Bordeaux 1 Chelsea 1

Chelsea must wait on a seventh straight appearance in the knock-out phase of the Champions League after Bordeaux held them 1-1 while the Blues also had Frank Lampard sent off on a night of European drama yesterday.

Alou Diarra headed home from a corner with seven minutes remaining to cancel out Nicolas Anelka's opener as the French side carved out a well-deserved point to send Group A down to the final round of action on December 9 and 10.

Chelsea keeper Petr Cech said Chelsea should not have dropped points. "The moment we scored the goal I thought it was over. I think we should have done better. We should have closed the door," Cech told Sky Sports.

It was not a virtuoso performance from last season's finalists and they were somewhat fortunate to escape with a point despite taking the lead on the hour mark. The West Londoners had to wait until the 60th minute for their first shot on goal but when it came, Anelka made Bordeaux pay for all their wasted first half opportunities in the most clinical fashion.

Brendan Is New Hornets Manager

Chelsea reserve team coach Brendan Rogers has been appointed as the new manager of Watford as replacement for Adrian Boothroyd.
Rodgers, aged 35, has beat off strong competition to land the job. He has been coaching since 1995 when he started with Reading, eventually becoming their Academy Director.
Frank Lampard Senior has also joined them as Football Consultant.

Chelsea 0 Newcastle Utd 0

Chelsea squandered a great chance to pull clear of Liverpool at the top of the Premier League as stubborn Newcastle held them to a goalless draw at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea dominated the game but could not find a way to break the deadlock.
Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given saved superbly from Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole went agonisingly close with a header - but Chelsea failed to capitalise on Liverpool's home draw with Fulham.
The Blues remain top on goal difference but failed to win at home for the second successive game.
Luiz Felipe Scolari's side should have taken the lead in the seventh minute but Given made a tremendous save to prevent Lampard scoring.
Florent Malouda had picked out the England midfielder with a delightful chip into the penalty area but Given guessed correctly and dived to his right to keep Lampard's header out.
In the 10th minute referee Phil Dowd lectured Chelsea coach Luiz Felipe Scolari after the Brazilian moaned too long about a free-kick decision that went against his side.
It was all Chelsea in the opening 15 minutes and when Newcastle did break Michael Owen found himself isolated and unable to get the better of the home defence.
Malouda created a fine opening in the 16th minute when he left Fabricio Coloccini flat-footed and burst into the penalty area - but Given dived low to his right to prevent the Frenchman's shot from hitting the net.
Newcastle's first attempt on goal arrived in the 20th minute through Jonas, whose right-foot volley failed to trouble Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech.
Chelsea continued to dominate with Deco and Joe Cole pulling the strings in midfield.
In the 23rd minute, some clever work on the left flank from Nicolas Anelka ended with Branislav Ivanovic heading his cross over the bar.
Moments later John Terry and Lampard just failed to carve out an opening inside the Newcastle area but their neat passing move was eventually stopped by Coloccini.
Deco's accuracy was found wanting in the 28th minute when his right-foot shot from 25-yards fell at least a yard wide of the upright.
But the Portugal midfielder almost made up for it two minutes later but Lampard just failed to connect properly with his sublime chip into the penalty area.
In the 31st minute, Ashley Cole sent a header inches wide of the far post after a curling cross from Jose Bosingwa had beaten the United defence.
Deco supplied another quality through ball for Joe Cole two minutes later but the England international just failed to apply the finishing touch as Given raced out to save.
Seconds later it was Ivanovic's turn to miss a gilt-edged chance when a free-kick from Lampard found him unmarked on the edge of the six-yard box.
The Chelsea defender sent his header flashing beyond the far post with Given flat-footed.
Anelka was unlucky not to put Chelsea in front in the 48th minute when he got on the end of Lampard's pass but his angled drive hit the chest of Given.
Chelsea had a goal ruled out for offside in the 54th minute. Lampard's through-ball allowed Malouda to fire in a shot which Given stopped, with Joe Cole who bundling the loose ball over the line from an offside position.
A Lampard free-kick was then held by Given on the line with the crowd claiming it was a goal.
Moments later another superb move from the home side saw Joe Cole and Anelka combine to set up Lampard.
The England midfielder burst into the penalty area but curled his shot just the wrong side of the upright.
Chelsea had increased the tempo at the start of the half but United continued to frustrate the league leaders with some resolute defending.
The hosts' frustration was beginning to show as two long-range efforts from Lampard failed to hit the target.
But for all their possession, Chelsea was now being forced to try and break the deadlock with long shots.
Chelsea continued to camp in United's half but the lack of penetrating final ball was a real problem.
Substitute Ballack, on for Joe Cole, shot into the side-netting in the 89th minute as Chelsea's frustration mounted - but the hosts had to settle for a point.

