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Chelsea are FA Cup winners for a fifth time after a pulsating win at Wembley, coming back from a goal down to beat Everton.

Having fallen inside half a minute, it required goals in either half from Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard to seal the club's first silverware in two years. It was the perfect way to wave goodbye to Guus Hiddink, who has overseen such a fantastic turnaround since his arrival in February.

Celebrations for fans and players will go on long into the night as a long and difficult season ends with a sweet victory, and a fifth Final success from nine attempts.

On the day, a particularly bright and warm spring afternoon, the majority of Hiddink's side picked itself, as it had done for the last few weeks.

His only major decision was whether to employ John Mikel Obi or Michael Ballack alongside Michael Essien in midfield. He opted for the youthful Nigerian, while Nicolas Anelka, the returning Lampard and Malouda provided support to Drogba in attack.

Alex rejoined the backline after sitting out against Sunderland last weekend, at the expense of Branislav Ivanovic who was among the subs.

There were few surprises in the Everton line-up too, as Marouane Fellaini joined Saha up front, while Tim Cahill and captain Phil Neville would offer stern opposition to the Chelsea midfield.

The pre-match rituals were conducted in sunshine that had been in place all morning. The heat would have some bearing on the way the sides approached the game.

Everton kicked off and promptly scored the FA Cup Final's fastest ever goal.

Saha lashed home Fellaini's headed knock down inside 25 seconds, breaking Roberto Di Matteo's record from 1997.

Chelsea's defending had been poor but the goal should never have stood, Steven Pienaar was a yard offside before he crossed into the danger area.

Now Chelsea had real work to do. It had been suggested that Everton would be tight and go in search of a 0-0, but now with an advantage to defend, they would be even less adventurous going forwards.

Already Hiddink was out into his technical area, no doubt this hadn't been the start he had imagined for his final game.

Chelsea's early attacking centred around Malouda, who earned a corner that was easily cleared on four minutes, and was then tripped after seven that brought the game's first caution for Everton full-back Tony Hibbert. Lampard wasted the free-kick.

It was 13 minutes before Chelsea registered a shot, Drogba's persistence partially paying off as he laid back to Essien, but the Ghanaian's left-footed shot was always too high to trouble goalkeeper Tim Howard.

The next time we ventured forwards the results would be better.

The equaliser came on 20 minutes, and who else would it be at Wembley but Drogba? Anelka and Lampard combined to spread the ball left to Malouda, who took a touch and crossed into the Everton area.

Drogba, who had so far been well shackled, slipped between central defenders Joseph Yobo and Joleon Lescott and headed hard into the corner, leaving Howard a mere spectator. It was the Ivorian's fourth goal in as many Wembley visits.

Within three minutes things could have been even better, Lampard finding space 30 yards out but shooting just over the bar.

The tension that had been evident at the Chelsea end had now turned to relief; suddenly the Everton support seemed very quiet indeed.

As predicted Everton had sat deep as Chelsea dominated possession in the first two thirds before being greeted by banks of four and five defending Howard's goal. A second goal would require patience but surely a chance would come, as players in blue began to tire of ball-chasing.

Two minutes before the interval an opportunity did arise for Ashley Cole. Fellaini's interception fell favourably for him and he would have been confident of at least hitting the target after netting in the north east last week. But as he bore down from a narrow angle he snatched at the ball and sliced it well wide.

It was a let-off for Everton and particularly Hibbert, who seemed to switch off with Drogba incapacitated, allowing the England left-back in behind.

An Everton corner was cleared without danger and that was it for the first half. Hiddink's final Chelsea team-talk would probably have urged Lampard to be more involved higher up the field, and for his team-mates to supply Malouda who had enjoyed his afternoon so far up against Hibbert.

Typically, David Moyes replaced his ailing right-back, bringing on Lars Jacobsen to marshal the winger instead. It wouldn't have been a huge surprise.

The second half began in scrappy fashion, neither side keeping the ball well, and Neville entering the book for a scissors-styled lunge on Mikel.

Malouda volleyed high and Saha blazed wide as the game took on a more even complexion in the opening quarter-hour of the second half.

Just before the clock ticked over onto 60 minutes, Anelka had a half-chance, lifting the ball up and over Howard but it was slightly too high.

Then came Hiddink's first action, replacing Essien, ineffective by his own high standards, with Ballack in midfield.

Cahill looked to have done himself some damage unleashing a powerful drive straight at Cech, and Mikel became the first Chelsea man booked in a frantic couple of minutes. The game was just starting to open up.

From a free-kick Everton worked the ball wide to Leighton Baines, whose whipped cross picked out Saha in a similar position to where Drogba had scored. Fortunately for Chelsea he headed up and over when he should have tested Cech.

At the other end Malouda skipped past Jacobsen and crossed hard to the near post, where Drogba inadvertently directed the ball past the near post with his chest.

By now we were into the final 20 minutes and still no nearer to finding a winner.

Enter Frank Lampard.

For one normally so central to Chelsea's attacking play, the midfielder had had a very quiet game as he went in search of his 20th goal of the season, and his 100th in five.

When the chance came, on his left foot 25 yards from goal, there was only one outcome. He turned Neville, and after regaining his composure fired hard past Howard, the ball's sheer pace taking it beyond the American's grasp.

His celebration, to run around the corner flag, was in homage to his dad's goal routine after netting for West Ham at the semi-final stage in 1980.

Chelsea were in front with 19 minutes left to defend the lead. It should have been beyond doubt with 15 to go.

Drogba switched to Cole, whose touch and pass inside to Lampard were immaculate. The midfielder picked out Malouda's run and with time and space he could wrap it up, but instead curled over.

Four minutes later Malouda thought he had scored when his powerful effort bounced down off the crossbar towards the line. Drogba appealed, but the game went on, the linesman deciding the ball hadn't crossed. Replays suggested that it had.

It was the Toffees who needed to attack, but having spent so long trying to get the ball, they found it difficult to keep when it came their way, let alone work towards the Chelsea area.

In the final minute of normal time Cahill shot desperately from 30 yards plus, but Cech was unconcerned as it flew wide.

Four minutes of added time were indicated but still Chelsea were in charge. Anelka could have sealed the win but against lifted the ball over the bar, anda fter that there was just time for ref Howard Webb to blow the whistle and signal our fifth FA Cup success, and second in three years.

Cue the celebrations.

Well done lads.

By Andy Jones

Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Bosingwa, Alex, Terry (c), A Cole; Essien (Ballack 60), Mikel, Lampard; Anelka, Malouda, Drogba.

Goals Drogba 20, Lampard 71

Booked Mikel 62, Lampard 83

Everton (4-4-1-1): Howard; Hibbert (Jacobsen h-t), Yobo, Lescott, Baines; Osman (Gosling 82), Neville (c), Cahill, Pienaar; Fellaini; Saha (Vaughan 76).

Goals Saha 1

Booked Hibbert 7, Neville 47, Baines 90+3

You can watch the game again in full on Chelsea TV from 6pm on Sunday, with highlights available on Chelsea Plus.

Chelsea ended the Premier League season with a win at Sunderland thanks to goals from Golden Boot winner Nicolas Anelka, Salomon Kalou and Ashley Cole.

We didn't have it all our own way on a bright day in the north east, but never looked like being beaten against a Sunderland side still playing to secure their survival.

An uneventful first half was eclipsed by an entertaining second that contained five goals. After a minute Anelka fired home his 19th league strike of the season from 30 yards to tie up the Golden Boot before Kieran Richardson equalised shortly afterwards.

The points were made secure as sub Kalou and Cole scored in the closing stages before Kenwyne Jones claimed a late consolation.

Guus Hiddink, making his final Chelsea selection in the Premier League, wouldn't have won many friends on Wearside with his strong selection. He did however opt to rest Frank Lampard and Alex, who were replaced with Juliano Belletti and Branislav Ivanovic.

Nicolas Anelka was looking for a goal that would seal the Golden Boot, and would do so from the right flank, possibly buoyed by the knowledge that Cristiano Ronaldo would not be figuring for Manchester United at Hull, Sunderland's relegation rivals.

Looking for the point that would guarantee safety, Ricky Sbragia picked three forwards on the bench, but only one on the pitch, Kenwyne Jones starting as the lone target man.

In the early exchanges he cut an isolated figure, while his opposite number Drogba chipped onto the roof of the home net and then volleyed viciously into goalkeeper Marton Fulop's fists.

That was the only slightly memorable action of the opening 20 minutes, though Juliano Belletti may struggle to forget the challenge that forced him off, making him a possible doubt for FA Cup Final duty in six days' time.

Driven on by their loud support, Sunderland forced a hesitant Petr Cech into action 25 minutes in. Grant Leadbitter crossed into the corridor of uncertainty around the six-yard line, inches beyond Jones's head. The Chelsea goalkeeper came for the cross but fumbled, though fortunately Ivanovic was on hand to hook the ball clear.

The Serb was also on hand a couple of minutes later to head away Phil Bardsley's cross after the full-back had escaped Malouda's attentions.

At the other end Ashley Cole showed quick feet to create room for a cross, picking out Drogba at the far post, but the Ivorian's header was tame and wide.

A minute later Cole was booked after his legs tangled with Kieran Richardson's while Sunderland broke.

Perhaps the standout moment of the first half arrived after 37 minutes as cheers broke out around the Stadium of Light. News had arrived that Aston Villa were in front against Newcastle. It was certainly big news, but perhaps also indicative of the lack of noteworthy action here.

Before half-time Malouda drove right-footed straight at Fulop and then the keeper saved well from Drogba, but there was no breakthrough. Neither manager looked overly concerned.

The second half began very differently as Anelka sealed his own personal triumph.

Picking up the ball 40 yards from goal, he strode forward and unleashed the truest and straightest of shots that flew into Fulop's far top corner. It was simply unstoppable, and more than deserving of the Golden Boot that was now his.

Sunderland clearly weren't feeling safe yet though and responded quickly. Having fallen behind after a minute of the second half, they were level within another six.

A deep cross from the left evaded Cech's reach and fell to the feet of Richardson, who sidestepped a Chelsea lunge before firing low between blue-shirted defenders to equalise.

With 20 minutes left they should have been in front when Steed Malbranque ran from deep inside his own half past three Chelsea players before playing a one-two and shooting low. Cech saved well from the Frenchman and Michael Ballack cleared it behind.

Back on the attack Chelsea could have scored when Salomon Kalou, on for Michael Essien squared to Malouda 25 yards from goal. The winger's shot was well struck but deflected high over the crossbar.

When Kalou next picked up possession, the results were equally as impressive as Anelka's before him. This time the shot was aimed towards the near post where it caught Fulop unaware, and sneaked inside the upright to put Chelsea back in front, another nice strike.

Aware they were still not out of trouble Sunderland had to fight back. Cech had to save low at his near post from Bardsley, who then failed to get back into position allowing Anelka to test Fulop once again.

The keeper saved but he would soon be picking the ball out of the net. Malouda went through and was blocked by the keeper, but the ball fell loose to Ashley Cole, without a goal this season, who calmly slotted home with his weaker right foot.

Game over with five minutes left. Now Sunderland fans would have to hope Hull and Newcastle both stayed behind in their respective fixtures.

Right on 90 minutes Jones halved the deficit for the Black Cats, getting his header in from close range before Cech arrived.

The cross had come in from the Sunderland right, and Jones had lost his marker, something that needs to be addressed before Everton come to London next week.

The Stadium of Light's biggest cheer of the afternoon came after the final whistle with confirmation Newcastle had slipped into the second tier, and the Mackems had survived. Middlesbrough will also join them.

For Chelsea, the Cup Final is still six days away. Until then Blues fans can be pleased with a winning end to the league season and the prospect of further Champions League competition next season, third place already secured before this afternoon.

The addition of some silverware at Wembley will be very welcome indeed, and with Lampard to return in search of his 20th goal of the season, we have every reason to be confident.

By Andy Jones

Sunderland (4-5-1): Fulop; Bardsley, Davenport, Ferdinand, Collins; Malbranque (Healy 78), Whitehead (c), Tainio (Reid 64), Richardson (Murphy 85), Leadbitter; Jones.

Goal Richardson 52

Booked Bardsley 39

Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry (c), A Cole; Essien (Kalou 64), Mikel (Mancienne 77), Belletti (Ballack 26); Anelka, Drogba, Malouda.

Goals Anelka 46, Kalou 73, A Cole 85

Booked A Cole 33

Florent Malouda's sixth league goal of the season and Nicolas Anelka's 18^th made it a good afternoon on the pitch as Stamford Bridge said farewell to Guus Hiddink.

'Roman, Roman, sign him up,' sang the crowd during the second-half, the watching owner responding with a big smile and laugh. 'Guus Hiddink, we want him to stay,' then took over as the song of the game.

At the final whistle the coach took the mic and thanked everyone, the players doing similar on a lap of appreciation. Hiddink exited through a guard of honour from the team. Roy Bentley had also shown nimble feet in front of the Matthew Harding End on the occasion of the 85th birthday for our original trophy-winning captain.

