Chelsea 1-0 Anderlecht

Mayonnaise on chips, Hercule Poirot and chocolates...that's about it really. Belgium's offering to the world. Last night saw Anderlecht visit The Bridge, and lose 1-0 in front of a very good travelling support, some distance ahead of the home support.

An attendance figure of under 30K was inevitable, even though the club have been touting tickets on radio adverts and leaflet dropping all London commuter routes all week. Not because it wasn't a glamour tie, or because it was live on ITV1, but because they wanted slightly under 50 quid for the cheapest seats. The average seat price last night was well over 60 quid. It really has reached that point where supply has exceeded demand. The price has been pushed up so far this season that people are finally saying no. I would bet that the attendance would have been a good 7-8000 less too had the club admitted upfront that season ticket holders would get no discount for buying the 3 group games together early, as has always happened in the past.

I understand that good players and good facilities means price rises, but there is a limit, and it has been reached. 'Normal' people cannot afford to attend 4 or 5 matches a month anymore. And lets face it, with the players we're buying, and the ridiculous wages they are being paid, ticket prices would have to be 100 times what they are now to fund them, so it's hardly a valid argument.

I sat in my usual seat and only 3 of the 50 or so usual faces were visible. The stand was packed full of tourists, which is fairly normal for weekday evening games, but nauseating none the less. Being asked to take photos of people with the pitch behind them, and listening to cretins who have never been to a football ground before will never produce the kind of atmosphere required to give the team a boost in Europe.

Frank Lampard scored a great free-kick which the keeper should have saved. To be fair, Anderlecht could probably have scored 3, but a combination of lack of ability and luck meant they didn't get any. Early in the game a great ball was played through the back line, only for their striker to 'pass' it closer to the corner flag than the goal. Unchallenged!

The closest they came was a speculative shot in the second half which bounced back off the post in the end, after taking a wicked bobble and bouncing up over Petr Cech's outstretched arm.

Lessons should be learnt about the atmosphere and the attendance. Chances are they won't be.