Chelsea's title bid back on track

Losing in two cup competitions in the space of two weeks may prove to be a blessing in disguise if Chelsea continue to show their current 'league' form.

Avram Grant's side are now right back in the Premier League title race after Saturday's 1-0 win over Sunderland. Victory in two London derbies, against Spurs on Wednesday and Arsenal on Easter Sunday, could even see the Blues hit top spot by the end of the weekend if Manchester United lose to their deadly rivals Liverpool on the same day.

Add to the equation a favourable draw in the Champions League against Turkish outsiders Fenerbahce and all the portents are there for a memorable double for Grant that seemed highly unlikely following defeats by Spurs at Wembley and at Barnsley in the FA Cup.

Captain John Terry bridled at the suggestion that Chelsea no longer have the stuff of champions after nodding the winner at Sunderland.

The England centre-back scored his first goal in 19 months to put his side smack bang into contention and insisted bottle will not be a problem when it comes to the title shakedown and their Champions League bid.

That altered state is something few would have predicted from a group of players supposedly so disillusioned by life under Grant and internecine warfare at Stamford Bridge that their domestic cup failures would be repeated in the two major competitions.

But Terry insisted: "There is still drive and ambition in this club and anyone who says we can't handle the pressure in the biggest games is wrong.

"We are right in there in the Premier League race and the Champions League draw gives us a real chance of making progress. We've proved over the past few years that we have the consistency to win trophies yet now people are saying we are not able to handle the games that really matter.

"Well, we'll see who is right at the end of the season because I believe we can still bring back trophies."

Terry's belief that Chelsea's turbulent season could yet finish with double triumph is given credence by Sunderland manager Roy Keane, whose Old Trafford successes as captain provide a better insight than most in terms of what it takes to win.

The relegation-threatened Wearsiders provided intermittent worries for Grant's team but Keane stressed: "The reality is that we were just happy to have given them a game.

"They have the ability that all of the best teams possess - to win 1-0 and look comfortable doing so. I still think United will win the League but Chelsea showed me they are very much up for taking them on. They showed the kind of intensity you need to go for titles and you can tell that they want to go for it."

On the pitch, the Blues are clearly back in the shake-up but anyone who believes that Grant has won over all off his players only had to look at their reaction after the game at the Stadium of Light. While coach Steve Clarke was afforded high fives by every member of the team, the Israeli, who approached every one with his hand outstretched, was met with a wet lettuce approach that suggested his efforts at congratulation were merely accepted as opposed to being appreciated. The most obvious of those who went through the motions after the final whistle was Frank Lampard, who barely pressed the flesh with the boss and did not make eye contact with him.

The good news for Chelsea fans this season, though, is that even if Lampard has decided it is time to leave Stamford Bridge he, like Terry, is still giving his all for the cause.

Both did enough work to suggest that a season which appeared only a week earlier at Oakwell to be on the point of implosion may instead be about to explode into spectacular success.