Before that however it was the 11 players who were unchanged from the team that had begun the win at Arsenal who comfortably dealt with Blackburn.

Malouda's goal was as early as the fourth minute. Anelka waited until the second half to fire in the goal that puts him neck-and-neck with Cristiano Ronaldo in the race for the Golden Boot with one match to play.

Anelka was the outstanding player all-round as he grows into his role as a mobile wide attacker, and could easily have had two more to add to the 18.

The Blues will surely have a tougher game than this one at Wembley in a fortnight, but look in good form as the Cup Final approaches.

Blackburn's Pedersen got a shot in on target in the first minute of this game - straight at Cech with Chelsea's first attempt coming two minutes further on.

That was a counter-attack from a Cech throw, Malouda from the left crossing and Lampard shooting for what looked every inch goal number 20 for him this season, but centre-back Givet slid across and blocked.

Just a minute later Chelsea did find the net, again counter-attacking with speedy simplicity. It was Bosingwa who initially surged forward, playing a pass out wide to Anelka. The cross was perfect for Malouda to head on the run past Robinson. It was a tremendous finish to a very good move.

Anelka himself should have drawn level with Cristiano Ronaldo on 18 league goals for the season but his side-foot shot when picked out by Cole was straight at the keeper. That was with nine minutes gone.

Lampard, with a great sliding block, prevented Grella getting a shot away from the edge of the box and Samba volleyed a difficult chance wide as Blackburn briefly rallied - but then Chelsea were back up the other end for Lampard to shoot against the bar from 15 yards out, Anelka again the supply line.

Ashley Cole was the next to receive a ball inside the box from the Frenchman, this time from the left. The full-back's connection was lacking and Robinson saved.

Blackburn, with five in midfield and converted centre-back Samba on his own up front were showing limited ambition to get forward but Chelsea were still finding space as we pushed on.

Bosingwa became the game's first booking for a dive just outside the area on 26 minutes and a minute later it took a hack up, up and away from under the crossbar by Nelsen to prevent a Malouda second goal. He had proved more determined to get to a bouncing ball than full-back Andrews and lobbed the keeper.

Pedersen gave Cech some rare activity with a well-struck shot and then on 33 minutes came the most painful moment of the game - Michael Essien the recipient of a full set of Grella's studs in the groin region.

Referee Rob Styles had turned to follow the action and missed the contact, otherwise the midfielder surely would not have escaped punishment for such a high challenge.

A minute before the break Blackburn lost their captain Nelsen to injury. Samba, who had missed a good header chance earlier reverted to his normal defensive role but instead of bringing on Benni McCarthy to play up front, Sam Allardyce instead opted to move Pedersen there and bring substitute Doran into midfield.

At half-time Rovers' other starting centre-back changed too - Givet replaced by Khizanishvili.

If the decision not to bring McCarthy on until later in the half was a sign of a conservative approach by the visitors, nothing that happened in a one-sided second-half did anything to contradict it.

On 52 minutes Lampard turned and crossed inside the area but a stretching Malouda could only turn the ball back into Robinson's arms.

Four minutes later Cole was calling for a penalty for a tug back by Andrews as the Chelsea man was racing to reach a far-post cross. It looked a very good shout.

He might have been denied but there was no stopping Anelka finding the net on 58 minutes when his crisp low shot found the bottom corner. Drogba had teed the chance up after Malouda had missed an Ashley Cole cross.

Anelka returned the complement to Drogba later in the game but from a similar position the shot flew over. It was not one of the Ivorian's better games in recent months.

Before that, the sub-plot of Lampard's 20^th goal search had continued when Robinson did well to dispossess the Chelsea vice-captain as he attempted to take the ball round the keeper.

Anelka rolled a 72^nd chance a yard wide after a lightning break in which Drogba was also involved.

Tugay drew a save from Cech with a well-struck volley but at no point in the second half did Blackburn genuinely look like finding the net. Terry and Alex once again put in high class performances.

Essien from 25 yards drew a diving save from Robinson late on and then in the very last minute the former England keeper saved a tight-angled drive from Malouda and then a follow-up from Anelka.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cech; Bosingwa, Alex, Terry (c), A Cole; Mikel, Essien; Anelka, Lampard, Malouda; Drogba.
Scorers Malouda 3, Anelka 58.
Booked Bosingwa 26

Blackburn (4-5-1): Robinson; Andrews, Nelsen (c) (Doran 44), Givet (Khizanishvili h-t), Warnock; Diouf, Tugay, Grella,Villanueva, Pedersen (McCarthy 65); Samba.
Booked Grella 63, Khizanishvili 83.

Watch the full 90 minutes on Chelsea TV from midnight.

A win that equals our biggest in the league away to Arsenal has guaranteed automatic Champions League qualification for next season.

In a London derby with plenty of chances at both ends, it was the Blues who were far more ruthless, an Alex header followed by Anelka's 17^th in the league this season making it 2-0 by the break.

Arsenal gave us the third shortly after the interval through an own-goal and then put pressure on by scoring at the correct end. However Florent Malouda completed the four-goal haul shortly before the end.

It may not have healed the wounds after the Champions League heartbreak, but it was still a very enjoyable Sunday afternoon in north London.                                               

Drogba was selected from the start in a line-up with just one change from the Barcelona game. That was Mikel in for Ballack.

There was no Arshavin for Arsenal, the Russian reported as ill on Saturday, and Manuel Almunia had an ankle injury so Fabianski was in goal, his dodgy display in the semi-final at Wembley still fresh in the memory.

Within 20 seconds Arsenal put the Chelsea goal under pressure, the direct running of Walcott the cause. When the ball broke back his way after a tackle, he shot well over.

It then needed Cech to stand strong at the near post to keep out Walcott when the winger burst behind the Chelsea defence on the right and shot from an angle.

Chelsea's start to the game had been quiet but Drogba began to put his side on the front foot by pressuring Silvestre in to some hurried defending. Then Lampard shot over from the edge of the area.

However Arsenal came back and there was a huge let-off when Diaby sliced wide when it was easier to score after Arsenal had sliced through the middle of our defence with some one-touch passing.

Walcott volleyed a couple of yards wide after Diaby had advanced down an open left flank and crossed. Arsenal's 4-1-4-1 shape meant they were not outnumbered in midfield in this meeting and the Blues were looking stretched at the back too often for comfort.

Not that we didn't have the means to open the home side up as well, as Cole demonstrated on 20 minutes as he took a return pass, skipped beyond Sagna and laid the ball across to Drogba. The shot was on-target but lacked the power to beat covering defender Silvestre. The best Blues chance yet.

Arsenal wastefulness continued when Song missed from close range following a scramble when Bosingwa skied a clearance. They would pay for it.

Fabergas was booked by referee Phil Dowd for suggesting a dive when whistled up for a foul on Drogba. The punishment didn't end there. Drogba himself swung the free-kick over and Alex, scorer of famous headed goal for PSV that knocked Arsenal out of Europe, repeated the feat with a header that went in off the underside of the crossbar.

Twenty-eight minutes had passed and we were ahead for the first time in this stadium.

'Going home in a minute,' sang the Chelsea fans in acknowledgement of the efficient ground evacuation here against Man United.

Fabianski made a hash of coming for a corner soon after but Arsenal escaped, as did their captain when already-carded Fabregas was only lectured after what looked a bookable foul on Malouda. Our opponents could so easily have been down to 10 men.

Cole hacked away from our own goal-line after Van Persie backheeled a cross towards the target after one quick counter-attack.

A sunny afternoon in north London became even brighter 38 minutes in when Anelka scored one of his best goals since arriving at Chelsea. Receiving the ball midway inside the Chelsea half, he drifted into space and smashed an outswinging shot from 25 yards that Fabianski, lacking spring in his dive, comprehensively failed to keep out.

The Blues really should have put the game to bed in stoppage time at the end of the half when Essien and Malouda spread their backline apart but Anelka shot straight at the keeper's legs. Even so, our 2-0 lead was sufficient for home support booing as the teams headed down the tunnel.

It took just three minutes of the second half for that third goal to be added. Cole, enjoying a fabulous game in the face of the inevitable jeers, once again raced away down his flank onto a ball over the top. He tried to pick out Drogba but the centre-forward was not needed. Touré in trying to cut the cross out turned it inside the post.

Van Persie was allowed a run on goal soon after when clearly offside (sound familiar?) but checking onto his left, his shot was pushed wide by Cech, another player enjoying a strong game.

Walcott yet again wasted a very presentable chance on 57 minutes when he blasted across the goal with team-mates waiting in the middle.

Bendtner was the first substitute used in the game, coming on for Diaby and playing in the same wide-left role as the man withdrawn. It didn't stop Chelsea from continuing to find spaces in and around their area and the next chance was fashioned by our two full-backs, Cole crossing and Bosingwa volleying over with his right. 

Arsenal pulled their goal back on 69 minutes, shortly after making a double substitution, when Sagna crossed and Bendtner climbed above the defence to head home.

Worryingly, the Dane almost repeated the trick five minutes later from another Sagna cross as he beat Bosingwa in the air - but this time Cech saved.

Hiddink reacted, bringing on Ivanovic for Bosingwa to increase aerial power in the area where Bendtner was operating.

Lampard was then denied a clear run on goal after a clever Drogba chip over the top by an incorrect offside flag. There were just under 10 minutes remaining and goals at either end looked more than possible.

It took fantastic reactions from Cech to keep out a Silvestre shot from close range after a prolonged scramble. Adebayor then failed to win a penalty with a blatant dive when challenged by Cech. The striker was not booked.

The fourth Chelsea goal came with four minutes of normal time remaining, Malouda initially shooting against Fabianski's legs when sent through by a brilliant Lampard flick. There was no need for him to despair.

The ball came out to Anelka whose shot from out wide smashed onto the near post and fell for Malouda to turn in.

Arsenal's 21-game unbeaten league run had come to an end in emphatic style. The Chelsea players celebrated in the corner where our supporters were housed, with Didier Drogba receiving his own big ovation.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cech; Bosingwa (Ivanovic 76), Alex, Terry (c), A Cole; Mikel, Essien; Anelka, Lampard, Malouda (Ballack 88); Drogba.
Scorers Alex 28, Anelka 38, Touré o.g 48, Malouda 84.

Arsenal (4-1-4-1): Fabianski; Sagna, Touré, Silvestre, Gibbs; Song (Denilson 67); Walcott (Adebayor 67), Fàbregas (c), Nasri, Diaby (Bendtner 59); Van Persie.
Scorer Bendtner 70.
Booked Fabregas 26

Watch the full 90 minutes on Chelsea TV from midnight.

An away goal two minutes into stoppage time at the end of the game knocked Chelsea off the road to Rome on a night of many regrets.

The defeat over two legs, dealt by an Andrés Iniesta goal, came about despite a brilliant Michael Essien early opener.

It came about despite some rampaging Chelsea attacks. It came about despite clear cut chances in the face of superior Barcelona possession. It came about despite the away side suffering the traditional red card in these fixtures. And it came about despite more than one big penalty appeal.

Chelsea didn't play great football, but on the night we looked to have done well enough. The killer goal, when it came, was Barça's first true effort on target.

The 4-4-2 experiment used against Fulham was shelved tonight, Hiddink reverting to the formation that had earned the 0-0 draw in Spain.

However this time Bosingwa rather than Ivanovic was right back with Cole returning on the other flank. Anelka rather than Essien was wide right of the Chelsea midfield on this occasion with Mikel back on the bench.

Bosingwa's immediate task was to snuff out Iniesta rather than injured Henry - and with Yaya Touré the one asked to play stand in centre-back, it meant two new faces in midfield from the first leg - Busquets and Kieta joining Xavi and bringing height.

Barcelona, prepared to play it around in their own half from kick-off, were caught cold when Xavi slipped and Terry pounced to release Drogba, unmarked and onside. But the ball bounced off his standing leg and away. If only...!

Terry made a strong and successful challenge on Messi when he entered the Chelsea area for the first time, the Argentine beginning the game as the more central striker, Eto'o on the left where Henry might have been.

On five minutes Bosingwa hacked away from inside the six-yard area as a ball across took a freakish deflection and the Spaniards would have been pretty satisfied with their start.

But then on eight minutes, Drogba for the first time won an aerial contest deep in enemy territory and Chelsea could attack.

The ball soon came to Lampard inside the area and although his ball forward was blocked, up it popped perfectly for an Essien volley. From five yards outside the area the Ghanaian wellied it and in it flew, over Valdés and off the bottom of the crossbar.

The whole of west London must have heard the roar. The opening goal had come just a minute later than in the famous victory of 2005.

On 16 minutes the Blues pressed again. Malouda found Lampard but off-balance, he sliced well wide.

Barcelona had to wait for a 20^th minute free-kick to try their luck but from 40 yards out and in the manner of another Brazilian full back, Roberto Carlos, Alves shot wastefully with Cech covering.

Two minutes later, Drogba was suddenly bearing down on goal as a long ball bounced invitingly ahead - but Valdés just won the race.

Earlier in the game Malouda won a debatable free-kick out of Alves (sweet justice after the first leg!), now he was awarded another free-kick when the foul could have been called inside the area. From close by the goal-line and away to left, Drogba did incredibly well to force a panicked save from the keeper with a blasted shot.

