Chelsea 0 Norwich 0

by Amar Azam

at Stamford Bridge

Reflecting on a season which he spent much of declaring that his side were not ready for league honours, Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea have come mighty close.  

They enter the last week of the season still with an opportunity of winning the title, albeit slender and highly improbable. 

Against relegation-bound Norwich City, Mourinho’s men flattered to deceive and like they had done for much of the campaign, they struggled to convert their dominance into goal-scoring opportunities. 

Norwich’s recent form has been one of a side clearly destined for a return to the second tier of English football following three years in the Premier League. They had the worst away record of any team in the league and came into this match on the back of five straight league defeats. 

To their credit, they showed great fight but it has come all too late. They look to join Fulham and Cardiff in the Championship next season. 

After a tame opening to the match Chelsea came close to breaking the deadlock on 31 minutes through Andre Schurrle, who struck the ball with a clever low shot after running onto a pass from Nemanja Matic. 

Earlier in the half Norwich’s players had a claim for a penalty kick turned away by referee Neil Swarbrick after Martin Olsson looked to have been fouled in the area by John Terry and Ashley Cole.

The home side hit the woodwork again on 48 minutes when David Luiz, three minutes after coming on as a substitute, curled the ball onto the crossbar with a powerful shot. 

On 78 minutes, another substitute Eden Hazard created space well inside the penalty area, but his firm shot saw goalkeeper John Ruddy respond with a great save. 

Despite late pressure from the home side when they laid siege to Norwich’s goal, they were unable to find their way through the back line. 

Chelsea’s last match of the season is away to Cardiff next Sunday. 

Meanwhile, Norwich welcome Arsenal to Carrow Road but by then their relegation may well have been confirmed by results elsewhere.