Chelseafc.com continues a look back over another eventful year at the club with the words reported at the time. The contrast between home and away form continues.

The last day in November brought a second home league defeat in a little over a month. Arsenal had been expected to roll over, but did the opposite having fallen behind in the first-half thanks to a Johann Djourou own goal.

Robin van Persie's equaliser was a yard offside. 'The debate is likely to rage long and hard about Van Persie's equaliser, scored as it appeared from an offside position. Until then the majority of the chances were falling Chelsea's way,' we reported.

Joe Cole was not fit to start the game so Kalou came into the side on the right. Malouda made way on the other flank for Deco, free from his midweek suspension.

Ballack and Lampard were the central men and behind them, Ivanovic continued to be preferred to Alex as John Terry's partner.

A 1-0 lead at the break should have been two shortly after, Lampard scooping a first-time shot wide after a Kalou pass, seeking out Anelka, had rebounded off the Arsenal defence into the midfielder's path.

By Lamps's reaction, he knew it was a good opportunity gone begging. At that stage only one team liked like scoring but on 58 minutes came Arsenal's controversial leveller.

Adebayor won an aerial ball 15 yards outside the Chelsea area and Denilson played through to Van Persie to find the top corner.

His second three minutes later was a shot on the turn after Adebayor had won another header. Cech touched it as he dived but could not send it wide.

Injuries and suspension had left experienced attacking options short and on 81 minutes, Miroslav Stoch was introduced in place of Deco to play wide on the right. It was the 19-year-old's debut.

However in the closing minutes, it was only Arsenal who were stretching their opponents' defence. The rapid two goals conceded had deflated the previously buoyant Blues.

Chelsea had lost a league game in which we had opened the scoring for the first time since the 1-2 defeat at Tottenham in November 2006.

'I have never spoken about the referee in 15 games in the Premier League, five games in the Champions League and others in the Carling Cup. I say nothing! But today it is different,' announced an agitated Chelsea manager.

'I want only that the referee and linesman tomorrow or after tomorrow look at the television and say sorry. Only this, no more, because they make mistakes and I understand. I don't want three points. I want only one time sorry.'

Chelsea 1-2 Arsenal at Stamford Bridge on 30-11-2008
Chelsea(4-1-4-1): Cech; Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry (c), A Cole; Mikel (Malouda 69); Kalou, Ballack, Lampard, Deco (Stoch 81); Anelka.
Scorer Djourou o.g. 30,
Booked Terry 60, Ivanovic 84.
Arsenal (4-4-1-1): Almunia (c); Sagna, Djourou, Gallas, Clichy; Denilson, Fabregas (c), Song, Nasri; Van Persie; Adebayor (Bendtner 83).
Scorer Van Persie 59, 62.

December's action began with a visit to a stadium that will always be looked upon fondly by Chelsea fans - Bolton's out-of-town location - and the historic 2-0 scoreline of 2005 was repeated.

'The visit to the Reebok begins a run of winnable league matches, up to Old Trafford in the New Year that ought to cement the team's position at the top,' stated the Pre-Match Briefing.

'With Stamford Bridge suddenly a fragile fortress, away form has become crucial, and the Reebok is traditionally a happy hunting ground with lots of good memories.'

It also noted: 'Chelsea are looking for an outright English top flight record of 11 successive away league wins to surpass the 10 originally set by Tottenham in 1960.'

Scolari recalled centre-back Alex in place of Ivanovic in the only change from the side defeated by Arsenal the previous weekend. With Joe Cole still absent, Kalou and Deco continue in the wide areas, with Malouda missing out due to injury.

Chelsea were put on the right road to the new away record by Anelka heading in an excellent Bosingwa left-footed cross after just eight minutes. Bolton's muscular attack won corners regularly but caused little trouble otherwise with the Blues defending set-pieces well, especially in the near-post area.

Deco's brilliantly executed overhead finish was his first goal since the second match.

It was Chelsea first win in four but the away league record remained impeccable and despite the home wobbles, we were still just a point off leaders Liverpool and five ahead of stuttering Man U having played a game more.

Bolton 0-2 Chelsea at Reebok Stadium on 06-12-2008
Bolton (4-1-4-1): Jaaskelainen; Steinsson, Cahill, A O'Brien, Samuel (Smolarek 80); Muamba (Gardner h-t); Davies, Nolan (c), McCann, Taylor; Elmander.
Booked Davies 17, O' Brien 64
Chelsea (4-1-4-1): Cech; Bosingwa (Ivanovic 89), Alex, Terry (c), A Cole; Mikel; Kalou (Ferreira 83), Ballack, Lampard, Deco; Anelka.
Goals Anelka 8, Deco 20
Booked Ballack 81

'It is one more game. It's important for our qualification for the next phase, but it is the same as other games,' pointed out Scolari ahead the midweek visit from Cluj, a match Chelsea needed to win to guarantee qualification to the Champions League knockout.

All games at Chelsea are must-win ones was his reasoning and the Brazilian was unconcerned by the pressure - even with a suspension to Lampard. Joe Cole was back in time to be the replacement.

Chelsea had never failed to make it through the group stage but a second-half goal by already eliminated Cluj pegged us back after Salomon Kalou's opener. Then entered substitute Didier Drogba.

It took just six minutes for our returning front man to find the net and ease a few nerves, with a big helping hand from Mikel's surging run and Joe Cole's clever ball over the defence. Drogba's finish was low and emphatic. The match ended 2-1 and the team finished second in the group behind Roma.

Chelsea 2-1 CFR Cluj at Stamford Bridge on 09-12-2008
Chelsea (4-1-4-1): Cech; Bosingwa, Alex, Terry (c), A Cole; Mikel (Bridge 87); J Cole (Belletti 73), Deco, Ballack, Kalou (Drogba 64); Anelka.
Scorers Kalou 39, Drogba 70.
Booked Belletti 75, Mikel 80.
Cluj (4-2-3-1): Nuno Claro; Panin, Cadu (c), Alcantara, Alvaro Pereira; Dani, Muresan; Dubarbier (E Koné 59), Trica (Peralta 71), Juan Culio; Y Koné.
Scorer Koné 54
Booked Trica 39, Juan Culio 90.

'It is important for me because he is one of the best in the world and I have more options,' Scolari said of Drogba's return, before intriguingly adding:

'With training and no more injuries, I have a chance to play sometimes a different system. It is important for me but don't forget we arrive in this position, second position in Champions League group and in the Premier League because our scorer is Anelka. Drogba is important and one of the best in the world but I need to think about Anelka and say to you Anelka is as important as Drogba.

'I wish and pray to God I have no more injuries, then after this it is my job to put two strikers together or choose which is better for Chelsea.'

'We didn't play too well again at home,' admitted Terry. 'We find it difficult when teams do sit back, we find it hard to break them down.

'We kept the passing and the movement going, and thankfully we got the goal with Didier coming on. It's a great boost to have him back and a great goal. Didier can hold the ball up but he can play as well.'

To be continued…