IVANOVIC: HOME KEY TO SUCCESS

As we head into a vital game against Liverpool this weekend looking to build on the platform of that crucial 1-0 win up at Blackburn which preceded the international break, Branislav Ivanovic spoke to the Official Chelsea Website and stressed the need for making full use of home advantage in what is notoriously a tricky fixture.

Following successive defeats in two London derbies, against QPR and Arsenal, it was imperative we returned to winning ways at Ewood Park, and whilst the performance wasn't the most pleasing on the eye, it was exactly what was required in order to restore confidence and belief to the whole squad in the wake of the those two capital capitulations.

Ivanovic was a key figure during the victory at Blackburn, expertly crossing with the outside of his right foot for Frank Lampard to head home the only goal of the game, and playing an instrumental part in keeping a late Blackburn onslaught at bay, ensuring only a second clean sheet of the Barclays Premier League season for the Blues in the process.

The Serbian international was only too aware of the need to halt our dip in form, and carry that momentum into this weekend's game.

'The win at Blackburn was very important for us; it was a very good victory, and now we need to change the current situation,' he says. 'We need to close the gap, and we will do everything to win the game. It will be a very hard game but we will do our best.'

Having played alongside John Terry at the heart of the defence for most of this season, Ivanovic was moved out to right-back for the Blackburn game in order to accommodate the returning Alex, and it was a move which paid off handsomely given his assist for Lampard's decisive strike.

'We have used a lot of rotation this season and, for the Blackburn game, I was playing at right-back having played for most of the season so far in the middle, but it was good for my confidence to create the goal. Personally, it was very nice, but the most important thing was obviously to win the match.'

The rivalry with Liverpool has certainly intensified in recent years; building initially through the constant battles in the latter stages of the Champions League a few years ago, and surging to a new level following the high-profile transfer of Fernando Torres last January.

Home or away, games against the men from Anfield are never easy, and having lost both league games against them last season, Ivanovic is under no illusions as to what will be required on Sunday.

'Liverpool are a very strong team; they have a good attack and play quick football, so we need to be ready. We are at home, and we need to make that advantage count in order to close the gap at the top.'

Luis Suarez, in particular, has earned plenty of plaudits since his move to Liverpool late in last January's transfer window, and while the Uruguayan forward is yet to feature against Chelsea, Ivanovic is well aware of the threat he poses.

'Luis Suarez is a good player, of course, but it's not just him, they have a number of good attacking options and we will need to be at our best to stop them.'

Last season's two defeats aside, Ivanovic has fairly pleasant memories of his games against the Merseysiders, none more so than the first leg of the 2009 Champions League quarter-final up at Anfield, where having gone behind to an early Torres strike, two towering headers by Ivanovic put us in the ascendancy, and on our way to a memorable 3-1 victory.

'Yes, the goals were very important for me, and it was obviously a great feeling to help us get the win,' he says. 'It's nice that people remember the goals, but the most important thing about it was the fact it helped us get an important win.'

Having already suffered defeats at the hands of both Manchester United and Arsenal, and matters at the top of the table extremely tight, a win against another one of our nearest rivals on Sunday is all the more important; a sentiment which is not lost on the defender.

'We always expect a difficult game after the international break, but this is a big match and we have to be ready to show the quality of our football, quality of our game and, most importantly, win the match.'

There are still some hospitality tickets available for Sunday's game.

GOALSCORER AND GOALSTOPPER INDUCTED

Two players who operated at opposite ends of the pitch and seven decades apart for Chelsea are the latest to be inducted into the official Chelsea website's Legends section.

Pairs of former stars are added to the already illustrious gallery at regular intervals according to the votes of supporters. Long-serving forward George Mills and goalkeeper Ed de Goey are those added today.

Mills (pictured below) is eighth in the list of top all-time goalscorers for the club, and was loyal servant in the decade leading up to World War Two.

Dutchman De Goey (pictured top) becomes the fourth keeper in the Legends section and was the man at the back as the team rose in stature at the end of last millennium and beginning of this one, winning European and domestic silverware as well as performing admirably in our maiden season in the Champions League.

