Didier Drogba celebrated a double century of Chelsea games with a 78^th minute winner to keep Chelsea in second place in the table.

On a filthy wet and windy night on the south coast, Guus Hiddink's players were made to work hard by a well-rested Portsmouth side but the single goal wins keep on coming. Petr Cech was another hero on the night with a couple of fine saves and numerous commanding catches.

Anelka had been ruled out with a toe injury so Malouda came in on the left of attack. José Bosingwa returned after suspension with Mancienne making way.

Portsmouth won a free-kick in the first minute of the game that led to a Hreidarsson strike, blocked behind for a corner.

Then the Icelandic left-back and Nugent combined to up Mullins on the edge of the box but the midfielder sliced his shot horribly.

An equally mishit effort for Chelsea followed on eight minutes after Malouda had sent the ball over - Kalou the culprit.

The opening quarter of an hour saw much huff and puff but little penalty box action. Portsmouth had lined up a five man-midfield against Chelsea's 4-3-3, the home side with Davis and Mullins playing deep and right-footed Nugent wide on the left of Kranjcar with Pennant on the right.

When Malouda on Chelsea's left eventually won an aerial contest with Campbell as the ball bounced around, Cole was able to smash a low ball across and Drogba, in front of the Chelsea fans who were grateful there is now a roof on the away end at Fratton Park, slid into the net at the far post, just failing to take the ball with him.

Midway through the half, Chelsea almost benefitted from a David James moment, the England keeper inexplicably failing to hold a Malouda cross, but Davis was unfortunately well-placed to hack the loose ball clear.

Lampard's ability to spread the play had been outstanding throughout and Malouda and Kalou were not finding possession hard to come by but Drogba as yet was failing to make his presence felt.

On 27 minutes it took an excellent one armed save from Cech to keep out a thunderous 25-yard shot from Davis. James again couldn't make the ball stick when getting down to a Lampard smash on 34 minutes - but again a Pompey man cleared.

Four minutes before the break, Chelsea survived an almighty scramble inside the six-yard box following a corner but after what seemed like an age, Cech dropped on the ball.

In stoppage time, Ballack powerfully headed a Lampard corner just six inches over and Alex saw a 30-yard free-kick tipped wide by Alex. Those moments end a half that had been pretty even on half-chances but it was clear a second-half improvement from Chelsea would be needed to find the net and take the three points back up the A3.

The concern was that in recent weeks, displays after the break have not match those before.

The second half began with plenty of Portsmouth midfield possession but the Chelsea defence coped when they came too near. Hiddink's men were still offering too little going forward.

A first change was made on 56 minutes, Belletti a straight swap for Mikel.

Before that had any impact however, Chelsea once more needed the excellence of Cech to keep the game scoreless, our keeper able to react and push away a Nugent shot after Terry had failed to cut out a ball through.

Hiddink wasn't hesitating over his substitutions. On 59 minutes Quaresma was brought on for Kalou and went to the right, Malouda remaining on the left.

Belletti tested James from 20 yards, this time the shot safely pouched. Then on 65 minutes Quaresma sent over a pacy cross that Drogba stretched and made but headed over at the near post.

The visitors were now pressing but on 68 minutes when a Lampard free-kick hit a wall that looked far from 10 yards back, the ball broke kindly for Portsmouth who suddenly sent Crouch clear on the right.

With Chelsea spread and chasing, the striker found Kranjcar in the centre but the Croat's touch deserted him when he looked certain to score and the ball was bundled wide.

Into the final 15 minutes and Chelsea were pushing bodies forward. Quaresma looked to have the beating of Hreidarsson and was giving the team width but it was from a Bosingwa cross from that flank that the crucial supply came. 

His ball was low but as Ballack let it pass, it flicked out off Campbell and Drogba was there to drill the ball home low from 12 yards out. 

With Liverpool already two up at home to Sunderland, it felt a goal of high value.

There was still work to do to preserve the lead, Alex blocking a close range Kranjcar header with five minutes to go and Drogba headed a stoppage time free-kick away, but not before David James had saved from Quaresma.

A big cheer from a noisy Chelsea support greeted the final whistle as the 48 year unbeaten run at Fratton Park continued.

Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Bosingwa, Alex, Terry (c), A Cole; Ballack (Mancienne 90), Mikel (Belletti 56), Lampard; Kalou (Quaresma 59), Drogba, Malouda.
Scorer Drogba 78.

Portsmouth(4-2-3-1): James; Johnson, Campbell (c), Distin, Hreidarsson; Mullins, Davis; Pennant (Utaka 69), Kranjcar, Nugent; Crouch.

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