Luiz Felipe Scolari struggles to inspire Chelsea

Jan 6 2009 By Andreas Christophorou

Luiz Felipe Scolari was taught a harsh lesson about the magic of the FA Cup as league one minnows Southend painfully exposed Chelsea’s continued frailties with a last gasp equaliser.

Birthday boy Peter Clarke pounced to head the Seasiders into a money spinning replay and send the away fans into delirium.

Chelsea on the other hand have now only won three out of their last 10 games and Clarke’s goal signalled the end of the machine-like invincibility that used to pummel inferior teams into submission. Even more worryingly, Southend always fancied their chances of snatching something at Stamford Bridge.

Their army of 6,000 travelling fans recreated the atmosphere that used to make the Shed End infamous in days gone by. Even sarcastic chants of ‘come on Chelsea’ by the away supporters failed to spark the home fans into life.

Southend’s hopes of an upset looked to be dashed on 30 minutes when Salomon Kalou put the Blue’s one up with a free header from a Frank Lampard corner.

But Chelsea failed to finish the game off in the first half. Keeper Steven Mildenhall saved well from Ashley Cole, Didier Drogba missed two chances and Juliano Belletti had a header saved from off the line. Scolari’s post match press conference focused on bad luck in front of goal, but Chelsea did not create clear cut chances and suffered the same consequences to last week’s trip to Fulham.

Before the game the Brazilian dismissed rumours of squad discontent, insisting his squad loved him. His team, however, looked void of ideas in the second half and there seemed to be a breakdown in communication between an animated Scolari and his players.

As time wore on Chelsea became more sluggish and Southend could sense blood. Manager Steve Tilson went for broke by making three substitutions, adding an aerial threat in the dying minutes. Almost immediately, Clarke grazed the crossbar with a header. He made no mistake minutes later when Ricardo Carvalho’s misjudged clearance looped to the centre back who finished from six yards.

Even then Chelsea had the chance to win it but Midenhall produced a brilliant save from a Franco Di Santo header deep into injury time.

The replay will provide a further headache for Scolari. With season defining trips to Old Trafford and Anfield round the corner, Chelsea’s blip is in danger of turning into a crisis.

Chelsea 1 - 1 Southend