Blackburn 1-2 Chelsea - Lucky Chelsea nick it at Ewood.

Blackburn would quite rightly feel hard done by sitting in their dressing room after the game as Chelsea have come away with three points, a smash and grab win away but literally minutes later it could have been a very different story. The thing is that's what champions are made of in my book. You can not play well and still come away with a win and that is exactly what happened at Ewood on Saturday.

Jason Roberts has probably sat there since he walked off the pitch on Saturday and replayed the incident over and over again. One on one with Cech and bearing down on the Chelsea goal, Cech came off his line and did just enough to pressurise Roberts, he never had a chance to compose himself, rushed his flick past Cech to the far post and thankfully for Chelsea it went wide.

A minute or couple of minutes later, Anelka found Zhirkov in the box and Zhirkov with players around him kept his head, dribbled towards the byline and floated a high cross to the back post which was met by Branislav Ivanovic who headed powerfully down into the bottom of the net, Robinson no chance and Chelsea stole it!.

You have to give enormous credit to Big Sam and his players. The dominated and bossed parts of the game against us and called Chelsea's back five into action numerous times. JT was at his defensive best to block chances, dive in to win important tackles. Cech was up and at it once more which further reiterates my belief he is back to his best and this was because of a good Blackburn side who caused us problems all day.

Blackburn started the better without question and had their openings and some chances and eventually took the lead when Benjani rose with JT and flicked a header from a cross into the bottom corner. Looking at the reply it looks likes JT has headed the ball onto his head. Nothing you can do about it, Cech left stranded and it was 1-0 Blackburn. At the time you have to admit it was well deserved.

From a defensive point of view I am disappointed that first they had time and space to cross the ball from a dangerous position and secondly that Benjani managed to win the ball. With the height we have at the back and in defensive positions including the height of Cech we should have done better.

Blackburn continued to pressurise Chelsea and we were not playing well or like we could at all. Zhirkov and Essien then had a couple of half chances but nothing of real note until Chelsea, under pressure for most of the half produced three touches of class to get us back on level terms.

Florent Malouda picked up the ball wide left half way inside Blackburn's half. He looked up and played a cross field ball to Didier Drogba. Drogba under pressure from two defenders managed to catch the flight of the ball early and with the two defenders crashing into each other panicking to stop Drogba from winning the ball, nodded the ball down just inside the box to the onrushing Anelka, who beat his man to the ball and flicked it past Robinson first time into the net on the half volley. Great move and a great finish 1-1.

At this stage I am thinking great goal but we are lucky at this stage to be 1-1 at half time. Chelsea need to improve big time in the second half.

Benjani was taken off with an injury and Jason Roberts came on, Chelsea made no changes.

We started off better than we had in the first half but Blackburn still had good chances to score. Samba just missed a cross unmarked to stab the ball home as Chelsea's back line stood and watched and Diouf headed the ball straight at Cech when it was easier to score.

Chelsea had half chances and one that Ashley Cole knew he should have done better with. From a Malouda cross from the right Cole sliced his effort well wide from the same angle as against Wigan at home last season when we wrapped up the title. Anelka and Drogba were both closed down and the Blackburn defence blocked their efforts. Zhirkov kept Robinson honest as he parried his shot. Sturridge came on for Malouda and within minutes shot into the side netting.

Then came the Jason Roberts incident and if I am honest if he had scored it then you would look at the game afterwards and wouldn't really have complained about the scoreline. Blackburn played really well and proved to be a match for Chelsea on the day but like we hear all the time in this league, when you get your chances against the big teams you have to take them. Roberts missed and Ivanovic made him pay.

Harsh on Blackburn, but a massive step for Chelsea as we look to retain our title.

KTBFFH.

Blackburn Rovers (4-5-1): Robinson; Salgado, Samba (c), Nelsen, Givet (Olsson 34); M Diouf, Emerton, Jones, Pedersen, E Diouf (Dunn 79); Benjani (Roberts h-t).
Scorers Benjani 21
Booked Salgado 32, Nelsen 81

Chelsea (4-3-3):Cech; Ivanovic, Alex, Terry (c), Cole; Essien, Mikel, Zhirkov; Anelka (Ferreira 90+2), Drogba, Malouda (Sturridge 72).
Scorers Anelka 38, Ivanovic 83
Booked Drogba 65, Ivanovic 79

Attendance 25,836
Referee Peter Walton

Shots on Blackburn 2 Chelsea 3
Corners Blackburn 3 Chelsea 5
Fouls Blackburn 9 Chelsea 13
Offside Blackburn 2 Chelsea 2
(SOURCE FOR STATS: Chelseafc.com)