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Sunderland confirm that Darren Bent has handed in a written transfer request amid reports linking the striker with Aston Villa.
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Nat Lofthouse, who has died aged 85, was a post-war giant
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Wolverhampton 1 - 0 Chelsea
The deadlock is broken after just six minutes thanks to a Boswinga own goal
By Mark Ashenden |
Wolves rose out of the drop zone with a deserved win to add more pressure on to defending champions Chelsea.
The hosts opened the scoring on six minutes when defender Jose Boswinga directed the ball into his own net from Stephen Hunt's inswinging corner. Chelsea improved with Salomon Kalou denied by goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey and Didier Drogba hitting the upright.
Florent Malouda shot wide for the Blues but they ran out of ideas as Wolves wasted chances to score again.
And so the stuttering form shows no sign of improving for the west Londoners, who have won only one of their last nine games - their worst league run for 14 years.
When the two sides met at Stamford Bridge in October, Chelsea won 2-0 to move five points clear at the top of the table. Less than three months on, and Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti sees his men struggling in fifth place and in danger of missing out on Champions League football next season.
Click to play
Ancelotti admits he must improve
Ancelotti had said ahead of this match he felt lucky he still had the Chelsea job but the Italian would have been left reappraising his fortune after only six minutes at Molineux when his side conceded the sloppy opener.
The warning signs had been there as Peter Cech had already had to palm away a stinging shot from Ronald Zubar but immediately afterwards the Blues goalkeeper could only watch in horror as defender Boswinga shinned the ball into his own net from Hunt's corner.
Chelsea struggled to contend with Wolves' pressing nature of their 4-4-2 formation, as well as the slippery surface, and were grateful to see Kevin Doyle shoot tamely at Cech following a surging run towards the box by the impressive Zubar.
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Malouda burst through the left-side of the defence for the first time and crossed for Kalou, who toe-poked towards goal only for Hennessey's outstretched leg to deny him.
Wolves remained relatively comfortable as their battling defence only had to deal with a wild John Terry volley flying over the bar and a couple of dangerous crosses from Malouda.
Ancelotti's visitors began the second half in more determined fashion and soon after a weak Malouda shot at Hennessey, they wasted a glorious chance to get on the scoresheet.
It was Lampard, looking fresh from a three-month lay-off, to open up the increasingly edgy defence with a delicate back-heel through to Kalou but the Ivorian could only slot the ball wide with the goal at his mercy.
Click to play
McCarthy reveals Terry compliment
While McCarthy prowled the touchline barking orders, his opposite number watched on motionless and expressionless and, with 25 minutes to go, decided to throw on Nicolas Anelka for Kalou.
The chances did eventually arrive for the visitors with Malouda wasteful when clean through and then substitute Daniel Sturridge volleyed high and wide to add to their manager's frustrations.
But with Richard Stearman guiding his resolute defence, it was the home side who came through as Drogba ended the game by wasting a good chance from a free-kick on the edge of the box.
Manchester City, Liverpool, Bolton and Manchester United come next for Wolves in the Premier League but McCarthy's men will fear no one after beating Chelsea for the first time in 18 years, while Ancelotti has much to ponder as his players continue to splutter.
Live text and stats
Barclays Premier League
| Home Team | Score | Away Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wolves | 1-0 | Chelsea | FT |
| (HT 1-0) | |||
| |||
Hide team line-ups and match stats
Wolverhampton
- 13 Hennessey
- 03 Elokobi
- 05 Stearman
- 16 Berra
- 23 Zubar
- 32 Foley
- 04 Edwards
- 12 Hunt
- 17 Jarvis
- 10 Fletcher (Ebanks-Blake 69) (Milijas 82)
- 29 Doyle (Ward 70)
Substitutes
Chelsea
- 01 Cech
- 02 Ivanovicyellow card
- 03 A Cole
- 17 Bosingwa
- 26 Terry
- 05 Essien
- 07 Ramires (Sturridge 72)
- 08 Lampard
- 15 Malouda (Kakuta 79)
- 11 Drogba
- 21 Kalou (Anelka 66)
Substitutes
Ref: HalseyAtt: 26,432
Show all live text
- Final Result
- Full Time
- 90:00+4:06 The game is over, as the referee blows his whistle.
- 90:00+2:35 Stephen Ward fouled by John Terry, the ref awards a free kick. Nenad Milijas takes the free kick.
Nottingham Forest complete Marcus Tudgay transfer
 Tudgay scored on his Forest full-debut against Crystal Palace |
Nottingham Forest have completed the permanent signing of striker Marcus Tudgay from Sheffield Wednesday.
The 27-year-old has signed a two-and-a-half year contract following a successful loan period at the club. Tudgay has scored three goals in as many starts, including two in the 5-2 victory over his former club Derby County at the end of December.
Meanwhile, Mark Byrne, Julian Bennett and Joe Garner have returned to the club after their loan deals expired.
Byrne scored four goals in 15 matches for Barnet, but has recently been out of action with a knee injury.
Bennett returns from Crystal Palace following one goal in 11 starts and three substitute appearances at Selhurst Park.
And Garner arrives back at The City Ground after 19 games for Huddersfield, 11 as a starter and eight from the substitutes bench.
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