Visit the Legends section to read more about the two Blues or to vote for players that should join them there soon.

FROM GUNNAR GREN TO ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC

The Swedish Pallon D’oro has a long history. The first to win it were Gren and Nordahl. Yesterday, Ibrahimovic. A new record. It’s the Swedish striker’s sixth time picking up this award.

MILAN - The Guldbollen is no small matter, neither for Sweden or for the Milan’s contingent from the Scandinavian country. In 1964, the award was first won by Gunnar Gren. The year after that, Gunnar Nordahl. Two thirds of the Gre-No-Li trio were the first to have their names added to a list that would , in time, include goalkeepers Hellstrom and Ravelli and eventually names better known to Italian football aficionados like Hyse, Stromberg, Thern and Dahlin, all the way to the more recent winners Ljungberg and Henrik Larsson.

But since 2005, it’s been a bit more predictable. It’s been almost always the same Zlatan Ibrahimovic. 2005 was the first time he won it. He took a break from the award in 2006 and then from 2007, it’s been all him. A record 6 wins in the nation that won the world cup in 1958 and has always produced refined footballers.

The six person jury voted unanimously for Milan’s striker. “Zlatan Ibrahimovic wins the Pallon D’Oro for his work with the national side and with Milan. Under great pressure, he has been the leader of a top level team, adding another league title to an already extraordinary collection”. As he was being presented with the award, Ibrahimovic came on stage to give a high five to national team coach Eris Hamren.

INTERNATIONALS: CRUNCH TIME FOR CECH AND MEIRELES

It is a critical international break for several Chelsea men, with a last chance to qualify for next summer's European Championships.

Our Czech and Portuguese international players all have vital play-off ties to conclude over the next week, with aggregate victory required to book the final places in Ukraine and Poland.

Petr Cech, the Czech player of the year, will be hoping for clean sheets against Montenegro, who finished second in England's group. The Czechs will play at home in Prague in the first leg on Friday, before the return game in Podgorica next Tuesday.

Portugal midfielder Raul Meireles meets Bosnia and Herzegovina in a repeat of their play-off for the 2010 World Cup, the first leg taking place in Zenica before the return in Lisbon four days later. The Portuguese were victorious two years ago, winning both legs 1-0. Jose Bosingwa is not in their squad for the rematch.

Elsewhere there are numerous friendlies to keep many of the rest of the Chelsea squad occupied.

England and Spain squads include a combined six Blues - John Terry, Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole and new inclusion Daniel Sturridge, and Fernando Torres and Juan Mata. England play Spain on Saturday and Sweden on Tuesday, both at Wembley, with Spain moving on to play an away game to Costa Rica.

David Luiz is the sole Brazilian called up from Chelsea for friendly fixtures. He travels for an away game against Gabon, to take place in African nation's capital city Libreville on Thursday, before they meet Egypt in Doha on Monday.

Salomon Kalou is with Ivory Coast as they travel to Cape Town to play South Africa on Saturday, then meeting Senegal in Paris on Tuesday. Didier Drogbahas been withdrawn from the squad following the removal of a metal plate in his arm.

John Mikel Obi will join up with Nigeria for their home friendlies against Botswana on Saturday and Zambia on Tuesday. Both games are in Abuja, and the Super Eagles will want to impress having failed to qualify for January's Africa Cup of Nations.

Back in Europe, Branislav Ivanovic, whose Serbia failed in their European qualification bid, finishing third behind Italy and Estonia, travels to Mexico for Friday's friendly before heading to Honduras on Monday.

Frenchman Florent Malouda, safely through, will come up against BelgianRomelu Lukaku in Paris on Tuesday. Before that the French meet USA on Friday, while the Belgians host Romania in Liege.

On-loan Jeffrey Bruma will miss Holland's friendlies against Switzerland and Germany due to a muscle injury.

Among the players possibly in action at Under 21 level, Josh McEachran has a double-header with England, entertaining Iceland at Colchester on Thursday before travelling to Belgium on Monday, while Oriol Romeu has two home qualifiers for Spain, meeting Estonia in Melilla on Thursday and Switzerland in Cordoba on Monday.

