A last gasp wonder goal from Sam Dalla Bona won the three points for Chelsea just when Town fans were celebrating a well-won point. A first half goal from Gianfranco Zola had put Chelsea deservedly ahead, but as Town improved in the second half Marcus Stewart equalised with a penalty.

Town lined up as in Helsingborg with the exception of Jermaine Wright who replaced Sixto Peralta. The Argentinian wasn't even on the bench and given his good performance on Thursday was presumably injured.

The first effort of the game came from Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink who hit a shot on the turn from the edge of the area.

On 7 Hermann Hreidarsson crossed for Naylor, but it was too long. Hasselbaink put another shot in from well out two minutes later, but Sereni had little trouble.

It was nearly all Chelsea and on 15 Lampard headed over from a freekick from the right before Sereni did well to get in ahead of Hasselbaink as the Dutchman ran on to a through ball.

On 19 Hermann Hreidarsson headed well-over from a Venus cross from the right. A Venus corner had been cleared and Magilton had played it back out to the defender and freekick specialist.

On 21 Lampard hit a shot wide after a good Zola run, Town had been defending well as Chelsea put the pressure on. In the 26th minute Dalla Bona had a shot deflected wide from a cross which Bramble beat Hasselbaink to in the air.

Seconds later Lampard hit a shot from the edge of the area through a crowd of players which either took a deflection or swerved enormously. Sereni parried and Terry followed up. The linesman's flag had gone up as soon as Sereni had saved and the goal was ruled out. Many felt this was the first decision referee Styles had got right up to then as he seemed unwilling to give Town freekicks.

Bramble was putting on another impressive display and in the 27th minute he out in an important challenge on Hasselbaink on the edge of the area. On 29 Forssell missed badly when on to a Melchiot cross from the right. Hasselbaink had dummied and the Finn slashed the ball wide.

On 30 Holland headed over from a Clapham cross. A minute later Naylor went in for the ball as Melchiot and Bosnich mis-communicated. The striker won the ball when diving in on the keeper and Bosnich needed treatment. Naylor claimed he had been impeded and that he ought to have had a penalty but Styles gave a corner.

On 32 Sereni made a save from Hasselbaink from the edge of the area and then gathered a cross from the Dutchman.

On 35 Chelsea went ahead, and in not uncontroversial circumstances. Naylor was shoved by a defender about ten yards out of the Chelsea area, but the linesman saw it the other way and Chelsea quickly took the freekick yards forward of where the offence had taken place. Town were caught short at the back and Zola finished well from the left-edge of the area across Sereni with Bramble grounded.

In the 40th minute Hermann Hreidarsson made a strong run forward and almost played in Jermaine Wright. Wright was in the referee's book two minutes later for dissent. Bramble had been adjudged to have fouled Hasselbaink on the edge of the area, a decision which had several irate players surrounding the referee. As Hasselbaink clashed with other Town players Richard Naylor, already involved in an ongoing discussion with the referee over Desailly and pushing, was also booked. Referee Styles moved the freekick ten yards nearer. Hasselbaink took the kick just wide.

Half-time saw Gallas replace Jokanovic, a player whose name had been booed by his home fans when read out before the game.

Town started strongly in the second half and on 51 Jamie Clapham crossed for Naylor but his header fell to a Chelsea player. Two minutes after Hreidarsson made a strong run and crossed to Stewart. The ball cannoned into the air and Bosnich claimed.

On 54 referee Styles again irked the Town support when Hreidarsson made a run to the byline. His cross went off a defender and out but a goalkick was given.

Hreidarsson had a header go over when he latched on to a Makin cross in the 59th minute. Venus had a shot saved from a freekick (what for was anyone's guess) two minutes later.

Town were an improved side and were coming forward in greater numbers. Chelsea were sitting back and trying to use the pace of Hasselbaink on the break.

In the 64th minute Pablo Counago replaced Richard Naylor. He was immediately in the action as Desailly pulled him back as he ran on to a through ball. Referee Styles failed to see a foul.

Bramble continued to put the challenges in with another one on Hasselbaink particularly impressing. Sereni saved from Desailly as he got on to a freekick from the left.

On 75 Reuser replaced Clapham as Town sought the equaliser. He quickly was the victim of another odd refereeing decision when pulled off the ball by Melchiot and Stanic. Chelsea were awarded a freekick.

On 79 Hreidrarsson hit a low shot into the side-netting as he and Stewart combined well. Two minutes later Jermaine Wright crossed from the right towards Stewart. The Town striker was pushed by Melchiot and Styles pointed to the spot. It was an obvious penalty that few argued with. Stewart stepped up and hit the ball to Bosnich's left as the Australian dive right.

A draw seemed on the cards, but Chelsea began to put the pressure on. Sereni punched out a Zola freekick and Hasselbaink headed wide. At the other end Stanic headed a Wright cross out for a corner and Makin, unusually well up the pitch, hit a shot which Bosnich saved.

The board had gone up indicating four minutes of injury time when Dalla Bona picked up the ball 40 yards out. He went forward unchallenged and walloped a shot beyond Sereni. It was a cruel blow for Town and when the whistle went shortly afterwards there was a stunned look amongst some of the players. Sereni spent a while composing himself in his area before chatting with Cudicini and Zola and then leaving the field.

A bad result, especially as it had looked like a point had been won. By no means the worst performance of the season and given the opponents and the UEFA Cup exploits in the week, not a bad performance at all. Again though the final ball was rarely there and the league position needs changing very rapidly. A win against Bolton is a must.

Photo: Action Images

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