Unimpressive Chelsea Do Enough To Progress

The West London derby proved to be somewhat of a disappointment as disjointed holders Chelsea laboured to an uneventful 1-0 win over Queens Park Rangers.

An own goal by Hoops keeper Lee Camp was the difference, after Claudio Pizarro's shot deflected back off the post.

First Half


First meeting between these two sides for almost 12 years saw visiting QPR bring 6,000 supporters to Stamford Bridge.


The Hoops included several new signings in their starting XI, while Avram Grant opted to leave the likes of Michael Ballack and Joe Cole on the bench.


Scott Sinclair was handed a rare start and Ashley Cole took the captain’s armband. Didier Drogba was named a substitute.


Chelsea started fairly gingerly, with QPR more than holding their own in the first ten minutes. But thereafter the Blues grabbed the reins and began to dominate possession.


Shaun Wright-Phillips was a constant threat down the right while Ashley Cole frequently surged along the left. But despite a flurry of corners it took Chelsea 23 minutes to register their first real attempt on goal – Paulo Ferreira’s effort zipped right of the post.


Pizarro up front appeared to be dropping too deep, limiting the Blues’ attacking options. But when the Peruvian finally got the message to push further forward it paid almost instant dividends: his 20 yard effort hit the post, deflected off the head of Rangers goalkeeper Lee Camp and spun into the net.


Thereafter it was almost always Chelsea, but they perhaps didn’t create as much as they should have. Wright-Phillips and Kalou both had shots, while at the other end Buzsaky fired over the bar and Hilario did well to beat a lurking Fitz Ball to a menacing cross.


The home side should have doubled their advantage on the stroke of half-time: Sidwell’s shot hit the base of the post, but there was to be no deflected own goal this time.




Second Half


Luigi De Canio threw on new boy Patrick Agyemang at the switch-around, while Buzsaky had to make way minutes into the second half with a twisted ankle. Alex’s bullet of a free-kick forced Camp to punch clear but QPR went close with Martin Rowlands’ half volley. The forceful effort beat Hilario but went a foot over the bar.


Meanwhile, Obi was really riding his luck as he avoided a yellow card despite a succession of heavy challenges. Rowlands again asked questions of Hilario before the Portuguese had to save from Agyemang: Chelsea were failing to kill this game off and an annoyed Avram Grant sent his high profile substitutes to warm up.


Despite making the goal, Pizarro in particular was having an awful game but it was Scott Sinclair who was sacrificed for Stamford Bridge hero Drogba. The Blues began to settle, but while it remained 1-0 Rangers always had a chance, even if they rarely caused any trouble.


Obi blazed his effort over the bar and Drogba reminded fans of what he could do with a few powerful runs and a decent shot that Camp pushed behind, but this was a disappointing game with surprisingly few chances. Chelsea were poor even when their big stars entered the fray, but although QPR made the Blues work hard they didn’t pose sufficient threat themselves. Thus Avram Grant’s side deservedly advance to the fourth round.



Line-ups:


Chelsea (4-4-2): Hilario – Ferreira, Ben-Haim, Alex, A Cole – Wright-Phillips (J Cole 79), Obi, Sidwell, Sinclar (Drogba 60) – Kalou, Pizarro (Ballack 71)


Subs not used – Taylor, Belletti



QPR: Camp, Hall, Stewart, Barker, Ainsworth (Agyemang 46), Connolly, Mahon, Rowlands, Ephraim (Balanta 65), Blackstock, Buzsaky (Lee 50)


Subs not used – Bolder, Walton



Goals:
1-0 Camp (o.g.), 28 (Pizarro)


Cards:
Yellow: Hall



Attendance: 41,289