The match started chipper enough. Passing was fluid and it appeared to be business as usual, and so the fans were lulled into a false sense of security. This is what comes from supporting a team where a win has come to be the expectation rather than the tense nerve wracking appliance of skill and sweat resulting in a favourable outcome. The disbelief around Stamford Bridge when Izzet struck home on 7 minutes was against the run of play but set the tone for the rest of the match. Chelsea hit the panic button: passes were intercepted as they fell two or three yards short of their intended targets, penalty areas were rarely breached as the ball languished from one end of midfield to the other and even Zola's magic was squandered by team mates whose minds were evidently elsewhere.

Chelsea gathered themselves sufficiently to threaten the Leicester goal, but threats were all that were mustered; Hasselbaink headed straight at Flowers; Panucci and Di Matteo both shot on target from outside the 18 yard box but the power was lacking for a conversion. The hesitancy that grips the blues when they are within striking distance of goal has become endemic. Flo insists on one too many touches and is all too easily dispossessed. It pains me to say it but he is looking quite Suttonesque - a combination of clumsy and unlucky.

Chelsea went off at half time to a mixture of boos and chants of "Vialli". We were hoping that would that inspire their return. They re-entered the fray with an invigorated fighting sprit and laid siege to the Leicester goal. If Chelsea were to get a goal it was going to be from a set piece, as Le Saux managed to force a corner from his every touch, but open play from the team as a whole was just short of calamitous. The comeback was not to be. By 60 minutes the fans were sitting uneasily and urging Rixy to make some changes, but what could he do? He already had three strikers on - so he did nothing. On 79 minutes some decisive action was taken, a substitution at last, Hasselbaink for Gudjohnson??? The jeers followed. On 80 minutes the stands rang to chants of "Vialli Vialli". On 85 minutes Collymore provided Leicester with their comfort zone and on 86 minutes the stands were half empty.

I am reminded of a friend of mine who goes ballistic when this happens "where are you going? You're going to miss all the goals," he shouts. (Aha ! That's my cue ! - Priesty) I was sorely tempted though. I guess that's that expectation thing again.

The final whistle put the lame beast out of its misery. Chelsea have managed to leak 9 goals so far this season, 6 at home and 3 away, 4 of the leaks are courtesy of two of only three teams below us in the Premiership, (Bradford City and West Ham). Two others came in a now traditional capitulation to Arsenal and the other in a lacklustre draw away to Villa. To think that Chelsea would be looking up the table to Ipswich Town - Good Grief!

What would the watching Mr Ranieri make of this I wonder? Could the panic on the pitch have been nurtured by the notion that this disciplinarian is planning a spring clean? Out with the old and in with the new? The inbound players would not be of UK extraction because Ranieri has an Italian/Spanish background so would this harm our UEFA cup campaign with players being cup-tied I mused? What was I thinking? - After all, Chelsea aren't interested in trophies...

What do YOU think ? Want to add your point of view ? Here's your chance to send me some feedback. NB: Opposing fans: abuse will be laughed at and then binned, so don't waste your time. Considered, intelligent argument, presented in the spirit of friendly rivalry guarantees a response.