Stephen Ward seemed to have earned the hosts a point when he smashed Steven Fletcher’s cross low into the net.

But Chelsea, who led through Ramires’ strike, won it when Lampard volleyed in Ashley Cole’s brilliant cross.

If you are on the roads, be safe and if you at home - have a wonderful family time.

Keep the Blue Flag Flying High over the festive season.

There could have been more for either side as a draw was perhaps the reflection of the game. Chelsea though would be concerned with the loss of Mikel and Ivanovic to injury. Torres came on late as a subsitute for Drogba, who seemed a little off on the night. It was a great gutsy team effort and next on our Festive game list is Wolves.

Chelsea is now 9 points behind league leaders Man City after their 1-0 win against Arsenal. So after our 15th game of the season we are lying in 4th position after Spurs beat Sunderland 1-0.

Next up for Chelsea is Spurs on Thursday at 10pm (CAT).

Here is the fixture list over the festive season for Chelsea: (Thanks to Matt)

December 2011 - all kick offs SA time 
22 Thu 10 pm   A  Tottenham Hotspur PREM  Sky  
26 Mon 3:00 pm H  Fulham PREM    
31 Sat 5:00 pm   H  Aston Villa PREM    
        
January 2012
        
2 Mon 5:00 pm A  Wolverhampton Wanderers PREM    
8 Sun 5:00  H  Portsmouth FA    
        
The question is can we claw our way back… send us your predictions to cpt@chelseafc.co.za or jhb@chelseafc.co.za

Till Thursday then.

Will he keep the same team that beat Man City or will he bring in new players?

What is your preferred 11 on the pitch, let us know? Give us your comments.

And will Torres be sold in January even though AVB denied this in today’s press conference?

To say this was an insane game of football - is perhaps too mild. From Man City players like Aguero there were touches of brilliance together with his midfield team mates another commanding display of deft and clever football. It rained in West London and it looked like Man City would take us apart.

But with football nothing surprises you anymore…Raul Meireles (starting instead of Lampard) scored an equaliser aka Lampard - running from deep and losing his marker slotted home a sublime cross from Sturridge. This sparked a reaction from Chelsea and it sure continued into the second half.

It sure helped Chelsea’s cause when a second yellow card for Gael Clichy meant he was sent off after 57 minutes.

Chelsea’s Sturridge on the edge of the penalty area of Man City shot at goal only for defender Joleon Lescott to bloke the shot with his hand and a penalty was awarded. Up came substitute Super Frankie Lampard and slotted home the winner.

Chelsea ended Man City unbeaten run in the premier league and narrow the gap to 7 points. A good morale boosting win for Chelsea. Chelsea is back indeed.

Comments from the Bridge is that Drogba, Lampard and Terry are super charged for this game as it brings about a special feeling for these experienced players. With the news breaking that 6 players will be put out on loan or sold - it is vital that everyone in the team support the coach. It will also be the first time (if we lose) that we will not progress past the round robin round of the Champs League since Abramovich took over.

So, are you ready to experience one of the best European games, if so, come on down to the Keg & Filly in Joburg, Mitchell’s in Cape Town and the Boardwalk in PE.

Who do you think will win?

What is your score prediction?

Comment below.

Chelsea last beat Pompey in the 2009-10 FA Cup final.

In a London daily today the following is written: The Daily Mail can reveal that Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou, Jose Bosingwa and Paulo Ferreira are available for transfer, news which follows the weekend announcement that transfer requests from Nicolas Anelka and Alex had been accepted.

The France striker and Brazil defender have been banned from using first-team facilities at the club’s training ground, with Anelka set to sign a £6.4million-a-year deal with Shanghai Shenhua in China.

Drogba and Kalou scored in Saturday’s 3-0 win at Newcastle but are out of contract next year and free to sign a pre-contract deal with a foreign club in January.

The Ivorian strikers are also destined for the Africa Cup of Nations, which starts on January 21 and could rule them out for up to six weeks of the season.

A lucrative move to the Middle East is understood to appeal to Drogba, who is 34 in March but will not be short of offers to extend his career.

