Match Report


ChelseaChelsea     Birmingham CityBirmingham City
Matthew ReesMatthew Rees John Mooney John Mooney
Wes MonkW. Monk69
G
1
G
73Adam BattyA. Batty
Sol RodgersS. Rodgers71
D
2
D
67Ruuben BranderR. Brander
Marchanno Van HelmondM. Van Helmond67
D
captain3
D
71Camille LefèvreC. Lefèvre
Stanley WalshS. Walsh64
D
4
D
69Samuele PinziS. Pinzi
Mervin EhioguM. Ehiogu69
D
5captain
M
79Darius LumsdonD. Lumsdon
Alassan LuccinA. Luccin65
M
6
M
71Carlos RedondoC. Redondo
Robbie WrightR. Wright73
M
7
M
78Micka‘l MerideM. Meride
Anthony KeeganA. Keegan66
M
8
M
77Darren ScalesD. Scales
Fabian JonesF. Jones71
A
9
A
71Alexandre NivetA. Nivet
Andre VieiraA. Vieira65
A
10
A
71Jo‘l FischerJ. Fischer
Carlos SerranoC. Serrano72
A
11
A
76Yves-A. RichertY. Richert
 
Nigel SalakoN. Salako36
A
12
A
37James FinneyJ. Finney
Trevor FormonT. Formon63
M
13
D
67Del PlowrightD. Plowright
Joe SinclairJ. Sinclair49
D
14
G
55Daniel BridgesD. Bridges

Boots Direct
today's match is sponsored by Boots Direct
Match Report
The air is damp with a fine drizzle here at Stamford Bridge where Chelsea play host to Birmingham City. Its a sell-out today with the 21,000 capacity stadium completely full.
The pitch is in good condition.
Chelsea are playing in a 4-3-3 formation while Birmingham City appear to be shaped for 3-4-3.
Today's match is refereed by Jamie Powell.


0.00
Chelsea start the match!
2.50
Robbie Wright clumsily knocks into Camille Lefèvre. Robbie Wright is shown the yellow card! Camille Lefèvre hobbles a bit, but should be okay.
4.02
Ruuben Brander catches Carlos Serrano on the ankles. The referee reaches into his pocket ... it's a yellow card! Carlos Serrano stretches but gets up unharmed.
8.44
Camille Lefèvre threads the ball through to Micka‘l Meride. Micka‘l Meride threads the ball through to Yves-A. Richert. Yves-A. Richert cuts inside the box! Yves-A. Richert muscles his way past his marker and unleashes a shot at goal. The ball swerves in the air but the keeper is on top of it. Excellent keeping!
9.16
Seeing a gap ahead, Alassan Luccin plays the ball forward to Carlos Serrano. Carlos Serrano plays a one-two with Fabian Jones and advances towards the goal... Carlos Serrano makes some space for himself and shoots at goal but it is shockingly off target!
12.49
Micka‘l Meride controls the ball well before passing to his team mate, Jo‘l Fischer. Jo‘l Fischer knocks in a cross ball which is cleared easily by the defence.
15.03
Stanley Walsh barges into Jo‘l Fischer. Stanley Walsh is warned by the referee! Jo‘l Fischer hobbles a bit, but should be okay.
16.27
Robbie Wright sees Andre Vieira in space ahead and quickly passes the ball. Andre Vieira shoots from 25 yards. Adam Batty gathers the ball up comfortably. Top class keeping!
24.15
Ruuben Brander knocks the ball to his team mate, Carlos Redondo. With a delightful solo run, Carlos Redondo stretches the opposition's defence. Carlos Redondo advances inside the box! Carlos Redondo makes some space for himself and shoots at goal but Wes Monk is on top of it.
28.38
Micka‘l Meride threads the ball through to Jo‘l Fischer. Jo‘l Fischer advances inside the box! Stanley Walsh comes in with a late challenge on Jo‘l Fischer. That's got to be a penalty! No, the referee isn't even looking in that direction!!
30.03
Micka‘l Meride brings the ball forward. Micka‘l Meride puts a great ball through but Jo‘l Fischer is slow coming back. It's an easy decision for the linesman. Offside!
34.32
Alassan Luccin flicks a high pass forward. Andre Vieira holds off his marker to collect the ball on his thigh. Andre Vieira plays a scrappy one-two with Carlos Serrano and advances towards the goal... Andre Vieira strikes a beautiful left-footed shot at goal but he skews it badly. The ball flies well over the bar!
36.53
Samuele Pinzi kicks a strong pass forward to Carlos Redondo. Carlos Redondo threads the ball through to Alexandre Nivet. Alexandre Nivet shoots from long range. The keeper, Wes Monk, sees it late!! Goal for Birmingham City!
40.25
With a delightful solo run, Micka‘l Meride stretches the opposition's defence. Micka‘l Meride makes a probing pass to Alexandre Nivet but he's offside!
42.24
Marchanno Van Helmond boots it upfield. Carlos Serrano shoots from outside the area. The ball swerves viciously but the keeper is on top of it. Well saved!
45.00
Alassan Luccin chips the ball to his team mate, Fabian Jones. Fabian Jones whips in a cross ball towards Carlos Serrano. Carlos Serrano jumps high and flicks the ball with his head but it curls horrendously wide!
45.00
The first half ends with the referee blowing his whistle!

