Wigan 0 - 1 Chelsea

Scorers: Deco(4')

Starting Eleven:
Cech 
Bosingwa, Carvalho, Terry, A.Cole
Lampard, Essien, Ballack
Deco, J.Cole
Anelka
Subs: Hilario, Bridge, Mikel, Malouda, Di Santo, Alex, Ferreira.

The friday night rugby match should be one reason that didn't allow the Chelsea players to settle and play good football on the JJB pitch. The pitch still had line markings of the rugby match, and the Latics seemed to be comfortable on their home pitch while the away team struggled.

Chelsea replaced Mikel with Essien in central defensive midfielder role, and that was the only change from the previous match. But the way Blues played the game was entirely different from the previous match. After a brilliant free-kick from Deco in the 4th minute, Wigan's goalkeeper was rarely troubled. On the other end of the pitch, Petr Cech was using all his goalkeeping skills to keep the single goal lead.

Deco's free-kick was a class act. He read the movement of the goalkeeper and buried the ball in the opposite corner. The technique, accuracy and the ease with which he stuck the ball was amazing. The goal also justified the decision that Deco would take the kick even when Ballack and Lampard were around. The goal came early and it seemed that Chelsea would make a Pompey out of Latics. But from the 4th minute onwards, things didn't go according to plan for Scolari and his boys.

Wigan, with their new signings like Zaki, and with the likes of Palacios and Valencia threatened on many occasions. But Cech played one of his best games in recent times and denied Wigan again and again. Joe Cole picked up and injury and so did Ashley Cole. Scolari brought Malouda and Kalou in the final stages of the match.The defense looked susceptible and I feel the team could have been better organized. I swear I saw Essien in the opposition penalty box in the 87th minute. He's the holding midfielder and I don't understand what he was doing in the final minutes in the attacking areas when the team was sitting on a slender lead. I'm not sure if Essien is a better option that Mikel in the defensive midfielder role because of his attacking instincts.

But the good things is Chelsea held on to the lead and are top of the table after two matchdays. And even though the match was a bad one considering the standards we expect, somehow the result is not bothering me much. Spurs come next to the Bridge and it's payback time next week. Spurs and Ramos have looked totally out of sorts in the two matches played, and lost both the matches. So, let us look forward to the next match now and forget about the off-day in JJB.

Meanwhile, transfer window remains open for one more week and Scolari will have a busy week as he shapes his team for the next season. Sheva has returned to Milan and Wright-Phillips is wanted by Moyes and Hughes. With Robinho distancing himself further from the Madrid, we might see a few transfers this week.