10-man Chelsea were held at home by Burnley as Ben Mee gave the relegation-threatened side a much needed point on Saturday. The Blues took the lead early in the first half, after Branislav Ivanovic calmly slotted home Eden Hazard’s cross. And although the Blues dominated the possession, they were unable to get the second goal and that cost them as Ben Mee scored from a corner to give Burnley a precious point at Stamford Bridge.
The draw coupled with Manchester City’s thumping win over Newcastle means that their lead is now down to six points. They will also be missing Nemanja Matic, who was sent off after he reacted angrily to a challenge by Ashley Barnes. Here are the major talking points from the game.
Ivanovic’s showcases his sinister side
Although Chelsea were certainly hard done by the referee’s performance, Ivanovic’s performance in the game showed just why the Blues aren’t very well liked in the country. The Serbian rampaged forward through the night, scored the home side’s only goal, but that was merely a side show to what he did for the rest of the game.
Whether it was rolling on the floor feigning injury, stopping referee from producing a red card and simply whining like a little kid when decisions didn’t go his way, Ivanovic’s performance exemplified everything that is wrong with the current Chelsea side. While it is true that Burnley got away with a few key decisions, that certainly doesn’t excuse Ivanovic’s performance. Although it was Matic who got the red card, his reaction, to almost having his leg broken was although unacceptable, at least understandable. His compatriot’s actions on the other hand, shows just why, for all of their undoubted technical brilliance, this Chelsea side will never be universally loved.
Click on the next button to continue