Sport: Chelsea's set-piece failings

Chelsea have conceded five goals from set-pieces in their last three games, starting with Clint Dempsey's double for Fulham in a 2-2 draw at Craven Cottage. "Chelsea still defend corners with no one on the back post," notes Minto, "which is surprising given that Dempsey scored in that area for Fulham" Photograph: Phil Cole/Getty Images

Dempsey added a second in the last minute to deny Chelsea all three points. "The amount of goals Chelsea are conceding from set-pieces is surprising," says Minto. "Didier Drogba [marking Dempsey here] and Michael Ballack are two of the best defenders of set-pieces in the league, up there with John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho" Photograph: Eddie Keogh/Reuters

Southend's Peter Clarke scored with a header from a long throw in the last few minutes at Stamford Bridge to secure Wednesday's FA Cup third-round replay. "With the match against Stoke this weekend Chelsea will work on set-pieces all week," says Minto. "If Rory Delap is fit the trajectory and pace of his long throws will be a threat. It's going to be a bombardment from a big, physical side. Southend too will be thinking set-pieces are the best way to get at Chelsea" Photograph: Simon Dawson/AP

Nemanja Vidic scored in first-half injury-time to set Manchester United on their way to a 3-0 win. "The first goal at Old Trafford was the defining moment of the match," says Minto. "Jamie Carragher on Sky referred to zonal marking, which is a way of not blaming anyone. I'm not a big fan of zonal marking as it allows players to drift between defenders" Photograph: Neal Simpson/EMPICS Sport/PA Photos

Dimitar Berbatov scored United's third goal from Cristiano Ronaldo's free-kick late on. "I thought Nemanja Vidic was very clever for the third goal, blocking off Franco di Santo, who shouldn't have been marking Berbatov," says Minto. "He's a big lad but he is very young and inexperienced. I'm led to believe Petr Cech rather than Luiz Felipe Scolari decides on the marking for set-pieces. But the Chelsea players are world class and I expect them to bounce back" Photograph: Michael Regan/Action Images