27/08/2006  Blackburn 0 Chelsea 2
 
Frank Lampard made sure Chelsea regained that winning mentality at the expense of Blackburn at Ewood Park.

The England midfielder opened the scoring for the Barclays Premiership champions from the penalty spot in the 49th minute.

Substitute Didier Drogba added a second in the 81st minute and the result was just the boost Chelsea needed after they went down to Middlesbrough in midweek.

Coach Jose Mourinho rang the changes following that blip, handing Premiership debuts to Michael Ballack and Khalid Boulahrouz.

Ballack had been hampered by a hip injury and the team also featured goalkeeper Petr Cech following shoulder surgery.

Chelsea came close to opening the scoring in the second minute when Michael Essien narrowly cleared the bar with his effort after a free-kick by Lampard had been only partially cleared.

Blackburn were anxious to complete a notable double against the champions - they defeated them at home at the end of last season.

Robbie Savage tried to help their cause in the seventh minute but his shot from distance went high over the top.

The Welsh midfielder was then given a talking to by referee Mark Clattenburg after a stiff challenge on Ballack.

Holland defender Andre Ooijer, who joined Rovers from PSV Eindhoven in midweek, put his team under pressure in the 14th minute with a soft back pass.

It fell to Chelsea's Salomon Kalou but luckily for Blackburn goalkeeper Brad Friedel was alert and cleared the ball to safety.

The home side were playing some neat football, however, and Morten Gamst Pedersen saw his header go narrowly over the bar in the 17th minute following a cross from David Bentley.

Pedersen's free-kick from the edge of the area then rebounded off Kalou and finished on the roof of the net.

Ballack was playing his way slowly into the game and found himself in space 20 yards out.

He shaped to shoot but delayed and Friedel was able to make a comfortable save.

Ballack then released Andriy Shevchenko in the 36th minute but again the Blackburn goalkeeper was not troubled.

Play switched back down the other end and Pedersen picked out Jason Roberts. However his his first touch let him down.

Chelsea took the lead in the 49th minute through Lampard.

He scored emphatically from the penalty spot after Ooijer was adjudged to have manhandled John Terry following a free-kick from Lampard.

It was Lampard's second goal of the season - he also scored in the victory against Manchester City in their opening game.

Blackburn hit back and Benni McCarthy showed good skill in the 55th minute to chest the ball down and fire in a shot on goal.

But Cech stood tall and made a crucial block to prevent the equaliser.

Chelsea were stepping up the pace and substitute Drogba released Shevchenko after a mistake by Reid.

The Ukraine striker sent a teasing delivery across the face of the Blackburn goal but Essien just failed to get a touch.

The home side continued to press forward but McCarthy and Roberts were getting little change out of the Chelsea defence.

With Drogba now on, the champions carried an extra threat in attack with Shevchenko growing in confidence.

Blackburn boss Hughes shuffled his pack in the 69th minute bringing on Paul Gallagher for Pedersen.

Blackburn went in search of the equaliser and Lucas Neill tried his luck from 25 yards in the 78th minute only to drag his effort wide.

Chelsea added a second three minutes later when Drogba won the physical battle against Ooijer to fire a shot over the despairing Friedel.

Blackburn almost pulled a goal back through a superb free-kick by Steven Reid but Cech was equal to it.