Stoke City – Chelsea

1. Afternoon all and welcome to live coverage of Chelsea's opening game of the Premier League season, at Stoke. A stiff test for Andre Villas-Boas in his first competitive match, in fact, one of the toughest away trips you can get.

2. AVB's first big selection call sees Torres start in front of Drogba, one issue sure to rumble on as the season continues. Anelka is also benched as Kalou and Malouda begin up top.

3. For Stoke, Jonathan Woodgate starts in defence, alongside three other centre backs - Huth, Wilson and Shawcross. As you were on the flanks with Pennant and Etherington retained and Kenwyne Jones and Walters up top.

4. 1'

   <b>Kick off</b>

5. 2'

   Stoke win a throw and you know what that means - enter Rory Delap stage right.

6. 2'

   Chelsea clear the throw reasonably well but now Stoke regroup and win a corner.

7. 3'

   Free kick given by Mark Halsey as the big lads tussle in the box. First spell of Chelsea possession now.

8. 4'

   Good climb from Alex as Jones goes for a Pennant cross.

9. 5'

   Good run from Ramires - he wins a corner on the right but Stoke clear their lines.

10. 7'

    Typically bullish start from Stoke and Chelsea yet to find their stride.

11. 8'

    Bosingwa stretches to fire in a cross but his effort skews off his boot and Begovic has to scramble to his near post to turn it behind.

12. 9'

    The referee had a word with Huth, Shawcross, Terry and Alex before the corner and sure enough, he blows for a Stoke free kick.

13. 10'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> First yellow of the afternoon, a cynical kick from Shawcross on Torres.

14. 11'

    Torres is up in a flash, turns well and creates space for himself but dribbles his shot wide.

15. 12'

    Kalou goes down in the box but it was never a pen and our ref agrees. Decent jink into the box from the Brazilian though - a player who Chelsea expect big things from this year.

16. 13'

    Another Delap bomb approaching....

17. 14'

    Huth gets his bonce on this one but it loops harmelssly over the bar.

18. 15'

    Delap's latest is flat and hard but Terry chests it away despite the inevitable handball appeals.

19. 16'

    Too casual at the back from Chelsea putting undue pressure on Cech, who boots the ball out of play.

20. 17'

    A long spell of Chelsea possession but no gaps opening up.

21. 19'

    I wonder what AVB makes of his first 20 minutes of Premier League football. Little to no romance involved so far.

22. 20'

    Jones wins a free kick by the corner flag from Terry who just stood in his way as the ball was dinked over his head. Danger for Chelsea.

23. 21'

    Good delivery from Etherington but well done Cech, punched the first cross then claimed the rebound.

24. 22'

    Etherington is bumped over off the ball by Cole. Stoke scream for a card but a ticking of is all he'll get.

25. 23'

    Superb defensive header from Shawcross - I think - as Lampard's cross was about to be turned home by Malouda. Excellent work.

26. 24'

    Then Ramires charges into Jones and is lucky not to see a yellow. The Potteries is howling for it.

27. 25'

    A waste from Walters as he gets round the back and tries to fire a ball across the face, Cech parries and Torres picks up possession before Huth grabs handfuls of his shirt.

28. 26'

    Etherington flies down the left now - Stoke are prospering down Cole's flank - but his ball inside to Walters is weak and cut out.

29. 26'

    Woodgate has made it through 27 minutes without a tear, a pull or a break. Impressive.

30. 27'

    Terry tries to play Torres in but as Chelsea regroup Torres works it wide to Malouda but he knocks his cross straight out of play. Oh dear.

31. 29'

    Tony Pulis will undoubtedly be the happier of the two managers.

32. 30'

    Right on cue, a shot of AVB shaking his head on the bench next to RDM (Roberto Di Matteo).

33. 31'

    Super run from Ramires, working his way into the box and firing a shot across goal. No-one situated centrally for a tap in though.

34. 32'

    Lampard swings in a free kick but Wilson nods clear.

35. 33'

    A shame for Stoke as Jones nods down to Pennant, who returns the ball but Jones was two yards offside.

36. 35'

    An overhit ball from Lampard rather sums up Chelsea's lack of cohesion in this opening half.

37. 36'

    Bosingwa almost threads a ball through for Lampard but Woodgate nipped it off his heels.

38. 37'

    Cool defending from Alex who chests Etherington's cross down to Mikel at the near post.

39. 38'

    Walters wants handball given against Terry but the ref waves play on, rightly as the replay shows, but Stoke win a corner anyhow.

40. 39'

    Shawcross and Terry took a tumble as the ball came in. Impossible to tell who was at fault.

41. 40'

    From the latest Delap thrown in, Cech is awarded a free kick.

42. 41'

    A weak effort hobbles past the near post from Jones. Good five minutes for Stoke.

43. 42'

    A poor cross from Bosingwa at the end of a decent run. Final third quality not quite there for either side as yet.

44. 43'

    Terry is penalised for a challenge on Walters. Foreams everywhere.

45. 44'

    Torres is getting some treatement from both Woodgate and Huth and will do well to comtrol his temper. He shapes up for a little stamp before the whistle goes to hand him a free kick.

46. 45'

    A mazy dribble from Torres looks like it might present him with a shot on goal, but Huth gets a leg back at the vital moment.

47. 45'

    <b>HALF TIME</b> Well, hard to claim that whizzed by such was the quality. A typical Stoke game, aggressive and in the oppo's face, Chelsea with superior quality but unable to fashion anything of note against a stout defence.