Slovakian Milan Lalkovic is in the squad that meets France Under 21s in Angers on Monday, Gael Kakuta is in the France squad, while Conor Clifford is with the Irish group that hosts Liechtenstein on Monday. Both games are European Championship qualifiers.

At Under 19 level, English pair Nathaniel Chalobah and Todd Kane will be in Brighton to play Denmark in a friendly on Thursday.

Some young Chelsea players have already been in action for Under 17 and Under 16 international age groups in the last fortnight.

England Under 17s won three games out of three in a European championship qualification tournament held in Bosnia - Lewis Baker, John Swift, Fankaty Dabo and Jordan Houghton playing their part in wins over Holland, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Latvia. Chelsea youth team defender Nathan Ake played for Holland.

England Under 16s beat Wales 4-0 with two Chelsea schoolboys who are regulars in our youth team this season, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Alex Kiwomya, grabbing a goal each. Loftus-Cheek was captain.

MENUJU KEMENANGAN

Dengan tiga gol dan satu penampilan bagus, Milan merebut ketiga poin dari stadion Olimpiade di ibukota dalam sebuah pertandingan yang memiliki segalanya. Seperti yang dikatakan sang pelatih sebelum pertandingan, “Milan-Roma selalu merupakan pertandingan besar” dan para pemain tak mengecewakan.

MILAN – Satu laga berat seperti yang telah diperkirakan semua orang, tapi Rossoneri akan pulang ke rumah dengan kemenangan setelah sebuah laga yang ketat di ibukota negara ini. Ibrahimovic mencetak gol pembuka,Burdisso merespons bagi Giallorossi, tapi Nesta memulihkan keunggulan buat sang juara. Di babak kedua, Ibra mendapatkan gol keduanya dan terlepas dari tekanan penuh semangat dari tim tuan rumah, pertandingan itu berakhir 3-2

Pertandingan dibuka dengan tim tuan rumah terlihat sedikit lebih berbahaya dripada tim tamu. Roma mampu menciptakan dua peluang di menit-menit pembuka, yang pertama lewat Cassetti dan kedua oleh Borini. Tapi, dengan berlalunya waktu, Rossoneri mulai berkembang. Pemain pertama yang terlihat berbahaya adalah Boateng yang membuka ruang di kotak penalti dan melepaskan umpan silang yang terlihat berbahaya hanya untuk disapu oleh Josè Angel. Boateng terlibat dalam pergerakan yang memberi Milan keunggulan di menit ke-17. Pemain Ghana ini membuka ruang di lini tengah dan memainkan bola kepada Aquilani yang kemudian melepaskan umpan silang indah ke kotak penalti di mana Ibrahimovic ada di sana untuk menyundul bola ke gawang. 1 – kosong buat Milan. Rossoneri telrihat berbahaya hanya beberapa menit kemudian. Setelah satu sepak pojok disapu menuju Robinho, pemain Brasil ini melihat Stekelenburg di luar posisinya dan melepaskan tembakan dari dalam lingkaran tengah, tapi melebar.

Terlepas dari permainan positif dari sang juara Italia, gol penyeimbang segera datang. Satu sepak pojok dari tim tuan rumah datang dari bentrokan antara Thiago Silva dan Osvaldo. Burdisso berhasil melepaskan diri dariZambrotta dan sundulannya membuat Abbiati tak punya kesempatan sama sekali. 1-1 dan pertandingan berlanjut.
Tapi, hanya beberapa menit kemudian dan Milan kembali memimpin. Kali ini sau sepak pojok buat tim tamu dan Alessandro Nesta meaju ke depan. Robinho mengambil sepak pojok dan bek veteran ini meloncat tinggi untuk menyundul bola ke gawang. 3 gol, 3 sundulan. Roma menekan ke depan secara konstan sebelum jeda tapi pertahanan merah dan hitam tetap tangguh dan pluit paruh waktu berbunyi dengan skor 2-1.

