Gordon Sharrock looks back on a previous crunch clash with Saturday’s visit of Chelsea to the Reebok

THE critics were still dismissing Wanderers as temporary tenants in the Premiership but, after two successful survival missions, there was a growing belief at the Reebok they could compete with the best.

And knocking Chelsea off the top of the league with a dramatic last-gasp win at Stamford Bridge underlined the point.

Travelling fans feared the worst when Hernan Crespo put Claudio Ranieri’s mega-rich, multi-talented Blues in front on 22 minutes and, even after Bruno N’Gotty powered a header past Carlo Cudicini from Youri Djorkaeff’s quality free kick to make it all square at half-time, there was no hint of what was to come.

But Wanderers – even with the diminutive Simon Charlton at emergency centre-back – showed they were made of stern stuff, defending stubbornly and successfully to keep the scores level going into the final minutes.

Cue Henrik Pedersen, who was sent on by Sam Allardyce for the last five minutes to raid on the left. And raid he did, tormenting Glenn Johnson before heroically grabbing the 89th-minute match-winner.

Officially it was a John Terry own goal but it was still one of the dashing Dane’s finest hours.

His intentions were clear the minute he picked up the ball. Appearing to head for the corner flag, presumably to waste a few priceless seconds, he darted inside Johnson before aiming a cross into the box where the backtracking Terry turned the ball into his own net.

Charlton admitted fearing the worst when Chelsea set off like a house on fire. “It was like the Alamo,” said the seasoned defender. But the frown gave way to an impish smile as he considered the implications of turning the tables on the league leaders.

“We’ve really put the cat among the pigeons again,” he added.

Chelsea: Cudicini, Johnson, Desailly, Terry, Bridge; Gronkjaer (Hasselbaink 70), Lampard (Geremi 78), Makelele, Duff, Crespo (Joe Cole 78), Mutu. Not used: Ambrosio, Gallas.

Wanderers: Jaaskelainen; Hunt, N’Gotty, Charlton, Gardner; Djorkaeff (Pedersen 86), Frandsen, Campo, Nolan (Stelios 62), Okocha; Davies. Not used: Poole, Barness, Ba.

Referee: Matt Messias (W Yorks). Attendance: 40,491.