Match Summary
Chelsea were left stunned as a Bradford second-half master-class saw them overcome a 2-0 deficit to win 4-2.
A fine start by Cahill and then Ramires saw Chelsea into a two-goal lead, but Stead pulled one back before the half-time whistle. That acted as great momentum and the League One side were heroic in their second-half efforts, as Chelsea pushed on to no avail.
Mourinho’s Chelsea had only lost four games at home — Barcelona, Basel, Atletico Madrid, Sunderland. And now Bradford, much to the delight of the 6,000-strong away support.
Four may flatter the visitors as Chelsea had more possession and more shots but who can deny the quality of the goals. Once the equaliser went in, Mourinho’s side pushed forward but this left gaping holes at the back and Bradford were deserved winners for the efforts.
Mourinho, who made nine changes from the mid-week League Cup draw with Liverpool, still had class players to call upon in the likes of Drogba and Oscar, was left to rue it as Chelsea ran at out steam.
It is an ironic turn of events because, had it been the ever-present Chelsea side playing today and they ran out of steam, then critics would have lambasted Mourinho for not rotating his seemingly tired squad. The reality is the fringe players are showing they are exactly that, but they should have at least had enough energy to see off Bradford.
It is in stark contrast to how Bradford will be feeling, who have done well in cup competitions in recent seasons, to have made such a classic cup tie of this.
Chelsea were strong to start and Cahill poked home from a corner. This was followed soon after by a wonderfully-worked goal as Ramires walked the ball into the net.
But 2-0 was not home and hosed by any stretch of the imagination. Stead’s striking of the ball was stronger than Cech’s attempt to keep it out and that made it 2-1 going into the break.
Morais went totally unmarked as he tapped home an equaliser, and then Chelsea panicked, desperate to get the winner quickly. In hindsight, slowing the game down to calm Bradford’s tails would have been more prudent.
Halliday rifled home a third and his celebration was heart-warming to see, falling to the floor with his head in his hands, sinking in the emotions of the day.
It got better as Yeates walked it in stoppage time.
The Quadruple is over.
Man of the Match
PETR CECH: What does it tell you when the goalkeeper, who has just conceded four goals and I shall give a rating of only five out of 10, gets my Chelsea Man of the Match award? It tells you how abject the showing was today. Cech made some remarkable stops early on and it is a pity goals rained on his net as Zouma had a poor game and Mikel continues to be incompetent as the shield. 5/10
Manager Reaction
Mourinho was not holding back his anger: “It’s a disgrace for a big team to lose to a small team from a lower [league]. We must feel ashamed, me and the players must feel ashamed. Frustration is not the right word, embarrassed would be more appropriate.”
Phil Parkinson was undeniably ecstatic: “It’s only just sinking in. Celebrating on the pitch felt a bit surreal, against the league leaders. If Man United can get through against Cambridge, then we’d like to have a go at them.”