From the corner that followed, Terry's header dropped just a yard or two wide. Barça were wobbling - an impression confirmed when Lampard with relative ease put Drogba through. Our striker was again denied by Valdés and then went down under challenge from Touré - but the Norwegian ref was unmoved.

On 29 minutes Alves barged into Cole as the Chelsea man won a header and saw the first yellow card of the game. Not any old yellow though - one that will put the right-back out of the Final.

On 37 minutes Messi left Cole trailing for the first time but his ball in was a virtual back pass to Cech.

Heading towards the break, the Blues play became more broken and less ambitious as a spot of let's-make-it-half-time-ahead syndrome kicked in.

In that target, they were successful, even if it needed a block on a Xavi shot with two seconds remaining.

The second half began with one free-kick near the Chelsea area and two corners for Barça in the first five minutes - but the Blues stood strong.

Then on 52 minutes came the moment that looked for all the world a second Chelsea goal. Anelka burst onto a Malouda pass and feed a free Drogba. Cutting inside the closing defender, our number 11 shot low - but Valdés continued to stay on top in their personal duel by saving with an outstretched leg. In the follow up action, Malouda shot into the sidenetting.

Just three minutes later Drogba 'monstered' Touré as Lampard passed forward but into the area he was chopped by his countryman. Incredulous is one word to describe Didier's reaction when no penalty came - although replays suggested the defender might have got a block on the ball.

On 64 minutes there was a flash of Messi class to work a central striking chance but he fired over. A minute later he became one of a 10-man Barcelona side.

Drogba headed on to set Anelka away. Abidal was the chasing defender and just outside the area there was a tangle of feet and the Chelsea man tumbled.

His fellow France international had been the last man, decided the referee, and he roduced the red card.

Drogba had hurt his knee during his part in the incident, and after limping on for six minutes, was replaced with Belletti, although he clearly thought he could have gone on. Anelka went into the central striker role with the sub taking his place on the right.

Essien was booked for a foul on Iniesta before on 76 minutes, came the moment that would have denied Alex his place in Rome had there been a different ending. It was the Brazilian's initial mistake that had given Messi the ball and he can have little complaint about the yellow card for the foul that followed.

Anelka had a penalty shout turned down when Touré was caught the wrong side, as he had been frequently against Drogba, and two hit the ground.

If that wasn't clear cut, the same could not be said of the handball by Piqué in the area moments later. How that wasn't a pen only Tom Henning Ovrebo knows!

The Spaniards now looked all at sea at the back every time Chelsea advanced - but still that second goal would not come. Were we attempting to stretch them and go for the kill enough. Maybe not.

Messi went down as he darted for the area but the ref was as equally unmoved as moments before. Chelsea now had less than seven minutes to hold out.

Eto'o, who had been a near spectator, joined those in the book for dissent as stoppage time began.

Two minutes of that were played when Barcelona swung over a hopeful cross. Terry headed away but Essien slipped when he could have hacked well up field. Iniesta was fed and smashed an unstoppable shot past Cech.

The incident did not end there. Chelsea won a corner for which Cech advanced. His contact was away from goal but Ballack volleyed back, the ball hitting Eto'o high on the arm.

The penalty appeal was once again huge but the only result was a Ballack booking.

What happened at the final whistle was not good viewing with Drogba on the pitch to make his point to the officials with temper raised. He too saw yellow and may face further punishment yet as colleagues pushed him down the tunnel.

This may not have been the Champions League Final, but it will hurt just as much, and for just as long as the Moscow result last year.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cech; Bosingwa, Alex, Terry (c), A Cole; Ballack, Essien; Anelka, Lampard, Malouda; Drogba (Belletti 71).
Scorer Essien 8.
Booked Essien 73, Alex 76, Ballack 90+6, Drogba 90+6.

Barcelona(4-3-3): Valdés; Alves, Piqué, Touré, Abidal; Busquets (Bojan 84), Xavi, Keita; Messi, Eto'o, Iniesta (Gudjohnsen 90+5).
Scorer Iniesta 90+2
Booked Alves 29, Eto'o 90, Iniesta 90+2.
Sent-off Abidal 65.

Watch the full 90 minutes on Chelsea TV from 11pm on Thursday. Highlights on Chelsea Plus.

There was a Gallic flavour to Chelsea's west London derby win against Fulham, with goals coming from Nicolas Anelka, Florent Malouda and Didier Drogba.

It was no less than the Blues deserved, the better side for almost the entire 90 minutes as Anelka in particular ran the normally sturdy Fulham defence ragged.

Beginning as a centre-forward, the 30-year-old opened the scoring after 50 seconds before Fulham equalised almost immediately through Erik Nevland.

Soon afterwards he turned creator alongside Drogba, another constant thorn in the Fulham side as Malouda swept home, and Drogba completed the scoring in the second half after yet another Anelka pass.

It was the perfect warm-up for Barcelona on Wednesday, a game which Guus Hiddink will have had in mind with his selection and tactics, which will have caused surprise in Catalonia.

Michael Ballack was rested but the German aside, it was as strong a side as you could imagine just four days before the Champions League semi-final second leg, in an unusual 4-4-2 shape.

Ashley Cole returned at left-back with José Bosingwa shuffling across to his customary right-sided role, while in midfield Frank Lampard started on the right.

Anelka was paired in attack by Drogba, with perhaps Barcelona's central defensive troubles in mind - Rafael Marquez and Carles Puyol will both be absent at the Bridge on Wednesday.

That was enough about Europe, this game was about the Premier League and local pride, and Chelsea took less than a minute to gain the advantage in a frantic opening.

Malouda won possession and so followed a goal of beautiful simplicity. The winger exchanged passes with Anelka before feeding Drogba, whose lay-off was straight into his strike partner's path and Anelka made no mistake as he slotted beyond goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.

Before there was time to check the stopwatch, the lead had been surrendered and regained.

Danny Murphy's lofted pass over the Chelsea defence caught the Blues flat-footed, but former Manchester United forward Erik Nevland was alert, and with time available to him, ran on and fired low into Petr Cech's right-hand corner. 1-1 after three minutes.

By the 10th minute Chelsea were ahead again as the same trio combined to devastating effect. Anelka slipped Drogba into the area and the Ivorian unselfishly squared to the far post where Malouda's run was timed perfectly to despatch the loose ball into the far corner.

Just when things looked like they were settling down, Nevland almost equalised, but his well struck volley of a looping ball was just too high to trouble Cech.

Drogba had a goal ruled out for offside as Chelsea began to exert dominance. Fulham did not look like a side built on solid foundations, a side that had conceded just 15 away goals all season before this afternoon.

The visitors' ball retention was poor, gifting possession to their superior opponents too frequently, and their hopes were dealt a further blow when Nevland was forced off through injury.

Chelsea were not capitalising particularly well though, the initial high tempo of the game had given way to a sluggish end of season feel, minds perhaps on Barcelona instead.

That allowed Fulham a couple of half-chances. First Zoltan Gera saw his shot deflected over by John Terry (who received a silver boot from chairman Bruce Buck before kick off the mark his 400th appearance), and then Paul Konchesky shot wide moments later.

Back in attack, Malouda could have grabbed a second, his shot blocked after Bosingwa had crossed deep. The Frenchman was showing some of his best form, as was Anelka, who supplied Lampard and Michael Essien with good opportunities, neither finding the target.

At half-time Hiddink made two changes, both with the intention of maintaining freshness in his squad. Branislav Ivanovic and Michael Ballack replaced Alex and Essien.

The formation had also altered, back to a 4-3-3 with Anelka playing wider on the right. Ballack was occupying the midfield holding role.

Despite the deeper position, Ballack still advanced, almost laying on one of the goals of the season before Lampard was tackled by John Pantsil. Drogba, Anelka and Mikel were also involved in the intricate build-up.

The goal that followed two minutes later was not far off that standard, as Anelka again showed his unselfish side, slotting a perfectly weighted ball through the heart of Fulham's defence for Drogba, whose touch and finish was as tidy as they come.

Now Drogba had a goal to join his two assists, and had Lampard's passing not been unusually off, he might have had a second.

Within a couple of minutes he had a whole lot of pain to contend with too, after a collision with Pantsil left him prostrate on the ground for some time. There was cause for concern as team-mates gathered round, but eventually he would return to his feet.

While he had been down, play had been going on around him, Malouda picking up the loose ball and skipping past two challenges before being fouled 25 yards out. Lampard would strike the free-kick, with only Ballack as competition after Alex's substitution.

The shot was straight and hard, Schwarzer just managing to push it over with his fingertips.

Such was Chelsea's supremacy in the opening 20 minutes of the second period, that the crowd might have forgotten Fulham were allowed to attack. Sub Diomansy Kamara reminded everyone it wasn't forbidden by shooting wide

It didn't take long for usual proceedings to be restored. Again Anelka supplied the pass, a low cross similar to that for Drogba's first goal against Liverpool a couple of weeks back, hard to the near post, and the same player connected but this time knocking it just wide.

Their interplay, so inventive all afternoon, deserved another goal but it would have to wait for another time, Anelka heading Malouda's cross wide just before Drogba was replaced by Franco Di Santo for the final six minutes.

Not surprisingly there was a standing ovation from the 41,801 crowd, Drogba responded with a kiss of the badge as he departed the field.

With this game comfortably won and the pressure on Liverpool to deliver against Newcastle on Sunday, Hiddink can begin again to focus on how to beat Barcelona.

A repeat of today's performance by a front three very much on form would certainly help.

By Andy Jones

Chelsea (4-4-2): Cech; Bosingwa, Alex (Ivanovic h-t), Terry (c), A Cole; Lampard, Essien (Ballack h-t), Mikel, Malouda; Anelka, Drogba (Di Santo 84).
Goals Anelka 1, Malouda 9, Drogba 53

 Fulham (4-4-2): Schwarzer; Pantsil, Hughes, Hangeland, Konchesky; Dempsey, Murphy (c), Etuhu, Gera; Zamora (Dacourt 75), Nevland (Kamara 35).
Goals Nevland 3
Booked Murphy 90+1

There was a Gallic flavour to Chelsea's west London derby win against Fulham, with goals coming from Nicolas Anelka, Florent Malouda and Didier Drogba.

It was no less than the Blues deserved, the better side for almost the entire 90 minutes as Anelka in particular ran the normally sturdy Fulham defence ragged.

Beginning as a centre-forward, the 30-year-old opened the scoring after 50 seconds before Fulham equalised almost immediately through Erik Nevland.

Soon afterwards he turned creator alongside Drogba, another constant thorn in the Fulham side as Malouda swept home, and Drogba completed the scoring in the second half after yet another Anelka pass.

It was the perfect warm-up for Barcelona on Wednesday, a game which Guus Hiddink will have had in mind with his selection and tactics, which will have caused surprise in Catalonia.

Michael Ballack was rested but the German aside, it was as strong a side as you could imagine just four days before the Champions League semi-final second leg, in an unusual 4-4-2 shape.

Ashley Cole returned at left-back with José Bosingwa shuffling across to his customary right-sided role, while in midfield Frank Lampard started on the right.

Anelka was paired in attack by Drogba, with perhaps Barcelona's central defensive troubles in mind - Rafael Marquez and Carles Puyol will both be absent at the Bridge on Wednesday.

That was enough about Europe, this game was about the Premier League and local pride, and Chelsea took less than a minute to gain the advantage in a frantic opening.

Malouda won possession and so followed a goal of beautiful simplicity. The winger exchanged passes with Anelka before feeding Drogba, whose lay-off was straight into his strike partner's path and Anelka made no mistake as he slotted beyond goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.

Before there was time to check the stopwatch, the lead had been surrendered and regained.

Danny Murphy's lofted pass over the Chelsea defence caught the Blues flat-footed, but former Manchester United forward Erik Nevland was alert, and with time available to him, ran on and fired low into Petr Cech's right-hand corner. 1-1 after three minutes.

By the 10th minute Chelsea were ahead again as the same trio combined to devastating effect. Anelka slipped Drogba into the area and the Ivorian unselfishly squared to the far post where Malouda's run was timed perfectly to despatch the loose ball into the far corner.

Just when things looked like they were settling down, Nevland almost equalised, but his well struck volley of a looping ball was just too high to trouble Cech.

Drogba had a goal ruled out for offside as Chelsea began to exert dominance. Fulham did not look like a side built on solid foundations, a side that had conceded just 15 away goals all season before this afternoon.

The visitors' ball retention was poor, gifting possession to their superior opponents too frequently, and their hopes were dealt a further blow when Nevland was forced off through injury.

Chelsea were not capitalising particularly well though, the initial high tempo of the game had given way to a sluggish end of season feel, minds perhaps on Barcelona instead.

That allowed Fulham a couple of half-chances. First Zoltan Gera saw his shot deflected over by John Terry, and then Paul Konchesky shot wide moments later.

Back in attack, Malouda could have grabbed a second, his shot blocked after Bosingwa had crossed deep. The Frenchman was showing some of his best form, as was Anelka, who supplied Lampard and Michael Essien with good opportunities, neither finding the target.

