Chelsea 1 Sunderland 0

Jan 15 2012 by James Hunter, Sunday Sun

IF Martin O’Neill was preparing to present a case to sign a striker when he meets Ellis Short next week, he needn’t bother.

Sunderland owner Short was at Stamford Bridge and saw O’Neill’s team make the point just as eloquently as the Irishman could as they spurned chance after chance against Chelsea.

Short and O’Neill are set to discuss the club’s strategy for the current transfer window and establish how much, if any, money will be available to strengthen the squad.

Whatever budget there is, O’Neill is sure to want to bring in a goal-getter after seeing chances go begging against a creaky Chelsea defence.

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has sanctioned the signing of Bolton’s Gary Cahill – who was watching from the stands yesterday and should complete his move today – to address his side’s deficiencies.

And after this, Short will be in no doubt where Sunderland’s Achilles heel lies.

In the end, Frank Lampard’s somewhat fortuitous first-half goal won it for Chelsea, but O’Neill – and the travelling Red and White Army – were left wondering how Sunderland failed to earn at least a point.

A little more composure in front of goal, a sharper cutting edge and Sunderland would have taken a point – and maybe more – back to Wearside.

Because even though Chelsea had the lion’s share of the possession, Sunderland carved out more and better opportunities than their hosts and it was only poor finishing from Nicklas Bendtner, Craig Gardner and James McClean that let them down.

It was Sunderland’s second defeat under O’Neill, and both have come in the capital with Spurs’ White Hart Lane the scene of the previous reverse.

But while O’Neill’s disappointment was obvious yesterday, he can still look back on an excellent start to his reign with 13 points secured from his first seven games in charge.

Certainly a single-goal defeat against a Chelsea side that, while no longer the force they once were, are fourth in the table and in the last 16 of the Champions League, should not dent Sunderland’s new-found confidence.

O’Neill made one change to the side that eased past Peterborough in the FA Cup last weekend, with striker Bendtner returning to the side after recovering from a knee injury.

His inclusion saw Stephane Sessegnon – who spearheaded the attack at London Road – drop back to his usual slot just behind Bendtner, and that meant Gardner was squeezed out and had to settle for a place on the bench.

Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas also made one change, with Florent Malouda missing out after picking up a knock in the Blues’ FA Cup win over Portsmouth.

Oriol Romeu came into the side to replace the Frenchman.

Sunderland were a little tentative in the first half but nevertheless almost went in front inside the first five minutes when Sessegnon beat two defenders on the right and flashed the ball across the face of goal, and Jose Bosingwa’s clearance hit McClean and went behind.