Chelsea 1-0 Middlesbrough

Scorers: Carvalho(6')

Starting Eleven:
Cudicini
Belletti, Carvalho, Terry, A.Cole
Essien, Mikel, Ballack
J.Cole, Drogba, Kalou
subs: Hilario, Anelka, Wright-Phillips, Ferreira, Alex

I would call Sunday's win by many names, 'title hopes kept alive', or '3 points' or simply 'pure luck'... As Cudicini came charging towards the center and Afonso Alves glided the ball towards goal, the only thing that came to my mind was 'There goes our title dreams!!' I have only seen goalkeepers do that in FIFA(EA Sports). Well, the title dreams are intact, thanks to the woodwork in the Shed End, but it's criminal from the player's part to make the fans go through such emotional extremes against a mediocre side like the Tynesiders. After Manchester United's impressive performance on Saturday against Villains, the fans certainly expected entertaining football. Fans I said, not neutrals.

Wayne Bridge floated a sixth minute freekick and Carvalho headed from just inside the box to the right side of Mark Schwarzer to beat him. The last goal from the Portuguese defender was almost a year back against Tottenham in April 2007. Joe Cole and Drogba kept attacking for us while Boateng and Downing pressed Chelsea with long rangers. Chelsea could have gone two up but for the finishing of Cole and Kalou.

The half ended with Drogba unable to record his 14th goal of the season. First a free-kick was deflected just wide and then, after Cole had crossed from the right, the striker planted a free header over. Alves came in for injured Tuncay while Wright-Phillips replaced Ballack in central midfield, a strange move from Grant. But he wasted two good opportunities set up by Cole and Kalou. Both times he had only the keeper to beat.

Alves then hit the woodwork as Cudicini failed to collect the ball after charging from his position. Alves hit the woodwork again minutes later from a header and Wheater showed he too could do the same from the rebound. Boro kept pushing but Chelsea were happy to hold on to their lead and Grant must have been a lot relieved to hear the referee's whistle. It wasn't one of our best displays but I'm happy with maximum points, enough to keep us in Ferguson's rear view mirror. The race is on. (Yeah, u guessed right! I saw the film 'Race' yesterday, and I would love to see such twists in the title race as well.)