Carling Cup: Blues Banish Penalty Shoot-Out Voodoo
Stock Up
By Since66
September 22 2011
I will be honest and I will admit that I am not Ross Turnbull's biggest fan. As far as I am concerned he can warm up pre-match, warm-up at half-time and warm-down wherever he wants, but as long as he is on the bench during a match, I am happy. You can imagine how my nerves shredded when Cechie took a knock on his head at the end of the first-half last night.
The prayer mat came out.... Please, please, please be alright Cechie Boy.
Alas no. These prayers went answered and on came Turnbull. Nerves obliterated even before the second-half kicked-off.
To be fair to the bloke, he did alright, apart from a couple of poorly executed impressions of a stricken flapping seagull when coming for crosses and this half-baked compliment DOESN'T include the magnificent low down save from Dembele, pushing Kasami's close range shot over the bar and the penalty shoot-out save also from Dembele.
Turnbull's stock shot up immediately and from that moment the eerie feeling of Chelsea winning a penalty shoot-out (the second in nine attempts) started to become a reality.
Super Frank missed the first but David Luiz, JT, Kalou and Malouda converted theirs to put Chelsea in front and it was down to Fulham's Ruiz to score to send the competition into sudden death.
His effort crashed off the bar, bounced down onto the line and went up towards the bar again before the assistant confirmed that the ball had not crossed the line.
Turnbull's second-half introduction got tasty moments after kick-off. Alex was sent-off for bringing down Friel inside the area and from the resulting penalty, Kasami crashed his kick against the bar.
I reckon Chris Foy had studied Phil Dowd's decision NOT to send Bosingwa off at Old Trafford on Sunday for a similar challenge which resulted in a penalty - Rooney slipping and sending his shot wide of the post.
So is Foy right and Dowd wrong?
Who knows? The two decisions prove the inconsistency in Old Muvver Riley's referee camp.
Josh McEachran, before being hauled off once JT had warmed up, was imperious. He showed his illustrious team mates how to play football.
Keep it simple and be extravagant when the need calls for it.
Josh was also unlucky to have his goal bound effort stabbed in by Danny (who injured himself in the process) disallowed for offside.
Romeu was excellent and Lukaku 'The Boy Beast' was a tireless runner throughout, despite suffering from cramp, in trying to lead the 10 man charge of his own.
Ryan Bertrand's contribution was steady if unspectacular and it proves the Chelsea's future is in good hands if these youngsters can continue to improve and get a lot more first-team minutes.
The draw for the 4th Round is on Saturday, from mid-day.
Chelsea: Cech, (Turnbull h/t), Ferreira, Alex, Luiz, Bertrand, McEachran (Terry 51), Romeu, Malouda, Sturridge (Lampard 43), Lukaku, Kalou
Sent off: Alex 47
Booked: Lampard 120
Fulham: Schwarzer (c), Kelly, Grygera, Senderos, Briggs, Kasami (Zamora 77), Gecov (Sidwell 90), Baird, Frei, Ruiz, Sa (Dembele 59)
Booked: Frei 98
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And hoping you'd go out
Still sitting in the Shed?