Paruh kdua dimulai dengan satu lagi peluang dari Ibrahimovic. Pemain Swedia ini melewati Cassetti seolah ia tak ada di sana sama sekali tapiBurdisso berhasil memblok tembakannya. Beberapa menit kemudian dan Roma terlihat berbahaya lewat aksi Bojan. Tapi Nesta, waspada dan membuang bola untuk sepak pojok. Tim tuan rumah mempertahankan tekanan dan Christian Abbiati sekali lagi harus menunjukkan kemampuannya. Satu tendangan bebas dari Pjanic memaksanya beraksi dan kemudian sundulan dari Burdisso membuat para fans tegang, tapi sang kiper melakukan lebih dari sekadar tugasnya. Secara khusus, ini seperti pertandinga antara Abbiati dan Osvaldo. Pemain Italia/Argentina ini memaksa penyelamatan ajaib dari kiper Italia. Satu kosong buat Abbiati.

Boateng ditarik keluar untuk digantikan Emanuelson dengan pemain Ghana itu terlihat jelas teprincang-pincang. Setelah pergantian itu, Boatengmenerima kartu merah atas sesuatu yang diucapkannya dan harus menyaksikan seluruh sisa pertandingan dari tribun penonton. Cassano juga mengambil alih posisi Robinho dan Antonio lah yang langsung terlihat berbahaya. Ia menari melewati dua bek di kotak penalti tapi sudutnya terlalu sempit dan tembakannya melambung. Tapi, itu hanya awal dari apa yang akan terjadi kemudian. Di menit ke-78, Fantantonio bertukar untuk bermain ke sisi lain kotak penalti di mana Aquilani menunggu untuk memberikan umpan silang sempurna untuk satu lagi gol sundulan dari Ibrahimovic.

Akhir pertandingan adalah urusan yang menegangkan. Pertama Cassanomenyuguhkan sebuah gol buat Nocerino. Yang harus dilakukannya hanyalah menyontek bola ke gawang, tapi ia luput dari sasaran. Lamela masuk untuk tim tuan rumah dan berusaha membuat gebrakan. Ia mendapatkan tendangan bebas dari ganjalan Nesta di tepi kotak penalti.Abbiati ada di sana untuk melakukan penyelamatan langsung ke arahBojan yang tak melakukan kesalahan. Abbiati melakukan penyelamatan lagi sebelum akhir pertandingan setelah sebuah separuh umpan silang, separuh tembakan terlihat berbahaya. Pelatih Allegri juga diusir keluar lapangan di akhir pertandingan, tapi Rossoneri cukup tenang untuk bertahan. 3-2 untuk Milan. Benar-benar laga yang luar biasa!

Persisam Bungkam Persela 5-0

SOLO, - Lagi-lagi, Persela Lamongan kalah telak pada turnamen SCTV Cup 2011 di Stadion Manahan, Solo, Jawa Tengah. Setelah kalah dari Persipura Jayapura 7-0, Minggu (30/10/2011), Persela dibungkam Persisam Samarinda, 5-0 (2-0).

Penyerang tim nasional Indonesia yang memperkuat Persisam, Christian Gonzales, mencetak hattrick. Pemain berjuluk El Loco itu mencetak gol pada menit ke-17, 60, dan 72.

Adapun dua gol lain Persisam dibukukan Fandi Mochtar pada menit ke-24 dan Jerry Boima Karpeh menit ke-68.

Dengan kemenangan itu, Persisam naik ke peringkat tiga klasemen sementara dengan tiga poin. Sementara itu, Persela menggantikan Persisam di posisi juru kunci dengan satu poin.

REACTION: CHANGING PERSPECTIVE

Andre Villas-Boas pointed to missed chances and freakish goals at the other end as he considered his first home defeat as Chelsea manager.

Goals from Frank Lampard and John Terry had given us a 2-1 half-time lead, scoring either side of Robin van Persie's equaliser, before Andre Santos and Theo Walcott turned the game on its head to put the visitors in control.

Juan Mata then levelled things with a long-range cracker 10 minutes from time, only for Van Persie to capitalise on a Terry slip at the back to recapture the lead for Arsenal, and the Dutchman completed his hat-trick in injury time when the Gunners counter-attacked at pace with Chelsea committing men forward.

It means we suffer consecutive Premier League defeats having been beaten at QPR last weekend, leaving Villas-Boas frustrated but determined to turn things around. It was the first time Chelsea have conceded five since 2002, but the manager would not criticise his defence.

