Chelsea vs Sunderland – another three points

Match Analysis: Chelsea v Sunderland
Saturday 14th January 2012
Kick off: 15:00pm
Stamford Bridge
Premier Leagues

Team news

Sturridge and Malouda were passed fit enough to be on the bench so Ramires again took on the right-side-of-the-attack duties. The defence was unchanged for a third game. Michael Essien, out since the first week of pre-season, was back among the subs.

Sunderland were able bring back Bardsley in defence and Larsson in midfield. Both missed their last league game.

Action

Lampard netted for the third game in a row to keep the team’s 100 per cent record in 2012 going.

His 11th of the season put him clear as Chelsea’s top scorer this season and came early in the first-half after Torres had been unlucky to hit woodwork.

Team news

Sturridge and Malouda were passed fit enough to be on the bench so Ramires again took on the right-side-of-the-attack duties. The defence was unchanged for a third game. Michael Essien, out since the first week of pre-season, was back among the subs.

Sunderland were able bring back Bardsley in defence and Larsson in midfield. Both missed their last league game.

Action

Lampard netted for the third game in a row to keep the team’s 100 per cent record in 2012 going.

His 11th of the season put him clear as Chelsea’s top scorer this season and came early in the first-half after Torres had been unlucky to hit woodwork.

The Spaniard gave the Sunderland defence a tough afternoon despite not finding the net and had two strong penalty appeals turned down after the break. We were also denied a spot kick when Mata appeared to be tripped but the visitors claimed a penalty of their own soon after.

Chelsea were comfortable for most of the game but towards the end as the tension built, Sunderland had their best opportunities to score, missing twice inside the final five minutes.

Michael Essien made his return as a substitute as Andre Villas-Boas’s men held on for three points on an afternoon when we closed the gap to Tottenham by two points.

By Clare Smith

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