48. We haven't had any yet, but I'm sure the net will bulge in the second half. A good reason to download our new <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/941526/enhanced-espn-premier-league-goals-app---now-free?cc=5739" target="_blank">ESPN Goals app</a> which allows you to watch first half action at HT and match highlights soon after the final whistle. Sadly, its for UK customers only.

49. Don't forget we'll have commentary on Manchester United's trip to West Brom later, at 16.00 BST to be precise.

50. 46'

    We begin again and straight away Pennant wins a corner.

51. 47'

    Terry clears at the near post before Whelan wastes a ball back into the box.

52. 48'

    Torres goes down right on the edge of the box but nothing is given. It looked a foul but maybe just outside the box. Torres not happy.

53. 49'

    Chelsea looking far more threatnening already this half as Lampard feeds Malouda and his dragged shot is cleared behind by Huth from the edge of his six-yard box.

54. 50'

    Ramires, who has been good for Chelsea, picks up a ricochet and strikes on goal but he was off balance a little and it slides wide of the far post.

55. 52'

    Good cover from Bosingwa as Etherington tried to release Walters.

56. 53'

    Terry wins a header from a Chelsea corner, it falls at Torres' feet, he swings, misses, then falls over and claims a pen. Get Drogba on.

57. 54'

    Lamaprd wants a penalty this time and his has more credence. He looks like he toe-ends a ball past Huth and is clipped. As the ball drops Mikel volleys on goal and Begovic tips over. Great effort.

58. 55'

    End to end stuff at the moment, a stretched game.

59. 56'

    The Lampard incident involved Wilson and it looked like a certain penalty. Chelsea unfortunate.

60. 58'

    Stoke's turn to press as Jones turns and shoots but finds Alex in the way, then Walters can't meet Pennant's cross. Here come Chelsea now...

61. 59'

    Torres cuts inside and shoots but Woodgate blocks and Etherington is down and not looking good.

62. 61'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Etherington is being led off with his left arm wrapped in his shirt by way of a sling, which indicates bad news. Dean Whitehead replaces him.

63. 62'

    Surely AVB must be thinking it's Drogba time?

64. 63'

    Fierce effort from Malouda but well held by Begovic.

65. 64'

    Stoke have retreated a good ten yards in the last five minutes or so. Chelsea on top and asking questions.

66. 65'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Chelsea sub but no Drogba: Malouda makes way for Anelka.

67. 66'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Cole is late on Pennant as he launches a ball upfield and despite his protestations, out comes the yellow.

68. 67'

    Opening for Pennant on the edge of the box but Cole, his nemesis, is there to block.

69. 68'

    Delap's latest chuck prompts a scramble and Walters couldn't prod it towards the net before a swarm of blue shirts fashion a clearance.

70. 69'

    Cole is the thick of it again, thinking he's won a corner when in fact he was offside. Fair to say Ashley is not pleased.

71. 70'

    More injury woe for Stoke - looks like Delap has pulled up with a hammy.

72. 71'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Delap hobbles off, not to be seen again for a month or so I'll wager. Danny Pugh comes on.

73. 72'

    Superb save! Anelka tries to chip Begovic from an acute angle but the big keeper gets a fingertip on it to send the ball onto the bar.

74. 73'

    Begovic is in action again as Torres dinks in for Kalou but his header is right at the keeper. Chelsea piling it on now..

75. 74'

    Stoke pretty much spent as an attacking force now and relying on the odd counter.

76. 75'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Time for Drogba, but Kalou makes way. Anelka, Torres and the Drog all now on the pitch.

77. 76'

    Alex rises to nod Lampard's free kick towards goal but it is comfortable for Begovic.

78. 77'

    Sharp turn and shot from Torres, and a brilliant save from Begovic, but all meaningless as the striker was offside.

79. 78'

    Torres has looked very lively today, another nice run then and a trick to win a corner.

80. 79'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Wilson is booked for obstructing Bosingwa, who was charging down the right flank.

81. 80'

    More tussling between Shawcross and Terry, another word from Halsey.

82. 81'

    Chelsea free kick 30 yards out. Drogba strikes but Begovic saves easily enough.

83. 82'

    A rare Stoke forray downfield yields a free kick. Box loaded.

84. 83'

    Cech comes out to claim a lofted ball into the area after the initial free kick was cleared.

85. 84'

    Chelsea will be mighty annoyed if they don't extract three points from this lacklustre match.

86. 85'

    Alex tries a howitzer from range but gets it all wrong.

87. 86'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Kenwyne Jones trots off and Ryan Shotton comes on. He's a defender, we are told.

88. 87'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Lampard is booked for throwing the ball away. A wry smirk from Frank.

89. 88'

    Shotton is on throw in duty with Delap incapacitated and though Cech and Mikel make a mess of it, Halsey rewards them with a free kick.

90. 89'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Torres goes off and Benayoun has three minutes or so to make an impact.

91. 89'

    Bosingwa strikes towards goal but Lampard gets in the way and offside.

92. 90'

    Five minutes added.....

93. 91'

    Stoke resorting to up and unders now.

94. 92'

    Good work from Drogba, who wins a free kick 25 yards out and central with some neat footwork, even though he was on the deck.

95. 93'

    Drogba's effort hits the wall, then he and Alex get in each other's way before Ramires drags one wide.

96. 94'

    Walters is barged by Cole and Stoke have a free kick wide right.

97. 95'

    <b>FULL TIME</b> Terry nods clear and that is that. Chelsea should have won, and will point to a few credible penalty claims, but they just didn't create enough chances in front of goal. A low key start for AVB.

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