Burnley Brought Crashing Back Down to Earth by Slick Chelsea

(Photo by Phil Cole/Getty Images)

For most of the first half, it seemed as if this game would be another chapter in Burnley's fairytale start to the season.

Goalkeeper Brian Jensen was in inspired form yet again, repelling wave after wave of Chelsea attacks and frustrating the home side.

For those inside Stamford Bridge, it seemed reminiscent of many a home game under Luiz Felipe Scolari last season. The Blues were dominating possession and creating plenty of chances, but they just couldn’t put the ball into the net.

Nicolas Anelka wasted a golden opportunity for the home side after just six minutes when he was clean through on goal after dispossessing Andre Bikey. The Frenchman tried to go around Jensen, but the Burnley keeper was able to grab the ball.

But Burnley were far from over-awed, and they should have taken a shock lead three minutes later. Frank Lampard was careless in possession, presenting the ball to Tyrone Mears, who fed the ball to Martin Paterson in acres of space. But the midfielder only managed to screw his shot wide of Petr Cech’s right hand post.

With the amount of chances Chelsea were creating, it seemed a question of when they would score, not if. Jensen, however, had other ideas, keeping out shots from Michael Ballack, John Terry, and Lampard.

The crowd began to voice its frustration, but a trio of goals seven minutes on either side of halftime had them grinning from ear to ear. Anelka gave Carlo Ancelotti’s side the lead, sliding in to convert a Didier Drogba cross.

Lampard stood the ball up for Ballack to nod home the second, and the England midfielder was involved in Chelsea’s third, playing a one-two with left back Ashley Cole, who volleyed a fantastic finish past Jensen for only his third goal in Chelsea colours.

A goal fest seemed on the cards. Anelka almost added a fourth, but he hit the bar from Ballack’s pass.

The tempo dropped noticeably after that flurry of goal-mouth action, with Burnley seemingly resigned to their fate and Chelsea relaxed, safe in the knowledge that three points had been secured.

Michael Essien did his best to add his name to the scoresheet, first calling Jensen into action in the 66th minute and then again with 14 minutes left on the clock.

Substitute Salomon Kalou was inches away from scoring his first goal of the season as the game edged towards stoppage time, but his poked shot was cleared off the line by Mears with Jensen stranded.

The 100 percent start to the season continues for Ancelotti’s men, and they go to the top of the Premier League on goal difference.

Burnley, meanwhile, have been brought back down to Earth after shock wins over Manchester United and Everton.

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