But for the rest of us on the outside looking in, there was an
overwhelming feeling that the Blues got exactly what they deserved
for having ruthlessly dumped their popular assistant manager last
week.
The decision has done nothing for dressing-room harmony. And it
is no exaggeration to say that Audley Harrison put up more of a
fight than Chelsea did.
The Blues had a 100 per cent home league record before
yesterday, six wins out of six. But the roof caved in as they
suffered their biggest home league defeat since being beaten 3-0 by
Manchester United in April 2002, before even Roman Abramovich took
over.
These were also the first league goals conceded at Stamford
Bridge since John Carew scored for Aston Villa last March and their
first home defeat in the top flight since being beaten 4-2 by
Manchester City nine months ago.
It was not the start promoted coach Paul Clement would have
wanted as he stood by Carlo Ancelotti's side instead of
Wilkins.
Angry: Ancelotti says Sunday's defeat was the worst of
his Chelsea career
Ancelotti says he had a squad good enough to win the
title and that when key players were missing, they had the quality
in depth to cope.
He must be joking. Chelsea were without their first-choice
central defensive partnership of Alex and John Terry, the skipper
having pulled out with a sciatic nerve problem. In midfield there
was no Michael Essien or Frank Lampard.
In the middle of the back four, Paulo Ferreira and Branislav
Ivanovic were pulled to pieces by the terrific twosome of Ghanaian
star Asamoah Gyan and on-loan Manchester United striker Danny
Welbeck.
In midfield for Chelsea, £18m Brazilian Ramires was woeful.
Bad day at the office: Drogba and Co were soundly
beaten by Sunderland
Sunderland were hammered 5-1 at Newcastle only a
fortnight ago and back in January conceded seven in the
corresponding fixture.
No one saw this coming, especially not the bookies, who rated
Sunderland's chances of winning by this score at 250-1.
But Steve Bruce's side deserved it - make no mistake - and Petr
Cech also had to make a number of cracking saves.
His stop to keep out 19-year-old Welbeck's header on 36 minutes
was top drawer.
Then Gyan played a ball over Ferreira's head and Cech saved with
his outstretched right foot from Welbeck again.
Sunderland kept on coming and Ivanovic was lucky to get only a
yellow after tripping Welbeck as he raced towards goal. Bruce was
going mad about that one.
On the stroke of half-time the visitors got their just reward
and Ferreira was caught out again as he let Gyan through.
The Ghanaian's shot was parried by Cech and the keeper got up
quickly to save Kieran Richardson's follow-up.
However, when the ball came back in, Ivanovic only headed out as
far as Nedum Onuoha and the on-loan Manchester City defender went
on a fantastic mazy run past Mikel, Jose Bosingwa and Ivanovic
before tucking his shot into the corner.
By 52 minutes, Sunderland were two ahead thanks to another
stunner with Welbeck feeding England new-boy Jordan Henderson, who
played it first time to Gyan and he coolly slotted past Cech.
Cue a celebration dance for a fourth goal in three games by the
confident striker.
Up front for Chelsea, Didier Drogba must have dreamed of such
service.
Perhaps they should have got watching US tennis star Andy
Roddick out of the stands. He is famous for his service.
Drogba revealed last week how he had been suffering from malaria
and frankly it looked like his whole team had been infected.
Craig Gordon was virtually unemployed and it was no great
surprise that Sunderland scored again three minutes from time.
Ashley Cole, usually so dependable, tried a ridiculous pass back
to Cech and Welbeck nipped in to slip it into the far corner.
For Bruce it was his first Premier League win in London for six
years and what a contrast to the battered figure who sloped away
distraught from St James' Park after being destroyed by the enemy
in that derby game.
The downside for Bruce is on this form there is no question of
him getting Onuoha or Welbeck on the books permanently. They will
be going back to Manchester.
You wonder how City and United can afford to be without
them.
