A blog of two halves

You would have thought the experienced defender would have learnt his lesson after getting away with picking up a second yellow card in the disappointing loss to Ipswich last weekend when he sent Tom Lawrence crashing into the advertising hoardings on half-time.

Belief is a precious and fragile commodity. There is clearly belief in the new Chelsea manager among players and fans.

Watching the Fulham-Sheffield Wednesday match we were surprised to hear a recorded announcement reminding us that Craven Cottage was an all-seater stadium.

Tjaronn Chery wanted the ground to devour him up in one swift mouthful when he missed his penalty last weekend but the Ducthman knows someone up there likes him.

Just before kick-off in the recent match between Fulham and Sheffield Wednesday the announcer read out the names of players from both clubs who had lost their lives in the First World War.

Sometimes it’s better to hover in the shadows than spring out into the light.

While the rivalry between Arsenal and Spurs is well documented, the west London rivalries between Chelsea, Fulham, QPR and Brentford are less thoroughly chronicled.

Ian Holloway is Mr QPR. He is a one off; a man who has more one-liners than Tommy Cooper and did not disappoint on his first day back in charge of the Hoops.

This year’s Remembrance Day marked the centenary of the Somme campaign, which cost so many young lives.

After a superb spell of nearly nine hours without conceding, while scoring 16 themselves – many in spectacular goal-of-the-month style, Chelsea are undoubtedly one of Europe’s in-form sides.