Norwich City 0 Chelsea 0

The first game this weekend in the Premier league was between ninth placed Norwich City and Champions league chasing Chelsea, who before the games kicked off today occupied the final qualification spot in the standings.

The team news for Norwich was the return to the starting line up of the captain Grant holt who partners Welshman Steve Morison in a 4-4-2 formation. The main news for Chelsea was that new signing Gary Cahill failed to make the match day squad, but there was a return for the long term injured Ghanain Michael Essien who made the bench. Chelsea lined up in a 4-3-3 formation with the struggling Torres as the focal point in attack.

The first half began as expected with Chelsea enjoying the majority of the possession, but it was Norwich who had the first effort on goal with Pilkingtons parried cross cum shot finding its way to Morison but it was comfortably saved by Cech. Shortly after Norwich again countered Chelsea well with Morison finding Holt in the area, but his left footed shot dragged wide of the post. Following more Chelsea possession Norwich again brok with a long ball to Morison on the right wing, but his shot from the angle only troubled the side netting. It took twenty five minutes before Chelsea mustered their first attempt on the Norwich goal, the chance fell to Torres who's effort with the out side of his right foot well saved by Ruddy, the shot lacked any real power or conviction, similar to Chelsea's attacking play so far.
Just after the half hour Frank Lampard went of the pitch, with what looked like a calf strain, in the thirty fifth minute to be replaced by French international Florent Malouda. Whilst Chelsea were waiting for the substitution to happen Norwich had another effort on goal with Bradley Johnson's effort from outside of the box deflected of a Chelsea defender, but Cech did well to adjust his body and save down to his right. With the half drawing to a close, Chelsea seemed to finally show some intent with a Meireles long rang effort straight at Ruddy. This was followed with, in injury time, a great chance for Mata, but his right footed shot sailed over the bar.
The first half ended as it began with no goals. Chelsea enjoyed a large portion of the ball but it was Norwich who appeared more likely to get the opening goal.

The teams were unchanged for the start of the second half. Norwich seemed to come out of the changing rooms on the front foot and tried to attack Chelsea from the off. But it was Chelsea who looked the more threatening with a dangerous cross from Cole on the left cleared by Whitbread before any Chelsea players could connect.
Just before the hour mark Torres had an effort from the edge of the area that was both high and wide, he followed that up with missing easily the best chance of the game. Bosingwa played a great ball into the box from the right, which landed to the right foot of Torres in the six yard area, who seemed to just poke at it and it went wide of the right post. Just a few minutes later a fantastic through ball from Sturridge found Mata in the left side of the area, his run ended in a low shot that was brilliant tipped wide for a corner from Ruddy.
Up the other end of the pitch Norwich will feel very frustrated that a clear hand ball on the edge of the Chelsea penalty from Raul Meireles went completely unpunished by the referee.
It was Meireles who then had the next meaningful effort on goal, with his second shot from the edge of the area having plenty of power, but just rising over the bar. Another good attack down the Chelsea left ended in a Cole cross that again was cleared by Whitbread, but his clearance was fired straight back at goal by Ramires, but went straight into the arms of Ruddy.
Both sides then decided to make the changes, with Chelsea acting first by replacing the hopeless Torres with the young Lukaku. Meireles was also replaced by the returning Essien to try and break the deadlock for Chelsea. The two Norwich changes were straight swaps with Jackson and Croft coming on for Fox and Morison.
Following the changes it was still Chelsea who looked the most likely to score with a sharp ball played to the feet of Mata deep in the Norwich box, he then turned brilliantly on the spot but dragged his shot just wide of the post. As the game drew to a close Norwich defended superbly, with Chelsea restricted to efforts from outside the box, the first from Malouda which was deflected for a corner, he then had another chance from the resulting corner but it was blocked in the congested penalty box.
There was enough time for a final change from Norwich with Bennett coming on for Surman. The final effort of the game came, again, form Malouda who had a right footed shot from the edge of the area go high and wide.

Man of the Match:
For me it was the Norwich goalkeeper Ruddy, who made a few smart saves to keep a well deserved clean sheet. A close second came from the Norwich City captain Grant Holt, who led his side superbly from the front holding up the ball and giving his defence time to regroup.

Overall Norwich will be very happy with their defensive performance, keeping Chelsea at bay for most of the game. As for Chelsea this is another blow in their quest to claim at least fourth in the table, they had plenty of possession but failed to create many clear chances, the best chance spurned by Fernando Torres. The game was an entertaining nil nil draw, and a good result for a well drilled and prepared Norwich side.