We need warming up and, after Molineux, cheering up.
What better than with this scoreline? -
Chelsea 1 Sunderland 3
Obviously 3-0 was even better, but congratulations are due to the Reserves who went yesterday afternoon to Chelsea – Cobham, not Stamford Bridge … you cannot have everything – and did nearly as well as the first team.
The Journal reports;
A young Black Cats side came from behind to claim victory in the Barclays Premier Reserve League clash.
Gael Kukuta gave the home side the lead, but goals from Adam Reed, Matthew Fletcher and Nathan Wilson ensured Keith Bertschin’s side took the points.
Midfielder David Meyler continued his comeback following a serious knee injury by playing the full 90 minutes.
And the official club site says the Reserves’ coach Keith Bertschin believes David Meyler is getting better with every game, having previously been sidelined since May, when he underwent surgery on a cruciate ligament injury.
SAFC.com reports:
“Meyler made his third reserve appearance of the season during yesterday’s 3-1 … and he won praise from Bertschin, who claimed the midfielder ‘dominated’ a Chelsea side containing young stars including Josh McEachran and Gael Kakuta.”
Bertschin is quoted as saying: “David understands there is still a long way to go but I definitely feel he is gaining a lot of ground … yesterday he was really getting stuck in and he dominated the game.”
He also praised a second-year apprentice, Louis Laing, who made his second appearance at reserve level this season, sharing centre-back duties with Michael Kay. “It was a fantastic bit of experience for the young boy. He’s been playing in midfield for the youth team but we slotted him back in at centre half and he did well.”
Maybe a bit early to be seen as an answer to our first-team defensive problems but clearly a great prospect (and thanks to the lad for accepting a Facebook invitation which led to this photo: that’s him in the middle if I am not mistaken).
The full teams appear at the end of this extract from a match report from the Chelsea FC website:
CHELSEA 1 SUNDERLAND 3
Chelsea’s reserves were beaten 3-1 at Cobham on Monday afternoon by a determined Sunderland side.
Despite going in front in the first half, the Blues allowed the visitors back into the game with an underwhelming second-half display in which three goals were conceded in the opening 18 minutes.
… the Blues deservedly took the lead when Gael Kakuta and Milan Lalkovic linked up, the Slovakian curling towards goal but seeing his shot palmed onto the crossbar by Sunderland goalkeeper Ben Wilson, only for Tore to follow up and fire hard into the net.
Immediately after the break, Sunderland could have levelled, a low ball slid across the goalmouth for Jordan Cook to convert, only for Sam Walker to make the save with his legs.
The Chelsea stopper was helpless moments later though as Adam Reed cut inside from the left and curled the equaliser into the far top corner.
… on 55 minutes the visitors went ahead, Fletcher poking home after a ball over the top evaded Nathaniel Chalobah, and just after the hour Nathan Wilson grabbed a third, heading home unmarked from 10 yards following a cross from the right
… although the young side continued to search for a way back into the game, opportunities were limited against a physical Sunderland side that had come out much stronger after the break.
TEAMS:
Chelsea: Sam Walker; Billy Clifford, Jeffrey Bruma, Nathaniel Chalobah, Patrick van Aanholt (c) (Aziz Deen-Conteh 63); Josh McEachran (Aliu ‘Kaby’ Djalo h-t), Jacob Mellis, Jacopo Sala; Gokhan Tore, Milan Lalkovic (Daniel Philliskirk 68), Gael Kakuta.
Unused subs: Jan Sebek, Archange Nkumu
Sunderland:
Ben Wilson, Liam Bagnall, Blair Adams, Adam Reed, Michael Kay, Louis Laing (Dan Madden 89), Jordan Cook, Nathan Wilson, Matthew Fletcher (Jordan Laidler 89), David Meyler, Nathan Luscombe (Craig Lynch 89).
* see full Chelsea FC website report here
Monsieur Salut
Sunderland News 24/7
Strange to see even at reserve and development level Chelsea are judging by the names are investing in forgieners where Sunderland who are investing in British players. Do they think local players are inadequate or are they predujice?