Arsenal have always shown interest in Kalou and Juventus remain keen on Alex despite his alarming loss of form.

It proves owner Abramovich is preparing to back Villas-Boas, who is so anxious to refresh the squad that Alex and Anelka were told on Friday they could not use the main training centre when the first team are in the building.

It is the ultimate humiliation for two players who have been a huge part of Chelsea for the past three years.

Chelsea players were stunned when the pair, both popular characters in the dressing room, had their lockers cleared. Both have also been told they are no longer welcome to park in the first-team car park.

They believe they are being deliberately humiliated after being told to put their cars in the communal parking area next to the academy.

Villas-Boas has also told the pair they are no longer welcome to train with the first-team squad after they put in transfer requests. Instead they have separate training programmes, which are thought to include working with the reserves, academy and on their own.

Chelsea’s win at Newcastle eased them back into the top four but competition for the Champions League places looks set to be intense in the Barclays Premier League.

Chelsea’s first concern is to extend this season’s Champions League campaign by beating Valencia at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday. The key to the longer-term project will be whether Villas-Boas, who insists he has been promised three years to complete his work, is allowed full control over his transfer targets.

The Portuguese manager reputedly has a good eye for players, dating back to his scouting past, yet Abramovich continues to listen to advice from a disparate selection of independent advisers.

Chelsea are expected to win the race to sign Gary Cahill from Bolton next month with the intention of pairing him with John Terry and releasing Branislav Ivanovic to play at right back.

Some within the club believe it may be the right time to elevate highly-rated defender Nathaniel Chalobah, 17 next week, to the first-team squad.

Josh McEachran and Ryan Bertrand will be allowed out on loan in January if reinforcements can be signed. Villas-Boas would also like to add left-sided Porto utility man Alvaro Pereira to his squad, and Chelsea have opened talks for Universidad de Chile striker Eduardo Vargas, according to reports in Chile.

Vargas, 22, may face work-permit issues and is unlikely to be a top target to fill the boots of Drogba and Anelka.

Tentative enquiries were made for David Villa in the summer and the striker has slipped out of favour at Barcelona. There is a long-standing interest in Lille’s Eden Hazard. Chelsea were told to come back in 12 months when they made contact last January.

The Cape Town supporters welcome Bill “The Legend”Fussell to Mitchell’s Brewery tomorrow. If you want to meet the man who watched Chelsea win their first League trophy in 1955 - tomorrow is your chance. The game kicks off at 2pm. (check out the picture gallery to see Bill)

Here are some news on the teams playing tomorrow from the BBC:

Newcastle midfielder Cheick Tiote has again been ruled out with the troublesome knee injury that has kept him sidelined for four league matches.

Sylvain Marveaux (groin) is out until the New Year but Leon Best returns to the fold after his own groin injury.

Chelsea captain John Terry served his one-game suspension in the League Cup defeat by Liverpool and should return.

Oriol Romeu is expected to continue in midfield at the expense of John Obi Mikel and the injured Michael Essien.

Some Match Facts:

Head-to-head

• This is the first time since March 2003 that this fixture has taken place with Newcastle above Chelsea in the league table.
• Newcastle are winless in their last eight games against Chelsea. The last Magpies’ triumph was by 1-0 at home in May 2006.
• Three of the last four league games between the clubs have ended in draws, including both encounters last season.

Newcastle

• The Magpies have lost only once in their last 16 Premier League games - to Manchester City.
• Newcastle have picked up 26 points - their most at this stage of a top-flight season since 1996-97 when they had 28 points after 13 matches.
• Demba Ba has scored nine goals in his last 12 league games for Newcastle - the most a Magpies’ player has scored at this stage of the season since Alan Shearer in 1996-97.
• Newcastle’s next goal will be their 100th in the league at home against Chelsea.

Chelsea

• The west London club have lost five of their last nine games in all competitions.
• Chelsea have kept clean sheets in two of their last three league games. They had conceded in nine consecutive matches prior to this run.
• Despite their league worries, Andre Villa-Boas’ men have let in just six goals in six away league games; only Manchester United (three) have let in fewer on their travels.
• No club has scored more first-half goals in the Premier League this season than Chelsea (15).