Saturday April 2, 2011 Day 31 Finished Britannia Stadium

Stoke City 1 - 1 Chelsea

  • Walters 8’
  • Drogba 33’

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  1. Chelsea frustrated by Stoke

    Chelsea frustrated by Stoke

    Chelsea were held to a 1-1 draw by Stoke City as Carlo Ancelotti's side settled for a point in their Premier League match at the Britannia. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Stoke City
    • Chelsea
    • - Don't forget you can watch highlights of this match, along with every Premier League game, from 00:01 on Monday morning (UK only).
    • 90+6' The final whistle goes at the Britannia Stadium, and Chelsea are held 1-1 by Stoke City in a pulsating encounter which sees both sides settle for a point after goals from Jon Walters and Didier Drogba! Thanks for joining us.
    • 90+5' Shawcross meets Etherington's cross, but he can only head wide as the chance goes begging!
    • 90+4' Ashley Cole concedes a corner with fine backtracking, and this is a big chance for Stoke to pile bodies into the box....
    • 90+3' The home fans urge their players forward as Walters continues to be full of running...
    • 90+2' Fuller climbs highest at the back post to meet a deep cross from Etherington, but he heads agonisingly wide!
    • 90+1' Danny Higginbotham is replaced by Danny Collins after he sustains an injury.
    • 90' A mammoth six minutes are added at the end of this second half, with both sides having a chance of clinching a win!
    • 89' Pulis is again hugely animated on the touchline as Delap and Ivanovic clash.
    • 88' Essien and Torres combine in the final third, but to no avail as the move peters out for Chelsea.
    • 87' Pennant is withdrawn by Pulis as Ricardo Fuller comes on in a last bid by Pulis.
    • 86' Walters harries Terry superbly to win a corner for his side, but the visitors clear confidently through Luiz.
    • 85' Terry lumps a long ball upfield towards Drogba, but Shawcross defends superbly.
    • 84' Glenn Whelan is withdrawn as Dean Whitehead comes on in his place.
    • 83' Ivanovic cuts inside from the right and drags a low shot wide of the near post.
    • 82' Stoke are scrapping extremely hard to compete with Chelsea in the final stages of this match, and neither side is able to find the winner as yet.
    • 81' Chelsea hit the bar! Drogba pounces on a loose ball in the Stoke box, swivels and lashes a fierce left-footed volley against the crossbar, and that's the third time the woodwork has denied us of a goal!
    • 80' Branislav Ivanovic comes on to replace Bosingwa, and Ancelotti makes his final change!
    • 79' Chelsea win a corner as Drogba powers down the left, and finally the visitors have an opening.
    • 78' Higginbotham marshalls Torres well to see the ball behind for a goal kick, and Stoke can build.
    • 77' Torres has been completely anonymous since his introduction, and he is struggling to get into the match.
    • 76' FACT: Chelsea have won six and lost just one of their last eight Premier League matches.
    • 75' Cech is in inspired form today, and that save was just as good as the one he deflected onto the bar from Huth's header!
    • 73' Pennant dinks over a pinpoint delivery which is met by Etherington, and Cech is again called upon to make a sprawling save with his legs to thwart the hosts!
    • 72' Jones and Pennant combine once more, and Stoke are really threatening now with Chelsea on the back foot.
    • 71' Pulis and Ancelotti are both suddenly very animated as the pair patrol the touchline, and this game could go either way!
    • 69' The boos ring out around the Britannia as Chelsea enjoy a period of sustained pressure.
    • 68' What misfortune for Stoke, who are twice denied in successive minutes by the crossbar!
    • 67' What a save from Cech! The corner comes in from Whelan, and Huth meets the delivery with a firm header which the keeper tips against the crossbar with the ball landing safe!
    • 66' Whelan and Wilson stand over the set piece, before the latter spanks a stunning drive wide of the Chelsea wall, and against the crossbar with Cech comprehensively beaten!
    • 65' Jones is clipped from behind by Essien, and that was clumsy more than anything as Stoke are gifted an attacking free kick...
    • 64' Kalou's pace looks to be exploited by Chelsea as he is pushed up alongside Drogba along with Torres.
    • 63' Pennant is hauled down by Cole, and that cynical challenge earns the left-back a yellow card.
    • 62' Whelan loses the ball to Kalou as the Ivorian powers down the right, but Higginbotham defends stoutly.
    • 61' Kalou comes on too, as Ramires is withdrawn by Ancelotti, and that's a very attacking double change from the Italian.
    • 60' Torres is introduced as Anelka makes way, and Kalou looks set to be introduced imminently too.
    • 59' Bosingwa is the latest to be booked as he clips Etherington's ankles from behind, and that was a poor challenge.
    • 58' The home fans are in full voice as they look to inspire their side with this second half very finely poised.
    • 57' Delap lumps a long ball upfield towards Jones, who is unable to take it down in his stride and dictate the play.
    • 56' Walters is booked for a late trip on Terry in the Chelsea half, and the Stoke fans react furiously as Terry protests...
