Stuttering Chelsea held by Birmingham
Reuters - Saturday 26 December 2009, 19:36
Chelsea's stuttering form continued on Saturday when the Premier League leaders kicked off a hectic holiday programme with a 0-0 draw at Birmingham City.
The Blues moved five points clear of champions Manchester United, despite failing to score for the first time in 34 games. United can narrow the gap at Hull City on Sunday afternoon.
Birmingham goalkeeper Joe Hart produced a string of fine saves to frustrate the visitors, extending his side's unbeaten league run to 10 and leaving Chelsea with just one victory from their last seven matches in all competitions.
"It's not a good result for us considering what we did on the pitch because Chelsea played well, had a lot of chances, had a lot of heart and the keeper for Birmingham made some fantastic saves," Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti told the club's official website.
Hart, who ended the match with a bandaged head, denied Daniel Sturridge and Frank Lampard in the first half but was rescued by his crossbar when Brazilian defender Alex unleashed a thumping free kick.
Florent Malouda mis-kicked in front of a gaping goal as Chelsea continued to dominate after the break and the Frenchman's luck did not improve as he was dismissed for a second bookable offence late on.
Birmingham had the ball in the net in the first half but Christian Benitez was ruled offside when he tapped in from close range. Television replays suggested he was being played on by a grounded Didier Drogba.
Meanwhile, Roberto Mancini began his reign as Manchester City manager with a 2-0 home victory over Stoke City and there was good news for another of the Premier League's Italian coaches when Gianfranco Zola's West Ham United climbed out of the bottom three with a 2-0 home win over Portsmouth.
Tottenham Hotspur remained in fifth place after a 0-0 draw at Fulham and the points were also shared at Sunderland who drew 1-1 with Everton.
Liverpool moved up to seventh with a 2-0 win at home to 10-man Wolverhampton Wanderers, while Wigan Athletic against Blackburn Rovers ended 1-1 as did Burnley's home match with Bolton Wanderers.
Mancini, who replaced Mark Hughes as Manchester City manager last weekend, overcame his first hurdle as goals from Martin Petrov and Carlos Tevez wrapped up the points against Stoke to keep City in sixth place, three points off the top four.
"For me, today is a good match. The players were fantastic because Stoke are a hard team," Mancini told the BBC.
Rafa Benitez's Liverpool edged to a much-needed 2-0 win over Wolves in a dismal affair at Anfield with goals from captain Steven Gerrard and Yossi Benayoun.
Wolves were reduced to 10 men soon after the break in bizarre circumstances. Defender Stephen Ward, already on a booking, needlessly fouled Brazilian midfielder Lucas only for referee Andre Mariner to book his team mate Christophe Berra before reversing his mistake and handing Ward a second yellow.
A rare moment of quality saw Liverpool take the lead through Gerrard, who climbed highest to meet a Emiliano Insua cross and head home on 62 minutes.
Eight minutes later the hosts, including Alberto Aquilani making his first Premier League start, added a second through midfielder Benayoun's deflected strike.