for Mirallas to go to the far side and the walk off was slow. He is no mug, our man Roberto. Mourinho would have privately acknowledged the ploy. We cleared an attack and Mr Webb added his whistle to those of the faithful – and ‘If yer know yer istery’ was absolutely belted out.

MotM – Barry

A very enjoyable game that has gone a long way to settling down both players and fans. Okay, Chelsea did have most possession and indeed most shots on goal but you have to make them count and they didn’t – and we made one count from a much lesser position shot-wise – so maybe we deserved to win. I was very impressed with Barry, he looked class; although Jags is our skipper, Barry was talking and gesturing throughout. Two players who get more stick than others were instrumental in that win as Naismith not only scored but put in a lung-bursting shift and his work in the air was excellent; also Osman dovetailed well with Barry and had an excellent game.

Barkley showed what a superstar he may become with a show of power pace; it was just his vision for the right pass and a tendency to fade from the game from time to time that let him down. Of the subs, McCarthy had the longest run out and it was not long enough to make a judgement although I must say I thought he found this encounter a step up from anything he had played in before, such was the pace and intensity of the game, allied to some excellent technical abilities from both sides. Deulofeu and Stones were no more than break-up-play and run-down-the-clock subs.

I can't wait for next week at West Ham when Lukaku is unleashed – and I am not alone with that thought. I am sure he would have been impressed with the atmosphere created in Goodison today.

Just think: last week, many were dissatisfied with the tippy-tappy approach and fearful... yet, after today, only two teams remain unbeaten in the Prem — and both reside in L4. Funny old game.

See you at the Hammers.
UP THE BLUES

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