CHELSEA AWAY-DAY MISERY CONTINUES
(Sky
Sports)
Simon Breakell reports
Muzzy Izzet and Gary Rowett struck either side of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink for
Chelsea to continue their woeful record on the road.
The Londoners went into the game unbeaten in eight games and started this
encounter brightly. Gianfranco Zola and Jesper Gronkjaer especially took the
game to Leicester. However, despite passing the ball superbly, Chelsea rarely
broke down the resolute Foxes defence.
When Leicester did venture forward, Roberto Mancini looked sharp with some
sublime touches, but his team-mates were on a different wavelength and the moves
came to nothing.
In truth, it was Peter Taylors men, who should have taken the lead on
fifteen minutes. Robbie Savage was presented with a glorious one-on-one after
racing onto Andy Impey's long, lofted pass. But the Foxes midfielder could only
fire a low, stinging shot against the legs of Carlo Cudicini.
Suddenly, Chelsea sprung to life, and immediately broke clear. Gronkjaer,
making his full Premiership debut, showed pace and expert skill to reach the
by-line.
His cross was dummied cleverly by Zola, leaving Hasselbaink to shoot from
eight yards. The Dutchmans shot was blocked and Dennis Wise, with the goal
gaping, could only hit the side netting.
The deadlock was broken just before the half-hour mark. Steve Guppy danced
his way down the left wing, and delivered a perfect cross for former Chelsea man
Izzet, to head powerfully past the despairing Cudicini.
Icelandic striker Eidur Gudjohnsen, who will have considered himself unlucky
to only be on the bench at the start, came on at half-time in place of Zola.
Two minutes after the break, Guppy showed once again why his left foot is so
feared. The wing-back broke down the left and curled an exquisite cross to the
back-post where the unmarked Dean Sturridge hammered in a shot which Cudicini
did excellently to block at point-blank range.
Izzet may have been the hero of the first half, but his glaring miss after 50
minutes was enough to make him the villain of the second. Mancini floated a
cross of such perfection that it would have been harder to miss the target, but
somehow the Turkish international put his header wide from eight yards.
Junior Lewis, making his home debut on loan from Gilingham, crowned a mature
display for the Foxes with a pass to Sturridge that Mancini would have been
proud of. The pace on the ball took out two Chelsea defenders but the former
Derby striker blasted well over.
Mancini made way for Ade Akinbiyi after an hour, with the Italian's fitness
still not up to the rigours of a full Premiership match.
As the clock approached the final quarter, the game exploded into life.
Chelsea struck with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink goal, notching up his 12 strike of
the season. Ranieris men banished the neat style of play, and opted for the
direct approach.
Wise crossed, more with hope than precision, and the Dutch striker planted a
looping header beyond Royce.
As the Chelsea fans celebrated a deserved equaliser, Leicester went straight
up the other end and grabbed a dramatic winner Savage floated in a free-kick,
Matt Elliott won a flick-on and Gary Rowett showed up Chelsea's appalling
marking once more as he fired home from six yards.
The result leaves Ranieri still unsure how his team will win on their
travels.
MAN OF THE MATCH: ROBBIE SAVAGE (LEICESTER) Leicester: Royce, Rowett, Davidson, Elliott, Impey, Robbie Savage,
Izzet, Guppy, Lewis, Mancini (Akinbiyi 60), Sturridge (Eadie 78). Subs Not Used:
Price, Sinclair, Gunnlaugsson.
Chelsea: Cudicini, Babayaro, Leboeuf, Melchiot, Ferrer, Gronkjaer
(Stanic 64), Poyet (Jokanovic 41), Wise, Dalla Bona, Zola (Gudjohnsen 45),
Hasselbaink. Subs Not Used: de Goey, Lambourde.
Referee: S Dunn (Bristol)
Leicester
City 2-1 Chelsea
Izzet 24, Rowett 76 - Hasselbaink 75
FA Carling Premiership
Despite missing a glourious one-on-one, the Welshman covered ever blade of grass
and was brilliant in the battle with Dennis Wise.