Match Report: Blackburn 0 Chelsea 1
We secured our first Premier League win in three weeks with a 1-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park.
It was a goalless first half with few opportunities, in contrast to a frantic second 45 minutes, in which a goal from Frank Lampard proved enough for us to take all three points.
André Villas-Boas made five changes to the side that managed only a point away to Genk on Tuesday evening. John Terry returned, Fernando Torres was dropped to the bench with Daniel Sturridge taking centre stage as lone striker
Having seen Newcastle defeat Everton in the afternoon’s early kick-off to move into second, we desperately needed to win, but it was Blackburn who nearly broke the deadlock after Formica delivered a ball into the path of Yakubu only for him to knock his effort wide.
Yakubu and Ashley Cole had collided heavily with Cech and there were a few minutes of concern, especially with the keeper initially signalling he needed to come off, but after treatment to stem a flood of blood from his nose and then a plug of cotton wool and a new shirt, he continued.
With seven minutes of additional injury time Rovers who then lost Christopher Samba to a knock looked perilously close to being overrun by us as Sturridge and Mata pushed on, but with little in the way of shots on goal by either teams it remained goalless at half time.
AVB clearly felt the need to change his side’s approach and replaced Malouda with Torres. Six minutes later and we were in front as Ivanovic pitched a low ball from the right into the area for Frank Lampard to nod home with pinpoint accuracy.
With the pressure on Steve Kean ramped his side up once again and they should have equalised five minutes later as Pedersen’s rasping free-kick was half saved by Cech, only for Hanley to limply knock a shot back towards the Chelsea keeper and into his hands.
The game inevitably opened up as Blackburn pushed on to level the score and again they should have as Yakubu pounced on a bouncing ball following a mix-up between Alex and Terry but his effort was saved again by Cech.
Another chance then came Blackburn’s way as a header from Ivanovic hit his own bar before Pedersen smashed over as added time approached.
But resilience came good in the end and we hung on to secure the precious three points.
Now we make way for an International Break with a return to Premier League in two weeks time at home to Liverpool.
Gill Reeves – CSG disabled rep.
Blackburn
• 01 Robinson
• 03 Olsson
• 04 Samba (Hanley 45+1 – yellow card)
• 05 Givet – yellow card
• 35 Lowe – yellow card
• 10 Formica
• 12 Pedersen – yellow card
• 15 Nzonzi
• 20 Rochina (Dunn 72)
• 23 Hoilett
• 24 Yakubu
Substitutes
• 13 Bunn,
• 31 Hanley,
• 08 Dunn,
• 14 Petrovic,
• 29 Vukcevic,
• 22 Blackman,
• 25 Goodwillie
Chelsea
• 01 Cech
• 02 Ivanovic
• 03 Cole
• 26 Terry
• 33 Alex
• 07 Ramires (Romeu 90+2)
• 08 Lampard
• 12 Mikel
• 10 Mata (Meireles 82 – yellow card)
• 15 Malouda (Torres 46)
• 23 Sturridge – yellow card
Substitutes
• 22 Turnbull,
• 17 Bosingwa,
• 06 Romeu,
• 16 Meireles,
• 09 Torres,
• 18 Lukaku,
• 21 Kalou
Ref: Dean
Att: 21,985