Happy blue year

By Rob Hodgetts

Chelsea emerged from the festive fixture chaos unscathed

If Christmas is the season to be jolly, January is a time of recovery and sober reflection.

And football is no different.

Most of England's Premiership sides have crammed four games into eight days - a festive feast for fans but a savage session for players.

But as the lights go out and the tinsel is packed away, one team has emerged unscathed from the fixture frenzy.

Like an elite athlete who trains on Christmas Day while everyone else over-indulges, Chelsea - blessed by quality in depth - have kept up their relentless march towards a successful defence of the title with four wins out of four.

The chasing clubs, on the other hand, are like the rest of us - breathing a sigh of relief that it's all over.

And they're now assessing the damage inflicted over the holiday period, more congested than usual this season to allow a four-week break before the World Cup.

Sunderland boss Mick McCarthy has little to smile about

Second-placed Manchester United survived the seasonal period intact with two wins and a draw - but the stalemate with Arsenal on Tuesday means Sir Alex Ferguson's men are now trailing Chelsea by a mammoth 13 points.

Liverpool's 10-match winning streak in the Premiership may have come to an end with a 2-2 draw at Bolton, but the Reds have also kept in touch in third with 10 points out of a possible 12.

The likes of Tottenham, with two wins and a defeat from three matches, Blackburn (w, w, w) and Aston Villa (w, d, d, w) have also managed to limit the ravages of the season.

But as the Premiership takes a two-week break for FA Cup and Carling Cup fixtures, Sunderland will have plenty of time to contemplate their position 10 points adrift at the bottom.

The Black Cats suffered two defeats and a draw, and with their next league game against Chelsea on 15 January, they may be unable to close the gap until the end of the month.

By then it could be too late, if it is not already.

Owen to undergo operation on foot

The newly-opened transfer window will allow some teams the chance to breathe life into their campaigns and refresh injury-hit squads, though it mus not be forgotten that Chelsea also rule the marketplace.

Newcastle could be first to test the water, possibly with a bid for Henrik Larsson to cover for Michael Owen, who will be out until April after foot surgery.

Portsmouth confirm takeover plans

Struggling Portsmouth, too, could have some cash to splash after Russian businessman Alexandre Gaydamak bought into the club.

Roy Keane could make his Celtic debut on 8 January

In the Championship, leaders Reading also threw down the gauntlet after three wins and a draw since Boxing Day to emerge 10 points clear.

Behind, Leeds' four straight wins rocketed them up to third and into a position to pose a creditable challenge to second-placed Sheffield United, who play Hull on Tuesday.

Crystal Palace, relegated from the Premiership last season, also picked up maximum points to put pressure on fourth-placed Watford.

But for last year's other relegated sides Norwich (11th) and Southampton (14th), the respective chairmen face a difficult decision - to gamble and invest heavily in the hope of going back up, or consolidate and accept a spell in the Championship.

Further down the football hierarchy, League One leaders Southend edged ahead of Swansea and Brentford with three wins and a draw, while Wycombe's 5-4 defeat to Macclesfield on Monday left the top of League Two wide open.

In Scotland, the festive calendar was relatively leisurely and Celtic's two wins in two games included a significant 3-2 away victory over second-place Hearts.

Celtic extended their lead to seven points and with Roy Keane likely to make his debut against Clyde in the Scottish Cup on 8 January, 2006 is looking rosy at Celtic Park.

Many New Year resolutions will face their first tests in the coming weeks, but every club across the land will hope they can stick to just one - give up losing.

Every club apart, that is, from Chelsea, for whom it looks like being a very happy blue year.