No one could have envisaged the ensuing drama as Chelsea began this derby fixture with calm assurance. Daniel Sturridge had looked a danger on the right of their attack but after David Luiz carelessly nudged Heidar Helguson for an early penalty, the game swung Queens Park Rangers' way.

Buoyed by their early lead, QPR showed confidence and Shaun Wright-Phillips's runs off the line on the inside of José Bosingwa led to the full-back receiving a red card for impeding the winger. Wright-Phillips lacks subtlety but his movement from wide into the inside left-channel when both teams had a full complement of players was a threat Chelsea struggled to counter. When Didier Drogba was also sent off by the referee, Chris Foy, one wondered how the visitors would cope.

But Chelsea almost pulled off a remarkable second-half comeback. They countered their numerical disadvantage by condensing space with constant effort and endeavour and, amazingly, put QPR on the back foot. Chelsea gambled at every opportunity and Neil Warnock's men did not help themselves by making poor passing selections and getting caught in possession instead of working the ball calmly and making Chelsea chase from flank to flank.Petr Cech made only one crucial second-half safe.

David Luiz and John Terry took it in turns to surge forward and support Nicolas Anelka, who missed a great chance from Branislav Ivanovic's cross. It was hectic stuff but amid the mayhem the nine-man system deployed by André Villas-Boas shone. He left one up field in Anelka and as well as asking his two centre-backs to support him, also deployed Frank Lampard and Raul Meireles in semi-forward, narrow positions, reducing the distance between Chelsea's defence and attack. With Mikel John Obi shielding, Ivanovic and Ashley Cole were also allowed to play as semi-wingers, giving the visitors a refreshing attacking shape despite being down to nine players.

For 45 second-half minutes, this game felt like the last five minutes of a typical league match in which a team have to throw the kitchen sink at the opposition in order to get a goal. It was incredible that Chelsea came so close to snatching an equaliser, and in defeat their manager displayed shades of José Mourinho during his time at the club; that of a brave tactical transformer.