At half-time Hiddink made two changes, both with the intention of maintaining freshness in his squad. Branislav Ivanovic and Michael Ballack replaced Alex and Essien.

The formation had also altered, back to a 4-3-3 with Anelka playing wider on the right. Ballack was occupying the midfield holding role.

Despite the deeper position, Ballack still advanced, almost laying on one of the goals of the season before Lampard was tackled by John Pantsil. Drogba, Anelka and Mikel were also involved in the intricate build-up.

The goal that followed two minutes later was not far off that standard, as Anelka again showed his unselfish side, slotting a perfectly weighted ball through the heart of Fulham's defence for Drogba, whose touch and finish was as tidy as they come.

Now Drogba had a goal to join his two assists, and had Lampard's passing not been unusually off, he might have had a second.

Within a couple of minutes he had a whole lot of pain to contend with too, after a collision with Pantsil left him prostrate on the ground for some time. There was cause for concern as team-mates gathered round, but eventually he would return to his feet.

While he had been down, play had been going on around him, Malouda picking up the loose ball and skipping past two challenges before being fouled 25 yards out. Lampard would strike the free-kick, with only Ballack as competition after Alex's substitution.

The shot was straight and hard, Schwarzer just managing to push it over with his fingertips.

Such was Chelsea's supremacy in the opening 20 minutes of the second period, that the crowd might have forgotten Fulham were allowed to attack. Sub Diomansy Kamara reminded everyone it wasn't forbidden by shooting wide

It didn't take long for usual proceedings to be restored. Again Anelka supplied the pass, a low cross similar to that for Drogba's first goal against Liverpool a couple of weeks back, hard to the near post, and the same player connected but this time knocking it just wide.

Their interplay, so inventive all afternoon, deserved another goal but it would have to wait for another time, Anelka heading Malouda's cross wide just before Drogba was replaced by Franco Di Santo for the final six minutes.

Not surprisingly there was a standing ovation from the 41,801 crowd, Drogba responded with a kiss of the badge as he departed the field.

With this game comfortably won and the pressure on Liverpool to deliver against Newcastle on Sunday, Hiddink can begin again to focus on how to beat Barcelona.

A repeat of today's performance by a front three very much on form would certainly help.

By Andy Jones

Chelsea (4-4-2): Cech; Bosingwa, Alex (Ivanovic h-t), Terry (c), A Cole; Lampard, Essien (Ballack h-t), Mikel, Malouda; Anelka, Drogba (Di Santo 84).

Goals Anelka 1, Malouda 9, Drogba 53

Fulham (4-4-2): Schwarzer; Pantsil, Hughes, Hangeland, Konchesky; Dempsey, Murphy (c), Etuhu, Gera; Zamora (Dacourt 75), Nevland (Kamara 35).

Goals Nevland 3

Booked Murphy 90+1

The tie, as predicted by Barcelona players and manager, will very much be decided in the second leg as a Chelsea rearguard action soaked up enormous pressure.

The shut-out was our third consecutive draw in Camp Nou and we became the third side to stop Barcelona scoring this season and the first in this stadium.

In the end, for all the Catalan side's possession and technique, Cech was called upon to make just three difficult saves from their six shots on-target as the defence, marshalled by the excellent John Terry, did well with Lionel Messi's influence waning as the second half minutes ticked by.

Up front, we were only occasional visitors around the Barça area. The only shot on-target was Drogba's although he could well have scored on one other occasion. And for the second leg, our opponents will be missing two experienced defenders.

Bosingwa, as expected, did play at left-back but it was further forward that Hiddink sprung a slight surprise, giving Essien a role out wide on the right, as he had away to Juventus.

Mikel kept his place from the weekend win at West Ham to play deep in midfield with Ballack who returned along with Drogba and Alex.

It was Pep Guardiola who went most against expectation, the Barça coach leaving his captain on the bench. Whether the one booking needed by Puyol for a second leg suspension had affected his thinking was unclear at the off.

Setting a pattern for the first half, Henry drew an early foul from Ivanovic as he pushed forward on the left but the free-kick was wasted when Touré strayed offside.

Chelsea stretched Barcelona first the first time three minutes in, Malouda escaping Alves and crossing quickly for Essien to set up Lampard, the 20-yard effort curling wide.

Chelsea looked promisingly comfortable in possession in the first 10 minutes and a few Barcelona balls were going astray.

When Messi did drive for goal after good approach play by Iniesta and Henry, Terry proved a sufficiently solid wall.

Bosingwa was able to sweep up when Cech only half-dealt with a low Eto'o cross on 11 minutes and then Messi's first attempt to go around the outside of Bosingwa resulted in a foul by the Chelsea man, although there was a good claim for slight first contact by our man's outstretched boot.

The free-kick was again poor but with Barça's next attack, Alex had to clear hurriedly inside the six-yard box. After the moderately encouraging opening, Chelsea were now confined to our half and finding it hard to keep the ball.

On 24 minutes came the first booking, Messi the long-time favourite to be involved, was blocked by the leg of Alex as he nipped past. The free-kick was in a central position and it flicked up off the wall from Xavi's effort to safety.

Ballack made it two Chelsea cautions in four minutes for a lunge at the ankles of Henry midway inside our half.

Barcelona were patiently picking away the Chelsea defences. They came closest yet to breaking through them on 33 minutes when Henry shot strongly following a Messi and Iniesta press forward. Cech pushed round his post.

Touré was Barça's first yellow-carded player for dissent after Chelsea had fouled. Bizarre!

Then on 38 minutes, out of next to nothing, Chelsea could well have grabbed a goal. Bosingwa's ball initially seemed to have little menace but Drogba was onto it as Marquez underhit a back pass with the defence square. His shot from inside the area was too close to Valdez but our striker grabbed the rebound and as he tried to lift the ball over the keeper, a gloved hand clawed the ball to safety.

If nothing else, amongst all the home side domination, it showed they could still be caught out - as they were just moments later when Lampard robbed Pique but with Drogba surging into the box, he slipped in possession at just the wrong moment.

The opening 45 minutes ended with Spaniards having clearly been on top. The posessions stats read 70 per cent in their favour. What they hadn't done was blitz us with first-half goals as in the previous tie against Bayern Munich.

The second-half began with Malouda fouled by Alves out wide. Drogba's floated free-kick was met cleanly by Ballack who had risen in front of his marker, but the header was frustratingly too high. That was a good opportunity spurned.

Barça then suffered misfortune when Marquez collapsed in possession with no-one near with what must be a serious knee injury. Puyol was the natural replacement.

Approaching the hour, Barça began to press once more, Cech was quick to smoother one attack and Messi volleyed a corner over. Cech then beat away a ferocious drive from Alves as another corner was only half-cleared.

The game continued on its goalless way. Alves curled a free-kick nerve-frayingly close after Lampard had fouled centrally.

Then on 68 minutes came the real big escape. Eto'o turned an over-committed Alex too easily and ran beyond Terry. Alex raced back but the Cameroonian cut inside, only for Cech to superbly block the shot.

On 70 minutes came a rare Chelsea substitution - Lampard's number shown, Belletti the replacement to an ovation from his former supporters.

Still the rearguard action continued. There was a big Barça shout for a penalty claim for pulling by Bosingwa as Henry wheeled in the area, preparing to shoot.

Then came an interesting moment. Puyol showed dissent after a free-kick award in the centre-circle and was booked. Neither him, nor almost certainly Marquez, will be available in central defence at the Bridge.

As the game entered its final five minutes, Chelsea increasingly gave away free-kicks in our own half but survived.

Within seconds of the five minutes stoppage time announcement, the home side wasted the best chance of the game.

Substitute Bojan was the culprit, unmarked by tired defenders and heading over at the far post from an Alves cross. Then Cech proved again supreme, racing out and saving from Helb who'd broken free on the left.

Chelsea had survived, and indeed we could even have snatched it shortly before the end of normal time had Drogba managed to get past last-man Pique after an Essien break.

It's going to a red hot and fascinating night at the Bridge in eight days' time.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cech; Ivanovic, Alex, Terry (c), Bosingwa; Ballack (90+4), Mikel; Essien, Lampard (Belletti 70), Malouda; Drogba.
Booked Alex 24, Ballack 28.

Barcelona (4-3-3): Valdés; Alves, Marquez (Puyol 50), Piqué, Abidal; Xavi (c), Touré, Iniesta; Messi, Eto'o (Bojan 81), Henry (Helb 86).
Booked Touré 36, Puyol 73.

See the action again on Chelsea TV from 11pm on Thursday.

A total of 180 league minutes between these two teams failed to produce a goal this season.

The chances were there on a warm spring Stamford Bridge night, increasingly so for both teams as the game drew to a close. It culminated in Didier Drogba hitting the bar in the closing moments but on the whole both sides looked a little drained of ideas and inspiration after recent events - and the stalemate was not, on this showing, a surprise.

Chelsea started unchanged from Wembley although on the bench for the first time was 18-year-old central midfielder Jacob Mellis, a member of last season's FA Youth Cup Final team.

The first on-target attempt in this 8pm kick-off was Everton's - from Jo, the striker who had been cup-tied for their semi-final. A downward header from a Pienaar cross was safely stopped by Cech.

Chelsea after that wake-up call started to advance. The slippery Malouda found a small gap between full-back Jacobsen and covering midfielder Osman but lost his footing before shooting.

Then Everton escaped again and Jo could have done better than drill a shot straight at Cech when one-on-one with our keeper.

Thirteen minutes in the visitors' captain Neville was booked for a lunge in on back-to-goal Drogba midway inside their half. From the free-kick, Ballack rose well to meet Lampard's ball but his radar was off and the header dropped well wide.

From the next attack three minute later Lampard had a go, his 30-yard-plus drive dipping not too far away.

Ballack had his turn with a free-kick, Drogba having already failed with his first set-piece dig, but shot over on 27 minutes. Chelsea were on-top, but the pressure was spasmodic.

In fact we could have gone behind on 33 minutes, Jo escaping free on the left and Cahill taking it well on the turn with a drag-back and shot. Cech saved at full-stretch.

Four minutes from the half-time interval Chelsea were presented with the near freedom of the Everton half as we broke with pace following an Everton corner. Anelka out wide had Malouda unmarked to find in the middle but sadly only picked out the keeper.

Suddenly the defences had gone missing, Chelsea equally absent in leaving Jo unmarked in the Chelsea area but with plenty to aim at, the Brazilian slipped over at the vital moment.

It would have been unfair describe the first-half action as dull, but accurate to say the football lacked the intensity and concentration seen in the momentous matches that had preceded this.

There was more concern when Cahill slipped a pass through two minutes after the restart but although Osman was challenged, the ball was returned for Cahill to connect weakly with a header when well-placed.

Chelsea began to up the tempo of our passing a little and started to find blue shirts in the box.

Anelka screwed a shot badly across the box when played away on the right. That was to be the Frenchman's last contribution in attack, he was replaced by Kalou in the same 60^th minute as Mikel came on for Essien.

Before any of the subs could make an impact, Terry, who had been enjoying an imperious game in defence and possession strode into a gap in the middle and let fly with his left foot from 35 yards out. It took a diving save from Howard to prevent one of the goals of the season from the skipper.

On 63 minutes came a talking point of a different kind, Malouda challenging Yobo for a high bouncing ball and being caught in the face when looking set to break on goal. The officials, to huge crowd complaints, waved play on.

Jo blasted over with 17 minutes left on the clock after a good Everton move across the ground. Lescott then blocked as the ball looked to be in Lampard range. Kalou headed powerfully over after Malouda chipped a ball in as two tiring sides began to allow more chances.

Di Santo was a 75^th minute swap for Malouda and went to play wide right. On 78 minutes Lescott, again, blocked a goalbound Kalou shot after a corner.

A corner of Everton's four minutes later led to confusion in the box, a Ballack cross and then ultimately a Cahill shot into the sidenetting., and then on 84 minutes Pienaar blasted a great chance wide, set up by Cahill. The goalless scoreline was now not reflecting the play at all.

In stoppage time came a moment of deep concern around the Bridge when Cech bravely won a race with Jo to head clear outside his area and take a big blow.

He staggered on to his knees and needed treatment but the impact had been face more than head and he could continue what personally had been a good game.

With four minutes of stoppage time being played came Drogba's woodwork strike in a trademark move, chest controlling and turning to smash a volley onto the crossbar from an angle.

If this was a Cup Final rehearsal then prepare for extra-time next month.

Man United's home win over Portsmouth leaves Chelsea six point behind with a game more played. Knockout competitions look the path to silverware this season.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cech; Ivanovic, Alex, Terry (c), A Cole; Ballack, Essien (Mikel 60); Anelka (Kalou 60), Lampard, Malouda (Di Santo 75); Drogba.
Everton (4-4-1-1): Howard; Jacobsen (Jagielka 86), Yobo, Lescott, Baines; Osman (Rodwell 88), Neville (c), Castillo, Pienaar; Cahill; Jo (Saha 90+2).

