Chelsea’s lead at the top of the Premier League was cut to two points as the champions suffered a stunning 3-0 home defeat against Sunderland, while Arsenal moved into second place with a 2-1 win at Everton yesterday.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side were without the injured John Terry and Frank Lampard, as well as the suspended Michaekl Essien, and Sunderland took full advantage with a superb display.
Nedum Onuoha opened the scoring for Steve Bruce’s side with a fine solo effort on the stroke of half-time before Asamoah Gyan and Danny Welbeck netted in the second half.
It was Chelsea’s first home league defeat of the season – and Sunderland’s first away success – and ended a bad week for the Blues, who were rocked by the sudden sacking of assistant coach Ray Wilkins in midweek.
Carlo Ancelotti’s team look far from invincible at present and second placed Arsenal will suddenly fancy their chances of taking top spot from the champions sooner rather than later.
Ancelotti said: “Everything went wrong, we didn’t play well or how we wanted.
“It was a bad day. We were not able to play our football, just 15 minutes in the first half. Everything was difficult, it was a strange performance.
“We were in a good moment but now we have to come back and stay focused on the next game.”
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce added: “Two weeks ago we were hung, drawn and quartered (after losing 5-1 to Newcastle). We were looking for a response and got it.
“The Newcastle defeat was the worst performance of my career and this was arguably the best.”
Chelsea had most of the play early on and Yuri Zhrikhov slalomed through the Sunderland back four before wastefully pulling his shot across the face of Gordon’s goal.
The more incisive attacking play, however, came at the other end of the pitch where Welbeck and Gyan repeatedly exposed Chelsea’s makeshift central defensive pairing of Branislav Ivanovic and Paulo Ferreira.
Welbeck served the first warning of the visitors’ threat with a 35th minute header that Cech did well to push to safety.
And the Chelsea keeper again had to be at his best three minutes later when Welbeck was released by Gyan and fired in a powerful low shot.
Sunderland finally found a way past Cech immediately before the interval.
Onuoha was the unlikely source of the goal but there was no doubting the quality of the finish as the right back ran past three defenders before finishing left footed.
Chelsea were caught wide open again when Jordan Henderson celebrated his first England call-up with the decisive pass that allowed Gyan to get between Ivanovic and Ferreira and finish past Cech.
Chelsea’s attacking efforts continued to lack conviction and a miserable afternoon was made complete when Ashley Cole’s misdirected back pass was intercepted by Welbeck, who scored with three minutes remaining on the clock.
Arsenal had put pressure on Chelsea earlier in the day with a victory at Goodison Park.
Arsene Wenger’s team took the lead through French defender Bacary Sagna’s first half strike and Cesc Fabregas added the second soon after half-time.
Tim Cahill got one back for Everton in the final minute but it wasn’t enough to stop Arsenal going above third-placed Manchester United.
“We have had two hard-fought wins, built on spirit, desire and resilience,” said Wenger, whose side also won at Wolves in mid-week.
“There is a great spirit and resilience in the side and there is more to come from this team.”
Everton boss David Moyes had no complaints. “You make your own luck and we didn’t do enough to make some luck,” he said.
“I don’t think either team were at their best but we never really got hold of the game.”
Summaries
Chelsea 0
Sunderland 3
Onuoha 45; Gyan 52; Welbeck 87;
HT: 0-1. Att: 41,072.
Everton 1
Cahill 89;
Arsenal 2
Sagna 36; Fabregas 48;
HT: 0-1. Att: 36,279.
The Championship
Swansea vs Middlesbrough: 1-0