Chelsea held on to a nervy 1-0 lead to keep the gap at 5 points. Middlesbrough can certainly count themselves unlucky after they hit the bar about 4 times in the second half. We struggled in a home match, which should have been regulation win. Not really champions stuff, if you ask me!

Today’s match happened to be another ‘heart-in-the-mouth’ affair which was alive until the final whistle. Grant chose to play a very strong team, not wanting to rest key players for the Fenerbahce match. We were missing only Lampard and Cech today. Playing at home with a very good team, we again failed to pack the punch. In the last few seasons, Chelsea’s hallmark was their consistency. I don’t know where and how it vanished. We are now painfully inconsistent. Scoring loads one day and playing like mid-tablers the other day.

What was more saddening than our appalling display was the manner in which Boro were denied a draw or even a win. Southgate can certainly count himself unlucky. To hit the bar four times in one half must be really frustrating. Had they scored a goal, the game would have gone any way. The shot by Afonso Alves must have been the most frustrating for the Boro fans. How mayny times does the ball hit the inside of the bar and still does not go in?

I don’t know why we can’t play 4-4-2 with the resources available? We still play 4-3-3 which has proved to be less successful of late, than 4-4-2. We remember how Drogba excelled in 4-4-2 last season with Shevchenko as his partner. If Anelka or Kalou were to be his partner in attack, it would be lethal. For all the top class talents, we created very few genuine chances. We did attack but only a few times, we made some decisive moves.

At 1-0 up at 65 minutes, the last player I wanted to see on the pitch was SWP. The guy keeps trying all the time and more often than not he fails in his execution and loses the possession. While we are trying to protect the lead, SWP would be the exact player I would avoid at any cost. It so happened that he had to be given a couple of chances on a golden plate and not surprisingly, he blew them off.

Our set pieces defending is a major source of worry now. If Fener’s coaching staff have been observing Chelsea in the last few matches, they’d surely fancy their chances in set pieces on Wednesday night. Why is that our defenders do not outjump the attackers anymore? We seem to be caught in two minds about whether to clear the ball or to feed it for the counterattack.

The only good thing is we’ve got the three points when Man Utd also won. I watched Man Utd vs Aston Villa yesterday and the Chelsea match today. If I’ve to be really honest, Man Utd thoroughly deserve to be champions this season. You have to give it to them. It is really an injustice if Chelsea or Arsenal are going to steal the title in this final lap. Man Utd are playing like true champions and we are not. While the Reds are despatching teams with ease and arrogance, we are still struggling with teams of any quality. Man Utd would be more deserved for the title ‘champions’ this season.

Let’s now concentrate on champions league now. I hope we make the best out of the generous draw that was handed out to us!