Apologies: links to match reports and video highlights only I’m afraid. Jonathan and I missed the game, and it’s difficult to give opinions based on ten minutes of highlights and goal videos. Comments welcome as usual.
Match reports
The Observer, Will Buckley: “It is now over a year since Chelsea produced a performance that showcased all their talents, their championship-clinching 3-0 victory against Manchester United in April 2006, which culminated with Ricardo Carvalho’s length-of-the-pitch team goal.”
Sunday Times, Brian Glanville: “Though Chelsea won by Frank Lampard’s solitary goal, and thereby extended their remarkable unbeaten home sequence to 66 games, they could so easily have been caught at the end by a Portsmouth team less dynamic and well organised, consistent, persistent, and intelligent.”
Independent on Sunday, Nick Townsend: “Unconvincing was also an adjective which could also apply to Jose Mourinho’s men after a victory that left Chelsea top of the table, and more crucially eight points in front of Manchester United. The Chelsea manager attributed a generally turgid performance to post-international-week-itis and the heat. Certainly, for half an hour his players had the look of men who had forgotten each other over the preceding few days.”
Sunday Telegraph, Roy Collins: “Both England manager Steve McClaren and his assistant, Terry Venables, thought it necessary to monitor the form of James, 37, who appeared to have reclaimed his old international job when he replaced the hapless Paul Robinson against Germany in midweek. But James never lets the headline writers down, allowing a half-hit shot by Frank Lampard to bounce under his left hand and into the net as the England management team threw their heads into their hands.”
Official Chelsea FC Website, Andy Jones: “Frank Lampard made it three for the season, taking him to the top of the scoring charts, and with ten points from our opening four games, it’s been a very good start to the season.”
The highlights
Click here for extended high quality video highlights from Virgin Media.