31/01/2007  Chelsea 3 Blackburn 0
 
Goals from Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard and substitute Salomon Kalou kept Chelsea in touch with leaders Manchester United at the top of the Barclays Premiership.

Chelsea remain six points adrift of Sir Alex Ferguson's men after United's 4-0 victory over struggling Watford at Old Trafford.

But more of a worry for Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho was the loss of England left-back Ashley Cole, with suspected knee ligament damage.

Mourinho has already bemoaned their bad luck with injuries during the winter period and their lack of spending in the transfer window may now come back to haunt the champions if Cole is ruled out for any length of time.

Chelsea's victory over Blackburn was comfortable enough with Drogba and strike partner Andriy Shevchenko proving too hot for the visitors to handle.

Blackburn had begun the game brightly but their early endeavours were short-lived as Chelsea took the lead in the sixth minute through top scorer Drogba.

He latched on to a through ball from Lampard and cleverly held off the challenge of Stephane Henchoz before steering a left-foot shot under the exposed Brad Friedel for his 23rd goal of the season.

Moments later rampant Chelsea almost added a second through Shevchenko but the Ukrainian's right-foot shot was saved by Friedel.

In the 16th minute, Friedel saved superbly to deny Shevchenko again when he met Michael Ballack's cross inside the six-yard area.

Benni McCarthy went close with a header for Rovers but he failed to trouble Petr Cech while a quick counter-attack by Chelsea brought appeals for a penalty when Shevchenko was pushed off the ball by Henchoz.

Referee Graham Poll ignored their protests - much to the disgust of the furious Chelsea bench.

It was the turn of Rovers manager Mark Hughes to be incensed by Poll in the 27th minute when he also refused to award his side a penalty.

Stephen Warnock burst into the penalty area but Michael Essien produced a stunning tackle to deny him a clear shot at goal.

Hughes was adamant Essien had fouled his player and chucked his water bottle on to the pitch in protest.

Seconds later Ricardo Carvalho cleared off the line from Matt Derbyshire after a poor backheader from Lassana Diarra had left him with just Cech to beat.

But on the half-hour Blackburn had Friedel to thank yet again when he pushed out a shot from Drogba.

The champions were always dangerous going forward and a superb cross from Shevchenko was cleared by Nelson as Drogba lurked with intent behind him.

But despite their superiority, Chelsea were forced to settle for a single goal advantage at the interval.

Michael Ballack, barracked by some sections of the home fans for much of the first half, wasted a gilt-edged opportunity to increase Chelsea's lead in the 46th minute.

Diarra lofted a superb cross into the penalty area but, although the Germany captain directed his header on target, Friedel produced another fine save to deny him.

Chelsea were rocked in the 52nd minute when Cole sustained his injury - after appearing to catch his studs in the Stamford Bridge turf.

Cole was stretchered off with a wistful Mourinho looking on in disbelief before giving the left-back a sympathetic handshake as he went down the tunnel.

The injury, which appears to be knee ligaments, is almost certain to put Cole out of England's clash with Spain at Old Trafford next Wednesday and could have even greater repercussions for Chelsea.

Cole was replaced by his England understudy Wayne Bridge and Chelsea quickly regained their momentum.

But on the hour Shevchenko wasted another great chance when a sublime backheel from Drogba put the Ukrainian clear once more.

However, Friedel was once again equal to the task and dived low to his right to prevent the Chelsea striker scoring.

But there was nothing wrong with Lampard's 25-yard drive in the 67th minute as it flew into the roof of the net for his 16th goal of the season.

The England midfielder could have increased Chelsea's lead but two more efforts were saved by Friedel in a frantic last 15 minutes.

Blackburn's best chance of the game arrived eight minutes from time when Cech had to dive low to his left to keep out a header from McCarthy.

Kalou completed the scoring in the 90th minute when he finished off a headed pass from Ballack and slipped the ball beyond Friedel.