'You have to take two goals out of this situation, the perspective of our defensive shape, because one is a slip from a player which leaves another one against one with our keeper and is nothing to do with defensive organisation, and the other one is trying to do something with three minutes on the clock,' he said.

'Apart from that before this game we were [one of] the three best defences in the Premiership so I would argue with anyone that our defensive organisation was a problem before this game. We committed mistakes today that we will try to evolve and maybe we can improve for the game against Blackburn.'

Villas-Boas pinpointed major turning points in the game that turned the scoreline against us.

'In the first half we had a very good period of 15 minutes where we created a lot of chances,' said the 34-year-old. 'The two decisive moments of the game were the 15 minutes where we couldn't find the back of the net with the amount of chances we had, and at the end when we were trying to get the 4-3 we missed two chances, with Mata at the back post and again didn't find the back of the net and were punished by an unlucky situation which can happen, and Van Persie did his job like he usually does.

'Those are the two decisive moments of the game, a very open game and attack-minded game from both teams. Regarding the 5-3 I have nothing to say because we were trying to get the 4-4, we were unbalanced and eventually Arsenal made the most of the transition.'

We now look ahead to two away games in a week, at Genk in the Champions League and at Blackburn in the Premier League next weekend. Villas-Boas insists he will be changing nothing.

'The philosophy is a personal value and a club value. You should never sell it cheaply. It is something that makes us all proud and we will stick to this philosophy. It is our way of playing and we are proud of the way we play. We just have to correct things.

'In the Champions League the scenario is another one. We can get in a very good position if we win the game. We have a chance of qualifying if Leverkusen wins. It's a different situation.

'Regarding the Blackburn game it is two defeats in the Premiership and we have to bounce back with a win. We will have to find winning ways straight away.'

VILLAS-BOAS: EXPECT BETTER

Andre Villas-Boas wants his side to improve following Sunday's defeat at Queens Park Rangers.

Two red cards and a string of refereeing decisions for the home side took attention from our below-par performance when fully manned at Loftus Road, where we had struggled to create goalscoring opportunities prior to Jose Bosingwa and Didier Drogba's dismissals.

His comments about referee Chris Foy have also caused a stir, but Villas-Boas refused to back down when discussing the official. He did, however, concede his players must also be criticised after a lacklustre first half-hour, and wants better away to Everton in the Carling Cup tonight.

'We should have played better with 11 men and committed less mistakes, and if we do that we avoid a couple of situations,' said the 34-year-old. 'And if with nine men we are able to do that to Queens Park Rangers, with 11 men we should be able to do it.

'You expect better things from us with 11 men but on the other hand it happened. You have to analyse the game thoroughly. You can take the view that with 11 men we were not good enough with the same fluency at the start. Then we were down to 10 men pretty early due to a bad decision.

'We have suffered before in early parts of the game, for example against West Brom, and we were able to react. We have been with 10 men before and we won 4-1 against Swansea.'

Villas-Boas would not criticise his players' discipline however, despite the dismissals and seven yellow cards.

'It is just the nature of the game. There are better years and years where you don't get yellow cards,' he pointed out. 'We have to just deal with it - as you start accumulating them suspensions come early so we have to manage it as technical staff to get the most availability as possible.

'It doesn't mean a pattern of bad behaviour or aggressiveness.

'I think there is a Mikel yellow card with us with nine men when he is confronted one against one before the player goes into the box and he chooses to foul the player instead of giving the player an opportunity to score. Things are related to other things and other stories.

'Didier's challenge is a sending off for sure and you cannot appeal but the other one is not in my opinion.'

PAST PLAYERS’ TRUST – HALF A DECADE ON

For five years now the Chelsea Past Players' Trust has been quietly going about its important business.

Inspired by Tony Banks - the late MP who prior to his death in January 2006 put much effort into making sure Chelsea's first championship-winning side of 1954/55 was no longer a forgotten generation - the Trust was set up to raise money to help former Chelsea players and employees who need a helping hand, especially with medical concerns.

