Watford – Chelsea

1. Frank Lampard's presence in the Chelsea line-up in this evening's game at Vicarage Road makes his omission from England's midweek match even more baffling. The midfielder has his wrist in a cast but is good to go.

2. He won't make as many headlines but returning too is Jordan Stewart who has missed the last couple of games in the Watford defence. He will be a busy man today as Chelsea look to respond to United's thumping of Blackburn Rovers in a game they will expect to win comfortably. Shevchenko partners Drogba up front and Wright-Phillips plays from the start.

3. It's a perfect evening for football, with the slowly setting sun gently bathing the pitch in a warm glow that will doubtless illuminate perfectly the picturesque vistas and welcoming piazzas of this beautiful town known commonly as 'Watford'. And it is the home team who get their defeat underway.

4. Terry has to head behind for a corner straight from the kick-off.

5. Jordan Stewart delivers but it is too high for the head of Henderson. The striker tangles with John Terry who is now face down on the floor.

6. 1'

   Worrying moments for Chelsea here following Terry's recent injury problems. The Chelsea captain is now sat up though and is gingerly rising to his feet.

7. 2'

   Terry is coming off for some treatments and appears to be sporting a freshly administered shiner.

8. 3'

   Shevcenko and Lampard combine well in the Watford area and win a corner. Foster comes to claim that though and throws it out quickly. Watford attack and should have had a penalty when Tommy Smith's cross is blatantly handled by John Terry. The ref waves play on.

9. 4'

   Kabba has an overhead kick parried behind for a corner by Cech.

10. 5'

    Cech, at the second attempt, is able to smother the corner when it comes over. Watford have made a lively start.

11. 6'

    Wright-Philips plays in Geremi who crosses from the right. It breaks to Shevchenko whose shot is on target but straight at Ben Foster.

12. 7'

    Shittu cuts out Geremi's cross then Wright-Phillips blocks the big defender's clearance to keep Watford pinned back in their own half.

13. 8'

    A decent cross in from Geremi once more but Foster is on hand to comfortably take it.

14. 9'

    Ballack finds Drogba in the Watford area but his shot is blocked and Chelsea have a throw. Watford regain possession but almost immediately return it to Chelsea who are very much in the ascendancy right now.

15. 10'

    Poor pass from Wright-Phillips gives Watford the goal-kick.

16. 11'

    Lampard is tripped right in front of Uriah Rennie inside the Watford box but the ref ignores it. Instead Rinaldi skips up the other end and wins a corner for the home team.

17. 12'

    Henderson sends a rasping shot just over the bar from twelve yards after a nice header down from Damien Francis.

18. 13'

    Now Kabba has a go as he takes on Carvalho but throws one dummy too many before he hits his shot wide.

19. 14'

    Rennie has missed two clear penalties and it would appear the second was an attempt to even things up perhaps. 'I know if I make two mistakes that will be much better than if I make one', is the muddled logic behind this philosophy.

20. 16'

    Chelsea try some intricate little passes on the edge of the Watford penalty area before Wright-Phillips 'ambitious' (ridiculous) shot from range which sails wide of the probably laughing Ben Foster.

21. 17'

    Makelele fouls Kabba to give the Hornets a free-kick forty yards out. When it is played in though it finds nothing more than the lovely locks of Ricardo Carvalho's head which bounces the ball to something approaching safety.

22. 20'

    Geremi feeds Ballack who heads it back nicely to the on-rushing Lampard. His shot is weak but Drogba still manages to get to the ball. It's only a half chance though and Watford quickly get a goal-kick.

23. 22'

    Henderson gets a header on target but can't jump high enough to get much power on it. Easy for Cech but he is certainly having to be on his toes today.

24. 23'

    Damien Francis takes out Ashley Cole and is quite fortunate to only receive a yellow card.

25. 24'

    Good play from Henderson again who backs in to Terry and manages to flick it on to Kabba who hadn't quite read his intentions. Cech gets the ball again.

26. 25'

    Smith's high looping ball in to the Chelsea box finds the stumbling figure of Francis who loses his balance just at the wrong moment and allows Chelsea to clear.

27. 26'

    Wright-Phillips cracks another effort on goal. Better this time but still straight at Foster.

28. 27'

    Lampard guides a free-kick in to the Watford penalty area whose defence are able to deal with his high ball.

29. 28'

    Drogba's off target shot brings hoots of derision from the majority of the Vicarage Road crowd.

