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Birmingham frustrate Chelsea with a Draw

 Chelsea the Premier League leaders could not score past Birmingham’s heroic Joe Hart goalkeeper and now will be without strikers Salomon Kalou Didier and Drogba for the next month in a series of games that could break their bid to get the title from Manchester United. Drogba and Kalou is leaving for African Nations Cup on Monday and Ancelotti’s faith in rookie striker Daniel Sturridge appeared dim as the former Manchester City youngster blundered his lines against Birmingham.

The Italian’s agonizing day dropped further deeper as Florent Malouda was sent off for a second bookable offence. At least Nicolas Anelka is anticipated to return for Chelsea’s next game against Fulham but Ancelotti’s lack of powerful offense was glaring against Alex McLeish’s side, who have now on a eight games winning streak. Hart helped Birmingham to produce a great performance and frustrated the visitors, who slip-up a chance to make a greater lead at the top over United.

Boss Says Chelsea On Track

Ancelotti Chelsea boss still believes his team is still on the right track to win the title of the English Premier League in the face of their alarming mid-season shake.  The Blues just managed to win only one of their last five league games. And only one in seven in all competitions that followed yesterday’s 0 – 0 draw at in-form Birmingham.  With Manchester United the defending champions coming in at second place.  

Ancelotti’s team faces a tough match versus local rivals Fulham tomorrow under stress to take three points prior to the departure of their three key players going to the CAF African Cup of Nations.  But their coach is firm that his team’s current set up is not a big problem.  This is not our best showing; one win in seven outings is not good, he admitted.  But he does not see a big problem.   We do have a few problems since we have two players out who are very good and we are not constantly playing well.

Birmingham ties Chelsea

Carlo Ancelotti has been firm he will not be striking the January sales, but the Chelsea manager may think twice about his strategy after his team was held to a 0-0 draw at Birmingham on Saturday. Ancelotti’s Premier League leaders could not find a way to score against Joe Hart Birmingham’s heroic goalkeeper and will now be without Didier Drogba strikers and Salomon Kalou for the coming month in some of its games that could make or break their attempt to battle it out for the title from Manchester United.

Kalou and Drogba will go to the African Nations Cup on Monday and Ancelotti’s hope in Daniel Sturridge his rookie striker appeared inexperienced as the former Manchester City youngster mess up his lines against a revitalized Birmingham. The Italian’s agonizing day measured further depths when Florent Malouda was sent off late on for a second bookable offence and the Blues’ lead over United could be lowered by two points if the champions make a win at Hull on Sunday.

Chelsea With Striker Crisis

The injury of Frenchman’s players and the international call of duty for Ivorian will thrusts the new comers into spotlight.  The Christmas season was not the best for Chelsea with the bad news that Nicolas Anelka experienced a torn hamstring and will not play for two to three weeks and Didier Drogba is leaving for the African Nations Cup and will not play against Fulham on 28 December.  Anelka, 30, tore the hamstring during practice last week that ruled him out of last weekend’s draw with West Ham.

It was the other day that the full extent of the injury was made known by manager Carlo Ancelotti, is now facing a trouble without his leading strikers.  Drogba and his team-mate from Ivory Coast Salomon Kalou will play for the Boxing Day game at Birmingham City, but leave the next day for international duty, unless the Premier League leaders will win in petitioning the Ivory Coast into extending their grace period for a couple of days, which is unlikely.  On 28 December Chelsea will host Fulham their neighbor.

English Clubs 2 Games In 3 Days

While mainland Europe is at rest on their winter break, English clubs are warming up for their hectic games of the season. Premier League clubs will play two matches in three days starting Saturday before their entrance to next weekends FA Cup. And if that is not much to worry about, clubs like the leader Chelsea are about to give up players to the African Cup of Nations. Chelsea is playing without Nicolas Anelka who is injured at in-form Birmingham on Saturday and will be weak in attack against Fulham on Monday due to the absence of Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou who will link up with the Ivory Coast national side. That will leave Carlo Ancelotti their coach with strikers Daniel Sturridge and Fabio Borini, neither of them made a point in their first seasons with Chelsea.

There are no players on Ancelotti’s wish-list that is present. Ancelotti said his squad can cope, even with midfielders John Obi Mikel and Michael Essien also leaving for Ghana and Nigeria.

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