Chelsea's woeful away record continued at the Riverside today as they lost 1-0 to Middlesbrough. Yet this game, unlike some of the other away defeats, was harsh on the Blues who lost to a deflected second half shot from Dean Gordon. But overall, and especially in the second half , Chelsea were in control with the majority of possession and chances, even if they failed to score at least a point looked assured as Boro were posing little threat.

Yet such is the way of things for Chelsea away from home at the moment that when Dean Gordon had one of their few shots in the second half it deflected past a helpless De Goey into the net. Gudjohnsen, Wise and Zola all had half chances but Chelsea couldn't put the finishing touch to some good approach play.

With 3 of Chelsea's youth setup starting, Terry, Morris and Harley and with the bulk of the team who had scored back to back home wins hopes were high going into the game against struggling Boro. It was a game of few chances for either side but the Blues did well at times maintaining possesion and applying periods of pressure to the home goal. It's true that Middlesbrough may have been lifted for the first home game of Terry Venables but even so with Middlesbrough having injuries and suspension the two sides on paper seemed unevenly matched. Yet as Chelsea have shown time and again this season they can't seem to make a paper superiority into a real one.

What started out as an oddity has now become a full blown nightmare with each game away from Stamford Bridge approached with the away form hanging heavy before the kick off. Chelsea's home form has been excellent, having won 6, drawn 2 and lost 1. Yet away it's won 0, drawn 3, lost 7. How there can be such a massive discrepancy and how it is fixed is the biggest problem Ranieri now faces.

Middlesbrough - Chelsea: 1-0 (0-0)
Middlesbrough, Riverside Stadium, 29.422 néző, v.: P.Jones
Gól: Gordon (71.)

Chelsea: De Goey - Desailly, Terry, Melchiot, Harley (Leboeuf, 45.) - Wise, Morris, Dalla Bona, Poyet - Gudjohnsen, Zola (Aleksidze, 79.)
Kispadon maradt: Cudicini, Bogarde, Jokanovic
Sárga lap: Morris, Leboeuf, Desailly

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer - Vickers, Festa, Okon (Gordon, 67.), Mustoe - Karembeu, Ince, O’Neill, Cooper - Whelan, Deane
Kispadon maradt: Crossley, Stockdale, Gavin, Hudson