RSS
ATOM
advertisement
Played
December 26, 2009 12:45 PM GMT
St. Andrews Ground
Referee: Peter Walton
December 26, 2009 12:45 PM GMT
St. Andrews Ground
Referee: Peter Walton
90′ +6
That's it! Birmingham hold Chelsea to a draw. They have Joe Hart to thank, the Englishman made a number of great saves to frustrate Ancelotti's men, who saw Malouda sent off late on. The Blues are five points clear at the top, but that could be reduced to two if Manchester United beat Hull City tomorow.
90′ +5
Into the last minute of time added on.
90′ +3
Kalou crosses. Roger Johnson is there again to clear for a corner. Drogba's corner is easily collected by the bandaged Hart.
90′ +1
Ballack gives the ball away cheaply. Bowyer and Johnson take turns in trying to score. Both shots fail to trouble Cech.
90′
There will be six minutes of time added on.
89′
Yellow/Red Florent Malouda
88′
Substitution 
Sebastian Larsson 
Damien Johnson
Sebastian Larsson Damien Johnson
88′
Malouda is sent off! He played a poor pass and in his frustration slides in on Stephen Carr. Having already been booked the referee had no other choice in truth.
85′
Substitution John Obi Mikel Michael Ballack
John Obi Mikel Michael Ballack
85′
Hart is up and restarts play.
84′
Ballack indeed comes on. Mikel leaves the action.
83′
As Hart receives treatment Michael Ballack gets ready to come on.
81′
Chelsea continue to pour forward in search of an equaliser. They almost get it as Carr heads the ball back to Hart with Kalou lurking. Hart, who is on loan from Manchester City, just manages to get there in time and takes a knock for his troubles and is bleeding.
79′
Yellow Card Branislav Ivanovic
79′
Substitution Frank Lampard Joe Cole
Frank Lampard Joe Cole
79′
Chelsea have a throw on the right as they seek a winner. Beletti fires in a cross that goes out for a goal kick.
78′
Ivanovic picks up Chelsea's second yellow of the game. And the Blues make their second change. Surprisingly it is Lampard who leaves the field and Joe Cole comes on to replace him.
78′
Substitution James McFadden 
Keith Fahey
James McFadden Keith Fahey
76′
Substitution for Birmingham. Keith Fahey comes on in place of James McFadden.
75′
Can Birmingham hold on?
75′
Carr plays the ball out for a throw after a deflected strike from Lampard.
74′
The corner is cleared and Chelsea break. Carr tackles the rampaging Drogba.
73′
Larrson has another go and it hits the wall. Chelsea break and the danger is cleared and then Birmingham do exactly the same through Jerome, who wins a corner off Terry.
72′
Mikel brings down McFadden and Birmingham have a free kick.
71′
Yellow Card Lee Bowyer
71′
Kalou has made a very positive impact since entering the fray, but Hart is putting in a man of the match performance.
71′
Hart saves Birmingham again! Beletti slides the ball through to Kalou and the Englishman tips the winger's shot wide.
69′
Malouda must score! But he doesn't! A goalmouth scramble presents the ball to Malouda in the box with the goal to aim for and he manages somehow to scuff his shot.
67′
Substitution 
Daniel Sturridge Salomon Kalou
Daniel Sturridge Salomon Kalou
67′
Kalou gets involved right away, wriggling his way into the box on the right and cuts the ball across for Lampard, who fires well over. Not his best effort.
66′
Daniel Sturridge goes off to be replaced by Salomon Kalou.
66′
Nearly for Chelsea! The Blues win a corner. Beletti's header goes just wide!
63′
Play resumes with Birmingham exerting some pressure on Ancelotti's charges. Another corner from the home side is cleared, this time by Lampard.
61′
So close! Larsson hits the free kick and forces a great save from Cech! The Czech international gets both hands to the ball and collides with the post in making the save. Chelsea's medical staff are on the pitch and Cech is quickly back on his feet.
61′
Yellow Card Florent Malouda
61′
Mikel catches Benitez and picks up a yellow card.
60′
Just like in the first half Chelsea are getting plenty of the ball. They have nothing to show for it so far though.
57′
Benitez holds up the ball and makes space for a shot. Terry blocks his effort with his head.
54′
Ashley Cole appears to be struggling in possession and is then brought down by Larsson. Lampard's free kick is a tame effort, and doesn't even beat the first man.
53′
Close for Chelsea! Lampard plays in Ashley Cole and boyhood Chelsea fan Roger Johnson makes a great block to stop him from scoring!
52′
Bowyer almost gets on the end of a high through ball ahead of Cech.
51′
Beletti gives away a free kick. Joe Cole is warming up for Chelsea and the away fans are singing his name.
50′
Chelsea soak up some Birmingham pressure and break through Malouda. He plays in Sturridge who can't beat Hart to the through ball.
47′
Chelsea pick up where they left off in the first half, dominating possession for the most part and trying to break down the home side's stubborn defence.
45′
Chelsea kick off for the second half.
45′ +2
What a miss from Sturridge! Drogba runs down the right and plays in a fantastic ball for Sturridge. He shoots wide when it seemed certain that he would score! That's the last action of an absorbing first half.
45′
Malouda's ball in is met by Beletti. His header is straight at Hart. McLeish will be worried at how frequently Chelsea are winning the ball in the air from set pieces.
45′
Beletti is knocked off the ball and Chelsea are awarded the free kick. There will be 2 minutes of added time.
42′
Terry breaks forward and gets to the byline and eventually loses out. Hart restarts the action with a goal kick.
40′
Jerome looks to break on the left but Terry manages to get across and snuff out the danger.