    • 55' Anelka battles hard with Pennant as the pair look to pounce on the ball, but neither is allowed to emerge with it cleanly.
    • 54' Etherington again gets to the left byline as Bosingwa is given a torrid time at right back.
    • 53' Whelan is bundled over by Drogba, who rugby tackles the Stoke midfielder in rather comical fashion!
    • 52' FACT: Chelsea have won the most corners (198) and conceded the fewest (100).
    • 51' It's end-to-end action in this second half as both sides battle fiercely for possession and look to stamp their authority on the match.
    • 50' Drogba hits the post! The forward outmuscles Higginbotham to latch on to Ramires's pinpoint through ball, and he plants an unerring low shot against the far post with Begovic at full stretch!
    • 49' That was a real scare for Chelsea, who start the second half as sluggishly as they did the first!
    • 48' What a save from Cech! Etherington and Whelan combine to good effect deep inside the Chelsea half, with the move culminating in Pennant unfurling a low drive towards the far corner of the net, and Cech being forced into a fine reflex save with his feet!
    • 47' STAT: David Luiz has scored with both of his shots on target in the Premier League.
    • 46' The second half is underway as Chelsea get us going with a confident spell of possession.
    • 45+2' The half-time whistle goes at the Britannia Stadium, and it's 1-1 between Stoke City and Chelsea with Didier Drogba levelling the scores after Jonathan Walters's opener. The match is very finely poised!
    • 45+1' Wilson defends stoutly once more to dispossess Anelka and clear upfield towards Jones.
    • 45' Two minutes will be added at the end of this first half, with the intensity of the game petering out slightly before the break.
    • 44' Bosingwa is penalised for lunging in rather recklessly on Etherington, but the referee keeps his cards in his pocket.
    • 43' Terry wins a powerful header as he climbs high to beat Jones to the ball, and that's terrific defending.
    • 42' STAT: 78 per cent of the goals Stoke have scored have come in the second half of games, the highest proportion in the top flight.
    • 41' Etherington is a superb outlet for his side down the left, and he takes on Bosingwa once more, only for the Portugese to show his pace and clear.
    • 40' Jones looks to power his way through the Chelsea defence, only for Luiz to make a very fine sliding challenge.
    • 39' Malouda drops very deep and links up the play for his side, who are content to take their time with parity restored.
    • 38' Cech claims a high ball in the Chelsea box in commanding fashion, and the visitors can clear.
    • 37' Ancelotti clenched his fist in delight and relief when Drogba headed home, and Chelsea can now build from a level score.
    • 36' Ashley Cole flies into the Stoke box before finding Bosingwa just yards out, but the left-back was offside and the move peters out!
    • 35' Chelsea bide their time once more with a slow build up to their latest attack through Lampard.
    • 34' Whelan and Etherington combine in midfield once more, with Chelsea forced to be patient in their own half.
    • 33' GOAL!!!!! Anelka clips a precise delivery into the box from the left, and Drogba gets in front of Shawcross to head beyond Begovic and level the match up at 1-1 - a cracking goal!
    • 32' Terry wins another powerful header at the back, but he is having his work cut out battling with Jones.
    • 31' Lampard orchestrates the play for Chelsea from midfield, but Stoke are marshalling Drogba very effectively.
    • 30' Walters is very threatening in support of Jones every time Stoke break on the counter attack...
    • 29' Ramires and Bosingwa are combining very effectively down the right for Chelsea, but the hosts are holding firm.
    • 28' FACT: Chelsea have had 80 per cent of the possession in the last five minutes.
    • 27' Ancelotti barks orders at his side from the touchline, as Lampard lashes his side's fifth shot of the first half wide of the near post.
    • 26' Ramires fails to latch on to a through ball from Luiz, and Chelsea continue to build patiently.
    • 25' Terry fouls Jones on halfway, and the defender is jeered by the home fans for that steely intervention.
    • 24' Chelsea enjoy a sustained period of possession with Stoke boxed into their own half.
    • 23' Cole marauds down the left at pace, but his cross is poor and Stoke clear once more.
    • 22' What a volley from Lampard! The Chelsea midfielder fires a crisp volley from the edge of the Stoke box which Begovic is forced to parry away, and Anelka cannot collect the rebound!
    • 21' Chelsea win their third corner which Lampard whips over once more, but again Stoke clear with Delap heading behind.
    • 20' Cech, wearing his lurid yellow jersey, lumps a long ball up towards Drogba, only for Huth to outmuscle the forward.
    • 19' STAT: Didier Drogba has fired in 39 shots on target this season, more than any other player in the top flight, but none since Fernando Torres joined the club.
    • 18' Drogba is very frustrated with the referee as he is penalised for competing for a high ball with Shawcross.
    • 17' Jones capitalises on some slack defending from Terry to skip past the Chelsea skipper and force his way into the box, only to lose his composure with a poor final touch!
    • 16' STAT: Stoke are enjoying 53 per cent of the possession so far in this first half.