Watch the full 90 minutes on Chelsea TV from midnight tonight.

Chelsea clung on to three very valuable points at home to Bolton despite a spirited comeback from the visitors.

Michael Ballack had sent Chelsea into a deserved lead just before half-time before a Frank Lampard penalty either side of Didier Drogba goals made it 4-0 just after the hour.

Bolton though, seemingly well beaten, battled back into the game courtesy of scrappy goals from Andy O'Brien, Chris Basham and Matt Taylor. In the final 10 minutes there were chances for both teams, but the Blues hung on for the win.

With this game sandwiched between Champions League ties with Liverpool, Guus Hiddink opted to rest the recently returned Michael Essien, while allowing Alex a breather from central defensive duties.

In his place came Ricardo Carvalho, without a start since Manchester City four weeks ago, John Mikel Obi returning in place of Essien to fill the holding role he played at Newcastle seven days ago.

Visitors Bolton arrived at Stamford Bridge with a win and three draws from their last five visits, Gary Megson naming an unchanged side from that which beat Middlesbrough so resoundingly a week ago.

They began this game brightly too. A little over a minute had passed before Taylor, also a goalscorer at the Bridge last season, surprised everybody by shooting from distance with a free-kick. Petr Cech in the Chelsea goal was as caught out as anybody, and had to use every inch of his 6'5 frame to get across goal and divert the ball wide.

In typical bank holiday weekend fashion, the skies were grey as the game kicked off, floodlights shining bright across the perfect surface.

The Blues kept the ball on the ground well seven minutes in, Ballack and Lampard linking up to allow Drogba space to shoot. The Ivorian went for the chip from 25 yards, but Jussi Jaaskelainen was alert to push it away.

Florent Malouda shot high shortly afterwards and Lampard fired straight at the goalkeeper, while Bolton's Kevin Davies flashed an effort just wide of Cech's right-hand post.

Chelsea had looked comfortable in possession but when Ballack surrendered the ball to Ricardo Gardner in the centre circle, Bolton could break. The Jamaican ran towards goal before playing it wide to Davies. His cross from the left was accurate, but Taylor's looping header went over. He would get things right later.

Back in control, Ballack was fouled just over 30 yards from goal by Gavin McCann, presenting Lampard with a shooting opportunity. He rifled goalwards but again Jaaskelainen palmed away.

It was the first of a run of Chelsea chances in a five-minute spell. Drogba headed Ashley Cole's cross wide and Malouda's drive was blocked, before Salomon Kalou headed wide and Cole himself shot well off target.

With those openings in mind, it had been a promising first half-hour for the home side, without it being a convincing performance. Bolton were beginning to sit deeper and deeper, centre-back pairing Danny Shittu and Gary Cahill just about managing to contain Drogba.

Many in the crowd thought Ballack had opened the scoring after 35 minutes, but his piledriver, which left Jaaskelainen standing and watching was just too high. Mikel did manage to hit the target but from 35 yards, his low shot was never likely to beat the keeper.

Finally the goal did arrive and it was Ballack that delivered, exchanging passes inside the area with Kalou, whose pull back was weighted perfectly for the onrushing German to fire high beyond the dive of the Finn.

Before the break the 23-year-old winger had a similar opportunity to pick out a team-mate, but this time found the feet of a Bolton defender. That allowed them to break clear, as far as the halfway line, where Taylor was fouled by Drogba.

From the free-kick they produced their best chance of the half as the ball dropped to lone forward Johan Elmander. His snapshot volley looked closer than it was, dropping a few feet wide of Cech's goal.

Just before the half-time whistle blew, Davies sent the ball whistling just wide when the ball dropped at his feet. This late resurgence from Bolton would have given Hiddink a little to think about.

Shittu, who had been limping towards the end of the first half was replaced at the interval by O'Brien. He had been on the field three minutes when Drogba smashed home Chelsea's second.

Kalou was fouled wide on the edge of the Bolton area, and Lampard squared the free-kick low into the area, where the 31-year-old lost his marker and finished with power.

He could have had a second two minutes later when Lampard miscued his shot, but he couldn't quite adapt his feet quickly enough to bring the ball under control.

The midfielder hit one more effort wide before finding the net from a penalty. Gretar Steinsson had been adjudged by Peter Walton to have handled the midfielder's rising pass inside the area, and Lampard stepped up to send it low into the bottom-left corner, Jaaskelainen guessing the wrong way.

Two minutes later it was four for Chelsea and two for Drogba, as he bundled Malouda's corner over the line from close range, after Branislav Ivanovic had won a key header in the opponents' penalty area, not for the first time this week.

Such breathing space allowed for legs to be rested. Drogba and Lampard were withdrawn, Nicolas Anelka and Deco replacing them.

This prompted relaxation in the Chelsea backline. Ballack had to hook off his own line but Gardner headed the clearance back into the area where O'Brien was waiting to help it over the line, getting to the loose ball before Cech.

The Czech goalkeeper will have been furious to let in a second shortly afterwards. Steinsson was allowed to cross from the Bolton right, all the way over to the far post where Davies looped a free header back across goal to Chris Basham, who poked into the top corner, Chelsea defenders failing to mark.

When Davies was allowed to win another header from Jaaskelainen's long kick 12 minutes from time, the Blues should have been alert enough to clear their lines, but when you switch off it is often hard to switch back on, and so it proved.

Taylor slipped between two defenders and managed to head over Cech for a third goal. Alarm bells were surely ringing, where 10 minutes earlier there was blissful peace.

Bolton continued to probe, sending trademark long balls into the Chelsea box but now Cech started to show his class, plucking two crosses out of the air while under pressure.

Still there were chances though, the latest falling to Gardner on the left of the area. Fortunately he shot over, but they were being invited forward as the Blues failed to retain possession up the field.

Bolton weren't doing so well at keeping it in their own third either. O' Brien's backpass was criminally short, Anelka pounced but Jaaskelainen got a touch, slowing the shot on its way to goal and allowing Steinsson to clear.

Then Malouda was denied with a fine low save as the game entered injury time. In those four minutes Steinsson shot wide before Jaaskelainen went up for two corners.

He caused chaos, Davies won his headers and Cech flapped, but somehow the ball stayed out, and Chelsea stayed in front.

Three big points were won, but we could have done without the drama. On to Tuesday and the Champions League. Such shortages in defence will not do then.

By Andy Jones

Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Ivanovic, Carvalho, Terry (c), A Cole; Ballack, Mikel, Lampard (Deco 65); Kalou, Drogba (Anelka 65), Malouda.

Goals Ballack 40, Drogba 48, 63, Lampard (pen) 60

Bolton Wanderers (4-5-1): Jaaskelainen; Steinsson, Shittu (O' Brien h-t), Cahill, Samuel; Davies, Muamba, McCann (Cohen 82), Gardner, Taylor; Elmander (Basham 66).

Goals O'Brien 69, Basham 73, Taylor 78

That sound from the north-east is the Shearer bubble deflating as second-half goals from Frank Lampard and Florent Malouda claimed the precious points.

An early onslaught from the home team failed to materialise, as did the cauldron atmosphere and although Chelsea were far from at our best in the opening period, we stayed in position to kick for a win after the interval.

The chances began to come and soon the fragile home defence cracked. Lampard added to his tally of headed goals this season and Malouda completed an attack that took five touches from Cech's hands to the back of the St James' Park net.

There was no introduction of Shearer to the crowd before the game, the new manager clearly wanting the focus to be on the players.

Hiddink also went quietly about the business of selecting a side that had Ivanovic in at right-back for injured Bosingwa. The Serb struggled in possession early on but improved as the minutes ticked by.

Mikel joined Essien and Lampard in midfield. That meant Michael Ballack dropped to the bench. Up front, Kalou and Malouda were chosen as the flank men either side of Anelka.

Chelsea's plan to quell the crowd early on started well with the ball kept from kick-off for most of the first minute. That was until Butt tackled Essien, a challenge that left both players injured, the Chelsea man more so but after treatment on his ankle he was happily able to go on.

Newcastle won the first corner, cleared only after Cech pushed away a ball at the far post and Gutierrez had volleyed well off target.

Malouda and Kalou combined on the right of the area for Chelsea's best push forward yet on 11 minutes but the ball across from the latter couldn't find anyone in blue.

The home side forced two more corners before 15 minutes had passed but lacked the quality to do anything with them.

On 18 minutes Chelsea became the first side to properly work the opposing keeper, Harper pushing round a diving Kalou header from an Ashley Cole cross. The corner following was cleared to Essien who volleyed a difficult chance over.

Newcastle quickly had the ball up the other end but Martins did not react sharply enough to a low cross and the ball bounced off him, rolling just the right side of the Chelsea post.

It had taken time but on 31 minutes, Chelsea managed to work Anelka into a goalscoring position, sent through by a well-weighted Lampard pass but as the trigger was pulled, the chasing defender just got in a block to send the ball wide.

On 37 minutes referee Rob Styles produced a yellow card, judging Frank Lampard had dived when challenged in the centre of the park.

Two minutes before the break came the introduction of a former favourite - Duff the replacement for Lovenkrands who had badly injured his back in a challenge on halfway and needed a stretcher to make the tunnel.

Two minutes into stoppage time Mikel became the second booking after tripping a flying Gutierrez on the wing. Cech safely pouched the free-kick, Newcastle's set-piece delivery having been poor throughout, so the teams went into the dressing rooms level.

As an exercise in containing the home players and dampening the 'Shearer Effect', the opening 45 minutes had gone alright; Cech had yet to make a save. But for the Blues to take the required three points home, it would need more sparkle in midfield and thrust up front in the second period.

The quest for the goal began with a Malouda corner, played in too low but finding its way to Essien who as in the first-half, fired high with a long-range attempt.

On 50 minutes the Ghanaian opted for a pass from a similar position and Malouda, who had judged the offside well, turned and smashed in a shot that Harper saved with his body.

Then Anelka, found by Malouda, beat offside as well but stretching, could get no power on a header 15 yards from goal.

The game was heating up and Martins flashed widely off-target under pressure from two Chelsea defenders.

There the Newcastle hopes would end for the afternoon. Anelka caught Coloccini in possession in deep in his own half, Malouda and Lampard pounced and the ball was worked wide and back to Anelka.

With Harper closing, the League's topscorer chipped but the ball hit the crossbar. Luck was in however and it bounced down for Lampard to head home from close range - his first in seven Chelsea games.

There were 55 minutes gone and before the goal Ballack had been ready to come on. That substitution still went ahead. Essien, possibly still feeling his early ankle knock, possibly rested ahead of Anfield, was the one to come off.

Gutierrez headed tamely into Cech's hands as the Geordies attempted a comeback but any hopes of that were all but dashed by Malouda's 64th minute finish under the body of Harper.

The move had been simple but effective, beginning with Cech's kick upfield. Anelka headed on, Lampard played a 10-yard pass forward and the Frenchman struck from an angle on the left, celebrating with fingers pointing to his emerging afro hairdo.

'Shearer, Shearer,' mocked the Chelsea fans as Lampard nearly made it three with an ambitious attempt, pushed out by Harper.

Di Santo came on for Anelka on 67 minutes but it was a striker at the other end who began to figure. Owen had looked short of fitness but on 72 minutes did escape on the left. His pull-back cannoned goalwards off Mikel and was scooped away by Cole, although debate will rage over whether that was behind the line or not.

The former England striker had a close-range effort saved by Cech soon after.

After that Hiddink's men played out the game in relative ease and could have added more - Ballack shooting at the keeper; Di Santo curling a 20-yard shot just wide and Kalou failing to beat Harper when clean through.

The keeper also saved from Lampard in stoppage time as 'Sacked in the morning' was the song from the Chelsea fans high up at one end.

It was back to winning ways at the start of a season-defining April.

Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Alex, Terry (c), A Cole; Essien (Ballack 55), Mikel, Lampard; Kalou, Anelka (Di Santo 67), Malouda.
Scorers Lampard 55, Malouda 64.
Booked Lampard 37, Mikel 45+2.

Newcastle(4-4-2): Harper; R Taylor, Beye, Coloccini, José Enrique; Gutierrez, Nolan (Guthrie 68), Butt, Lovenkrands (Duff 43); Owen (c), Martins (Carroll 80).

Watch the full 90 minutes on Chelsea TV from 6pm on Sunday. Highlights on Chelsea Plus.

Guus Hiddink has suffered his first defeat in charge of Chelsea as his team failed to spark in attack.

It was an afternoon of huge frustration, with Man United suffering consecutive defeats long before this delayed kick-off was over.

But Petr Cech was arguably the top Chelsea performer and it took until midway into the second-half for Heurelho Gomes to make a truly difficult save, and that from a Terry set-piece header.

The Spurs goal came shortly after half-time, scored by Luka Modric, following an opening period in which neither side threatened much, a couple of Robbie Keane shots apart.

The Blues pressed hard towards the close of game, but to no avail, the final teeth-gnashing act when Alex's downward header bounced up onto the underside of the bar.

Hiddink had been unable to call upon Ricardo Carvalho for the match, the centre-back ruled out of with an ankle problem. Alex came in.

