The day after England witnessed one of the most one sided Heavyweight boxing bouts in recent times, the country saw a one sided hammering at Stamford Bridge. However it was not the way we all expected it to go, as it was the Champions, Chelsea who were on the receiving end of their biggest home defeat in the Barclays Premier League in 8 years.
The first 15 minutes were, on the whole, Chelsea's best spell of game, and they almost made their pressure pay when Nicolas Anelka raced onto John Obi Mikel's chipped ball over the top only to be denied by Scotland's Craig Gordon, who timed his challenge perfectly. Yuri Zhirkov almost broke the deadlock single handedly when he danced through a number of challenges only to see his low drive drift past Gordon's left hand post. It was a great opportunity squandered and it proved to be a turning point in the game as Sunderland grabbed control of the game. The hard working Mackem midfield stifled Chelsea's highly paid superstars with constant pressure and slick passing and moving.
This expert ball retention led to the first opening of the game for the Black Cats as some neat passing between Zenden and captain Lee Cattermole, led to Nedum Onuoha crossing for Manchester United loanee Danny Welbeck who saw his bullet header brilliantly tipped away by the outstretched arm of Petr Cech. Some fine interchange in midfield sent Sunderland's record signing Asamoah Gyan away, and he clipped a great ball in behind stand in centre back Paulo Ferriera to send Welbeck one-on-one. The Manchester United striker was once again denied by the big Czech international as he tipped the ball away from danger.
Sunderland were pressing hard and it seemed a matter of when, and not if the goal was going to come. Welbeck turned provider this time as his deflected pass sent Gyan through on goal. The Ballon d'Or nominee took his shot early, which caused Cech to parry the ball into the path of Kieran Richardson who also saw his shot saved by Cech. The ball found it's way to right back Nedum Onuoha, and what was to come next was brilliant and bizarre in equilibrium. The big defender skipped past a challenge of Mikel before jinking his way through Ferriera and Ivanovic and slipping the ball into the back of the Chelsea net on the stroke of half time. It meant Nedum Onuoha had become the first man to score at Stamford Bridge in the League this season. The goal was a stunning individual effort that, as Sky Sports' Paul Merson said, Lionel Messi would have been proud of.
After the second 45 minutes began, an inevitable onslaught came with it. However it wasn't Chelsea who were threatening to score at the Shed End; it was their Northern opponents. The second goal was just as impressive as the first, for completely different reasons. Bramble fed the ball down the line for Welbeck who played a give and go with the veteran Dutchman, Bolo Zenden, before slipping the ball inside for Jordan Henderson whose delicious first time pass played Gyan in. Henderson's first time ball showed great craft and vision, which is perhaps one of the reasons why England manager Fabio Cappello chose to call the 20 year old up to his full England squad. The World Cup star took one touch before sliding the ball past a hapless Petr Cech, to send around 750 Sunderland fans into delirium.
However the goal was marred by some atrocious dancing from Bolo Zenden who performed what can only be described as a "Dad dance." Darren Bent, who missed the game through injury, managed to tweet amongst the Sunderland euphoria "Yes AG, but bolo looking stiff trying to dance"
Chelsea offered very little throughout the second half and were restricted to set pieces and long range efforts that never threatened Craig Gordon's clean sheet. It was Sunderland's fifth clean sheet in their last seven games which is a testament to Steve Bruce who has certainly made the Wearsiders hard to beat.
The Blues' in the crowd let Carlo Ancelotti know how they felt when he chose to withdraw Flaurent Malouda and replace him with Salomon Kalou. A chorus of boos rang around Stamford Bridge and it was what Chelsea's spineless performance deserved.
The Champions' humiliation was completed in the 86th minute when Ashley Cole, who spent the evening shadowed by Keiran Richardson, crossed expertly for Danny Welbeck to open his Sunderland account. It was a goal that will have pleased Sir Alex Ferguson for a variety of reasons. Not only did his young prospect grab his first goal for his temporary club, but it secured a result that meant the gap at the top of the league was reduced to three points.
It is ludicrous to think that this is the same Sunderland side that were demolished in the North-East derby two weeks ago. The Wearside faithful demanded a reaction after their humiliating 5-1 defeat, and a reaction is what they have seen. A 2-0 home win against Stoke followed by a hard earned point at White Hart Lane were what the Black Cats wanted to see, but even the most optimistic Sunderland fan could not have imagined a result like this at the home of the Champions.
As for Chelsea; they will be hoping for a reaction of their own as their strong grip on the Premiership has slipped. For them, the International break will be a hindrance as they lose out on a week of training with their first team players. However with players like Michael Essien, Frank Lampard, and John Terry all still to return the Blues will be undoubtedly strengthened.
The League is still incredibly tight and their are many twist and turns still to come.
Paul Seed