    • 15' Jones powers down the right for Stoke, but Pennant's touch lets him down outwide as the ball runs out of play.
    • 14' Delap wins a towering header on halfway as another Chelsea move is ended abruptly.
    • 13' Malouda has a crack with his weaker right foot as the ball drops to him out on the left, but his effort dips over the crossbar.
    • 12' STAT: After going six games without a win on the road, Chelsea have won three and lost none of their last four Premier League away games.
    • 11' I cannot get over the quality of that goal from Walters, who showed incredible composure and class in beating Essien and Luiz before drilling his shot beyond Cech!
    • 10' Essien and Shawcross challenge for the high ball as a corner is whipped over by Lampard from the right, and the defender comes off best.
    • 9' STAT: Chelsea have won the last seven games against Stoke and the last eight in the league.
    • 8' GOAL!!!! WALTERS GIVES STOKE THE LEAD! The forward skips past Luiz superbly, before driving to the left byline, cutting inside Essien and powering a clinical finish beyond Cech - what a goal!
    • 8' Huth concedes a corner, turning the ball behind for the set piece after challenging with Drogba.
    • 7' Tony Pulis patrols the touchline in very focused fashion as he sports his trademark baseball cap, and he looks very fired up indeed...
    • 6' David Luiz wins a towering header at the back for the blues, before Lampard brings the ball down and begins to link up the play once more.
    • 5' Chelsea stroke the ball around at the back, and Ramires whips over a stunning delivery into the box which is not met by anyone in a blue shirt!
    • 4' Marc Wilson does superbly to hold off Anelka and clear upfield with a strong challenge, and that's superb defending.
    • 3' Pennant's delivery evades everyone in the box, and Chelsea are able to build from the back now.
    • 2' Ramires is the culprit as he trips the Stoke winger, and the hosts then win a free kick which Pennant will whip over...
    • 1' The first half is underway at the Britannia Stadium, and Stoke settle quickly into their stride as Etherington powers down the left and wins a free kick.
    • 14:55 In today's lunchtime kick-off, a hat-trick from Wayne Rooney saw Manchester United come from behind to claim a stunning 4-2 Premier League win over West Ham at Upton Park. Match report
    • 14:50 Today's referee at the Britannia is Peter Walton. The Northamptonshire offical has shown six red cards this season, including Bolton's Ivasn Klasnic in the Trotters' 2-1 win over Stoke back in October. Only Phil Dowd (7) and Martin Atkinson (9) have sent more players off this term.
    • 14:45 Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti and defender David Luiz have clinched the Premier League's manager and player of the month awards for March. Centre-back David Luiz, who joined the club from Benfica in January for £21.3m has enjoyed an outstanding start to his career in the Premier League. Ancelotti receives the award for the second time this season and the third time in his career after guiding the Blues to three consecutive wins, which has propelled the champions into third place in the table. Read more here
    • 14:40 A win in the Potteries would send Chelsea just one point behind second-placed Arsenal ahead of the Gunners' home game with Blackburn later today. Stoke could move as high as seventh with a victory here, depending on other results. Premier League table
    • 14:35 HEAD-TO-HEAD: Stoke and Chelsea have met 73 times in the league. Stoke have won 22, Chelsea 35 and there have been 16 draws. Chelsea have won all five Premier League matches against Stoke and are looking to complete the double for the third consecutive season. In total, Chelsea are unbeaten in their last nine league matches against Stoke, winning the last eight, since a 3-0 away defeat in old Division One in April 1975.
    • 14:30 The big news for Chelsea is that British record signing Fernando Torres only makes the bench this afternoon. Having started all five Premier League games since arriving from Liverpool in January, the Spain striker is dropped having not yet found the net for his new club. Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka are the front pairing for the champions. Salomon Kalou makes the bench after passing a late fitness test, but Yossi Benayoun and Alex are left out as they continue their recoveries from injury.
    • 14:25 For Stoke, Norwegian striker John Carew has not been passed fit after suffering from a back complaint. Kenwyne Jones and Jon Walters start up front. Goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen is also suffering from a similar injury after breaking down in the warm-up ahead of Denmark's friendly against Slovakia this week, so Asmir Begovic wears the gloves.
    • 14:20 STOKE: Begovic, Wilson, Shawcross, Huth, Higginbotham, Pennant, Delap, Whelan, Etherington, Jones, Walters. Subs: Nash, Collins, Fuller, Pugh, Diao, Whitehead, Wilkinson /// CHELSEA: Cech, Bosingwa, David Luiz, Terry, Cole, Ramires, Essien, Lampard, Malouda, Drogba, Anelka. Subs: Turnbull, Ivanovic, Torres, Mikel, Zhirkov, Ferreira, Kalou
    • 14:15 Welcome to Eurosport-Yahoo!'s live coverage of the Premier League clash between Stoke City and Chelsea at the Britannia Stadium!