With John Mikel Obi not involved, there were no changes to midfield with Michael Ballack carrying on as the anchor midfield man. Juliano Belletti was asked once more to play as a wide attacker on the right, the position he filled after Deco was forced off in last weekend's win over Man City.

Kick-off was delayed by half-an-hour; a suspect vehicle in one of the roads adjacent to White Hart Lane the reason.

When played did get underway, Spurs were first to attack and won a corner two minutes in, headed on dangerously by King but safely cleared.

Essien had the first Chelsea shot, a low one that Gomes mishandled before he was clattered as the closing Belletti was pushed onto the Spurs keeper. After treatment, the Brazilian continued.

Quickly back up the other end, a loose ball fell kindly for Jenas who caught his volley well and watched as it whizzed just over Cech's top left corner.

Tottenham were looking to play quick passes up front, hoping to turn Terry, Alex and co., but they had their best chance of the half when Alex was able to reach a long bouncing ball.

The opened a chance up for Keane who saw his first time left-foot shot pushed round the post by Cech. Chelsea defended the two corners that followed.

Keane was next to shot, this time Cech saving by his toes. Corluka had squared to the Tottenham captain, after Ashley Cole had conceded possession to his opposing full-back.

There was little about Chelsea's narrow play that was threatening Gomes's goal, quality lacking among the forward players in this opening period, but just past the hour some defensive slacknees by Spurs allowed Belletti to retrieve a miss-directed Drogba cross and Anelka drew a save at the near post from the keeper.

With five minutes to go to the break, Spurs conceded a free-kick 25 yards out, perhaps the mostly likely route to goal in this opening period, but after Drogba had run over it, Lampard clattered the ball into the crowd between him and the net.

A minute before the break, Drogba was flattened as King rose to head clear the ball and the reaction of a couple of Spurs players showed the Chelsea striker had problems.

Some in the crowd cheered the sight a stretcher coming on but it was not needed, although Drogba was clearly wobbly as he returned to his feet. With just two minutes to the whistle, he went down the tunnel for some recovery time.

The Blues successfully negotiated the remaining half with 10 men, although Belletti was booked for a foul on Bent.

Drogba had recovered sufficiently to resume duties for the start of the second half but before he could make any impact, Chelsea conceded, having not relieved pressure following some poor defending between Bosingwa and Ballack.

The ball was worked out to Lennon who found space to cross between Cole and Lampard and Modric finished with a first-time shot from just inside the area.

On 57 minutes, a Modric corner cleared Lampard and Bent headed wide and a minute later, Modric failed to connect properly from a similar chance to the goal - Cech collecting. It was time for a Chelsea change.

Quaresma came on for the peripheral Belletti in an attempt to inject some penetrative wing play. There was half-an-hour to go.

Three minutes further on the Portuguese did work a cross over to the far post that was bundled out for a corner under pressure from Lampard. Anelka and Drogba then failed with a quick combination on the edge of the area.

Finally on 67 minutes the Blues put together an up-to-standard attack, Lampard supplying Drogba for an angled drive which Gomes did well to keep out at the near post. The Spurs keeper then caught an outside-of-the-boot shot from Quaresma that threatened to creep under the bar.

Spurs had been preserving their lead and little else for some minutes but when Terry dispossessed a dangerously running Bent, the ball fell Keane's way for a shot that curled worryingly close.

Drogba sliced a difficult chance wide off his left foot after he was found well by Terry before the second sub - Malouda for Essien.

Palacios and Modric were booked in rapid succession for the home team and from the second resulting free kick, Gomes made the save of the game from the Chelsea chance of the game, keeping out Terry's header low down with his finger-tips.

Ballack spooned a 25-yard free-kick over and soon after was booked as Chelsea followers inside White Hart Lane began to resign themselves to the fact it wasn't their team's day.

Effort was not lacking towards the end as we attempted to batter a way through. Anelka had a shot from the right saved and Ballack on the turn saw an effort blocked on the line. Between those moments it looked to everyone as if Alex had headed an equaliser until the bar intervened and Gomes scooped away.

Chelsea lack of wins in London derbies this season continues.

Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Bosingwa, Alex, Terry (c), A Cole; Essien (Malouda 76), Ballack, Lampard; Belletti (Quaresma 60), Drogba, Anelka.
Booked Belletti 45+1, Ballack 83.

Tottenham (4-4-2): Gomes; Corluka, Woodgate, King (c), Assou-Ekotto; (Lennon 90+3) Zokora, Jenas, Palacios, Modric (O'Hara 86); Bent, Keane (c).
Scorer Modric 49
Booked Palacios 77, Modric 78.

The full match can be seen on Chelsea TV from 6pm on Sunday.

A sixth win in seven Guus Hiddink games moved Chelsea back into second place of the Barclays Premier League on Sunday.

It was an early Michael Essien goal on his league return that provided the win to take us back above Liverpool, who were 4-1 winners at Manchester United on Saturday.

Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack and Florent Malouda were all close to extending the lead, but in the end one goal was enough. It was Hiddink's fourth 1-0 win as Chelsea coach.

Essien was making his first league start since August, while Deco and Ricardo Carvalho were recalled having been absent from the starting eleven since January.

For Manchester City, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Wayne Bridge were making their first returns to the Bridge since departing, while in the dugout manager Mark Hughes received a warm Chelsea welcome.

The Blues kicked off attacking the Shed End in bright sunshine, and quickly had the ball in the net only for Frank Lampard's effort to be ruled out by the linesman's flag.

Some crisp passing involving Essien, Deco and Didier Drogba created the next opportunity, but Nedum Onuoha arrived in time to hack over his own crossbar. Two corners followed, the first saw a Lampard effort deflected wide and from the second Ricardo Carvalho headed off target

This clearly brought some confidence to Chelsea's attack, yet few would still have dared that combination that led to the opening goal. Lampard zipped a free-kick in with pace towards the edge of the City area, where Essien was waiting to send a first-time half-volley spinning over Shay Given's head and into the net.

It was a stunning way to mark a return to league action, and followed up Tuesday's goal in Turin. Essien's rehabilitation work has been committed, but few would have expected target practice to be part of the recovery. Moments later he showed he had lost none of the bite for which he is so renowned with a crunching tackle on Elano in the centre-circle.

City struggled to respond. Bridge advanced down the left beyond Michael Ballack and crossed low for the waiting Felipe Caicedo, who turned well but shot wide, in what was their only memorable attack of the first half-hour.

Chelsea could have had a penalty when Onuoha challenged Anelka, and should have had a second goal when Ballack won possession in the City half and Lampard and Drogba combined to send the German one-on-one with Given, but rather than find the net, Ballack side-footed wide of the keeper's left-hand post. It was however another example of some incisive Chelsea passing.

At the other end Robinho finally got involved when he took control of a loose ball and shot low. With Petr Cech beaten, it fell to José Bosingwa to clear off the line.

Five minutes before the break Deco again looked to be struggling with a hamstring injury, and so Guus Hiddink replaced him with Juliano Belletti. Anelka moved out to the left while the Brazilian slotted in on the right, tucking inside to help his midfield.

Two minutes into the second period Onuoha was again involved inside his own penalty area, but timed his tackle on Drogba perfectly, preventing a near certain goal. Moments later Anelka rifled just wide from outside the area.

Drogba came closer still on 51 minutes, forcing Given into a superb reflex stop from close range after Bosingwa threaded him through. Credit too should go to Lampard whose first-time pass had found the full-back galloping forward.

City forced a corner and were then given a free-kick to the right of the Chelsea area when John Terry upended Elano. The Brazilian stepped up himself, but sent the shot straight into the wall and Bosingwa cleared.

As the hour-mark passed Essien was showing no signs of flagging like he had done at Juventus in midweek. It was his burst that allowed Belletti to play a one-two before continuing forward and shooting low against a City post.

A second Chelsea goal looked on the cards, but Hiddink's men have developed a habit of winning games 1-0, and this would be no different.

The removal of Drogba, more than a handful for City all afternoon, meant Anelka would be the main threat with Florent Malouda deployed on the left.

City continued to search, and Valeri Bojinov's snapshot could have caught out a lesser goalkeeper than Cech, who adjusted his footing well and held the volley. The Bulgarian had replaced Robinho shortly before his chance, the winger having had a miserable afternoon, compounded by a heavy challenge from Lampard, which left him limping.

In the last five minutes Malouda hit the side netting before seeing Dunne clear a second effort off the line, while Lampard shot wide.

City attempted to throw some late long balls into the box in an attempt to win an unlikely point, but never looked like breaking through. It means we go four points behind United at the top of the table, but the leaders retain a game in hand.

Next up is a London derby at Tottenham on Saturday, which could see the gap closed to just one point as we head into the closing stages of the campaign.

By Andy Jones

Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Bosingwa, Carvalho, Terry (c), A Cole; Essien, Ballack, Lampard; Anelka, Drogba (Malouda 70), Deco (Belletti 40).

Goal Essien 17

Manchester City (4-1-4-1): Given; Richards, Dunne (c), Onuoha, Bridge; Zabaleta; Wright-Phillips, Elano (Etuhu 65), Ireland, Robinho (Bojinov 80); Caicedo (Evans 54).

Booked Elano 28, Evans 74

It's the last eight of the Champions League for Chelsea as Michael Essien and Didier Drogba equalise Juventus goals in each half.

The Blues had been second best but after the break were well on course until a penalty award put the pressure back on. Happily Drogba's fourth goal in five games kept the now steady ship sailing on in three competitions.

Hiddink gave a surprise to most with his team selection, naming Essien for his first start in since injury on the right of the front three, tucking back and infield when we didn't have the ball. It was the position he occupied in a pre-season friendly in Moscow, and with some success too - scoring a fine goal.

Nicolas Anelka also returned after two games out to play on the left. Those changes apart, it was a side familiar from recent matches.

Robbed by injury of the right side of the midfield he selected in a 4-4-2 at the Bridge, Ranieri moved to a 4-3-3, allowing the selection of Iaquinta, Trezeguet and Del Piero in attack. Mellberg returned to central defence with Grygera back from injury at right-back.

In the first minute, an Essien stumble meant Del Piero was able to cross but Nedved ballooned a header well, well over.

Juventus forced two corners within the first seven minutes, Del Piero the taker on both occasions with no damage inflicted.

While Juve's favourite son was hogging the set-pieces, their other long-serving star, Pavel Nedved was on the wrong end of all the early collisions. Twice the former European Player of the Year needed treatment in the opening 10 minutes.

The second bash was in the ribs by Anelka and it proved too much. The Czech was withdrawn with 12 minutes gone, Salihamidzic the replacement.

The first-half was producing a disjointed game, and Chelsea were not playing well. But at least the Italians did not look like scoring either.

That was until the 18^th minute when a ball out wide was flicked on to Iaquinta down the inside right channel by Trezeguet. The striker raced away behind Terry and from an angle, his aim was unerring, smashing the ball beyond Cech.

How much had that changed the game? Still one Chelsea goal would push the tie massively in our favour.

Mikel hit a long hopeful ball to Drogba but an under-pressure header went over. Then Del Piero forced Cech to punch over from distance.

Suddenly there was more pace about the game. Iaquinta, tall, pretty quick and playing in the centre of the attack, was causing more concern.

Chelsea at least pushed into the Juventus half for periods in the 10 minutes before the break, trying to use Anelka who was stationed well wide - but the balls into the box from a variety of sources were inaccurate.

Two minutes before the break the Blues won a free-kick for handball in a promising position. Drogba then won the contest to take on Buffon and looked to have beaten the World Cup-winning keeper as a low thumped shot was stopped just inside the post. The linesman was having none of it, despite a cacophony of Chelsea appeals.

Was another Champions League goal-line controversy to go against Chelsea as at Anfield four year ago?

The moment suddenly seemed a lot less crucial when Lampard took a swing from distance and back-peddling, Buffon deflected it onto the bar. Again it bounced down into the area of uncertainty on the line. This time however, an express train was haring in. No way were the Juventus defenders going to stop Michael Essien charging the ball into the net.

It is pretty easy to guess the difference in atmosphere in the two dressing rooms during the 15 minute break.

Chelsea came out so much more positive in intent than in the first half and the Juve fans' whistles were growing more intense with every refereeing whistle blast or misplaced pass by the famous white and black shirts.

Chiellini was booked for taken down Ballack on 53 minutes, joining Salihamidzic from just before the interval.

Terry got a vital flicked header in to prevent a cross reaching Iaquinta just before the striker was the victim of Ranieri's first change. He was taken off in favour of Giovinco. Did the Juve fans not like that!

Moments later Cech handled outside his box as he contested a ball with Del Piero near the byeline. That was the first Chelsea booking.

The diminutive sub Giovinco crossed for Trezeguet to head on-target but Cech met the challenge.

Then on 65 minutes Essien's night ended with the introduction of Belletti in a similar role. Drogba was the next booked for a halfway line foul but just seconds later he was caught himself. Juventus's increasing slender hopes suddenly became a lot thinner as Chiellini was shown a second yellow. The Italians would play the final 20 minutes with only 10 men.

