Drogba sees red as Chelsea draw
Drogba's red card completed a miserable fortnight for the striker
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Saturday, 29, Sep 2007 06:07
Didier Drogba's return to the Chelsea team was short-lived as the Ivory Coast striker was handed a red card in his team's 0-0 draw with west London neighbours Fulham.
Drogba, who is known to be particularly disappointed at the recent departure of Jose Mourinho, picked up a second booking after catching Cottagers' defender Chris Baird with a high foot in the second half of the clash at Stamford Bridge.
The home support, who also saw John Terry forced out of the action with a broken cheekbone, chanted their former manager's name throughout the second half, much to the discomfort of the incumbent Avram Grant.
Liverpool also welcomed a big-name striker back to their Premier League starting line-up as Fernando Torres started up front after being named among the substitutes in the Reds' two previous encounters.
But it was another of Rafael Benitez's summer signings, Yossi Benayoun, who scored the only goal of the game to beat Wigan 1-0 at Anfield.
The fans at Fratton Park got their money's worth as Portsmouth downed Reading 7-4 with Benjani Mwaruwari scoring a hat-trick for the home side.
Derby and Bolton fought out a 1-1 draw at Pride Park which keeps them both in the relegation zone.
Kenny Miller scored to put the Rams into the lead on 20 minutes but Nicolas Anelka restored parity on the half-hour mark.
Blackburn hung on for a 2-1 win against Premier League new boys Sunderland as a late Grant Leadbitter strike failed to spark a Black Cats comeback after goals from David Bentley and Roque Santa Cruz put Mark Hughes' side in front.