  • Summary

    • 90+2' Fuller climbs highest at the back post to meet a deep cross from Etherington, but he heads agonisingly wide!
    • 81' Chelsea hit the bar! Drogba pounces on a loose ball in the Stoke box, swivels and lashes a fierce left-footed volley against the crossbar, and that's the third time the woodwork has denied us of a goal!
    • 73' Pennant dinks over a pinpoint delivery which is met by Etherington, and Cech is again called upon to make a sprawling save with his legs to thwart the hosts!
    • 67' What a save from Cech! The corner comes in from Whelan, and Huth meets the delivery with a firm header which the keeper tips against the crossbar with the ball landing safe!
    • 66' Whelan and Wilson stand over the set piece, before the latter spanks a stunning drive wide of the Chelsea wall, and against the crossbar with Cech comprehensively beaten!
    • 50' Drogba hits the post! The forward outmuscles Higginbotham to latch on to Ramires's pinpoint through ball, and he plants an unerring low shot against the far post with Begovic at full stretch!
    • 48' What a save from Cech! Etherington and Whelan combine to good effect deep inside the Chelsea half, with the move culminating in Pennant unfurling a low drive towards the far corner of the net, and Cech being forced into a fine reflex save with his feet!
    • 33' GOAL!!!!! Anelka clips a precise delivery into the box from the left, and Drogba gets in front of Shawcross to head beyond Begovic and level the match up at 1-1 - a cracking goal!
    • 22' What a volley from Lampard! The Chelsea midfielder fires a crisp volley from the edge of the Stoke box which Begovic is forced to parry away, and Anelka cannot collect the rebound!
    • 17' Jones capitalises on some slack defending from Terry to skip past the Chelsea skipper and force his way into the box, only to lose his composure with a poor final touch!
    • 8' GOAL!!!! WALTERS GIVES STOKE THE LEAD! The forward skips past Luiz superbly, before driving to the left byline, cutting inside Essien and powering a clinical finish beyond Cech - what a goal!
    • 14:20 STOKE: Begovic, Wilson, Shawcross, Huth, Higginbotham, Pennant, Delap, Whelan, Etherington, Jones, Walters. Subs: Nash, Collins, Fuller, Pugh, Diao, Whitehead, Wilkinson /// CHELSEA: Cech, Bosingwa, David Luiz, Terry, Cole, Ramires, Essien, Lampard, Malouda, Drogba, Anelka. Subs: Turnbull, Ivanovic, Torres, Mikel, Zhirkov, Ferreira, Kalou

Team Line-up & Ratings

  • Line-up

    Live Team Line-Up

    • Starting line-up

      • A. Begovic
      • M. Wilson
      • R. Shawcross
      • R. Huth
      • D. Higginbotham Substitution Out (90′)
      • R. Delap
      • G. Whelan Substitution Out (85′)
      • J. Pennant Substitution Out (90′)
      • M. Etherington
      • K. Jones
      • J. Walters Goal Yellow Card

      Subs

      • S. Diao
      • C. Nash
      • D. Pugh
      • R. Fuller Substitution In90′
      • D. Collins Substitution In90′
      • D. Whitehead Substitution In85′
      • A. Wilkinson

    • Starting line-up

      • P. Cech
      • J. Bosingwa Yellow Card Substitution Out (80′)
      • David Luiz
      • J. Terry
      • A. Cole Yellow Card
      • M. Essien
      • F. Lampard
      • Ramires Substitution Out (61′)
      • F. Malouda
      • D. Drogba Goal
      • N. Anelka Substitution Out (61′)

      Subs

      • F. Torres Substitution In61′
      • Paulo Ferreira
      • R. Turnbull
      • Y. Zhirkov
      • S. Kalou Substitution In61′
      • J. Mikel
      • B. Ivanovic Substitution In80′

  • Rate Players

    Rate Players

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    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
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      Defenders
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      Substitution Out90′ - -
      Midfielders
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      Substitution Out85′ - -
      Substitution Out90′ - -
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      Strikers
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      Goal Yellow Card - -
      Subs
      Substitution In90′ - -
      Substitution In90′ - -
      Substitution In85′ - -
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      - -
      Defenders
      Yellow Card Substitution Out80′ - -
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      Yellow Card - -
      Midfielders
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      Substitution Out61′ - -
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      Strikers
      Goal - -
      Substitution Out61′ - -
      Subs
      Substitution In61′ - -
      Substitution In61′ - -
      Substitution In80′ - -

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