ANELKA OPENS CHELSEA ACCOUNT AS BLUES DEFEAT WIGAN
Chelsea's recent £15m signing Nicolas Anelka proved his worth as Avram Grant's side defeated Wigan Athletic 2-1 at the JJB Stadium in the FA Cup Fourth Round in Saturday's late kick off.
In his third appearance for the Blues the French international scored his first goal for his new club and assisted Shaun Wright-Phillips for the second.
Steve Bruce's Wigan hustled well in the first half, limiting the travelling side to only one noteworthy shot: Joe Cole's rasping drive in the first minute.
But the 28-year-old Anelka, who signed from Bolton earlier in the month, opened the scoring after only eight minutes of the second half elapsed.
Former Barcelona right-back Juliano Belletti chipped the ball into Wigan's penalty area, and Anelka shook off his opposition defender and neatly dinked his shot over the onrushing Chris Kirkland.
Eight minutes from time Anelka turned provider as a failed Wigan clearance landed at his feet. He was through on goal and selflessly squared to England international Wright-Phillips, who simply side-footed past Kirkland.
Wigan substitute Antoine Sibierski did pull a goal back with three minutes to go with a jaw-dropping volley on the turn from the edge of the Chelsea box.
But Grant's team held on and go into the hat for Monday's Fifth Round draw. They have now only dropped two points in their last 12 games, and with Anelka beginning to find his feet at Chelsea, that run looks set to continue.
Chelsea's recent £15m signing Nicolas Anelka proved his worth as Avram Grant's side defeated Wigan Athletic 2-1 at the JJB Stadium in the FA Cup Fourth Round in Saturday's late kick off.
In his third appearance for the Blues the French international scored his first goal for his new club and assisted Shaun Wright-Phillips for the second.
Steve Bruce's Wigan hustled well in the first half, limiting the travelling side to only one noteworthy shot: Joe Cole's rasping drive in the first minute.
But the 28-year-old Anelka, who signed from Bolton earlier in the month, opened the scoring after only eight minutes of the second half elapsed.
Former Barcelona right-back Juliano Belletti chipped the ball into Wigan's penalty area, and Anelka shook off his opposition defender and neatly dinked his shot over the onrushing Chris Kirkland.
Eight minutes from time Anelka turned provider as a failed Wigan clearance landed at his feet. He was through on goal and selflessly squared to England international Wright-Phillips, who simply side-footed past Kirkland.
Wigan substitute Antoine Sibierski did pull a goal back with three minutes to go with a jaw-dropping volley on the turn from the edge of the Chelsea box.
But Grant's team held on and go into the hat for Monday's Fifth Round draw. They have now only dropped two points in their last 12 games, and with Anelka beginning to find his feet at Chelsea, that run looks set to continue.
Labels: Chelsea, FA Cup, football, Nicholas Anelka
