CarlingNet - No 1 for Match Reports

Chelsea v Wimbledon 19/10/96 3.00

Chelsea                 (1) 2 Wimbledon               (2) 4 FT
Minto 9                       Earle 4
Vialli 84 (pen)               Ardley 16
                              Gayle 64
                              Ekoku 78

The Wimbledon mean machine is fast becoming the dream team after soaring to second place in the Premiership at Stamford Bridge today.

The side which started the season with three defeats scored a club record seventh consecutive win in the top flight to move level on points with leaders Arsenal.

Only an inferior goal difference keeps the Dons behind their London rivals and they may well rue the chances they missed to inflict an even heavier defeat on hapless Chelsea.

They out-ran, out fought and out played a Chelsea team seemingly lacking any plan to combat Wimbledon's aggression.

Wimbledon made a flying start with a goal after just four minutes inspired by foirmer Chelsea man Vinnie Jones.

His long throw found Robbie Earle at the far post and even classy Frenchman Frank Leboeuf was left scrabbling in the back of the net along with the ball.

Chelsea hit back five minutes later when Scott Minto struck a well worked free kick from the edge of the box beyond the diving Neil Sullivan.

But Wimbledon's superiority was already evident. With Chelsea reduced to long range shooting Wimbledon went ahead through Neal Ardley after 16 minutes.

His swerving shot from fully 40 yards proved more accurate than anything Chelsea had mustered.

Chelsea started the second half with more aggression and the home fans delighted in the appearances of player-manager Ruud Gullit and John Spencer who came off the substitutes' bench to replace Craig Burley and Minto.

And while Gullit worked hard to support Mark Hughes and Gianluca Vialli up front Wimbledon held their ground and packed their defence

Chelsea might have levelled after 62 minutes when Dan Petrescu was brought down in the box but Wimbledon countered Chelsea's presure by going further ahead after 64 minutes when Marcus Gayle found space on the edge of the box and volleyed a left foot shot past Hitchcock.

Chelsea continued to chase the game and a Gullit goal was disallowed for offside in the 75th minute.

With Chelsea camped in the Wimbledon half the match was put beyond doubt in the 77th minute.

Wimbledon's burly striker Efan Ekoku scored his sixth goal of the season after outwitting Leboeuf inside the 18 yard box.

Chelsea attempted to outwit Wimbledon's resolve at the back with pretty passing movements but the only reward was a penalty when Vialli was brought down by Kenny unningham in the 84th minute.

The Italian duly scored from the spot but he was lucky. Neil Sullivan in the Wimbledon goal very nearly pulled off his second penalty save of the week when he clutched the Italians' soft chip out of the air.

But the ball was already adjudged to have crossed the line. Chelsea's desperation resulted in bookings for Leboeuf and Spencer and though they continued to press Wimbledon never looked in danger of faltering.