However all was not against them. Initially a free-kick ricocheted off the wall and a Trezeguet header was well saved by Cech, but amid minutes of confusion it soon became clear the Spanish ref had given a penalty for a handball by Belletti in the wall.

Del Piero shuffled up and passed into the net to give the Blues a big task of keeping the resurgent home team out for another 15 minutes.

Sure enough the Bianconeri pushed hard but that of course meant the back door was slightly ajar. And it was through that gap that the Blues burst on 82 minutes - Ballack steaming away down the right to cross for Drogba to stretch and slide home from close range, sending 1500 Chelsea away followers into delirium.

From a cauldron moments before, the atmosphere in the Stadio Olimpico was now funereal.

Now the only team likely to score again were Chelsea, Buffon stopping a Lampard volley and doing just as well to keep out Belletti in stoppage time.

The whistle blew on the first game not won under Guus Hiddink, but this felt like a mighty, mighty big win.

Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Bosingwa, Alex (Carvalho 88), Terry (c), A Cole; Ballack, Mikel, Lampard; Essien (Belletti 65), Drogba, Anelka.

Scorers Essien 45, Drogba 82.

Booked Cech 62, Drogba 68, Cole 87, Anelka 90.

Juventus (4-3-3): Buffon; Grygera, Mellberg, Chiellini, Molinaro; Tiago, Marchisio, Nedved (Salihamidzic 12); Del Piero, Iaquinta (Giovinco 60), Trezeguet (Amauri 78).

Scorers Iaquinta 18, Del Piero 72 pen.

Sent-off Chiellini 69

Booked Salihamidzic 45+1, Chiellini 53, Del Piero 90.

Catch the game in full on Chelsea TV from 11pm on Thursday, with extended highlights on Chelsea Plus.

We're going to Wembley! Didier Drogba's third goal in four games and Alex's counter-attack strike have put Chelsea into the FA Cup semi-finals.

Comfortable is the word to describe this win in front of a record 31,407. Coventry had their odd moment but marshalled by another superb John Terry display, the defence never looked likely to be breached.

At the other end, Drogba's opener came early and the second added midway through the second half, just as the home team were working up a head of steam.

There was also the bonus of Michael Essien successfully negotiating the final 30 minutes of the game. He had been joined on the bench at the start by an also-returning Ricardo Carvalho.

By his team selection for his FA Cup 'debut', it was clear Guus Hiddink was taking the competition seriously. He named an unchanged 11 from the win at Portsmouth and there was nothing in the opening to the game to suggest the players weren't taking it seriously either.

Drogba could have put Chelsea ahead as early as the second minute. The chance was created by his own skill, as Coventry centre-back and captain Dann stood off tentatively but having worked the space, our centre-forward shot wide.

Lampard, Kalou and Ballack combined for a shot over by the German as the visitors continued to look dangerous on the attack.

The opening goal came as early as the 14^th minute. With every ball forward, it didn't appear the Coventry defence knew the best way to handle Drogba so it was no surprise when the central defence were caught standing and staring as the Ivorian picked up a long ball.

Through on goal he touched it away from keeper Westwood and with defenders racing for the goal, Drogba was calmness itself as he smashed home from an angle.

Terry was well-positioned to clear a shot from Eastwood as the home side attempted a quick response. Coventry did genuinely worry Chelsea 24 minutes in as the nippy Leon Best won a tackle ahead of Alex and cut inside Terry but hurriedly shot over.

On 30 minutes, Lampard and Bosingwa combined to set up a Ballack shot but Turner blocked bravely.

There was a good tempo to Chelsea's passing, as there had been from the start with Hiddink's men working it out well from tight corners at the back.

On 35 minutes, Coventry carelessly conceded a free-kick for a foul on Cole, predictably jeered at every touch by the home support. Westwood between the Sky Blues' posts is by no means the tallest keeper but he did well to finger tip over Lampard's deadball strike that was arrowed towards the top corner.

To close the first half for Chelsea, Drogba smashed a low 25-yard shot wide after some brilliant Lampard footwork had carved open space and Kalou did similar from closer range after a Malouda cross.

There had been plenty to admire about Chelsea's attitude and approach play in the opening period, but just the nagging thought that more goals should have been on the scoreboard.

Hiddink made a half-time substitution, Quaresma a straight swap on the right for Kalou whose first-half decision making had been questionable.

No doubt having been on the end of a half-time rallying call from their manager Chris Coleman, Coventry made it more of an even contest in the first 15 minutes after the break with little in the way of penalty area action. Quaresma was proving adept a drawing fouls from the home side out wide.

Hiddink sent for the Bison. Michael Essien made his return after six months out in the 64^th minute, coming on to huge applause from the 5,000 Chelsea fans and as a replacement for Mikel.

The home side enjoyed a good couple of minutes shortly after, Cech pushing away a cross and Alex blocking a follow-up shot before a Gunnarsson long throw fell between Eastwood and Best as it was flicked on. Neither was able to make the crucial contact.

On 70 minutes there was a painful clash of heads between Alex and Drogba as they defended the same set-piece. The result was both players off the field for another long throw.

Chelsea survived thanks to a towering Ballack header. In fact we did rather better than that! In a flash the ball was in the Coventry net, Malouda starting the break and Quaresma taking up the baton before crossing low to Alex of all people to drill home at the far post. The smash on the skull had done the Brazilian no harm at all! There were 18 minutes left to play.

Lampard could have made it three on 78 minutes but he couldn't poke Malouda's pass beyond Westwood.

Morrison didn't make the most of a moment's hesitation between Cech and Alex and Gunnarsson shot ambitiously and wide as Coventry attempted to respond.

Lampard tested the keeper once more with a free-kick before Terry completed his own exemplary display by blocking a dangerous cross and then throwing his whole body into an aerial battle. The clean sheet, a fourth in five games under Hiddink, was assured.

We will discover our Wembley semi-final opponents when the draw is made at 6.45pm on Sunday.

Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Bosingwa, Alex, Terry (c), A Cole; Ballack, Mikel (Essien 64), Lampard; Kalou (Quaresma h-t), Drogba (Di Santo 79), Malouda.
Scorers Drogba 14, Alex 72.

Coventry(4-4-2): Westwood; Wright, Dann (c), Turner, Hall; Henderson, Gunnarsson, Doyle (Beuzelin 59), Eastwood; Morrison, Best.

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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John Terry became the highest scoring defender in Chelsea history and Frank Lampard joined him as a hero with a 90th minute winner.

A superbly taken first-half strike by the captain for long looked to be enough for three points but then with dark shades of last season's damaging home draw against Steve Bruce's side, Wigan equalised late in the game.

Again Chelsea appeared to be paying a big price for many missed opportunities, combined with a resolute defensive display by the oft-maligned Titus Bramble, but Lampard and colleagues were not to be denied as he headed in his own milestone goal, joining 1930s centre-forward George Mills as our sixth all-time scorer with 125 goals.

On a day when Terry added another page to his epic Chelsea story, surpassing the 34 goals of 1950s right-back Peter Sillett, Guus Hiddink had shown faith in a new homegrown young defender in his team selection, giving 21-year-old Michael Mancienne the nod over Paulo Ferreira, Branislav Ivanovic and Juliano Belletti as suspended José Bosingwa's replacement at right-back.

That was the one change to the chosen 11 from the Champions League selection on Wednesday. Ricardo Quaresma, who had been Euro-tied versus Juventus, was back on the bench.

When action commenced, Anelka and Drogba almost combined to good effect in the sixth minute, an outstretched leg from Boyce preventing the Ivorian's shot.

Two minutes later, Alex was booked for a late lunge on Scharner, the Wigan player who was positioned in behind lone striker Zaki with instructions to make life difficult for Mikel.

Wigan were by no means bound to their own half in these early stages and won three corners by the 15 minute mark, one after Alex had been nutmegged by Melchiot.

Then on 17 minutes they broke clear through Scharner after a pass that had found a way through a gap between Mikel and Alex. The shot was low and tipped past the post by Cech at full stretch.

A minute later Zaki manoeuvred past Terry 10 yards inside the Chelsea half and was pulled down. A booking for the skipper. The centre-backs were having a difficult start to this match.

Full-back Ashley Cole acquitted himself rather better soon after, clearing Bramble's header from a corner off the line with fast reactions. A follow-up shot was initially saved by Cech and then blocked on the line by the back of Terry.

Chelsea had suffered enough of this pressure! In the space of a minute Drogba and Mikel had fierce shots, one deflected behind by Bramble, the other well-saved by Kirkland.

N'Zogbia became Wigan's first booking for a late lunge on Mikel.

On 24 minutes came Terry's historic goal. The captain was up from a set-piece which in the breakdown found its way to Lampard. Out on the left, the vice-captain chipped into a packed box and Boyce cleared, but only as far as the captain who with all the skill of a leading striker, volleyed left-footed into the back of the net via a slight touch off Boyce.

The first left-footed volleyed goal of his career? The celebration that followed suggested so!

Alex could have made it a double of centre-back goals to add to the pair of bookings as the ball made its way through a gap but his far-post shot was saved by the keeper.

Seconds later, Cattermole earned Wigan's second booking for a sliding foul on Mikel.

Anelka headed a 30^th minute Lampard corner over before Chelsea deserved to have doubled the lead after a swift break in what was becoming an entertaining game.

Anelka initially whipped the ball away from Cattermole and when it was worked out to Lampard, he cut inside the retreating Wigan midfielder and was denied by a very good one-handed stop by Kirkland.

The ball was still loose and was headed on-target by Ballack, only for Bramble to block on the line. However the flag was up and Ballack would have been denied his goal by an offside ruling anyway.

Terry had the chance of a second goal on 40 minutes, a tough chance with a crowd in front of him, and he curled his shot over.

Drogba smashed a free-kick well off-target to complete a half that had started with some concern for the Blues, but was now progressing well.

John Terry was enjoying himself this afternoon. Soon after the restart he found himself cordoned off by Wigan bodies near the touchline and salvaged the situation by backheeling to Lampard through the legs of Melchiot.

On 49 minutes, it was a Wigan player's turn to excel - Bramble pulling off an acrobatic goal line clearance after Drogba had left Kirkland for dead.

Anelka then did well to spark an attack that ended with Lampard's squared pass just in front of a sliding Kalou.

The younger of our Ivorians was having one of his quieter games of late, the same couldn't be said for his elder. One Drogba rampage shrugged off two defenders before a third's desperate tackle blocked the shot.

Kalou came off to applause on 75 minutes, his replacement Belletti who stayed wide but played a little deeper. 

Mancienne, whose full home debut had been unspectacular but safe, did err a minute later in bringing down N'Zogbia in a dangerous position to earn a booking. Chelsea survived the free-kick, as they did Scharner heading a presentable chance wide and Zaki shooting wide after he was gifted possession as the final 10 minutes approached.

Last season's late equaliser here by Wigan must have been crossing a few supporters' minds.

Mancienne was replaced by Quaresma on 81 minutes, Belletti now moving to right-back, but before the change could settle down, Wigan equalised with an attack down our right.

It was full-back Figueroa who played the ball across low and Kapo, at the near-post, slid to reach it ahead of Alex and turn it past Cech at the near post.

The game drifted on, Chelsea began to play hopeful high balls, and the only person laughing was Alex Ferguson with Liverpool losing at Middlesbrough while his team were out of Premier League action.

However on the occasion Chelsea had something in reserve. The stoppage time board had just gone up as Belletti's lofted ball into the box was nodded on by Ballack and Lampard, marked by former Blue Mario Melchiot, was able to loop his header over Kirkland and into the Matthew Harding End net.

Stamford Bridge was smiling once again as Chelsea went second on goal difference thanks to a fourth straight win since the decision to change manager.

Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Mancienne (Quaresma 81), Alex, Terry (c), A Cole; Ballack, Mikel, Lampard; Kalou (Belletti 75), Drogba, Anelka.
Scorers Terry 24, Lampard 90.
Booked Alex 8, Terry 17, Mancienne 77

Wigan (4-4-1-1): Kirkland; Melchiot (c), Boyce, Bramble, Figueroa; Kapo, Brown, Cattermole (Rodallega 69), N'Zogbia; Scharner; Zaki (Sibierski 89).
Scorer Kapo 81.
Booked N'Zogbia 23, Cattermole 28.

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Nicolas Anelka continued on from his hat-trick at Watford with his first league goal in two months. The win takes Chelsea back above Aston Villa.

It was a steady rather than spectacular victory, our first as an away team in this stadium in 10 years, but the team withstood pressure in the second half having taken the lead in the first with a quality effort. Blues supporters can believe there is still much to be gained from this season.

The side Guus Hiddink had selected for the first time showed no radical changes but it did include Drogba and Anelka, plus Kalou. They lined up in a three-man attack, Anelka on the left, Kalou the right-sider.

Bosingwa was back at right-back; Ferreira the expected Ashley Cole replacement and Ivanovic made way for John Terry. The midfield three was very much the one favoured by Scolari in his latter weeks in charge.

Drogba unleashed a low, angled drive as early as the second minute of the game, which Friedel stopped by his ankles. Villa went straight up the other end and when Cech couldn't gather a loose ball under pressure, Heskey shot over as the ball was played back, Terry having forced a hurried attempt from his England colleague.

