Down to the south coast to find Diarra and Glen Johnson getting a run out against their old club whist Defoe also starts for Pompey having made a transfer deadline day move. For the mighty Blues, Ashley replaces Bridgey and Be-Hiam comes in for the suspended Carvahlio.
The first half hour is end to end stuff with chances going begging for both teams but Chelsea should be ahead when a header from Ballack, from a Belletti corner, is cleared off the line by Niko Kranjcar. Then a moment of madness from Maka sees his pass intercepted by Baros but but Ballack dives in to save the day. The final action of the half sees an Anelka shot smothered by David James.
The second half starts as a similarly even affair until on 55mins a Maka clearence finds Malouda whose long crossfield pass is coushioned into the path of Anelka by Joe Cole for the opening goal. However it doesn't last long as a hoof from James is flicked on by Baros into the path of Defoe who despite looking offside, still slots home on his debut. It's 1-1 and Pompey have their tails up. Avram responds on 73mins by replacing Malouda with Pizarro as the Blues go 4-4-2 (ish) - Joe Cole and SWP go wide. Its end to end stuff with 15mins to go, first Defoe has an effort brilliantly closed down by Cech only for Chelsea to go straight up the other but SWP drags his shot wide. Its 89mins and Defoe skys a pass from Diarra to miss a great chance for Pompey to win it and then on 91 minutes a Belletti corner is met with a thumping header from Alex but its straight at David James.
... and that's it, a great second half for the neutrals but on a day when Man U dropped 2 point to Spurs, we've squandered a chance to close the gap.
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