WBA 0 Chelsea 3

Chelsea rewrote the history books in a 3-0 result over West Brom as Nicolas Anelka continued his prolific form to take the Blues back to the top of the Premier League.
Luiz Felipe Scolari's side equalled Tottenham's 48-year-old record with a 10th successive away win in the top flight and surpassed its own previous best Premier League run away from Stamford Bridge set four years ago.
Anelka's double took his tally to 12 league goals for the season and eight in the last four games after Jose Bosingwa had broken the deadlock.
Chelsea's comfortable success, courtesy of three goals in 12 minutes before half-time, saw it overtake Liverpool on goal difference at the top of the table.
The Blues have now scored 19 goals in seven away league matches this season and conceded just one.
Albion showed plenty of promise in the opening half hour and knocked the ball around in the style demanded by manager Tony Mowbray.
But it lacks a cutting edge and is not strong enough defensively and remains anchored at the bottom of the table after collecting just one point from its last six games.
Albion began well and James Morrison was only just too high with a powerful 20-yard effort.
The first decent chance fell to West Brom after a powerful 50-yard run by Borja Valero. He reached the edge of the box before picking out the run of Ishmael Miller but the former Manchester City striker dragged his shot across the face of goal.
Chelsea retaliated and Salomon Kalou drilled a rising shot past the post from a wide angle. The visitors started to find more space near the Albion goal and the home side was indebted to Scott Carson for keeping it on level terms.
Malouda's first time ball was perfectly weighted for the run of Lampard into the inside left channel and his powerful drive was beat out by the England goalkeeper.
Carson was tested for the second time in turning away a swerving drive from Malouda after he had advanced towards the box unchallenged.
But out of nothing a superb strike from Bosingwa gave the Blues the lead after 34 minutes.
There appeared to be little danger but Bosingwa suddenly unleashed a powerful left-footed drive from 30 yards out which Carson got a hand to but could not prevent from crossing the line.
Albion was stunned and it needed a fine tackle from Jonas Olsson to deny Malouda as he lined up a shot inside the area.
But after 38 minutes Anelka doubled Chelsea's lead, seizing Malouda's headed pass and racing into the area to beat an exposed Carson.
Chelsea now threatened every time t ventured forward and in first-half injury-time Anelka struck again, beating Carson from a narrow angle with Kalou this time the provider.
Mowbray made a half-time substitution, taking off striker Roman Bednar and replacing him with midfielder Kim Do-Heon in what seemed a damage limitation exercise.
Chelsea was soon back on the offensive and Carson managed to block an effort from a narrow angle by Malouda.
Anelka had the chance to go for his hat-trick when in space 15 yards out but he unselfishly attempted to tee up Deco, who was denied by a last-gasp tackle from Paul Robinson.
The Chelsea players were now queueing up to take shots at goal and Abdoulaye Meite threw himself in front of a shot from Anelka.

Bosingwa picked up the first yellow cards of the game for challenges on Miller and Morrison respectively. Morrison had to limp out of the action and he was replaced by Felipe Teixeira.
The Portuguese player almost made an immediate impact with a curling shot which was only inches too high but Malouda should have made it 4-0 when he shot across the face of goal with only Carson to beat.

Chelsea 1 Burnley 1 aet (4-5 penalties)

Championship side Burnley have knocked Chelsea out of the Carling Cup after beating them 5-4 on penalties at Stamford Bridge.

The fourth round tie finished 1-1 after normal time and neither side could add to that during extra time so penalties were required.

Burnley had the chance to win it after five penalties due to Wayne Bridge's miss but Wade Elliot blasted his shot wide.

Michael Duff then scored the first sudden death penalty for the visitors and Jensen made the crucial save from John Obi Mikel to send Owen Coyle's side into the quarter-finals.

Chelsea had dominated proceedings in the first half with Bridge shooting over the bar and Salomon Kalou being denied by Jensen on the edge of his box, before they managed to get the breakthrough.

With 30 minutes gone Didier Drogba was on hand to put the blues in front. Lampard picked him out inside the ox and the Ivorian's close control allowed him to get the shot away. The goal was Drogba's first of the season on his return from injury.Just before half time the Blues should have doubled their lead but Branislav Ivanovic could only head Florent Malouda's cross onto the woodwork.

With an hour gone the Blues took off Drogba and replaced him with Franco di Santo and were made to regret the decision soon after.

Burnley substitute Ade Akinbiyi made it 1-1 and got his side back in the match when he poked home a rebound when Carlo Cudicini failed to hold on to the ball.

Chris Eagles was sent though on goal and although Cudicini saved one-on-one with the midfielder the ball broke to Akinbiyi who tucked it home.

With no further addition to the scoreline extra time was called for and no sooner had that started than the Blues suffered another setback.

Di Santo was forced to leave the game with a hamstring injury but could not be replaced as Chelsea had used all three of their substitutes earlier, thus forcing them to go down to ten men.Both teams could have won it during the extra period, Lampard shot over the bar and Cudicini made a smart save to deny Alan Mahon. The best chance fell to Alex but the Brazilian defender blazed high over the bar from four yards out.

Burnley captain Steven Caldwell was then sent off for a second bookable offence meaning it was ten against ten heading into the shootout.

The Burnley players held their nerve well and looked to be heading into the last eight when Jensen saved Bridge's penalty but Elliot sent their fifth penalty into the stand to keep the match alive.Malouda converted his spot kick to force sudden death and it seemed as if the Premier League side would not let it slip from their grasp again.

But Duff scored his spot kick and Jensen made another fine save to deny Mikel and send the Championship side through and send the Premier League leaders out.