Chelsea: Cech; Azpilicueta, Zouma, Terry (c), Filipe Luis; Mikel, Matic; Schurrle, Fabregas, Hazard; Drogba Derby: Grant, Christie, Buxton, Keogh (c), Forsyth, Hughes, Mascarell, Bryson, Russell, Martin, Dawkins League Cup Quarter Final, KO 19.45. Focus shifts, from the premier league title race to the league cup, where quietly but surely Chelsea have made great strides towards claiming their first trophy of the year. Of all the teams left in the pot (following Man City losing in the last round), Newcastle perhaps are our biggest challenge remaining. With all due respect to Derby, this on paper looks like a comfortable route into the semi-final, especially after derby lost to (patrick Bamford's) Middelsbourough quite tamely this weekend. Petr Cech continues in goal after a clean sheet and otherwise assured game in stead of the injured Courtois, Zouma comes in for ivanovic-it will be interesting to see how he performs tonight. Schurlle gets a rare start in stead of willian-he showed nice glimpses in europe and also last saturday for the last 15 minutes or so, hopefully he can keep it up tonight. My only concern would be Drogba getting a start instead of Remy. Drogba is still a potent striker, but i'd love to see more of Remy as I feel his pace and technical ability really puts defenders on the cosh. Prediction: 3-1 chelsea.
They may well have cruised for long periods, but it still doesn't hide that it was 2-1 when Derby had a man wrongly sent off. Derby at that point of the game had there tails up, and where making a fight back after just getting one back. The referee definitely gave you a helping have in what would have been a tough final 15 mins for you without the red card
Really? Saved? You are truly the biggest ****ing idiot ever. Do you ever get bored of being such a whingey little ****?
With respect Shergar if he'd stayed on I couldn't see them squaring things in a month of Sunday's! They only had one shot on target in the entire game, and I meant what I said when we were playing in first gear!
Wrongfully sent off? He blatently stopped Remy from reaching that ball and knocking it past the keeper. Red all day long.
I think regardless of the sending off, we were comfortable almost the entire game. Decent performance with a couple of bits of real quality from Luis and Hazard. Sending off looked a little soft (based on what is normally given) though I thought at first he flagged for handball outside the area. Onwards and upwards and another Semi Final for Jose.
It's one of them where I'd be pissed if given against us as it's the sort of thing not normally given (like pushing/grappling in the box at set plays). However Robbie Savage said it didn't stop a goal scoring chance which I disagree on. Remy had just got in front of the player who then made no attempt to play the ball and clearly stopped Remy having any chance of getting to the ball before the keeper. Ultimately I don't think it changed the end result.
