28/12/2004  Portsmouth 0 Chelsea 2
 
Premiership leaders Chelsea followed Arsenal's route to fortunate success at Fratton Park when the phenomenal Arjen Robben scored 10 minutes from time to stretch their lead in the title race to eight points once again.

Never mind substitute Joe Cole adding a second in stoppage time, finely-taken, it was Robben's rocket that broke Portsmouth's hearts after an afternoon of craft and endeavour which enabled them to practically match their illustrious visitors.

It was only slightly earlier in the proceedings eight days earlier when Sol Campbell crashed home a decider for Arsenal after Velimir Zajec's Pompey had given them all kinds of trouble.

Now the Gunners are back eight points behind the leaders, facing Newcastle on Tyneside on Wednesday.

Lately Damien Duff and Eidur Gudjohnsen have been on fire for the Blues with Dutchman Robben moving out of the spotlight.

Here he was having a quietish afternoon until 10 minutes from the end he took Frank Lampard's pass out on the right and fired past Shaka Hislop from a deep angle and with possibly a slight deflection.

Celebration time, of course. Off came the shirt, out came the yellow card - and off went Robben to be replaced by Geremi.

Cole came on, too. And when Gudjohnsen, another substitute, was denied Cole drove home right at the death. Goodnight Pompey.

Jose Mourinho might keep moaning but he knows how to marshal his expensive squad.

Portsmouth would never be so deluded as to claim as much class and technical merit as Chelsea but they gave the princes of the Kings Road a thorough examination with a good, old-fashioned display of English football even though there was barely an Englishman on the field.

Those that were took the eye. John Terry and Lampard for Chelsea, Linvoy Primus, Andy Griffin and Gary O'Neil for the hosts.

In a vibrant first half, when only a classic save prevented Chelsea facing an uphill task after just 20 minutes, Portsmouth finished at least honours even at the break when the game was still in the balance.

They were unlucky to lose at home by a single, unexpected goal a couple of weeks ago and this was just as close.

Chelsea soon showed their class with a flowing move and a third-minute shot by Drogba that fully extended Shaka Hislop who held on well.

But Pompey's harrying style, well employed against Arsenal recently, won them a good share of possession early on, although Hislop had to look alive when another Chelsea shot, this time by Lampard, was blocked en route to him.

But both sides gave the ball way with regular ease in a lightning-fast start. And Chelsea's Paulo Ferreira took a chance, leaving an inswinging right-foot O'Neil cross to curl past the far post - not by much.

Glen Johnson illustrated Chelsea's increasing nervousness when miskicking a right wing cross by Steve Stone in the 16th minute, leading to a corner.

And Fratton Park nearly erupted when Yakubu had the ball in the net two minutes later, but he was ruled to have fouled William Gallas.

Three minutes more and it was then that Peter Cech produced a wonder save to keep Chelsea level when the non-stop Quashie let fly from 25 yards. The ball seemed to change direction in flight, but Cech still managed to palm it over the top as he launched himself into the air.

Corners piled up and Chelsea were right under the cosh but Primus had to head away to stop Drogba getting in at Damien Duff's corner and the Ivory Coast striker, starting his first League game in nearly three months, forced a free kick, central and 20 yards out, which he scooped over before turning fiercely on referee Alan Wiley for not controlling the Pompey wall.

At the interval, however, the force was with Portsmouth although you also found it tough to recall their chances in the opening 45 minutes.

And Chelsea chief Mourinho needed no further proof that the crowded Christmas programme is a danger to footballers' health.

He made three changes from the side that pipped Aston Villa on Sunday.

But after the break there was always a feeling they could not nail it down. And so it proved.