Birmingham 0 Chelsea 1
Claudio Pizarro cost £15million less than Nicolas Anelka but it was the Peruvian, a substitute and free transfer, who snatched an undeserved win for unconvincing Chelsea.Just moments before his late winner, Pizarro had shown his team's growing desperation by trying to fool referee Rob Styles with a dive in the penalty area. But the striker redeemed himself, at least in his team's eyes, with the headed goal which made an off-key display by Anelka on his full debut irrelevant.
If winning games when you are not playing well is the mark of champions, then Chelsea are still looking good to give Manchester United and Arsenal a run for their money.
Although Grant differs from his predecessor in almost every other way, he shares with Jose Mourinho the uncanny knack of seeing a different game from almost everyone else.
Grant said: "I thought we deserved to win. We had control of the ball for most of the game. It was one of Pizarro's best performances for us and he deserved to score the goal.
Although Chelsea at last began to apply some sustained pressure, desperation crept in when Pizarro threw himself to the ground in the area and was deservedly shown the yellow card.
"Continentals see it as being clever," said a stony-faced McLeish. "If he had got his team a penalty, none of the Chelsea players, even the English ones, would have complained."
"It was a great performance, said McLeish. "We rattled Chelsea, but unfortunately we've nothing to show for our efforts."
The Blues have added a new diver to their team...