Can I contain myself? can i stop myself busting like a water pipe in sub zero temperatures NOOOOOOOOO. Wolves lifted themselves off the bottom of the Premier League thanks to an Own Goal and a hard fought sterling defence.
Carlo Ancelotti claimed he was "lucky" to still be in a job before this game but good fortune only lasts so long. The Chelsea manager will do well to hold on to his position after his side suffered a defeat that exposed the brittle confidence within their ranks and the alarming depths to which the Champions have fallen.
Ancelotti had stated beforehand that Chelsea "will win" but there was no sign of that belief in his players on a sobering night for hungry Wolves. The Italian had barely had time to get acquainted with the touchline area where he spent most of the evening looking a lonely and dejected figure when José Bosingwa put through his own net. Chelsea had 85 minutes to turn the game around but there was to be no reprieve for Ancelotti or his beleaguered players.
To put Chelsea's slump into context, Wolves came into this game bottom of the table but with a better record over the last six games than the champions. Ancelotti came in search of a remedy but within five minutes he was wearing that familiar pained expression.
Having seen Petr Cech make a splendid save to turn Ronald Zubar's speculative 35-yard shot behind, the Chelsea manager looked on in disbelief as his side conceded in shambolic circumstances from the corner that followed. Ashley Cole failed to cut out Stephen Hunt's inswinging kick at the near post and the ball drifted into the six-yard box where it bounced off Bosingwa's left shin and into the net.
It was a calamitous start and one that Chelsea struggled to recover from during a fractious first half when Wolves spent long periods defending but rarely looked in serious trouble of conceding an equaliser. The visitors had no shortage of possession but it was a measure of their lack of penetration in and around the Wolves penalty area that Wayne Hennessey had only one save to make before the interval.
That chance came after Zubar, who was otherwise impressive, tried to take a short throw-in close to the byline. Didier Drogba read the full-back's intentions and nodded the ball into the path of Florent Malouda, whose fine centre picked out Salomon Kalou. The forward's prodded shot wrongfooted Hennessey and looked to be heading for the bottom corner but the Wolves keeper, Hennessey, managed to instinctively stick out a right-boot to block. It was a fine stop.
Otherwise Chelsea huffed and puffed but made few inroads into a Wolves rearguard that has kept only two clean-sheets this season. Chelsea were struggling to keep their discipline at times and John Terry was fortunate not to be penalised when he clipped Hunt around the head as the two quarrelled off the ball. Hunt, who has history with Chelsea after his clash with Cech during his Reading days, should also have been cautioned for a poor challenge on Malouda.
Wolves' only other decent opportunity before the break came when Zubar picked Cole's pocket with embarrassing ease – a moment that epitomised Chelsea's travails here – and released Kevin Doyle. The Republic of Ireland international has been sidelined for three weeks and it showed in his tame shot that was easily gathered.
Chelsea should have equalised eight minutes after the restart. Frank Lampard's exquisite backheel set Kalou free on the left-hand side of the area but with only Hennessey to beat the Ivorian dragged his shot wide.
It was no surprise that it proved to be Kalou's last contribution of the night after another disappointing display. Ancelotti introduced Nicolas Anelka, who was dropped from the side that drew 3-3 with Aston Villa on Sunday, in his place as Chelsea's anxiety began to deepen. Malouda headed straight at Hennessey and Drogba pivoted before drilling against the post as Chelsea tried to crank up the pressure.
Wolves were working tirelessly to keep Chelsea at bay, although they might have added a second in the 71st minute when Hunt's free-kick clipped the top of the crossbar. Back came Chelsea as Malouda held off Christophe Berra only to spear his shot beyond the far post. The chances, however, began to dry up in the closing stages as Chelsea's belief wavered and Wolves spirit grew. The final whistle was greeted with delirium in these parts.
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