Does Fan Passion Deserve Silverware?

Last updated : 17 December 2012 By Footy Mad - Editor

He came out with a classic: "It's fitting that Corinthians won the match, because their fans wanted it more"!

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Try telling that to the 700 Chelsea fans who flew to Japan to watch their team.

Now tell me ... when does passion of supporters equate to silverware?

Because Newcastle United should have been Premiership holders for the last twenty years. 

SUNDAY REVIEW ...

Chelsea became the first Champions League holders to fail to win the Club World Cup for six years as they lost 1-0 to Corinthians. 
 
sDespite being firm favourites to beat Corinthians in Yokohama, they were outplayed and outfought by the South American champions, who sealed victory through Paolo Guerrero in front of a partisan crowd of die-hard supporters.

Fernando Torres had a golden chance to take the game to extra-time - as Didier Drogba managed so famously in the Champions League final - but the Spaniard missed an absolute sitter and saw a stoppage-time header ruled out for offside after Gary Cahill was sent off.

In the Premiership Tottenham have leapfrogged Everton into fourth place following a 1-0 win over Swansea.

Spurs were frustrated for large periods of the match at White Hart Lane before Belgian defender Jan Vertonghen clinched the points in the 75th minute.

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Swansea began the match on the front foot, although Hugo Lloris was untroubled in Spurs' goal and it was the home side who threatened first through in-form Jermain Defoe.

The England international latched onto Emmanuel Adebayor's through-ball only for Gerhard Tremmel to make the save from his right-footed shot while Michu made the block to deny the striker after he had initially conceded possession.

Adebayor's close-range effort was then blocked by Chico from Kyle Walker's cross, Defoe's turn and shot drifted wide of Tremmel's goal while Walker's long-range special was straight at the Swansea keeper.

1 Man Utd 42
2 Man City 36
3 Chelsea 29
4 Tottenham 29
5 Everton 27
6 West Brom 27
7 Norwich 25
8 Arsenal 24
9 Stoke City 24
10 Swansea  23
11 West Ham 23
12 Liverpool 22
13 Fulham 20
14 A Villa 18
15 Newcastle 17
16 Sunderland 16
17 Southampton 15
18 Wigan  15
19 QPR 10
20 Reading 9

The Swans did offer a threat of their own when Jonathan de Guzman lashed a shot just over Lloris' goal while Michu was close to catching out the French keeper from distance after Mousa Dembele lost possession.

Swansea came within a whisker of getting their noses in front minutes into the second half, but Nathan Dyer could not hit the target after Wayne Routledge did well to better Gallas and play in a teasing cross.

Adebayor then saw a long-range effort parried for a corner by Tremmel while Defoe's left-footed strike in the 66th minute was always curling away from the far post.

Tottenham suffered an injury blow when Adebayor hobbled from the field of play, although it was unclear whether the former Manchester City and Arsenal man had suffered an ankle knock or hamstring strain.

The breakthrough finally came in the 75th minute when the unmarked Vertonghen guided home Walker's free-kick past Tremmel into the far corner of the net.

Tremmel made a fine save in the closing stages to deny Defoe a second for Tottenham, although the missed chance did not cost Andre Villas-Boas' side as they secured all three points after seeing out five minutes of injury time.

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In the day's other game, James Morrison was twice denied by the woodwork but West Brom failed to score for a third successive game in a 0-0 draw with West Ham.

The Baggies at least had the consolation of ending a run of three successive defeats and maintained their place in the top six.

But Sam Allardyce's side were worth a share of the spoils in a game which seldom moved out of second gear.

Morrison posed Albion's most creative threat despite operating in a deeper role in the absence of the injured Claudio Yacob.

The Hammers will be pleased as they showed plenty of resilience with central defender James Collins a rock solid performer.