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Grant keeps fighting
20/03/2008 07:42 - (SA)
London - Avram Grant talks a good game as he tries to keep Chelsea in the Premier League title race but the reality is a lot bleaker after his side were held to an incredible 4-4 draw against Tottenham.
Grant is determined to remain upbeat even though Chelsea are now five points behind leaders Manchester United and two points adrift of second-placed Arsenal.
The Blues looked certain to keep the pressure on United as they led three times at White Hart Lane on Wednesday, but a combination of slack defending and a spirited Spurs fight back left them frustrated.
Now Sunday's home clash against Arsenal assumes immense importance for Grant and company. A defeat to their north London rivals would effectively kill off any lingering hopes of winning the title for a third time in four seasons.
"We are still in the race and we will continue fighting like we did until now," he said. "Sunday is another game. It is a good game. Every game for Chelsea is a big game.
"We are closer to Arsenal than we were before. It's a tough game but we want to win."
'Unusual for us'
Grant believes his team have the character and desire to beat the Gunners, but, on the evidence of the Spurs match, there are plenty of chinks in the Chelsea armour.
"One of our strengths is that we defend well against corners and free-kicks but in the last two games Spurs scored five goals from set-pieces. I don't know how to explain this because it's unusual for us," Grant said.
"There were so many positives we can take from this game but we didn't win. We showed a great spirit and of course we will continue to fight."
If Chelsea do miss out on the title this will be the result they regret most. They started superbly and took the lead in the third minute when Didier Drogba headed in John Terry's cross.
Jonathan Woodgate headed Spurs level from Jermaine Jenas's free-kick soon after, only for Michael Essien to restore Chelsea's lead with a chipped finish.
Ashley Cole's nasty lunge on Alan Hutton raised the temperature of an already fiery clash before the break, but Chelsea extended their lead early in the second half through Joe Cole.
Superb goal
Spurs refused to throw in the towel and Dimitar Berbatov's looping header gave them hope before Tom Huddlestone lashed in the equaliser from Robbie Keane's corner.
When Cole scored again with five minutes to go, it seemed Chelsea had finally got the job done. Instead there was one last twist as Keane curled in a superb goal in the 88th minute.
Spurs boss Juande Ramos saluted his side's recovery but was more concerned with referee Mike Riley's failure to send off Cole for his foul on Hutton.
Both benches were incensed by the incident, with Spurs assistant Gus Poyet blasting fourth official Steve Bennett when no red card was forthcoming.
Grant had to be restrained from berating Hutton for exaggerating his injury, although he later claimed not to have seen the incident, which happened directly in front to the technical areas.
Ramos said: "In this case the referee decided it was a yellow card. But we've seen tackles that were much less serious given red cards.
"For example Robbie Keane was sent off for a tackle that was much less serious than that.
"It's best not to dwell on that kind of action. We're just very fortunate there weren't any injuries to players."
It was one of the games of this or any other season, but Ramos is getting used to rollercoaster rides at the Lane.
"This season we've seen similar games already. The 6-4 against Reading had similar characteristics and against Aston Villa we drew 4-4," he said.
How Grant must wish he could afford to be so blasé.
- AFP
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