39′
My word what an attempt from Alex! Bowyer brings down Malouda in the centre of the pitch. Alex lines up the free kick and hammers a shot that nearly breaks the crossbar in two!
38′
Sturridge crosses for Drogba from the left wing. Drogba connects although the referee has spotted a foul and Birmingham are given a free kick.
37′
The referee signals for a Chelsea free kick for a foul on Mikel by Jerome but in truth both players had some of each others shirt.
36′
Carr wins a corner for Birmingham. Larsson's corner isn't his best but he's given another attempt. Chelsea manage to clear again.
35′
Malouda has a shot himelf, spinning into space on the right. However the winger rather slices his effort wide of Hart's left hand post.
34′
Bowyer makes himself some space on the right and crosses for Ridgewell, whose atttempt on goal is just over. Now it's Chelsea who are under pressure.
32′
Drogba, back on his feet after sustaining a knock in the build up to Birmingham's disallowed goal, has a shot which he spoons well wide. Poor effort from the Ivorian. He has been very quiet so far.
31′
That should act as a wake up call to the Blues.
30′
Birmingham think they have scored! Ridgewell is free on the right hand side of the penalty box and has a shot that looks to be going in. Benitez makes sure of it but the assistant referee raises his flag. Drogba is lying prone in the box and appeared to be playing Benitez onside.
29′
Alex McLeish's side are starting to trouble Chelsea now after a less than sparkling start.
27′
Great chance for Lampard! The midfielder is onside from Ivanovic's pass in the centre of the area with just Hart to beat. The goalkeeper tips Lampard's volley over the bar. Super save.
26′
A respite for the home side. Mikel tugs at Bowyer's shirt and Peter Walton awards a free kick. Cech claims the resulting set piece with ease.
24′
Benitez is clean through from Larsson's lofted pass but he is adjudged to be offside.
23′
Brilliant save from Hart! The Man City keeper denies Sturridge a goal with a fingertip save. Great work from Ashley Cole to create the chance for the youngster.
22′
Ivanovic is involved again, playing the ball in. Drogba connects with a vicious effort that isn't too far away.
21′
Ivanovic wins a throw on the right wing and sets up Malouda for the cross. Sturridge cranes his neck to get on the end of it. Hart saves comfortably.
18′
Jerome sets McFadden away on the left with a deliciously deft flick. McFadden's cross is anything but, sailing way over the bar.
17′
Sturridge crosses from the left and the ball looks to be going out of play. Beletti manages to get his head on it and his effort hits the side netting.
16′
Lampard has a strike from distance which is well over the bar.
15′
Alex wins the header although no one gets on the end of it and Hart gathers.
14′
Chelsea go straight up the other end and manage to win a corner.
14′
Larsson fires it in but it goes no further than the Chelsea wall, which does its job.
13′
Alex gives away a free kick for blocking off Benitez.
11′
Larsson's corner is a poor one and Cech eventually manages to gather.
11′
A rare foray up front yields a corner for Birmingham.
10′
Almost! Ivanovic meets the cross and heads towards goal. It goes just over the bar.
9′
Joe Hart can't keep hold of a ball into the box and it goes out for a corner to Chelsea.
7′
Apart from Jerome's early chance, Birmingham are struggling to get into this.
5′
Branislav Ivanovic tries his luck from distance. Joe Hart is able to watch it go wide.
4′
Drogba almost plays in Beletti with a cute flick from the edge of the box.
4′
The visitors have made an encouraging start so far.
2′
Frank Lampard wins a corner for Chelsea. Malouda crosses and the home side manage to clear.
1′
Cameron Jerome has an early chance for Birmingham from a narrow angle which doesn't trouble Cech.
1′
Birmingham get us off and underway.
This will be Didier Drogba's last game before he heads off to the African Cup of Nations. Young Daniel Sturridge will be expected to step up and do his best to make sure the Blues don't miss the big Ivorian. Today would be a good start.
Birmingham are one of the form sides in the Premier League, while Chelsea have been stuttering a little of late - winning only one of their last six games in all competitions. However, Carlo Ancelotti's side could go seven points clear if they win this afternoon.
Birmingham City manager Alex McLeish names an unchanged side for the seventh match running.
Hart; Carr (c), Johnson, Dann, Ridgewell; Larsson, Ferguson, Bowyer, McFadden; Jerome, Benitez.
Substitutes: Taylor, Vignal, Johnson, Fahey, McSheffrey, Carsley, Phillips.
Chelsea make a few changes from the side that drew 1-1 with West Ham last weekend. Daniel Sturridge makes his first start of the season up front alongside Didier Drogba. Juliano Beletti takes the place of Michael Ballack in midfield and Joe Cole drops to the bench. Florent Malouda will play at the tip of the diamond in his place.
Cech, Ivanovic, Alex, Terry (c), A.Cole, Mikel, Belletti, Lampard, Malouda, Sturridge, Drogba.
Substitutes: Hilario, Ferreira, Carvalho, Ballack, Zhirkov, J.Cole, Kalou.
Hello and welcome to Goal.com's live coverage of Birmingham City v Chelsea. I'm Alan McGuinness and I'll be taking you through events at St. Andrews this afternoon.
Thank you for your comment!
Please enter your name
Please enter your location
Please share your comment!
Advertisement
Results
Times In BST
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Robin van Persie
Striker Arsenal |
22 | 1 |
|
Demba Ba
Striker Newcastle United |
16 | 2 |
|
Wayne Rooney
Striker Manchester United |
15 | 3 |
|
Kun Agüero
Striker Manchester City |
15 | 2 |
|
Aiyegbeni Yakubu
Striker Blackburn |
12 | 3 |
Advertisement
