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Chelsea Analysis – Efficient Chelsea see off Stoke
Chelsea’s blistering start to the season showed no signs of stopping as they eased out a dogged Stoke side in an efficient display.
 CHELSEA 2
Malouda 32, Drogba 77
 STOKE 0
Though the visitors were spared the embarrassment of a six goal landslide, Chelsea were clear and deserved winners despite Frank Lampard’s early penalty miss. His failure to convert from the spot means Lampard has now missed his last three penalties dating all the way back to the FA Cup Final in May. When referee Martin Atkinson awarded Chelsea a second spot kick as the game drew to a close, Didier Drogba was called upon to seal a hard-fought victory.
Despite Stoke’s promising start, the result was never in doubt and when Florent Malouda burst through to clip past Thomas Sorenson after half an hour, the remaining 60 minutes was merely a formality. Malouda’s fine display and fourth goal of the season prompted manager Carlo Ancelotti to describe him as “the best” and with the Frenchman turning in shift after stunning shift, Chelsea appear unstoppable.
The interchanging of passing and movement between Drogba, Malouda and Nicolas Anelka is simplicity at its finest, and if the trio had merged into this single menacing entity last season, the title race would have been over before it had begun. The breathtaking force have set a real standard for their title rivals with their seamless interweaving passages of play and - much to the joy of the manager - are bringing the best out of their teammates in the process.
Even Salomon Kalou - who most fans forget is still learning the game at just 25 years of age - looks eager and equally as devastating when coming off the bench as he proved last week at the DW Stadium. Having strength in depth is one thing, but keeping squad players with the quality of Kalou, Youssi Benayoun and Yuri Zhirkov involved in the first XI’s success is a real credit to Ancelotti’s set up at the Bridge.
Stoke’s physical presence is widely effective in the top flight of English football but Chelsea are one of the few clubs whose own robust nature can neutralise any muscular threat. That being said, John Obi Mikel was thankful to see Glenn Whelan long range effort crash off the underside of the bar when he carelessly surrendered possession in his own half. New boy Ramires finally made his long awaited Chelsea debut coming on in the dying moments, and Mikel can be under no illusions that he is the one in direct competition with the Brazilian for a place in the starting line-up.
14 goals without reply this season suggests that Ancelotti has snuffed out the frailties that plagued Chelsea’s rearguard pre-season, and having struck the net a ridiculous 31 times in their last six home games, it cannot be denied that Stamford Bridge is a fortress once more.
Starting XI
1 Cech
19 Ferreira - 26 Terry - 33 Alex - 3 Cole
5 Essien - 12 Mikel - 8 Lampard
39 Anelka - 11 Drogba - 15 Malouda
Substitutions
72 - 21 Kalou on for 8 Lampard
81 - 23 Sturridge on for 39 Anelka
82 - 7 Ramires on for 5 Essien
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