Matchday Live

Summary
Chelsea's domestic season ended with a tight but entertaining home victory against Blackburn Rovers at a sun-drenched Stamford Bridge.

Goals from John Terry and Raul Meireles had put us into a comfortable two-goal lead before the break, only for Blackburn's Yakubu to head home on the hour for the visitors to make things interesting.

In truth though Chelsea were dominant and could have had far more goals. That we didn't owed much to Blackburn goalkeeper Jake Kean, who twice saved well from Romelu Lukaku, while Daniel Sturridge wasted a late chance from close range.

Team news
With Munich in mind and no Premier League positioning to play for, Roberto Di Matteo could rest some of his key players and allow youngsters in need of action a run out, so Ryan Bertrand kept his place at left-back and Sam Hutchinson (pictured below) made a first start of the season. Romelu Lukaku was unleashed in attack with both Fernando Torres and Didier Drogba on the bench.

Those suspended for the Champions League Final in six days all started. Terry, Branislav Ivanovic, Raul Meireles and Ramires included for their final outing of the season.

Blackburn, already relegated and a club in turmoil, also mixed it up with goalkeeper and captain Paul Robinson injured, so Kean came in for a debut. Adam Henley replaced Bradley Orr, David Dunn was injured and Anthony Modeste dropped, those two replaced by Marcus Olsson and Mauro Formica.

First half
Prior to kick-off Juan Mata collected his second Player of the Year award in four days, this time the collected choice of all the Chelsea Supporters' Clubs. It was presented to him by the Blue Lions Supporters Clubs. 

Ross Turnbull, starting competitive games, was the first of the goalkeepers called into service, acrobatically tipping over a deflected Jason Lowe drive after five minutes. At the other end Daniel Sturridge, desperate to impress with a spot up for grabs in Germany, shot wide from distance.

The forward was in the thick of things shortly afterwards too, first failing to bring down a long pass inside the Blackburn area, which led to a corner headed wide by Lukaku, and then poking the Belgian through on goal, only for Kean to make a superb full-length block.

The pair were forging a decent understanding, and it wasn't long before Kean was busy again, excellently saving from Lukaku who had flicked towards goal from a low Sturridge cross. The England man then headed a Malouda cross wide at the far post.

The balance of chances suggested Chelsea were well on top but in fact Blackburn were having more than their share of the ball, and at times the Blues were sloppy in possession, but the visitors were struggling to create clear cut opportunities.

The opener came on 30 minutes, and, in open play, came from an unlikely source. Terry had won possession and after releasing the ball continued his forward run. Lukaku crossed right-footed from the right flank, and found the captain who angled his header back across goal and into the top corner. The perfect way to sign off for the season.

There was barely a wait for the second goal, as Meireles found the bottom corner from the edge of the box after Essien had beaten two men inside the area and been tripped, referee Lee Mason allowing play to continue so that the Portuguese could rifle home.

It was party time at the Bridge. Already the fans had been in fine voice, saluting Drogba and Torres despite neither being on the pitch, and now they were treated to some showboating from Ramires who tried to walk the ball home, denied by a deflection.

There was a little bad news to reflect on though, as Florent Malouda was forced off at the end of the first half, replaced by Paulo Ferreira with Bertrand pushing forward.

Second half
The second half began as the first had, with Sturridge causing more problems for the away side, cutting inside on his right but bending a shot just over the crossbar.

Then it was Lukaku's turn as he burst into the area but was also off target on his weaker side. That would be his last involvement with Drogba soon replacing him, to a hero's welcome.

Rovers half-time sub Josh Morris had their first chance of the half when the ball fell to him on the edge of the box, but his attempt was tame and easy for Turnbull to gather.

Blackburn's next attack brought them a goal from Yakubu who touched in Scott Dann's header after the keeper had come for and missed a corner.

If that was a little bit of pantomime there was more to follow when Kean raced from his goal but could not clear, the ball falling to Ramires, whose lob came back off the crossbar and into the goalkeeper's arms.

Junior Hoilett then had a crack that flashed past Turnbull's near post, and Sturridge's deflected volley was pushed past the post by Kean.

By thistime much of the attention around Stamford Bridge had turned to events elsewhere, with league titles, top four spots and relegation being decided around the country. Goals from other grounds were met with a groan or a cheer from the Chelsea fans as news filtered through. A lack of action on the field suggested the players' minds might also be wandering.

Sturridge was one who was still keen to catch the eye though, and his low cross was just too heavy for an incoming Bertrand.

In injury time Sturridge's moment should have come, but somehow, from four yards at the most, he glanced Drogba's deep cross past the post. That was the final action of the game, and now with the Premier League concluded, it is all eyes on Munich in six days.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Turnbull; Hutchinson (Torres 69), Ivanovic, Terry (c), Bertrand; Essien, Meireles; Ramires, Sturridge, Malouda (Ferreira 42); Lukaku (Drogba 53).
Unused subs Hilario, Cole, Romeu, Piazon.
Goals Terry 30, Meireles 33
Booked Bertrand 89

Blackburn Rovers (4-2-3-1): Kean; Henley, Dann (c), Givet, Martin Olsson; Lowe, Pedersen (Rochina 70); Formica (Morris h/t), Hoilett, Marcus Olsson; Yakubu (Goodwillie 75).
Unused subs Usai, Grella, Petrovic, Modeste.
Goals Yakubu 59
Booked

Referee Lee Mason
Attendance 40,742