A relief to get to the end of this game with all three points intact. Chelsea never quite looked the real deal today and Blackburn, like Boro in midweek put up a spirited performance. But we'll gladly take the three points which keeps us on the heels of Man Utd.
It was good to see Petr Cech back in goal and he certainly added extra security at the back with his 6ft 5in frame dominating the goal area and he also made a crucial save from Benny McCarthy at a time when we were holding on to a slender lead. Didier Drogba also caused the Blackburn defence trouble after he came on (having been rested from the original line up due to a niggling injury picked up at Middlesbro). His physical style of play and strength ruffled the home side defenders and his goal in the 81st minute was a cracker, muscling himself past Ooijer before striking a sweet shot into the roof of the net past Friedel.
Having said that neither team grabbed control of the game in the first half - but Chelsea created slightly the better of the chances without really looking like scoring. Early in the second half, the penalty awarded for holding on John Terry (more like a rugby tackle) was only just converted by Lampard. Blackburn, like Middlesboro before them, came back more into the game and had Chelsea on the back footing. Petr Cech, as stated before, was a tower of strength for the defence and the introduction of Drogba gave Chelsea a more menacing look up front.
Drogba battles for the first
And a Lampard penalty makes it two
Anyway to win Championships you need to win games even when you are not at your best and Chelsea managed that. There were wholesale changes to the side with Cech, Kahlid the Cannibal, Ballack and Kalou all starting after the disappointment at Boro. There is now the break for the Euro Championship qualifiers before we play another bogey team, Charlton, at Home on Sept 9.
Blues' Clues
The Transfer window closes on Thursday and the questions still surround Ashley Cole and William Gallas. Wayne Bridge has been on fire for Chelsea so far in the season and Chelsea miss Gallas' composure in and around the box. Ashley Cole is no doubt a great player but it will be no big loss if we do not get him - although Peter Kenyon (Chelsea CEO) has stated that he expects the deal to go through at the end of this week.
