Why I'm sticking by stumbling Chelsea to win the title

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Published 21:10 06/12/09

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I think we could be reaching the pivotal moment of the title race following Chelsea's defeat to Manchester City.

After opening up a five-point gap just a couple of weeks ago with their win over Man U at Stamford Bridge, suddenly the gap is down to two points and it's game on.

It's been a bad week for Chelsea and they've suffered the double blow of getting knocked out of the Carling Cup and losing to City.

They've shown they are human and now the pressure is on them and Carlo Ancelotti to see how they respond.

United have done their bit to stoke up the pressure and despite fielding a skeleton back four at West Ham, they steamrollered them 4-0.

We're now approaching the Christmas period when the games come thick and fast and it could be a critical time in the title race.

Like a lot of pundits, I was perhaps too hasty in writing United off in the title race and they are showing plenty of fight yet.

Sir Alex Ferguson also says his sides come on stronger in the second half of the season and a two-point gap is nothing for them to overcome.

Having said all that, I've been tipping Chelsea to win it and I'm still going to stick with them.

I feel their midfield is stronger than United's and that Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka will score more goals than Berbatov, Rooney and Michael Owen.

I don't think they will suffer too much when the likes of Drogba and Essien head off to the African Cup of Nations and Chelsea's fixtures then aren't too bad.

They've bounced back before from setbacks this season and I'm backing Ancelotti to make sure they do so again.

HULL REVIVAL WILL STALL WITH LOSS OF BRILLIANT BULLARD

I was gutted for Jimmy Bullard when I heard the news from Villa Park that he had injured his knee again.

Thankfully, it's not the same knee he's had problems with most recently, but his injury is still a concern to Hull.

If he misses Hull's next four or five games then their mini-revival could prove to be just that and the smile will be wiped off Phil Brown's face.

They will be hoping the diagnosis isn't too bad and that he will soon be back.

No-one would begrudge Jimmy that after the terrible time he's had with injuries.

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