Despite Darren Bent’s second goal in two games Sunderland were outclassed at the SOL by Chelsea on Tuesday losing 3-1 to the London outfit. The lads led at half time but Chelsea dominated the second half with goals from Ballack, Lampard and Deco sealing what turned out to be a comfortable win.

In the build up to the game there were doubts surrounding Richardson and Malbranque after the wide men picked up knocks in Saturday’s win at Bolton. Kieran managed to shake off the dead leg in time which meant the only change was young Jordan Henderson replacing Malbranque.

The lad’s game plan was obviously to get amongst Chelsea and make life difficult for the Londoners with Cana, Cattermole and Henderson all getting stuck into tackles which got the crowd going. Henderson on one occasion made a great challenge on Ashley Cole only for Steve Bennet to blow for a foul after Cole looked at him for some sympathy.

Darren Bent had the first chance inside ten minutes when a ball over the top allowed him a run on goal but his effort from the right hand side of the box flashed past the post.

We took the lead after twenty minutes when Kenwyne Jones held up the ball well on the edge of the area before Bent latched onto the loose ball and fired low past Cech into the bottom corner.

After the goal Chelsea started getting on top but good defending restricted Essien and Lampard to shooting from distance. As half time approached Chelsea were well on top and I can’t ever remember supporters whistling for the half time whistle before but we held out to go in at the break one up.

Chelsea started the second half as they finished the first by camping in our half and passing the ball about incredibly slickly. They eventually drew level after a spell of pressure where you could sense an equaliser coming when Ballack bundled the ball over the line from a flicked on corner.

Then Frank Lampard gave Chelsea the lead from the penalty spot after McCartney was adjudged to have brought down Drogba. To be fair, although Drogba was looking for the penalty it looked pretty stone wall for me even though Steve Bennet couldn’t wait to give it.

In order to try and salvage something from the game Steve Bruce made a couple of changes with Cattermole and Jones making way for Leadbitter and Campbell. I’m not sure Bruce got this right as despite a lot of effort from Henderson in the first half the youngster faded in the second and the withdrawal of Cattermole made us more open.

Deco exploited the space we allowed him with twenty minutes to go when he lashed a shot from twenty yards in off the post. Andy Reid got a run out in the last five minutes replacing Richardson, but the game was already well over.

If we’d have got anything of this game it would have been a bonus and the commitment and effort from the lads was pleasing to see. Darren Bent looks sharp and took his goal well again, so hopefully the visit of Blackburn on Saturday will prove more fruitful.

Final Score: Sunderland 1 Chelsea 3

ALS Man of the Match: Darren Bent

Aidan Crowe

ALS Books click here