Sunderland suffered there second home league defeat of the season losing 4-2 to reigning Premiership champions Chelsea on Tuesday night. An entertaining game saw the lads take the lead through Phil Bardsley only to be pegged back by a Lampard penalty and a strike from Kalou. Before half time Kieran Richardson levelled from a free kick but second half goals from John Terry and Nicolas Anelka sealed the points for the visitors.

Chelsea headed North to Wearside looking to avenge the heavy defeat we inflicted on them in November which seemed to kick start the rot which has seen them go from Championship certainties to Championship outsiders. However, a big win against Bolton has restored confidence and ensured a stern test for the lads who face a tough couple of months as we look to cement a top ten finish and possibly finish in a European spot.

We knew before kick off that Sulley Muntari wouldn’t feature as he had to return to Italy to finalise some paperwork, but there was a place in the side for fellow new boy Stephane Sessegnon. We lined up with Craig Gordon in goal behind a back four of Onuoha, Ferdinand, Bramble and Bardsley. In the five man midfield was Sessegnon, Richardson, Malbranque, Henderson and Elmo. Asamoah Gyan continued to lead the line alone.

Despite signing Fernando Torres and David Luiz for megabucks last night neither new recruits were available for Chelsea who fielded Peter Cech in goal behind Cole, Terry, Ivanovic and Boswinga. In midfield Essien, Lampard, Mikel and Kalou looked to supply forwards Drogba and Anelka.

We took the lead early on as Phil Bardsley attempted to better Nedum Onuoha’s goal in the reverse fixture with a great strike from the edge of the box after beating two men cutting in from the left onto his right foot. Mint.

Chelsea hit back and Ferdinand did well to block an Anelka shot before Lampard drilled a shot wide of the post. We gifted The Blues an equaliser when Elmo clumsily challenged Ashley Cole for a header and Frank Lampard made no mistake from the spot.

The second goal was equally as disappointing from a Sunderland perspective although Chelsea were slightly fortunate in the build up. Phil Bardsley made a great challenge on Drogba on the half way line but the ball fell kindly for Anelka. With the Sunderland defence stretched Anelka played through Kalou and while Ferdinand attempted to get back, Craig Gordon rushed from his goal making it easy for Kalou to slot past him.

It wasn’t long before we were back on level terms with Kieran Richardson notching his third goal in two games. Elmo won a free kick on the edge of the area after a galloping run forward saw him upended by Boswinga. Richardson lashed a low free kick under the wall into the bottom corner leaving Cech rooted to the spot.

After the break Chelsea started to turn the screw and really piled on the pressure with Lampard forcing Gordon into a few good saves from long range. We were camped in our own half and unable to hold the ball up with the midfield overran at times.

Chelsea took the lead after Drogba’s corner, which had been awarded by John Terry, was eventually turned in by the centre half who moments earlier had signalled for the corner on behalf of Mark Halsey.

We did ride our luck at times when Bardsley cleared off the line before Kalou should have scored his second but his shot bounced off both posts and away to safety. We didn’t really create anything in the second half and the best chance, if you can call it that, came when Gyan and Sessegnon broke but the Ghanaian put too much on his through ball, even for the pacey debutant. Chelsea got there fourth in added time when Malouda crossed for Anelka to convert from close range.

Final Score: Sunderland 2 Chelsea 4

ALS Man of the Match: Steed Malbranque

Aidan Crowe

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