Chelseafc.com continues a look back over another eventful year at the club with the words reported at the time. January brings three home wins.

After defeat at Old Trafford and a scare at Southend, Chelsea's set-piece defending was one of football's hot debates.

At least Stoke City's goal at Stamford Bridge next game came courtesy of open play, albeit from the long-throw specialist, Rory Delap, slipping between Ricardo Carvalho and Ashley Cole to give them a 60th minute lead in our Premier League clash on January 17.

To say it had been against the run of play was an understatement, but with three minutes remaining, it looked to be enough to give the Potters a famous victory.

That was before substitute right-back Juliano Belletti popped up as a left-winger at the far post to nod home, and then Frank Lampard, on his 400th Chelsea appearance, and captain for the day after John Terry had pulled out in the warm-up, fired home a 94th minute winner as 41,000 supporters breathed a collective sigh of relief.

Scolari hailed it as the turning point in the team's faltering campaign.

'I think the group today was more together than before,' he offered. 'It was the same as the other games because we had many chances and then we conceded a goal. But after this my team have spirit, they have heart, they try to draw and they try to win.

'I think we had 30 shots in front of goal. Stoke arrive with one ball and score. This situation we needed to change and I think today they start to change the mentality if they concede a goal. Also we did not concede one goal by throw-in, or set-piece.'

Chelsea 2-1 Stoke at Stamford Bridge on 17-01-2009
Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Bosingwa (Belletti 77), Alex, Carvalho, A Cole; Ballack, Mikel (Stoch 82), Lampard (c); Kalou, Anelka, Malouda (Di Santo 60).
Goals Belletti 87, Lampard 90+3
Stoke City (4-4-2): Sorensen; Wilkinson, Shawcross, Ab Faye (c), Higginbotham (Griffin 33); Delap, Whelan, Am Faye (Pugh 28), Etherington (Kitson 83); Beattie, Cresswell.
Goals Delap 59
Booked Amdy Faye 14, Kitson 88, Whelan 89.

That by no means meant the matter was solved, and again it would be a supposedly inferior side doing the damage.

Ipswich were mid-table in the Championship when they visited west London, and although we secured a third successive victory, there was still much to bemoan, including, you guessed it, another set piece concession.

A Michael Ballack brace, his second a brilliant free-kick, was followed by one even better one from Frank Lampard to ensure safe FA Cup passage on an afternoon when Scolari picked the strongest side he could.

Chelsea started well and were using the width of the pitch at every opportunity. It was a combination of that tactic and quick passing that made the breakthrough.

Lampard was involved with a well-judged ball to the advanced Ashley Cole who with a first-time touch, centred to Ballack for a straight-forward right-foot finish from just eight yards out.

That was before Alex Bruce's equaliser, rammed home from close range after a free-kick conceded by Carvalho had fallen between a forest of legs and we had failed to clear. The Portuguese defender would not see out the game due to another hamstring setback.

Ballack curled home a free-kick for his second goal to restore the lead, and it had arguably been the best free-kick of the season but Lampard was not prepared to be upstaged.

From a full 35 yards out, he caught the ball perfectly. It rose over the wall before dipping into the far top corner. The keeper didn't have a prayer. It must be the best set-piece our prolific number 8 had ever hit and thankfully, the contest was over and we were into round five.



Chelsea 3-1 Ipswich at Stamford Bridge on 24-01-2009
Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Bosingwa, Alex, Carvalho (Ivanovic 69), A Cole; Ballack (Deco 79), Belletti, Lampard (c); Kalou, Anelka, Malouda (Drogba 57).
Scorers Ballack 15, 58, Lampard 84.
Ipswich (4-4-2): R Wright; Bruce, McAuley (c), Balkestein, D Wright; Haynes (Lisbie 58), Miller (Quinn 81), Garvan, Norris; Walters (Stead 70), Counago.
Scorer Bruce 32.
Booked Bruce 18, McAuley 55, Miller 84.

The following Monday morning brought news that Carlo Cudicini had chosen to end his near-decade at the club by joining our north London rivals Tottenham on a free transfer.

'I am pleased for Carlo that with this move he will now have more opportunities to play more games as he is a fantastic goalkeeper. I wish him all the very best at his new club,' said Scolari, while Peter Kenyon added: 'Carlo has been an outstanding player for Chelsea for almost 10 years and his service during that time has been excellent.

'We appreciate this move offered him the possibility of more first team football and we wish him all the very best as he moves on. Carlo will always be warmly welcomed back to Stamford Bridge.'

Cudicini's Spurs debut came 24 hours later on Tuesday, January 27 as Spurs beat Stoke 3-1 at White Hart Lane.

A day later he would return to the Bridge to watch us dispose of Middlesbrough, courtesy of two second-half Salomon Kalou goals.

The win sent us back above Liverpool and Aston Villa into second place behind Manchester United in the Barclays Premier League.

Scolari was able to call on John Terry who returned to the Blues' defence after back trouble, alongside Alex who kept his place for a 50th start due to Carvalho's recurring hamstring injury.

Mikel was back in the line-up after suspension against Ipswich with Belletti making way, absent from the 18 through illness.

First half control brought no breakthrough, and so Drogba was brought on for Florent Malouda and the change paid off.

The Ivorian was fouled for a free-kick from which Chelsea eventually won a corner. Kalou volleyed home a loose ball.

With 10 minutes remaining, the three points were sealed with Kalou's second. Once again it was a Lampard corner that led to the goal. Ross Turnbull came for the inswinging cross, missed it, and the 23-year-old was on hand to nod into an empty net.

Chelsea 2-0 Middlesbrough at Stamford Bridge on 28-01-2009
Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Bosingwa, Alex, Terry (c), A Cole; Ballack, Mikel, Lampard; Kalou (Deco 81), Anelka (Stoch 88), Malouda (Drogba h-t).
Scorer Kalou 57, 80
Middlesbrough (4-4-2): Turnbull; McMahon, Riggott, Wheater, Pogatetz (c); Johnson, O'Neil, Bates, Shawky (Tuncay 63), Downing; King (Alves 63).
Booked Shawky 9, Riggott 55

It was a fourth straight win and the joy was obvious as Wilkins again conducted post-match ceremonies.

'We haven't scored too many from set plays this season so it's nice to see a couple. They were very well taken as well from Salomon, a great volley, great technique and a good header at the back post,' said the assistant.

Asked about the introduction of Drogba, which moved Anelka to the right, he added: 'We didn't change our formation, we stayed as we were and there was no real problem with that. Nicolas will probably find himself on the wide right but he can handle that situation with no problem whatsoever.

'We're getting back to [that question of] can they play up front together, well they can. They are two terrific footballers, they are on the same wavelength.'

To be continued…