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Cech - Solid first half set the tone

Petr Cech believes a disciplined and solid performance was the reason behind our first clean sheet at Stamford Bridge since 2005. 

We have often found ourselves behind by half-time when playing away to Chelsea recently, and have had players dismissed in two of our last four trips to west London. But Arsène Wenger’s men bounced back from our disappointment at Anfield in the previous away match, and could even had taken all three points after a fine first-half performance.

“At Liverpool we gave them the advantage before half-time,” Petr said after the game, "then it became very difficult for us. 

“A couple of recent times at Stamford Bridge we didn’t finish with 11 players on the pitch and as well on both occasions we gave them first-half goals. 

"Obviously, when Chelsea get in front at home then it’s very difficult for anybody, so we needed to make sure that we kept the clean sheet and wait for our chances. 

"It’s a shame that in the first half that we had some good opportunities that we didn’t take.”

"We had to survive the first 20 minutes and then step-by-step towards the end of the first half we came more and more into the game."