Its formation was announced by Chelsea Football Club chairman Bruce Buck, one of the Trust's directors, at the Annual Lunch in 2006 and each year since it has been able to assist in the way that Banks would have wished, not just for the class of '55 but for those who have served the club since and in the odd case, had served it before.

The Trust is one of the clearest manifestations of Chelsea's desire, since Roman Abramovich became owner, to celebrate our history and recognise those who contributed to our colourful story.Other moves in that direction have been the introduction of a more traditional club badge, the Peter Osgood statue at Stamford Bridge and the Chelsea Old Boys team moving under the club's umbrella and sponsorship.

A museum to mark our centenary was established at the Bridge and was recently relocated, upgraded and expanded, and the club regularly buys items of historic importance. There has been a concerted effort to make former players feel welcome.

Announcing the birth of the Trust back in 2006, Buck said: 'Since Roman Abramovich took over Chelsea we have helped a number of past players who were in need of medical or financial assistance. This was done on an ad hoc basis but Tony and the club wanted to do more.

'Discussions had already started before Tony's passing and his death served as a further impetus to set up the Trust.

'Not only will the Trust directly help past players and other employees in need, but it will also ensure that these players maintain their rightful place as a crucial part of the club's soul.'

Now part of the Chelsea Foundation, money has been raised by a variety of means including the CPO Annual Lunch, Chelsea Old Boys games, golf days, a lottery, raffles, a quiz night, the sale of a Champions book collecting the match programmes from '54/'55, Star on a Stool events and other special evenings, plus donations from individuals and supporters' clubs. The top image is Buck accepting a donation on behalf of the Trust from the Chelsea In America supporters' club.

The Rev. Martin Swan (pictured below left), a lifelong Chelsea fan who conducted the Peter Osgood memorial service at Stamford Bridge in October 2006, acts as chaplain for the Trust.

'I have been able to visit many of the old players and for plenty of them it is not a financial matter necessarily, it is more to do with quality of life,' he says.

'I feel very proud to watch Chelsea look after not just the old boys but their families as well and without exception, each who has benefited has been overwhelmed by the generosity and that they are still considered part of the Chelsea family.

'We should be proud that the club is supporting anybody who ever played no matter what generation or however many games they played. Some absolute legends in the eyes of the fans are being well looked after in this way.'

Although confidentiality is respected, Chic Thomson, goalkeeper for the '54/'55 championship-winning side, was one of the first assisted with the cost of his heart surgery paid and wanted that to be known. Prior to his death, Thomson was able to attend an Annual Lunch to thank the Trust. Knee and hip replacement operations have also been funded as well as nursing care and mobility assistance.

As recently as last week the Trust was responsible for the funeral of Reg Williams (above right) who had been our oldest ex-player. Swan conducted it and Buck attended to represent the club.

'Whenever I meet Mr Buck he always asks how are the old boys,' says Swan, who drives our '54/'55 championship-winning captain Roy Bentley to every home game from his nursing home in Reading.

'Nothing is too small and nothing is too large for the Trust to become involved. I get contacted by someone connected with it to tell me a player has some sort of difficulty and I visit the family and report back. It is a charity and we make sure we steward the money properly.'

Two Chelsea greats, our highest appearance-makers Ron Harris and Peter Bonetti (pictured below right with Chic Thomson) , both praise the work of the Trust and the manner in which the modern Chelsea embraces our history.

'It's excellent the Trust can do things such as helping to fund an operation for a former player who simply wouldn't be able to afford it himself,' says Harris.

Bonetti adds: 'It was a hard career on the body in the past. I know players who have arthritis that is down to the game and although you can't blame it on anyone because that was their chosen profession and they decided to play on, the Trust is an excellent idea in being able to help players who did not earn good money. They can have something done that they probably could not do for themselves.

'The Trust is a fantastic way of saying that you played for Chelsea so we are going to look after you. This is a fantastic club which is very respectful of what you have done for Chelsea as a past player. All the directors and staff I come into contact with are very amenable and only too pleased to give us a helping hand if ever it is needed. It is first class.

'It is lovely to still be associated with the club on match days and have the chance to meet the fans who watched us in past.'

