Gianluca Vialli proved his point to end the Chelsea crisis as the Blues made
the most of Manchester United's slip-up to extend Barnsley's capital
punishment.
Italian ace Vialli had more than most to moan about as the Chelsea players
held their clear-the-air meeting at Stamford Bridge yesterday after being
restricted to just 11 starts this term despite being the club's top scorer.
But Vialli, who grabbed four as the Yorkshiremen were clubbed for six earlier
this season, has continued to let his feet do all the talking and today he did
it once again by putting Chelsea on their way and then playing a huge part in
Mark Hughes' clincher.
Vialli, in for the off-key Gianfranco Zola, showed a classical eye for goal by
snaking out his leg to nudge home after Hughes had nodded down Eddie Newton's
left-wing cross.
And three minutes after the break it was the former Juventus skipper's
brilliant ball that sent Dan Petrescu - looking suspiciously offside - scuttling
down the right.
When the Romanian centred, Barnsley - furious throughout with referee Jeff
Winter and his officials - again looked angrily and in vain to assistant Wendy
Toms.
But with the flag once more staying down Hughes nodded home on the rebound
after his first shot had hit goalkeeper Dave Watson's upright.
It was no more than Chelsea, who reverted to three at the back for the first
time this season, deserved as they moved into second place just four points off
United's pace.
And whether or not player power had carried the day as Ruud Gullit scrapped
his 4-4-2 formation, Chelsea looked far more the part.
The return of Vialli was one of five changes from the side who had escaped a
thrashing at Highbury last week. And after the Italian's exploits at Oakwell,
Barnsley - who had conceded 18 goals in their previous four Premiership trips to
London - must have been dreading meeting him again.
That nervousness handed Chelsea the initiative from the start and while they
were slow to take advantage Vialli, let off the leash after six weeks on the
bench, gave them something fresh and invigorating.
Hughes should have done better when Graeme Le Saux - again tetchy and one of
five Chelsea men booked by Mr Winter - crossed from the left in the 15th
minute.
But that was just the start for Chelsea. Watson made a fine double save to
deny Frank Leboeuf and then smother Petrescu's follow-up efforts, although there
was little the keeper could do as Vialli poked home five minutes later.
With Barnsley failing to make a single shot on goal before the break, Chelsea
stepped on the gas and deserved more luck.
On-loan Laurent Chalvet, making his first start on the right of midfield, was
wide after linking with Hughes before Watson rushed off his line to foil Vialli
after Michael Duberry had led the charge.
Then Petrescu's flying header from Le Saux rebounded off the post before Wise
shot weakly at the keeper after great interplay with Vialli.
Even so, Chelsea were good value and even the loss of Newton at the break,
Mark Nicholls coming on, could not alter the script.
Three minutes later Hughes was a beneficiary of Ms Toms' double non-decision,
although credit was due to Vialli for the superb ball which sent Petrescu
strolling into space.
There was no way back for Wilson's men and even though Chelsea did not hit top
gear they remained in control.
It was not until the 64th minute that Ed De Goey was semi-tested for the first
time, from the disappointing Jan Aage Fjortoft.
Martin Bullock's deflected shot did force a save from De Goey as Barnsley
pushed forward late on in a fruitless bid to get something out of the game.
But the only thing they got was increasingly irate at the officials as Chelsea
cantered home to place themselves smack bang at the heart of the championship
equation.
Teams:
Chelsea (1) 2 Barnsley (0) 0
Chelsea: De Goey, Petrescu, Leboeuf, Clarke, Vialli, Hughes,
Wise (Sinclair 80), Duberry, Le Saux, Newton (Nicholls 46),
Chalvet.
Subs Not Used: Hitchcock, Flo, Zola.
Booked: Duberry, Le Saux, Vialli, Chalvet, Petrescu.
Goals: Vialli 23, Hughes 47.
Barnsley: Watson, Eaden, Sheridan (Morgan 59), Moses, De Zeeuw,
Redfearn, Bullock, Bosancic (Liddell 80), Barnard, Ward,
Fjortoft (Hendrie 67).
Subs Not Used: Leese, Hristov.
Booked: Barnard, Bosancic.
Att: 34,442
Ref: J T Winter (Stockton-on-Tees).
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