Chelsea vs. Reading - A game well played

For the neutrals it must have been a good game, for us it was another “typical” Chelsea display in a game that on paper, Chelsea should have won easily.

Now I mean no disrespect to Reading and their fans at all when I say that, but let’s put things into perspective here. A newly promoted side come to Stamford Bridge on a Wednesday night, on Chelsea’s first appearance at the Bridge since winning the Champions League and with plenty of attacking talent on the pitch, surely it’s a home banker isn’t it?

People talk of the Premier League being the most exciting league in the world and the game was another fine example. Watching highlights of the game, it was described as a “David versus Goliath affair”, with no one expecting Reading to come and get anything from the fixture.

Chelsea’s start was good again and we were causing Reading plenty of problems. Ramires was too greedy and while turning inside, chose to shoot rather than to play the ball square to Fernando Torres who was wide open and unmarked just square of him.

Another moment of Hazard quality fooled the defender who brought him down and held his hands up straight away. Frank steps up and blasts it home and for the second time in four days, I am thinking “Come on Chelsea, now really kick on and get at Reading!” the problem is, for the remainder of the half it never really happened.

Instead, Reading grew into the half and the game and with that came confidence. A nice move down our right hand side brought McCleary inside right and his drilled cross low towards the edge of the box was met with a glancing blow off the top of Pogrebnyak’s head and Cech was beaten all ends up! What a header! 1-1.

It got worse as Reading continued to put Chelsea under pressure. A silly foul 25 yards out gave Danny Guthrie to fire a free kick low towards goal and for some reason, Petr Cech who was already on the floor made a right hash of it as he misjudged the flight of the ball as it hit his leg and deflected into the bottom corner to make it 1-2 Reading.

The second half was very different. Chelsea came out and attacked Reading. Fernando Torres played the ball back to Ivanovic early and his shot flew high into the stands. Hazard and Mata both constantly looking for the ball at every opportunity now too.

RDM then made some bold decisions and credit to him. Ramires came off for Oscar and Mikel off for Danny Sturridge. Sturridge out wide right, Mata and Hazard interchanging positions and Oscar playing just next to Lampard. Chelsea looked more than dangerous but never really carved out a clear cut chance.

That was until a speculative shot from Gary Cahill 25 yards out was made a mess of by Ferderici in goal and the ball found the net to make it 2-2 and Chelsea were now back in the game.

While Reading kept plugging away, Chelsea looked by far the more dangerous with Hazard and Mata pulling the strings. The problem we had once again was the killer pass and someone to open the door.

Mata curled an effort wide, Hazard had a shot blocked and as Chelsea continued to press, Reading were standing firm. But a moment of superb one and two-touch football opened up the Reading defence.

Lampard played the ball to Mata and his first time ball found Torres on the edge of the box, right of centre. Mata then made a run off the ball towards the middle of the outside of the box, Torres spotted his run and played the ball into his path first time. The Reading right back was then sucked in towards Mata and in turn, Mata played the ball wide left to Ashley Cole. Cole looked up and rather than shoot, played a ball across goal beyond the Reading defence to Torres who tapped home from 3 yards. Torres was offside and Chelsea were lucky to get the decision but it was a good move all the same!.

There is an argument that Chelsea deserved their luck but you have to be honest and say that at the same time it was harsh on Reading.

Now Reading to their credit, pushed forward to chase an equaliser and forced a few free kicks and a save from Cech late on. Deep in injury time another Harte free kick was deflected for a corner and it was literally all or nothing from Reading as Federici came up for the corner. Half cleared, the cross came back in and Ivanovic cleared with a header up to Torres deep inside his own half. Torres managed to come through a tackle and played the ball wide right to Hazard.

Hazard was clear and heading towards goal with Federici trying to get back but struggling. Reading had just one defender back as Hazard has Ivanovic and Raul Meireles up supporting him. Hazard brought the ball into the box, rather than take it on himself to score on his home debut, put it on a plate for Ivanovic to slot the ball home from 12 yards to make it 4-2. The perfect counter attack. Chelsea get another three points.

Let’s look at the positives and negatives from the performance from Chelsea:

Positives:

Another good performance from Hazard

The movement and understanding between Hazard and Mata is already impressive

Good bold decisions from RDM to attack and chase the game

Chelsea never give up again and keep working hard.

Negatives:

Need to sure up our back four

Need to try and force the game as much as possible and not give up possession

At times too greedy when someone else is the better option on goal

A word on the opposition – Reading FC:

Like I said the final score is hard on Reading as they didn’t deserve that for the way they came here, went a goal down but kept plugging away and got their rewards.

Pogrebnyak is a massive boost for them up front and given the right service will score the goals they need to climb the table.

Credit to everyone at Reading, they are a cracking side, well organised, in it together, willing to work hard for each other and for their manager and with a couple of additions to their Championship winning squad, have a real chance of avoiding the drop this season.

As for Chelsea:

Work to be done defensively, but Chelsea do now have plenty of attacking options. The signs are there like I have said between Hazard and Mata already, and if they can just get it clicking with Torres, the frontman will score no problems.

We showed plenty of character tonight and although at times we made a meal of things, we got another important three points. Onwards and upwards!.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1):
Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry (c), Cole; Mikel (Sturridge 67), Lampard; Ramires (Oscar 57), Hazard, Mata (Meireles 84); Torres.

Unused subs Turnbull, Bertrand, Essien, Romeu.

Scorers Lampard pen 18,Cahill 68, Torres 80, Ivanovic 90+5.

Reading (4-4-1-1): Federici; Gunter, Pearce, Gorkss, Harte; McCleary (Robson-Kanu 85), Karacan (Le Fondre 71), Leigertwood, McAnuff (c); Guthrie; Pogrebnyak (Hunt 77).

Unused subs Tabb, Mariappa, McCarthy, Cummings.

Scorers Pogrebnyak 24, Guthrie 28.

Booked Karacan 57, Pogrebnyak 64.

Referee Lee Mason

Crowd 41,733
(Stats taken from Chelseafc.com)