Harris agrees: 'I've been doing hospitality at the club for a number of years now and it's brilliant to still have a connection after all this time.

'It's lovely to still feel like a part of the club, not just for me personally, but for all the old boys.'

Tickets for this year's Annual Lunch, which will be raising funds for the Past Players' Trust and the Chelsea Foundation, are still available. The event is on Friday 18 November. Click on Annual Lunch for details and booking.

PAT NEVIN: STRENGTH FROM ADVERSITY

As Chelsea fans of a certain age can testify, the club has had bad days at Loftus Road before. Sunday had columnist and former Blues star Pat Nevin recalling one but also encouraged by what he saw this weekend from players and manager…

So what were the negatives against QPR on Sunday? Well we got beaten 1-0, had two men sent off, everybody else gotbooked, the opportunity to get right back in between Man United and Man City was lost and even the manager might be up before the beaks because he gave an honest appraisal of how he felt the referee had done on the day. I should be on a bit of a downer but strangely enough I am not and maybe a few other Chelsea fans feel the same way for a variety of reasons.

First of all, with nine men on the pitch there is little or no argument that Chelsea were the better side, how cool is that? The spirit in the team was fabulous if maybe a tad over exuberant at times, but that is not surprising when you are putting in so much effort and nothing seems to be going your way. Luck and decisions deserted us but even at nine against 11 we looked a class above the Rs.

Actually let's deal with that now and get it out of the way. In the modern game, Didier Drogba or anyone else will always get sent off for a two-footed tackle. Never mind that it wasn't malicious (neither was Fernando Torres's a few weeks back) and that he got the ball and hardly connected with the player, that is the way Mr Foy and his colleagues have been told to interpret that situation, so you just have to deal with it.

The Bosingwa one is harder to call. Being totally unbiased I must tell you that under the laws of the game the referee has the right to send our full-back off in that situation. There were no defenders between SWP and the goal and there was just a little bit of shirt tugging. It was however also within his gift to say that it was some distance out, there was barging from both parties and it did appear a rather minor infringement of the rules so a yellow would suffice.

The referee was pretty harsh on us, but that happens. It was the other decisions from the referee, the possible penalty claims and the niggling constant unwillingness to give Chelsea the benefit of the doubt that got up most of our noses

Then there was the penalty decision which referees will give on home grounds every day of the week when players are blatantly, if gently, bumped and the opponent falls as if he has just suffered a massive cardiac arrest. It was naïve from David Luiz once again and it just underlines what I feel; that the brilliant, inventive, quick, powerful and talented player is not really a natural centre back, but a midfielder, preferably the deepest lying one.Even if it is in a Carling Cup game, can we please see him playing there one day, just to see?

Anyway that is my only minor question aimed at our manager AVB, because at the weekend once again he played an absolute blinder for the club. His tactical changes as we lost players in the first half were first and foremost text book in their application. There was no panic, but also no prevarication which could have killed the game there and then.

After the break I think we witnessed a tactical master class in how to play with nine men. Fifa will make a video of that and show it in their coaching classes for years to come.

It was interesting to see the difference at the game I was covering for the BBC. When Manchester United went down to 10 at home against Manchester City it turned into a complete and utter shambles for Fergie's men.

It was strange to sit there at Old Trafford and watch the fans look on in disbelief at how incredibly wrong it went tactically. They didn't make it clear at the time, but afterwards when the anger had subsided a bit towards their defenders, thoughts turned to the manager's contribution. Could the unthinkable have happened, could Sir Alex actually be as much at fault as any of his team by getting the tactics of playing with 10 men so badly wrong?

The red jury is still out on that one, but for us AVB got it right at every stage under more extreme circumstances and also while playing away from home.

Oddly enough a similar feeling of positivity after defeat affected me once after playing for Chelsea against QPR at Loftus Road back at Easter in 1986. If you think everything went wrong this weekend well that day 25 years ago was far worse. We had been doing well all season and then suddenly for a variety of reasons as the season drew to a close, the wheels came off completely. We crashed at home 0-4 to West Ham and then lost 6-0 to QPR two days later.

