Chelsea moved four points clear at the top of the Barclays Premier League after a Didier Drogba brace at Molineux.

A goal in either half was enough to see off a disciplined Wolves side who only rarely threatened to pull off an unlikely victory.

In a first half almost devoid of excitement, Drogba slid home Yury Zhirkov's low cross, the Russian left-back providing the half's sole piece of excellence before limping off in the second period.

Petr Cech, who made two fine saves after half-time provided the assist for Drogba's second, launching the ball deep into the Wolves half which the forward chased and finished.

Chelsea arrived to good news, Manchester United having been beaten earlier in the day at Everton, but Carlo Ancelotti was not without problems, having disclosed on Friday that he would be missing seven first team members for this away trip, one in which neither Liverpool nor Tottenham had emerged victorious from in the last month.

That meant starts for Michael Ballack and Florent Malouda in midfield due to Frank Lampard's illness, while Deco's continued absence meant Joe Cole would start despite being subbed against Cardiff last weekend. Knee injury kept Alex out of contention and Ricardo Carvalho was rested so Branislav Ivanovic partnered John Terry in defence and Paulo Ferreira continued at right-back.

For Wolves, on-loan Blue Michael Mancienne was ineligible, and Mick McCarthy went with the same side that beat Spurs on this ground 10 days earlier.

The first chance of the game fell to the home side as lone forward Kevin Doyle cut in from the left flank, escaping Ferreira's attentions, his low shot forcing Cech into a low save down to his right.

It had taken 14 minutes for the game to spark as both teams struggled to gain a foothold on a sticky, bobbly pitch. Ballack fired off target from Nicolas Anelka's layoff before Cech again prevented Doyle, this time at his near post after the forward had turned Ivanovic.

Possession was being exchanged frequently, with both managers patrolling the touchline, perhaps wondering why their men were so narrow, leaving acres of space in the wide areas. Ancelotti moved Anelka up alongside Drogba as Chelsea changed to a diamond formation, moments after Ballack had again shot high, this time following a Malouda corner.

Ferreira surrendered a soft free-kick around 25 yards out on the half-hour, which David Jones curled wide of the Chelsea goal, Cech seemingly confident of its destination.

Chelsea's change to a diamond paid off six minutes before the break. Zhirkov found space and advanced along the left, exchanging passes with the tidy Ballack inside the area. Behind the defence and faced with the option to shoot, the Russian chose to pass, sliding a superb ball across the face of goal for Drogba to finish, Wolves keeper Marcus Hahnemann given no chance.

The lead was barely deserved but very welcome, and prompted the manager's return to the dugout, where he no doubt contemplated his half-time message. It would probably have been to maintain possession better, particularly in the Wolves half, and to work more shooting opportunities.

Defensively things were fairly sound, Wolves set-pieces cleared efficiently without danger and hour hosts restricted to only a couple of half-chances. The same again in the second half would be enough to win, but Ancelotti was dealt a blow when Zhirkov was forced off on 56 minutes, victim of a calf problem. His replacement was Jeffrey Bruma, who slotted into right-back, Ferreira moving to the left.

Just before the change Cech was forced into the save of the game so far, a superb reflex stop to deny a powerful Adlene Guedioura volley at his near post.

The Czech bettered himself eight minutes later as finally Chelsea came under some sustained pressure. Terry missed an interception allowing Kevin Foley in, but Cech was quick off his line to narrow the angle and block. Henry followed up but skewed his shot, and Terry was back to clear to safety.

Wolves would rue the missed opportunity, as with raw simplicity, Chelsea doubled the lead soon after.

Cech cleared long from his hands over the home defence, Chrstophe Berra misjudged the header and Drogba raced on, holding the defender off and gliding past Hahnemann to slot into an empty net. It was far too easy but the Ivorian wouldn't mind one bit, his 25th goal of the season wrapped up, and with it the three points. Wolves will need to defend better than that if they are to remain in the Premier League.

Up front Doyle remained lively, twisting and turning on the edge of the Chelsea box with 13 minutes remaining, his shot arcing wide of the far post.

As the minutes ticked away, Drogba headed over, and then Cech missed a Berra throw-in after being barged by Jody Craddock, but again Terry was on hand to clear, and that was about it.

Three valuable points move us four points clear of United, with 11 games remaining. Now it's back to European competition, and a reunion with a certain former manager. At the final whistle the players removed their shirts to display t-shirts with 'Get Well Soon Bulldog' on them, a message of support to staff member Frank Steer who had heart surgery this week.

Wolves (4-1-4-1): Hahnemann; Zubar, Craddock, Berra, Ward; Henry (c); Foley (Halford 76), Guedioura, Jones (Ebanks-Blake 76), Jarvis (Mujangi Bia 76); Doyle.
Scorers
Booked

Chelsea(4-3-2-1):Cech; Ferreira, Ivanovic, Terry (c), Zhirkov (Bruma 56); Ballack, Mikel, Malouda; Anelka, J Cole; Drogba.
Scorers Drogba 39, 66
Booked Ballack 63

See the full 90 minutes from 6pm Sunday on Chelsea TV.