John Terry has admitted that the role reversal that led to the winning goal against Bolton caught him a little bit by surprise on a night when he was happy with the team's application.
In a change from recent fixtures, Carlo Ancelotti fielded both Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka in the starting line-up with Anelka asked to play wide. Yet it was Drogba on the left who hit an undefendable cross for his colleague to head in for his first goal in 14 games.
'Didier pulled off to the left and I was screaming at him to get into the box,' Terry admitted after the game, 'but thankfully he put the ball in and found Nico and it was a great header against his old club. It was his first goal in a while and it was very important for us. It was a great ball from Didier.'
The single strike was enough to extend our lead at the top to four points and Terry gave credit to Bolton for making it tough.
'It certainly wasn't easy with Kevin Davies up front and young Jack Wilshere playing off behind him. It caused us problems all night but we stuck in there and we ground it out.
'We were probably a bit slow in the tempo of our play and were taking too many touches. We weren't at our best but fair play to Bolton, they came to win the game. They were pressing and staying man-to-man which made it difficult for us at times.'
The captain admitted the tension involved in securing three vital points may have contributed in Bolton threatening towards the end.
'Nerves with us not winning the Premier League for three years took their toll late on but we managed to hold on.
'I don't know what it looked like on TV but it certainly felt like it came off my chest,' he added on the incident that led to Bolton penalty claims for handball. There had been a similar incident involving Didier Drogba earlier on.
'Over 40 odd games you are going get some penalties and you are not going to get others. Late on it hit Zat Knight's hand as well so we could have had one and maybe they could have had one as well, but over the course of the season you get your rewards.'
Man of the Match was Yury Zhirkov, a decision Terry did not contest.
'Yury has come into the side since Ash has been out and been brilliant for us, the same with Paulo Ferreira the other side and that is what our squad is all about.
'We are getting closer week by week but it is just important that we keep winning. Man United, Arsenal and us have all got tough away games this weekend. Arsenal could throw a spanner in the works Wednesday evening if they go to Tottenham and win, but we have a better goal difference.
'We are just concentrating on ourselves and we have a little cushion now.'
In a change from recent fixtures, Carlo Ancelotti fielded both Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka in the starting line-up with Anelka asked to play wide. Yet it was Drogba on the left who hit an undefendable cross for his colleague to head in for his first goal in 14 games.
'Didier pulled off to the left and I was screaming at him to get into the box,' Terry admitted after the game, 'but thankfully he put the ball in and found Nico and it was a great header against his old club. It was his first goal in a while and it was very important for us. It was a great ball from Didier.'
The single strike was enough to extend our lead at the top to four points and Terry gave credit to Bolton for making it tough.
'It certainly wasn't easy with Kevin Davies up front and young Jack Wilshere playing off behind him. It caused us problems all night but we stuck in there and we ground it out.
'We were probably a bit slow in the tempo of our play and were taking too many touches. We weren't at our best but fair play to Bolton, they came to win the game. They were pressing and staying man-to-man which made it difficult for us at times.'
The captain admitted the tension involved in securing three vital points may have contributed in Bolton threatening towards the end.
'Nerves with us not winning the Premier League for three years took their toll late on but we managed to hold on.
'I don't know what it looked like on TV but it certainly felt like it came off my chest,' he added on the incident that led to Bolton penalty claims for handball. There had been a similar incident involving Didier Drogba earlier on.
'Over 40 odd games you are going get some penalties and you are not going to get others. Late on it hit Zat Knight's hand as well so we could have had one and maybe they could have had one as well, but over the course of the season you get your rewards.'
Man of the Match was Yury Zhirkov, a decision Terry did not contest.
'Yury has come into the side since Ash has been out and been brilliant for us, the same with Paulo Ferreira the other side and that is what our squad is all about.
'We are getting closer week by week but it is just important that we keep winning. Man United, Arsenal and us have all got tough away games this weekend. Arsenal could throw a spanner in the works Wednesday evening if they go to Tottenham and win, but we have a better goal difference.
'We are just concentrating on ourselves and we have a little cushion now.'
No comments:
Post a Comment