24/11/2001 Chelsea 0 Blackburn 0 Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink endured an afternoon to forget as Chelsea spurned the opportunity to assert their Premiership title credentials with a frustrating goalless draw against Blackburn at Stamford Bridge. The Dutchman suffered the indignity of seeing a golden first-half chance spiralling out for a throw-in and was woefully off target with two other opportunities as the Blues' problems in front of goal continued. This draw was their fourth at home this season, and they have managed only eight goals in six matches at the Bridge, where they were booed off by their supporters after another lacklustre display. Blackburn by contrast were far more cohesive in attack and might have stolen a second away victory of an increasingly impressive season when David Dunn fired a second-half free kick narrowly wide. With five of the top six playing tomorrow, Chelsea had an ideal opportunity to put their early-season frustrations behind them, knowing that victory would take them to within a point of the Premiership summit. In the absence of the injured Mark Bosnich, coach Claudio Ranieri opted for Italian Carlo Cudicini ahead of Ed de Goey in goal, one of four changes to the line-up that fought out a goalless draw at Everton last Sunday. Ranieri also recalled Graeme Le Saux at left back in place of Celestine Babayaro, and restored Mario Stanic and Boudewijn Zenden to his midfield quartet, Sam Dalla Bona and Slavisa Jokanovic the pair to make way. Blackburn also came to Stamford Bridge with hopes of building on a recent run of form that has seen them unbeaten in their last six matches. Having held Liverpool to a creditable draw at home last week, their burgeoning confidence was apparent in some composed approach play that gleaned the better chances before the break. Le Saux's casual attempt at a clearance almost handed Rovers the perfect start in the second minute when England hopeful Matt Jansen - operating as a lone striker with David Dunn playing just behind him 'in the hole' - was allowed a clear run on goal. But his hesitation in the box allowed William Gallas to come to his side's rescue as the chance went begging. Hasselbaink's miserable afternoon began with a woeful attempt to curl the ball into the top right corner in the sixth minute, and continued with two equally embarrassing attempts leading up to half-time. Shaping to shoot in the 37th minute, the Dutchman fed Emmanuel Petit instead, only for the Frenchman to see his effort blocked. But when the rebound fell invitingly for Hasselbaink 10 yards out, he succeeded only in scything his volley out for a throw-in, much to the amusement of the visiting fans. His next effort, in the final minute of a disappointing first-half, also span harmlessly towards the corner flag. It was Rovers who created the better chances early on, Jansen acrobatically volleying wide from Damien Duff's neat cut-back from the by-line after 14 minutes. Chelsea's defence was sliced open again almost immediately when the dangerous Keith Gillespie threaded a ball through for Mahon, but Cudicini was quick off his line to divert the Dubliner's effort wide. Duff earned the first yellow card of the afternoon after 26 minutes for a foul on Stanic, but he was a continual threat down the left flank with Gillespie also looking lively on the right. Dunn, another player pressing his claims for an England call-up, was an industrious presence at both ends, one minute blocking Steve Terry's attempted volley, the next combining with Gillespie to set another Blackburn attack in motion. The former Manchester United winger came closest to breaking the stalemate when he nipped in front of Le Saux after 34 minutes, his blistering volley angling across the face of Cudicini's goal. Clearly unimpressed with what he had witnessed in the opening 45 minutes, Ranieri made a double substitution at the interval, replacing Zola and Zenden with Eidur Gudjohnsen and Dalla Bona. The pair almost produced an instant reward, Gudjohnsen feeding the Italian on the edge of the box after 50 minutes, only for Dalla Bona to send a powerful drive straight at Friedel. There was a greater sense of urgency about Chelsea after the break, and Hasselbaink almost turned provider when his floated ball over the retreating Blackburn rearguard released Gudjohnsen in the 54th minute. But Friedel was off his line quickly to foil the Icelander's attempted lob, and with it went Chelsea's best chance. Perhaps sensing the opportunity for victory, Rovers boss Graeme Souness sent on veteran striker Mark Hughes in place of Mahon on the hour to give Jansen some support up front. But it was Chelsea who looked the more likely winners, although Stanic's left-foot strike after 66 minutes lacked both the power and direction to trouble Friedel. The Croat did however force the American into a fine save seven minutes later when Friedel got down well to tip his snap-shot round the post for a corner. In between times, Dunn thundered a free kick only inches wide of Cudicini's right-hand post, but Hasselbaink's frustration increased when he twice attempted to win a penalty. First he tumbled under Craig Short's superb saving challenge, then referee Graham Poll awarded a free-kick against the striker for tugging at Berg's shirt before hurling himself to the ground. Berg hobbled off eight minutes from time, but Blackburn held on for a deserved point.