Match reports The Observer, Stuart Barnes: “Delight for Jermain Defoe, disappointment for Chelsea and another twist in a fascinating Premier League championship race from a match that ebbed and flowed entertainingly throughout.” Independent on Sunday, Ronald Atkin: “In a midfield containing the world-renowned likes of Michael Ballack and Claude Makelele, Lassana Diarra shone like a Portsmouth harbour [...]

Apologies: links to match reports and video highlights only I’m afraid. Jonathan and I missed the game, and it’s difficult to give opinions based on ten minutes of highlights and goal videos. Comments welcome as usual.

Match reports The Guardian, Kevin McCarra: “While United, busier in attack, deserved to be victors, they will be conscious, too, that Chelsea’s line-up was a distorted reflection of the prowess that Jose Mourinho can call on when there are fewer problems. Didier Drogba has hurt his knee and, though a scan should confirm that he will [...]

Match reports The Observer, Amy Lawrence: “Chelsea’s ruthless pursuit of Manchester United continued here, which is not surprising considering the hard facts: their winning sequence in the Premiership since they last conceded any ground (or even a goal for that matter ) - two-and-a-half months ago at Anfield - is daunting for any opponent.” Sunday Telegraph, Patrick [...]

Match reports The Observer, Amy Lawrence: “John O’Shea may be many things, but as far as Chelsea are concerned he in no way resembles a fat lady singing. Manchester United’s snatched lunchtime win at Anfield might have offered compelling evidence that the title is bound for Old Trafford. But Didier Drogba and Petr Cech inspired their [...]

One of my Arsenal supporting friends recently claimed Chelsea were “spoiling football”. It set me thinking and the conclusions are set out below. Newcastle United are close to being bought by another foreign consortium to add to Liverpool, Manchester United, Portsmouth, Aston Villa, West Ham United and, obviously, our beloved Blues, and yet it is [...]

Last week I ventured off to my local doctor’s surgery for my annual MOT with the clinic nurse. As an asthmatic this involves merely blowing into a contraption that feels like it’s been made by the Blue Peter team from old toilet rolls and Smartie tubes to ensure that I’m still breathing and that my [...]

Match reports The Observer, Amy Lawrence: “Emerging from the considerable shadow cast by Didier Drogba’s excellence this season, Shevchenko eradicated some of the doubts over his condition by giving Chelsea the leg up they needed in a match where they must have wondered how they struggled to knock a hatful past David James.” Sunday Telegraph, Roy Collins: [...]

Andriy Shevchenko scored his second goal of the season as Chelsea moved to the top of the Premiership with a 2-1 victory over Portsmouth at Stamford Bridge. Portsmouth started brightly but were soon under pressure as Chelsea took control. Despite dominating the first half, the Blues couldn’t find a way past Pompey goalkeeper David James who [...]

Fourth-placed Portsmouth are today’s visitors to Stamford Bridge. After Wednesday’s superb defeat of Barcelona, Jose Mourinho has told the players they must up the team’s goals-per-chance ratio. “[A]gainst Aston Villa and Barcelona, the two last games at home, we had so many chances to score but at the end of these 120 minutes, we had scored twice. [...]