THERE were few fireworks at Ewood park, as Chelsea just got the better of Blackburn in a damp squib of a match.
A 52 nd minute goal from Frank Lampard, stooping low to head in a Branislav Ivanovic cross, was about the sum total of the highlights in a game forgettable for all but its mishaps.
In a first half largely devoid of both chances and entertainment, the one really significant moment was an injury that kept Blues goalkeeper Peter Cech out of action for seven minutes.
Yakubu, racing in on goal, was tracked by Ashley Cole: somehow the two of them accidentally colliding with Cech to give him a bloody nose – some suggested it may be broken.
Perhaps in the context of Cech's other injuries picked up playing for Chelsea this was minor. But it was no mean feat that he decided to play on in the circumstances.
Andre Villas-Boas decided to change things at half time: with Fernando Torres replacing the anonymous Florent Malouda.
The change took six second half minutes to take effect: the presence of Torres drawing a defender out of the mix; and the absence of Malouda allowing Lampard to get forward.
The result was that Ivanovic cross, and Lampard diving header – which sent Chelsea's travelling support into raptures.
Moments later Cech proved that his injury – now dressed with a comical bundle of bandage – had not detracted from his ability.
A Morten Gamst Pedersen free kick first sent the keeper one way; then a Grant Hanley rebound sent him the other. It was a great moment, akin to the double penalty save he had made at Goodison Park ten days earlier.
Blackburn surged forward towards the end, picking up a series of half-chances: the best of which was headed of his own bar by Ivanovic. But Chelsea held on.
It wasn't pretty, but Chelsea picked up three points, kept 11 men on the pitch, and kept a clean sheet – he first time they managed all three together in the league since Villas-Boas arrived at Stamford Bridge.
ENDS
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