13/09/2005  Chelsea 1 Anderlecht 0
 
Frank Lampard delivered the perfect response to the critics who claim he is a shadow of his former self as Chelsea began their Champions League campaign with relative ease against a rather unambitious Anderlecht outfit.

The midfielder was singled out for criticism by national coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, who suggested in between England's two recent World Cup qualifiers, that the recent father was not playing anywhere near his best.

Eriksson's comments cut no ice with club coach Jose Mourinho who, quietly by his standards, provided an opposing view of his player's commitment and form at domestic level.

As if to underline his manager's confidence in the ability that helped Lampard earn the 'player of the year' accolade from the media last season, he cemented Chelsea's dominance of this Group G clash by driving home a 25-yard free-kick winner in the 18th minute.

Lampard's right foot found enough power to make the ball swerve so violently that Anderlecht goalkeeper Daniel Zitka was made to look foolish as, completely wrong-footed, he failed to detect the flight of the incoming missile at all.

The only surprise of the first half was that Chelsea did not add to their advantage against an Anderlecht side which has now lost eight Champions League games in succession.

The Belgians failed to win any of their group games last season and it is easy to understand why as they settled to thwart and frustrate Chelsea's natural attacking prowess at every opportunity.

The Barclays Premiership champions, clearly relishing these European nights, wasted no time in giving the Belgians an insight into their evening ahead.

Just four minutes had elapsed before Zitka was forced to produce a marvellous double save to deny Claude Makelele and then Damien Duff as the English side surged forward with an intensity which rocked the Belgians back on their collective heels.

Duff and Arjen Robben caused full-backs Olivier Deschacht and Michal Zewlakow constant problems that they spent much of the opening half running back towards their own goal-line in pursuit of either winger.

A minute later, Lampard signalled his intent when he latched on to Robben's low corner only to drive the ball beyond the crossbar and into the massed ranks of Anderlecht fans behind the goal.

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech spent more time holding his UEFA award as the best goalkeeper of last season's campaign than he did holding the ball during a first half in which he may as well have moved into any one of the many unsold seats inside the stadium.

The only cause for concern for Cech was a corner which appeared to hit captain John Terry's arm before bouncing into the goalkeeper's hands.

But moments later Chelsea broke the stalemate with Lampard's viciously driven free-kick after Anderlecht midfielder Yves Vanderhaeghe had fouled Duff.

It was his third goal of the season and should have been the catalyst for Chelsea to go on and put the game beyond the reach of the Belgians.

However, Mourinho's men opted to make hard work of it in the second period despite long spells of possession and their failure to kill off their opponents provided Anderlecht with the inspiration to attack which had been sadly missing from their game in the first 45 minutes.

Indeed, it took a fortunate deflection from the Terry's right boot to prevent Anderlecht snatching an equaliser in the 62nd minute.

Anthony Vanden Borre's speculative 30-yard drive fizzed off the defender's foot and beyond the outstretched Cech - but the Czech's record of clean sheets this season was preserved by the foot of his left-hand post.

It would have been a cruel blow for the home side, who had almost produced a carbon copy of Lampard's opener a minute earlier.

Robben again rolled the ball into the England midfielder's path some 30 yards from the target and Lampard again found his range perfectly.

The difference on this occasion was Zitka's readiness to deal with the power and swerve contained within his shot and that allowed him to punch the ball to safety.

Anderlecht caused some anxious moments, although Cech was still untroubled despite the increased possession enjoyed by the Brussels side.

Mourinho had attempted to stifle Anderlecht's resurgence by introducing Shaun Wright-Phillips and Joe Cole into the action towards the end of the second half- but the team's cohesion had long since evaporated.

Indeed, Wright-Phillips lacked the confidence to finish the night on a high in the final moments when he blasted the ball high over the bar from 18 yards.

It wasn't the greatest game ever seen at Stamford Bridge but Chelsea are now six games into the season and have six wins and clean sheets.

Mourinho will continue to sleep easy - unlike the rest of Europe and the Barclays Premiership.