Chelsea Paper View

Last updated : 10 April 2005 By Brian Cartlidge

Drogba joins cavalry to preserve home record

Didier Drogba rescued Chelsea from one of the biggest upsets of the season yesterday. Having worried Bayern Munich to death in the Champions League a few days earlier, the Ivory Coast international, on as a substitute, preserved the long unbeaten home record of the champions-in-waiting with a close-range goal eight minutes from the end. The Telegraph

Weary Chelsea have Drogba to thank for deserved point

'Good afternoon. We need three wins to be Champions,' wrote José Mourinho in his programme notes. Ninety minutes on, they still do. Birmingham took advantage of an unusually weary Chelsea to earn a well-deserved point at a ground where visitors tend to feel they are on a hiding to nothing. Observer

Drogba rescues sluggish Chelsea

This was a case of “after the lord mayor’s show”. Three days after their latest European triumph, Chelsea were desperately close to their first home defeat for 14 months yesterday when Walter Pandiani gave Birmingham a lead they held until the 82nd minute. Then Didier Drogba equalised from close range. Times

Pandiani pounces on weakened Chelsea

The banner hanging from the Matthew Harding Stand that read "Chelsea Champions 2005" would be better left at home for a little while longer. It will be a valid acclamation eventually - probably in two weeks' time at home to Fulham, 50 years to the day after the club's only previous title - but such presumption does not go down well with the football gods. Punishment might have been even more severe; not until eight minutes from the end did Didier Drogba equalise Walter Pandiani's goal. Independent