28/01/2003  Chelsea 3 Leeds 2
 
If this was a foretaste of life without Jonathan Woodgate 
and Robbie Fowler, then no wonder Terry Venables is desperate 
for the shutters to close on the January sales.

With Fowler and Woodgate absent amid continuing speculation 
over their futures, Leeds looked to have given their boss a 
welcome respite from the frustrations of his board's apparent 
determination to sell off the family silver.

Indeed, with 12 minutes left, they were still ahead after 
Teddy Lucic had earlier restored the lead once Eidur 
Gudjohnsen's superb overhead kick had cancelled out Harry 
Kewell's early opener.

But then, without Woodgate's calming influence at the back, 
Leeds somehow managed to commit a very public version of 
defensive suicide at Stamford Bridge.

Firstly, Frank Lampard was given space in which to hit a 
deflected shot past Paul Robinson and then Dominic Matteo 
conspired to put the ball into his own net with just seven 
minutes left.

It was harsh on Leeds as, for all of Chelsea's far greater 
attacking pressure, the Yorkshire side had still produced a 
gutsy display with their backs against the financial wall.

No wonder Venables is so opposed to yet more of his 
resources being sold off to balance the books. It is a harsh 
and unforgiving game, indeed.

Chelsea made most of the early inroads, with Lampard and 
Jody Morris both threatening, but Leeds were by no means being 
outplayed in a game littered with simple passing errors.

Indeed, when Mark Viduka flicked on a high free-kick, John 
Terry misjudged the flight and Kewell was able to nip in to 
volley past the exposed figure of Carlo Cudicini.

Back came Chelsea. Paul Robinson made an excellent double 
save from Graeme Le Saux and Gudjohnsen, while Morris was 
unable to keep his shot on target as the goal beckoned 
invitingly.

There was more bluster than finesse, however, with a 
timebomb seemingly waiting to go on the flank which pitted Le 
Saux against Alan Smith.

With Jesper Gronkjaer curling the ball wide and penalty 
appeals against Paul Okon being waved away, Chelsea pressed 
without reward.

However, they deserved little more due to a strange lack of 
impetus and, with a subdued Celestine Babayaro being replaced 
on 35 minutes by striker Carlton Cole, that led to a switch to 
a 3-5-2 formation.

Cole was quickly involved, although in a scuffle with Danny 
Mills rather than any goalmouth action, and he was soon 
followed into the book by Le Saux as he kicked the ball away 
in frustration.

Chelsea continued to dominate possession after the interval 
but were still struggling to produce any quality service from 
the flanks.

Cole did manage to bundle his way past Mills and Gary Kelly 
but then chipped his shot over the bar and it was not until 
Lampard charged down the right flank that they managed to 
equalise.

Gudjohnsen was still standing with his back to goal, about 
12 yards out, when the ball arrived in mid-air, but he still 
produced a sublime overhead kick that flew past Robinson on 56 
minutes.

While Chelsea's thoughts immediately turned to winning the 
game, that was reckoning without Leeds' response.

Cudicini denied Kewell and Viduka but there was nothing 
that he could do to prevent Leeds restoring their lead as 
Chelsea's defence failed to cope with a straightforward 
corner.

Smith's low delivery should have been cleared but instead 
Kewell was able to flick the ball across goal and full-back 
Lucic was there to force the ball home from close range on 65 
minutes.

Robinson managed to save Gallas's flick header but the 
fates conspired against Leeds with 11 minutes left as Chelsea 
managed to level for a second time.

Robinson could only push Boudewijn Zenden's cross out and 
with a miscued clearance falling to Lampard, his return effort 
seemingly deflected off both Mills and Matteo before squeezing 
inside the far post.

If that was bad, far worse was to follow just three minutes 
later as Lampard delivered a low cross-shot which Matteo had 
all the time in the world to clear.

If only. The Leeds defender instead contrived to miscue his 
attempted clearance into his own net and Leeds were behind for 
the first time in the game.

With Cudicini denying Kewell, there was no comeback for the 
Yorkshire side. January has, indeed, been a cruel month for 
Venables. It could yet get worse, however.