Both teams emerge for the second half. Chelsea appear unchanged since the first half. Birmingham City also appear unchanged since the first half. The Chelsea players look more determined than they did at the start of the game.

45.00
The whistle blows and Birmingham City get the second half underway!
47.44
Micka‘l Meride flicks a high pass forward. Alexandre Nivet controls it well on his chest. Alexandre Nivet knocks in a cross ball which is cleared by the defence.
54.25
Robbie Wright knocks the ball to his team mate, Carlos Serrano. Carlos Serrano tries a spectacular long range effort but it's well over the bar!
60.45
Chelsea have made a substitution with Trevor Formon replacing Andre Vieira .
65.36
With great vision, Micka‘l Meride plays the ball forward to Alexandre Nivet. Alexandre Nivet makes a defence splitting pass to Jo‘l Fischer. Jo‘l Fischer tries a spectacular strike. The ball skims nastily along the ground and slips under the keeper's body. Goal!!
69.17
With some swift thinking, Carlos Redondo plays the ball forward to Yves-A. Richert. Yves-A. Richert knocks the ball forward, putting Alexandre Nivet through on goal. Alexandre Nivet shows great control and tries a shot on goal. The ball swerves in the air but the keeper is more than a match for it. Good save!
77.29
Chelsea have made 2 substitutions with Nigel Salako replacing Stanley Walsh and Joe Sinclair replacing Robbie Wright .Birmingham City have made 3 substitutions with Daniel Bridges replacing Carlos Redondo, Del Plowright replacing Adam Batty and James Finney replacing Darius Lumsdon .
78.34
Joe Sinclair flicks a high pass forward. Fabian Jones controls it well on his chest. Fabian Jones knocks in a cross ball towards Carlos Serrano. Ruuben Brander barges into Carlos Serrano. Penalty not given!!
81.03
Plenty of goal mouth action is making this a great game to watch.
84.48
Anthony Keegan changes direction and makes an attacking run forward. Anthony Keegan tries a spectacular long range effort. It slams into the side netting. So close!!
87.39
Alexandre Nivet catches Nigel Salako on the ankles. The referee warns Alexandre Nivet to calm down! Nigel Salako runs off the knock.
90.00
The whistle blows full-time!

Match Statistics
 

Chelsea

Birmingham City
Goals
0
2
Shots on Target
2
5
Shots off Target
5
0
Offsides
0
4
Fouls
2
2
Yellow Cards
1
1
Red Cards
0
0

Possession
43.9%
56.1%
Play Area
28%
46.3%
25.6%

Scorers
Alexandre Nivet 37
Jo‘l Fischer 65

Man of the Match
The man of the match was awarded to Alexandre Nivet of Birmingham City

Match Ratings
1.Wes Monk (GK)
7
2.Sol Rodgers (DEF)
6
3.Marchanno Van Helmond (DEF)
6
4.Stanley Walsh (DEF)
6
5.Mervin Ehiogu (DEF)
6
6.Alassan Luccin (MID)
6
7.Robbie Wright (MID)yellow card
6
8.Anthony Keegan (MID)
6
9.Fabian Jones (ATT)
6
10.Andre Vieira (ATT)
6
11.Carlos Serrano (ATT)
6
 
12.Nigel Salako (ATT)
6
13.Trevor Formon (MID)
6
14.Joe Sinclair (DEF)
6

1.Adam Batty (GK)
6
2.Ruuben Brander (DEF)yellow card
6
3.Camille Lefèvre (DEF)
7
4.Samuele Pinzi (DEF)
6
5.Darius Lumsdon (MID)
6
6.Carlos Redondo (MID)
9
7.Micka‘l Meride (MID)
8
8.Darren Scales (MID)
6
9.Alexandre Nivet (ATT)goal scored
9
10.Jo‘l Fischer (ATT)goal scored
8
11.Yves-A. Richert (ATT)
6
 
12.James Finney (ATT)
6
13.Del Plowright (DEF)
6
14.Daniel Bridges (GK)
6