Everything that could go wrong, did go wrong but weirdly I walked out of the ground uplifted that day. Anyone who was there would instantly know why, the Chelsea fans were incredible, in fact in my life I do not think I have been more moved by a set of fans than I was that day.

The blue hordes (pictured top) knew we were having a weird nightmare, but they still managed to sing manically in support of the team not only after four goals were shipped, but after the fifth, the sixth and even after the final whistle. They knew we needing lifting and that there were important games to come and as a group they sensed it was the right thing to do.

It was astounding and as we sat in the dressing room afterwards we knew we would never let that happen to them again. Although the season petered out, an incredible bond had been formed between us and the spirit stayed with the team and the fans.

In short, a defeat doesn't always have to be followed by recriminations and abuse; now and again it can have far more positive than negative ramifications. I think this week was one of those occasions. Right now I can't wait until we get QPR down at the Bridge, with a full squad and maybe if it is not too much trouble, a different referee.

To have a chance of winning a copy of the Chelsea Uncut book signed by a player in this week's quiz, could you tell me who played in goal for Chelsea the day I mentioned earlier when the Blues lost 6-0 to QPR? Answers as ever to pat.nevin@chelsefc.com and the daughter who has finally tidied her room up after three whole years of nagging from me, will randomly choose the lucky winner.

Bekuk Bologna, Lazio ke Peringkat Kedua

BOLOGNA, — Lazio merangsek naik ke posisi kedua klasemen sementara Liga Serie-A setelah menang 2-0 atas Bologna, Minggu atau Senin (24/10/2011) dini hari WIB. Berkat kemenangan ini, Lazio hanya terpaut satu angka dari pemuncak klasemen sementara, Udinese, yang mengumpulkan 15 poin.

Lazio yang bertindak sebagai tim tamu sebenarnya tampil kurang gereget di awal babak pertama. Namun, Lazio mampu mencetak keunggulan pertama mereka pada menit ke-23 berkat gol bunuh diri Robert Acquafresca. Mantan pemain Cagliari tersebut salah mengantisipasi datangnya bola yang berasal dari tendangan bebas pemain Lazio.

Acquafresca nyaris membayar kesalahannya satu menit setelah gol bunuh diri tersebut. Namun, sayang, bola hasil tendangan kaki kirinya masih bisa dipatahkan oleh kiper Lazio, Federico Marchetti.

Di menit ke-35, Marchetti kembali menjadi tembok kokoh Lazio. Dengan sigap, pemain yang musim lalu membela Cagliari ini mementahkan peluang yang didapat Daniel Portanova lewat tandukannya. Sebelum babak pertama usai, Marchetti kembali melakukan penyelamatan. Kali ini usaha dari Gaston Ramirez yang ia gagalkan.

Di babak kedua, Bologna justru kecolongan gol cepat dari Lazio. Umpan dari Djibril Cisse berhasil dimanfaatkan dengan baik oleh Senad Lulic dengan tendangan kaki kirinya, 2-0 untuk Lazio.

Cisse hampir membuat Lazio memperlebar keunggulan mereka pada menit ke-79. Sayang, bola tendangan kaki kanannya dari dalam kotak penalti masih melebar ke sisi kiri gawang Bologna yang dikawal Federico Agliardi.

Di sisa waktu yang ada, kedua tim gagal menciptakan peluang tambahan. Hasilnya, kedudukan 2-0 untuk Lazio tetap bertahan hingga peluit panjang tanda laga berakhir dibunyikan.

Susunan pemain

Bologna: Federico Agliardi, Nicolo Cherubin, Daniele Portanova, Archimede Morleo, Andrea Raggi, Gaby Mudingayi, Gaston Ramirez (Henry Gimenez 59), Panagiotis Kone, Federico Casarini (Nico Pulzetti 59), Marco Di Vaio, Robert Acquafresca (Daniele Vantaggiato 80)

Lazio: Federico Marchetti, Andre Dias, Giuseppe Biava, Stefan Radu, Abdoulay Konko, Cristian Ledesma, Hernanes (Lionel Scaloni 64), Francesco Matuzalem (Lorik Cana 72), Senad Lulic (Giuseppe Sculli 87), Djibril Cisse, Miroslav Klose