Zimpapers Logo

back in the English Premier League soccer title race after Monday night’s 3-1 victory over relegation-threatened Blackpool.
Goals from captain John Terry and a double from Frank Lampard – the first a penalty – helped Chelsea to a win against the hard working home side, who pulled a late consolation goal back through Jason Puncheon.
The win closes the gap on English Premier League leaders Manchester United to nine points with a game in hand but the Stamford Bridge manager is uninterested in any talk of retaining the title.
“We have to prepare the next game and go game by game,” he said.
“It is too far to think we can fight for the title, it is better for us to go game by game – that makes it easier for us. It was a good performance and an important result. Salomon Kalou helped us a lot and played very well. Fernando Torres and Didier Drogba played well overall, they were dangerous and I think they played a good game.”
Contrary to Ancelotti’s opinion, Torres and Drogba appeared on different wavelengths for vast parts of this contest yet the Chelsea manager has faith that Torres can soon start to justify his £50million price tag.
“It is important that he works for the team and he is doing that,” he said.
“He will improve and score. I think that they played well as a good combination. We are happy with his performance and he will score. It is not a problem.”
Lampard too preferred to downplay title talk.
“I don’t know if we’ve been given a second chance in the title race,” said Lampard, whose absence through injury this season has affected Chelsea’s form.
“It’s too early to say and we’re still behind. But it’s nice to be looking upwards rather than fighting to be top four – though we still have a battle to make sure we do that.”
Neither side wrested control of the game until Chelsea took the lead after 20 minutes through Terry as he headed home Lampard’s corner.
For Blackpool, Puncheon’s low effort hit the post after 33 minutes as Petr Cech let the ball slip through his grasp. – AFP.