SAFC v CFC: The One Where Chelsea Remembered It Was November

Black Friday Sale on Cahills!

Off the back of two outstanding performances, West Brom and Schalke for those of you who's memories are fragile from a night out in Newcastle, the Sunderland match was anything but. It wasn't fun. It wasn't a tactical masterclass. It wasn't a win. But it wasn't really  the worst result.
Between Courtois and some frantic scrambles in the box Chelsea kept a rare clean sheet. How the managed to do it on Saturday is a bit of a mystery. For much of the second half, Sunderland looked ore likely to be the ones to break the tedium that is a nil-nil scoreline. I’m not saying that facing Jozy 'one PL goal' Altidore didn't help Chelsea’s cause. But it certainly didn't hurt.

Chelsea were stopped from scoring for the first time since *that* game at Selhurst Park. Difficult for some supporters to grasp with no Fernando Torres to blame things on. Sunderland have always had a solid bus-like defence - but Chelsea were their own worst enemy not taking shots when they normally would have. Even Mourinho resigning himself to not just one but TWO actual strikers up front looked a bit desperate - and as we all know now — didn't work.

Not to say some players didn't 'put in a shift.' And I do apologise now for that tedious phrase. Nemanja Matic was ridiculously good once again barely putting a foot, shoulder or pass wrong. He controlled the midfield as we all have come to love and take for granted. Unsurprisingly, Fabregas was also pass perfect. But at the end of the day it's all for nowt if no one manages to score.

In terms of the season, what does it all mean for Chelsea? Not a lot. They remain undefeated and have a comfortable cushion above any rivals. Mourinho always sets the team up brilliantly when he has a point to prove and then loses discipline in the next game. Mourinho wanted to get one over on a man who'd done something he never has has at Chelsea - and certainly did that on Tuesday.

The upside to the result is the hilarious news items and other articles from ‘experts’ pondering whether this is it for Chelsea’s successful run. Has it all come to a halt as they dropped points for just the third game this season. “Chelsea in Crisis”. The downside to the match was the loss of Costa and his healthy hamstring for the mid-week Tottenham match. Who knows how long it will hold up for? Chelsea need to be able to use him whenever his hamstring has deemed itself fit. Although he may not have deserved some of the cards that have seen him acquire this suspension earlier in this season - he more than entitled himself to a card (or two) on Saturday. Supporters will hope the bench doesn’t damage that fragile Sprazilian.

November has always been a dire month for Chelsea’s performances - it just took them this long to remember what month it was. If that's Chelsea’s annual November slump, I’m more than happy to take it and run.

jb xx