Chelsea 3 - 1 Norwich City - Bosingwa, Juan Mata & Lampard See Off Canaries
Another penalty costs hard-battling Canaries dearly as the ten men crumble at Stamford Bridge.
Norwich City battled well but were on the end of a 3-1 loss to Chelsea this afternoon, a result that flattered the Blues. Goals from Jose Bosingwa, a penalty from Frank Lampard and a debut strike from Juan Mata condemned the Canaries to defeat at Stamford Bridge. Grant Holt had pulled one back for the visitors, but by conceding a third penalty in successive games and receiving a sending off for keeper John Ruddy, Norwich ultimately sealed their own fate. The Canaries were hoping to bounce back after a humiliating 4-0 defeat to Milton Keyes Dons on Tuesday in the League Cup, but were up against it as they travelled to Stamford Bridge to take on Andre Villas-Boas multimillionaire side. Surprisingly, out of 8 Premier League games between the two, the Canaries had won four compared to the Blues 3. This made the Norfolk side one of only three teams who have won more games than theyve lost against Chelsea, the other two being Arsenal and more obscurely Oldham. They had however, not won on their travels in the top flight since a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace all the way back in 1994. In addition to this Chelsea havent lost at the Bridge in eight games, winning seven and drawing one. In the last three meetings between these two sides, Chelsea have won all 4-0 including Gianfranco Zolas memorable flick in the F.A. Cup. Hoolahan and Whitbread were the only survivors of the team that lost so convincingly to MK Dons as Paul Lambert played a rare 5-3-2 formation with Marc Tierney and Kyle Naughton operating as wing backs and Wes Hoolahan fit enough to start in midfield after overcoming a minor hamstring injury. Chelsea were hoping for a more convincing win after a narrow home result against West Brom a week ago. An attacking line up included both Fernando Torres and Didier Drogba alongside last weeks hero Florent Malouda in a three man strike force. Neither David Luiz nor Petr Cech were deemed fit enough to play, and new signing £23.5 million Juan Mata was on the bench. The first chance fell to Chelsea, a great save from John Ruddy prevented Ramires from opening the scoring after a vicious strike from 20 yards out. The ball went out for a corner, and Norwich were already feeling the pressure of the illustrious London club. The Blues were then in trouble, Grant Holt chased down John Terry, causing the defender to collide with Hilario. Holt took possession of the loose ball but the referee penalised the big striker for pushing the former England captain. Chelsea were one up five minutes in. A tremendous strike from Jose Bosingwa from 25 yards out flew past John Ruddy and into the back of the net. The Portuguese defenders first goal since November. Norwich were getting themselves back in the game shortly afterwards after a slow opening 10 minutes, and Grant Holt should perhaps have levelled the score but couldnt quite get on the end of a ball by Wes Hoolahan after finding himself onside. The Chelsea strike force linked up well with Malouda playing it to Torres who played a fantastic ball through that Drogba couldnt quite get on the end of it allowing Ruddy to scoop up the loose ball. Referee Mick Jones embarrassed himself shortly afterwards, having stopped the game, he inexplicably failed to pop two balloons on the pitch resulting in cheers from the Stamford Bridge crowd. Norwich had more chances, Chris Martins shot was stopped by Hilario and then loanee wing back Kyle Naughton had a strike that was turned over by the Portuguese keeper. He was called into action once more from a Grant Holt header that he saved and held. Whitbread had to leave the field due to an injury and was replaced by winger Anthony Pilkington. Chelsea had a number of poorly taken free kicks, with Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard firing well over. Drogba came close from another just before the break after being unceremoniously chopped down by Andrew Crofts. He curled the ball over the wall and had Ruddy scrambling, but it was just over. Norwich were defending well on the edge of their area with Leon Barnett and Ritchie de Laet making a number of great blocks. They couldnt stop Florent Malouda getting a good shot away but John Ruddy was equal to it. Mick Jones called time on the first half after a surprisingly even affair. The Canaries battled well and created some chances, but Chelsea looked like they could have added more at any moment. HALF TIME Chelsea took the game to Norwich at the start of the second half with an outswinging corner by Malouda that was cleared by Andrew Pilkington over his own bar. Drogba was then unlucky not to get on the end of a cross and Branislav Ivanovic left his marker Grant Holt to head narrowly over the bar at the near post. A slip from Kyle Naughton almost put Drogba in but the Ivorians cross couldnt find Torres. Mick Jones pulled the game back for a foul. Norwich City werent happy with a narrow loss, and Paul Lambert replaced midfielder Wes Hoolahan with striker Steve Morison in an attempt to get back into the game. The change revitalised the Canaries, and they were level on the 63rd minute. After a mix up between Ivanovic and Hilario caused the Portuguese keeper to flap at it, Grant Holt capitalised by somehow managing to hook the ball across goal and into the back of the net from a right angle. Didier Drogba was injured after colliding with John Ruddy just after the hour mark. It looked serious with the striker staying down for some time and causing a lengthy stoppage. He was eventually replaced by Nicolas Anelka, and new signing Juan Matas much anticipated introduction was overshadowed by the potentially serious injury. He replaced Florent Malouda. Steve Morison could have added another for the Canaries. The former Millwall man ran through on goal one-on-one with Hilario, but delayed the finish and was dispossessed by John Terry. Juan Matas first involvement in a Chelsea shirt was a deep cross to Fernando Torres, but the misfiring strikers header was straight at Ruddy. The Spaniard was then lucky to stay on the pitch. Already booked, he brought down Bradley Johnson after some good play by the City midfielder. Chelsea then won a penalty after Ramires was brought down by Ruddy. The City keeper was then sent off, and Norwich had to face their third penalty in as many games. Declan Rudd replaced Chris Martin, but the young keeper couldnt keep out an emphatic Frank Lampard penalty. The Blues were back in the lead. New signing Romalu Lukaku replaced Fernando Torres after another dismal display by the Spaniard. The new signings for the Blues combined as the Belgian youngster Lukaku got a head to a good Juan Mata cross, but under pressure from Leon Barnett he couldnt direct it goalwards. Ivanovic then missed a sitter as he got on the end of a Frank Lampard cross but couldnt hit the target with a header from close range. The fourth official held up his board with a remarkable 11 minutes announced, due to the Didier Drogba injury and John Ruddy dismissal. Lukaku bore down on substitute keeper Declan Rudd and fired a shot away that was saved. The youngster couldnt hold it but managed to get it away from Lampard who was waiting to stroke in the rebound. Juan Mata finished the scoring and got a debut goal after pouncing on a Ritchie de Laet mistake to slide it underneath Declan Rudd. The 3-1 scoreline flattered the Blues. Mick Jones blew the whistle to end a good game at Stamford Bridge. Referee: Mick Jones Norwich (5-3-2) Ruddy, De Lait, Barnett, Whitbread (Pilkington, 30), Naughton, Tierney, Johnson, Crofts, Hoolahan (Morison, 60), Holt, C. Martin (Rudd, 81) Chelsea (4-3-3) Hilario, Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole, Mikel,