30. 29'

    Kabba does well to close down Geremi who nervously plays it back to Cech. Kabba has a go at him too and harries the keeper in to slicing his clearance.

31. 31'

    Foster comes to the edge of his area to punch the ball out for a throw. He then makes a fantastic save with his foot from Drogba who is seven yards from goal, completely unmarked and should score. A wonderful point blank save from the on-loan keeper.

32. 33'

    Chelsea have another corner. Lampard plays it in and then Wright-Phillips picks out Carvalho on the edge of the area. He crosses in for Ballack whose header is just wide.

33. 34'

    Henderson is penalised for shoving Makelele in the back.

34. 36'

    Wright-Phillips cross goes flying off the pitch and straight in to the Watford crowd behind Ben Foster.

35. 37'

    Wright-Phillips foolishly decides to lead with his arm which hits the ball right in front of the ref. Watford have a free-kick twenty five yards out.

36. 38'

    An (over) elaborate free-kick from Watford ends abruptly when Henderson's shot skims harmlessly along the surface of the bumpy Vicarage Road surface before finding the feet of John Terry which know what to do.

37. 39'

    John Terry wins a great header when up against Kabba.

38. 41'

    Ashley Cole's attempted cross-field ball goes straight out of play. Things have not gone all Chelsea's way thus far and it is surprising we have not seen a goal from someone yet.

39. 42'

    Cole's cross is well blocked again by the feet of Ben Foster (Alex Ferguson will be pleased) and he then makes a save from Shevchenko whilst having to deal with the over eager Jordan Stewart trying to get to the ball before him. Good play again from Foster.

40. 44'

    Ballack and Drogba play a one-two with the German then trying to muscle past Mahon as he enters Watford's penalty area. The Hornets captain comes out on top in that tussle though.

41. 45'

    Makelele's slyly trailing foot brings down Kabba and Watford have a free-kick.

42. 46'

    John Terry and Darious Henderson are enjoying a free and frank expression of views. Reader, I'm no lip reader nor expert in the art of ventriloquism but I believe the liberal use of expleteives may have formed part of their discussion.

43. 47'

    HALF-TIME: A battling performance from Aidy Boothroyd's men who have ruffled a few of those fancy West London feathers with their performance. Two blatant penalties denied, one apiece, plenty of goalmouth action and some good goalkeeping. All we are missing is a goal. It's quite hard to predict who will get that as there is not much between the two teams so far.

44. 45'

    Chelsea are first on to the pitch as Boothroyd reaquires a little longer to get his message through to his home side. And we have two new faces amongst the Chelsea team. Paulo Ferreira is on for Geremi and Makelele is off for Salomon Kalou. Chelsea re-start the game.

45. 45'

    Shevchenko fouls Francis and Foster will take the free-kick. It finds the scampering Stewart who wins a throw on the far side.

46. 46'

    When the long throw goes in to the Chelsea box Shittu is penalised for a foul.

47. 47'

    Kalou is unable to stay onside and the referee signals as much when Shevchenko plays the ball to him.

48. 48'

    Foster strides confidently from his goal-line to pluck the ball from the head of Wright-Phillips.

49. 48'

    A strange decision from Uriah Rennie, who saw an infrigement where there was none, which gives Chelsea a free-kick to the consternation of the Watford crowd. The referee is not having one of his better days.

50. 49'

    At the other end, Shittu's header at the near post finds Henderson. He bundles it over to Kabba who is five yards from goal. He must score but carelessly blasts the ball wide of the goal. Best chance of the game.

51. 51'

    Corner to Watford but the delivery from Tommy Smith is terrible and Chelsea clear the ball easily.

52. 52'

    Smith caught in possession on the edge of his area and Lampard gets in behind Watford's defence. Unfortunately for Jose Mourinho's men only the diminutive figure of Wright-Phillips is anywhere near Lampard's high ball. So too is Shittu who does what he is paid for.

53. 53'

    Tommy Smith tries to bear down on the Chelsea goal but finds his path blocked by Ferreira. Solution? Why, trip him up of course. The referee blows for a foul and an irate Jose Mourinho erupts to spluttering life on the bench.

54. 56'

    Watford have a throw deep in Chelsea's half but Chambers long ball in is weak and Cech deals with it.

55. 59'

    Some minor technical difficulties at the palatial Soccernet mansions means I have been unable to bring you the last three minutes of action. You have missed....nothing. Unless you count a brief period of non-descript football as something.

