Champions Chelsea kept up the pressure on Premiership leaders
Manchester United with a 3-0 win over Middlesbrough at Stamford
Bridge.
The three points were far from straightforward for The Blues, but
with captain John Terry back in the starting line-up - the result
was never in doubt once they had the lead.
A free-kick from Didier Drogba in first half injury time broke the
deadlock, before Abel Xavier put through his own net just after the
hour following good work from Arjen Robben.
With minutes left Drogba added his second as he scored from another
set-piece to put a very flattering sheen on the score-line.
Boro had their chances and should have gone ahead in the first
half, but Chelsea justified their win with a very good second half
showing.
Chelsea were the better side in the early stages and Drogba missed
a couple of decent chances as he fired wide with his right and left
foot when well positioned in the box.
The home side continued to press, but they were creating little and
indeed it was Boro who should have gone ahead.
An excellent move down the left saw Andrew Taylor pick up the ball
from George Boateng and he curled a great ball into the box for
Mark Viduka, but from just five yards the Australian contrived to
head wide.
Boro continued to create and moments later Julio Arca's
defence-splitting pass sent Yakubu Aiyegbeni clear - the Nigerian
was forced wide but Petr Cech was still needed to parry the ball
away from an on-rushing Viduka.
Salomon Kalou and Andrei Shevchenko both looked bright throughout
and they had decent chances to test Boro keeper Mark Schwarzer -
but neither could find the target from the edge of the area.
Then on the stroke of half-time Chelsea claimed the lead, although
Boro will be left wondering how they conceded. Xavier and Andrew
Davies failed to clear the ball and it broke to the edge of the
box, where Boateng dived into a needless challenge to fell Lassana
Diarra.
Drogba stepped up and side footed the ball into the corner with
consummate ease, but questions will be asked of Schwarzer who
seemingly had the shot covered.
Chelsea opened the second half brightly and Arca was needed to
clear off the line as Shevchenko met a Frank Lampard corner.
Boro, though, were anything but out of the game and they almost
claimed an unlikely leveller as Taylor's cross sailed towards goal
and Cech was beaten but fortunately for him the ball rebound off
the crossbar and away.
The home side were again dominating possession but Boro looked
dangerous on the counter attack and a swift break from James
Morrison and Stewart Downing combined to free Yakubu - but as he
cut inside Michael Essien he blazed off target when he should have
tested Cech.
Just as Boro looked as if they could get something, Chelsea put the
game beyond the Teessiders.
Robben had only been on the field a matter of seconds before he
undertook his first run, he cut inside the box and the ball fell
for him which enabled him to get a shot away - but his effort was
diverted past a helpless Schwarzer by an unfortunate Xavier.
Xavier's day could and should have got much worse as he blocked a
Lampard drive, he then attempted to clear but only succeeded in
finding Drogba - but his shot from inside the six-yard box was
blocked by Schwarzer.
Schwarzer, though, could do nothing with just a few minutes left to
prevent Chelsea from adding a third. It was another free-kick from
Drogba who found the top corner, albeit thanks to a big deflection
off Davies, to grab his 25th goal of the campaign and wrap up
victory for Jose Mourinho's men.
