17/09/2005  Charlton 0 Chelsea 2
 
Two second-half goals from Hernan Crespo and Arjen Robben kept champions Chelsea on top of the Barclays Premiership and put an end to Charlton's unbeaten start to the new campaign.

Chelsea have yet to drop a point or concede a goal in six matches now and Jose Mourinho's men are beginning to assume the same swagger of invincibility which illuminated their football on the way to their title triumph last term.

Mourinho insists Chelsea will finish some distance ahead of Charlton when the prizes are handed out at the end of the season and even though Alan Curbishley's assortment of journeymen and willing workhorses tried hard enough, it was somewhat inevitable Chelsea's class would prevail.

Curbishley, celebrating his 600th match in charge of the Addicks, knows his side do not possess the quality and technical expertise of their more expensive and illustrious opponents, but in terms of effort and endeavour then Charlton will be the equal of most other teams in the Premiership.

Their stubborn resistance, born out of a new-found belief this season, succeeded in frustrating the reigning champions in the first half only for Crespo and Robben to undo all their fine work with quality finishes after the re-start.

Mourinho's men had been labelled 'boring' during the previous five matches in which they have flattered to deceive compared with the free-flowing, stylish Chelsea which romped home with Premiership plaudits and crown last season.

But against Charlton there was plenty of ingenuity and craft about their game and they now look like a side rediscovering the hunger and desire which put opponents to the sword with ruthless efficiency during Mourinho's first year in charge.

Chelsea started brightly and in the fifth minute they almost opened the scoring through England midfielder Frank Lampard.

His left-foot volley was deflected for a corner after Damien Duff's right-wing cross had fallen into his path via a deft header from Hernan Crespo.

In the 13th minute Robben almost made the home side pay for their benevolent defending when he beat two defenders before forcing Andersen to punch his swerving 15-yard effort to safety.

But a sustained spell of pressure by Charlton almost ended in disaster in the 21st minute when Michael Essien robbed Kishishev in midfield and put Crespo clean through on goal. The Argentinian's shot beat Andersen but cannoned back off the left-hand post and away to safety.

Chelsea's stranglehold on proceedings showed no sign of diminishing as the half marched towards its inevitable conclusion.

Five minutes before the break Charlton were handed a present by Ricardo Carvalho when the Chelsea defender brought down Danny Murphy on the edge of the penalty area.

Carvalho was shown the yellow card by referee Howard Webb but Murphy's resultant attempt to punish Chelsea with the free-kick was thwarted by the defensive wall.

Seconds later the Portuguese defender was cleverly turned by Rommedahl 25 yards out but the Charlton midfielder's shot flew past Petr Cech's right-hand post as honours ended all square at half-time.

William Gallas became the second Chelsea player to hit an upright when he forced Lampard's free-kick onto the left-hand post just minutes after the re-start.

It was a signal of intent from Mourinho's men and moments later another free-kick some 30 yards out caused more consternation for the home defence.

Robben rolled the ball to Lampard and the England midfielder's deflected shot was grasped at the second attempt by Andersen.

Chelsea were beginning to cause all kinds of problems for the home defence with Luke Young forced to foul Robben on the left flank as the Dutchman got into his stride.

The resultant free-kick was wasted by the champions but their relentless pursuit of an opening goal continued to gather pace.

That goal came in the 55th minute when Kishishev again lost the ball in midfield and this time paid the price for his carelessness.

Essien was the benefactor and his cross into the penalty area was met by the head of Crespo who directed the ball into top corner from 10 yards.

Five minutes later Robben killed off the home side when he collected the ball from Duff's pass and sent a curling shot into the top right-hand corner.

In the 66th minute substitute Shaun Wright-Phillips brought a great save from Andersen with a right-foot shot which the Charlton keeper somehow managed to tip around the upright.

Chelsea then spent the remainder of the match content to stifle what little Charlton could muster in attack and although Chris Perry was close with a thumping header, the Addicks were, like the previous five Premiership teams before them, unable to breach Cech's goal.