56. 60'

    Rinaldi over-hits the ball in a non too Brazilian way to give Chelsea a throw.

57. 61'

    Charlton and West Ham both having secured wins today means victory for Watford in their seemingly hopeless fight against relegation is vital. One goal could clinch the three points in this match.

58. 62'

    Uriah Rennie appears to be bleeding but manfully applies vaseline and deals with the pain. So to speak.

59. 64'

    Chambers heads the ball behind for a Chelsea corner as Kalou was lurking just behind him.

60. 64'

    Foster stumbles for the first time in the game and just takes his eye off the ball. He gets away with his fumble though and then regains his composure to take Lampard's shot comfortably.

61. 65'

    Wright-Phillips mis-times a tackle and is booked and I have to say I did not see who he fouled. A Watford player though certainly.

62. 66'

    Stewart shows strength to hold off Shevchenko who is frustrated in to conceding a foul.

63. 66'

    Francis finds room in the Chelsea box after Kabba's cross. He can't find any composure though and his shot is poor.

64. 67'

    From a Chelsea corner Ballack and then Shevchenko lash wildly at the ball right in front of Ben Foster when either of them should have scored.

65. 68'

    At the other end Francis and Kabba combine to ruin a good position for the home side as they had a numerical advantage on the still retreating Chelsea players.

66. 70'

    Wright-Phillips cuts in from the wing, beats a couple of Watford defenders before hitting a shot just wide from twenty yards. The ball seemed to bobble on the uneven surface before he hit it.

67. 71'

    Drogba does well to stop Mahon clearing the ball in his own half.

68. 72'

    Kalou twists and turns out on the right but can't find a way through the Watford defence who helpfully guide him and the ball out of play.

69. 73'

    Shevchenko is brought down in the Watford penalty area but Rennie gives a corner rather than a penalty. It comes in and geos straight out for another.

70. 74'

    Mikel tries a shot from twelve yards but it is blocked by DeMeret. Foster then comes out to take the ball as it is played back in to his box.

71. 75'

    Now Ballack tries a shot. A poor shot in fact which dribbles in to the arms of Foster.

72. 76'

    Ferreira executes a rugby tackle on Henderson and seems perplexed as to why he is then shown a yellow card.

73. 76'

    Shittu takes a hefty fall when the ball is played in but Chelsea have a goal-kick as the ball goes behind and out of play.

74. 77'

    Lampard looks to the heavens after the ball breaks to him in the Watford penalty area and he seems certain to score. The onrushing figure of Jay DeMerit has other ideas though and the defender bravely throws himself in front of Lampard as he shoots to make a timely block.

75. 79'

    Smith makes room for himself on the edge of the Chelsea box and comes inside on to his right foot to shoot. Not a bad effort but never on target and always going over.

76. 80'

    Kabba makes way for Hameur Bouazza.

77. 82'

    Drogba does brilliantly to doggedly pursue the ball and get a cross in. Once more DeMerit is on hand to make a fine interception and head the ball to safety.

78. 83'

    John Terry over-hits the pass and concedes a throw to Watford.

79. 84'

    Carvalho shows composure to pass back to Cech whilst under pressure from Smith.

80. 85'

    Drogba just fails to control Carvalho's pass but the ball bobbled over his foot and in to the waiting arms of Foster.

81. 86'

    Tamas Priskin has won a corner for the Hornets and Cech had to be alert to parry Damien Francis shot at the far post.

82. 88'

    Mikel is shouted at by John Terry for putting the ball out as Priskin lies injured.

83. 90'

    A drop-ball is called and the dropped ball soon makes its way back to Foster. Four minutes of this entertaining goalless draw remain.

84. 90'

    Carvalho is booked for a foul and Chelsea are beginning to look desparate here.

85. 91'

    GOAL - Not now they aren't though. Right at the death it is Kalou who attacks a wonderful Shevchenko cross and arrows his header past Ben Foster. The title race is still on!

86. 93'

    Poor Watford. Although in truth a draw was not much use to them either. Drogba almost rubs salt in to their freshly acquired wounds but his shot hits the side-netting.

87. 94'

    FULL TIME: Chelsea just keep on grinding out results. A game they did not deserve to win has been turned around right at the death to break Watford hearts and ensure Alex Ferguson sleeps a little less comfortably tonight. Watford will be kicking themselves for missing some excellent chances but their relegation is a done deal despite the qualities they displayed today.

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