Even as the coalition sharpened its axe to take a swipe at spending and borrowing, the idea was to endure a few years of pain before normal play was resumed, in good time for the 2015 election, when voters could get back to the traditional task of deciding which party's goody bag was the most appealing.

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Ancelotti's decision was almost immediately vindicated when Drogba equalised with his first touch, though Chelsea had to play the remainder of the game with 10 men after Kalou limped off with 20 minutes of normal time left.

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