Lampard worried Villa with an ambitious dipping effort from over 30 yards that dipped but still cleared the bar on eight minutes and then Agbonlahor failed to put power behind a shooting chance from considerably closer. It had been an even and open start to this lunchtime kick-off on a sunny day in 'the second city'. 

It took a good interception from Alex to keep the home side away from the Holte End goal on 17 minutes after Milner and Heskey leapt upon a misplaced Ferreira header.

A minute later, the visitors up from London stunned Villa Park with a goal that oozed class. The initial ball into Lampard was not good, but in an instance he took control, turned and danced between two closing players, Petrov and Davies, and placed his pass into Anelka's stride.

Beating Brad Friedel is never easy but the Frenchman made it look so from 15 yards out, chipping over the American for his first league goal since the home draw against those other wearers of claret and blue, West Ham.

Now with a lead against one of the top five for the first time since Arsenal visited us back in November, a solid period of play was needed.

Mikel was spoken to at length for a foul as Villa launched their attempted recovery, but Chelsea continued to enjoy just as much of the ball. Ballack was next to shoot on-target and then a panicking Villa defence was almost opened up by Kalou's pacy run, Lampard and Drogba not reading each others' intentions before the ball was cleared.

From the corner that followed, Friedel needed to be sharp to keep out Terry's bullet header with a one-handed save.

On 33 minutes there was an escape - but only after Villa had wrongly been given a free-kick by referee Mark Halsey.

When the deadball was struck by Ashley Young 20 yards out, Cech was left standing as it dipped down onto the crossbar and out. It rebounded to Heskey, but with time and from a standing position, the centre-forward planted his header wide.

Chelsea played with caution leading up to the break, determined to take a lead into the dressing room. There was no mistaking from the Villa players' faces as they went down the tunnel which team was most pleased with their 45 minutes work.

The home team's first significant task of the second half was to keep out a Chelsea corner - Petrov on the post heading away a Terry header.

However it was not a good restart by Chelsea. It needed the best of Cech to save at the near post from Agbonlahor after the striker had got past Alex.

Hiddink didn't mess around in shaking the side up. On 54 minutes Deco was brought on for Kalou. There was no significant change in the team shape, but with Deco on the right, Anelka was now more often against Villa right-back Cuéllar, recently booked for a late tackle on the same Chelsea player.

The game entered a lull in terms of chances, broken by Barry's shot, again saved well by Cech.

With 20 minutes remaining, Martin O'Neill made his first change. The tower that is Jon Carew was added to the attack with Davies removed from the backline, Cuéllar moving into the middle and Milner dropping to right-back.

On 74 minutes, Chelsea were sloppy in clearing our lines and Barry let fly again - this time straight at Cech.

The performance of the second half was falling short of the first, but that single-goal lead remained intact.

Nearly everything from Villa going forward was coming down the Chelsea right, but the two Youngs aided by Barry were just about held at bay.

Chelsea weren't making enough chances to waste any but Drogba on the spin blasted well over after a Villa clearance fortuitously broke his way and then Bosingwa fired straight at Friedel when well-positioned after exchanging passes with Drogba.

Those moments were inside the final 10 minutes and before the end, three Chelsea players were booked, Ballack for a foul and Bosingwa for wasting time over a throw before Terry checked Agbonlahor for his caution.

From the free-kick over the top that followed, it fell to Villa shirts but they couldn't bring the ball down in time.

The final chance was Chelsea's. Deco weaved his way through on the byeline and set up Ballack on the edge of the area. Our frequent nemesis Friedel was up to the challenge this time, tipping the rocket shot over but the day was not to be the American's.

The whistle blew to complete a league double over Villa and end the home side's club record unbeaten Premier League run of 13 matches.

Hiddink's first match in charge had been a good way to start the weekend.

Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Bosingwa, Alex, Terry (c), Ferreira; Ballack, Mikel, Lampard; Kalou (Deco 54), Drogba (Belletti 90), Anelka.
Scorer Anelka 18.
Booked Ballack 83, Bosingwa 84, Terry 89.

Villa (4-4-2): Friedel; Cuéllar, Knight, Davies (Carew 70), L Young; Milner, Petrov, Barry (c), A Young; Agbonlahor, Heskey.
Booked Cuéllar 52.

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The Blues make the last eight but only after Watford took the lead. Nicolas Anelka was the hero; his hat-trick a master class in finishing.

Resolute Watford shocked their visitors from a higher league with a counter-attack goal on 69 minutes but the response began just five stressful minutes later and Chelsea domination throughout was turned into a fair result - eventually!

Guus Hiddink watched the game from high in the stands alongside Roman Abramovich, very much leaving control to Ray Wilkins and just how much would the side be altered was the big question before kick-off.

Fit-again Petr Cech came back in but the main news was a debut for Michael Mancienne, asked to play right-back in place of absent José Bosingwa. It was not the position most familiar to the 21-year-old for his debut but one he had played on loan at QPR.

Ivanovic stood in for suspended John Terry but the other big story was a starting line-up place for Didier Drogba for the first time since Old Trafford a month ago.

The Ivorian almost announced his comeback with a telling contribution inside 20 seconds, his cross from the right dropping just out of Kalou's reach. Wilkins had selected a front three with Anelka right wide and the newly crowned African Young Player of the Year on the left.

Drogba then drew a flying save from keeper Scott Loach seven minutes in after a typical turn and early shot from 25 yards.

Chelsea were pressing very high up a pitch that was already covered in plenty of divots. This would not be an easy day for running with the ball.

Alex met a Lampard corner on 10 minutes but at full stretch, couldn't keep his header down. Mariappa headed on target at the other end from a deep free-kick but it was a comfortable collection for Cech.

From a similar free-kick for Chelsea, Brendan Rodgers's men were caught napping but with three Chelsea men in behind the back line and unattended, Kalou failed to find a colleague as he headed back across goal.

On 18 minutes, Watford attacked down the Chelsea left but Ashley Cole looked to have found touch. Referee Mike Dean decided he'd fouled Tommy Smith in the process. A few second later a yellow card was produced, Cole's fifth of the season. He will be suspended against the pace of the Aston Villa attack next weekend.

On 25 minutes, stand-in skipper Lampard warmed Loach's hands with a stinging free-kick. All Chelsea's efforts were coming from outside the area.

Watford had a brief hope of a penalty on 32 minutes as McAnuff took on and drew a foul from Alex but the incident occurred just outside the area.

Two minutes later the Blues finally cut through Watford with a passing move. It had pace, it had precision and in a flash Drogba had put Anelka through. The shot was stabbed past Loach but bounced off the far post and was cleared.

Watford had the last chance before the break but in front of a crowded goal, Rasiak's header was pushed away by Cech.

Chelsea started the second half with intent. Loach pushed away a Drogba close-range effort and a thumping Lampard drive smacked into the hoardings having missed by not much.

On 59 minutes Mancienne, who had looked comfortable in this company, advanced into space and switching to his left foot, let fly with a Lampard-like effort, clearing the bar by only a couple of yards.

Before then Watford had failed to capitalise on their fourth corner of the game - all defended with man-to-man marking by Chelsea and Ashley Cole stood on the far post.

An hour in came the best chance yet and the worse miss. After Cole had got in the way of a Drogba shot, the ball fell Ballack's way but from inside the six-yard box, he scooped over the bar and fell back on the turf in despair.

Chelsea were dominant. Anelka had a shot deflected wide after Kalou penetrated and then Ballack headed wide as Lampard returned an overhit Drogba corner.

The last thing that looked on the cards at this stage was a Watford goal but as the home side defended a corner, both Ivanovic and Alex got sucked into challenges inside the opposition half. Watford broke and the makeshift backline was caught out.

Clear through, substitute Tamas Priskin kept his cool and his shot looped in via Cech's body. Suddenly, Chelsea had that Barnsley feeling.

Stoch on for Mikel was Wilkins's immediate response, the youngster preferred to the Quaresma option, but it was one of the old heads that took charge with Drogba and Anelka now playing together as a front two.

The Watford goal had come on 69 minutes and it took just five minutes to draw level. It was Ivanovic who nodded on Lampard's cortm and as the ball fell at the far post, Anelka with back to goal hooked in from little more than a yard out.

The next stage of the salvage operation was to hit Watford while they were down and as Cole crossed from the left, Anelka's header on the run was guided perfectly inside the post. In just two minutes Chelsea had turned deficit into advantage.

Still the Hornets' string had not been totally drawn. It took a good Cech save to keep out McAnuff on 90 minutes but it was the Blues turn to counter-attck with great effect. Stoch and Kalou combined down the left and when the ball was centred, Anelka's shot from 15 yards out was pin point. Game over. 

Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Mancienne, Alex, Ivanovic, A Cole; Ballack (Belletti 82), Mikel (Stoch 72), Lampard (c); Anelka, Drogba, Kalou.
Scorer Anelka 74, 76, 90+1.
Booked A Cole.

Watford (4-4-2): Loach; Hoyte, Mariappa, DeMerit (c), Doyley; Smith, L Williamson (Cowie 66), Jenkins, McAnuff; Rasiak (Priskin 66), Hoskins (O'Toole 75).
Scorer Priskin 69

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Problems on the home front continue as attacking promise of the first half gave way to a poor display after the interval.

It took a good save from debutant Quaresma early on, Ballack went close with a free-kick before the break and Terry should have scored as early as the second minute, but once again a five-man midfield and committed defence from a visiting team proved sufficient to take something away from the Bridge.

Chelsea can point to a legitimate penalty shout in the second half but for every chance the Blues had after the break, Hull came close to landing a sucker punch.

It was not the response every Chelsea follower was looking for after the grim events at Anfield.

Malouda was the player to make way for Quaresma The Frenchman wasn't on the bench either - young Miroslav Stoch the chosen wideman among the subs.

Hilario came in for injured Cech as the only other change, 18-year-old Rhys Taylor was on the bench.

Quaresma started on the left but would switch wings throughout the game and his first involvement was to win a free-kick out wide.

Taken by Lampard, it was flicked on by Ballack and Duke made a hurried save low down by his feet on the line. Terry was there to pounce, but from three yards out he scooped his shot over.

Geovanni attempted a typically long-range strike for Hull on nine minutes which flashed across Hilario's goal but in the end fell five-yards wide.

Quaresma, back on the left, sent over one of his trademark outside-of-the-right-boot crosses that Anelka attacked but couldn't make. That was after 15 minutes of Chelsea on top but not dominating.

Four minutes later it took a full-length finger-tip save from the Hull keeper to deny Quarsema a debut goal. Chelsea had only just defended a dangerous corner from the away team but suddenly broke with three men onto two defenders.

Kalou found the new arrival on the left who cut inside before curling a shot that was heading inside the post before Duke's interception.

Alex headed a corner over after 22 minutes, a powerful driving run by Lampard having created the initial pressure.

Now the Chelsea chances were coming. A well-directed Quaresma corner was cleared but with great technique it was volleyed back by Lampard, the ball striking a Hull body and flying wide.

At the other end Mikel was turned by Geovanni and then brought the Brazilian down in a dangerous position to earn a booking. The same player took the free-kick but was off-target.

There were more than justified questions soon after as to why Zayette wasn't cautioned for a similar foul on Ballack. 'Are you Riley in disguise?' sang the crowd.

Again the sinned-against player lined up the set piece but with the keeper rooted, Ballack missed by a whisker and found the sidenetting.

Terry had a thumping header from a corner blocked as Chelsea continued to look more dangerous than for some time at the Bridge, but with that vital cutting edge still proving elusive.

The next free-kick for the home team on 34 minutes meant it was Lampard's turn and rather than Ballack's guile, the England man went for sheer power. Zayatte stopped it with a part of the body he wouldn't have chosen. After several painful moments and treatment, the centre-back could continue.

Five minutes from the interval the Tigers showed some teeth, full-back Ricketts crossing for Kilbane on the left to head down and watch as it skimmed the post. On the stroke of half-time Marney backheaded a cross just over.

It might have been an improved first-half performance compared with many recent home games, but there was still a feeling of same old story as the teams went down the tunnel at the break.

The first incident of the second half was a booking for Ashbee, the Hull captain catching Ballack with a late challenge.

The visitors then threatened with another whipped in corner and header that Ballack blocked before a real Chelsea escape.

As Bosingwa dawdled and Mikel was indecisive, Fagan nipped in to take a loose ball and race through one-on-one with Hilario. The striker fluffed his big moment and chipped tamely into our keeper's arms.

That was to be Mikel's last involvement in of a game in which Geovanni had troubled him. Belletti was introduced 56 minutes in.

Ashley Cole attempted to take the initiative back but floated a lob over.

Quaresma's lively debut ended on 62 minutes when Drogba was brought on. Anelka pushed out wide.

But the second half continued in worrying fashion. Hull really should have taken the lead when the Chelsea defence was caught as if frozen, Geovanni slipping a reserve pass through to Marney who all alone, pulled his shot wide.

On 68 minutes it was time for Chelsea to feel aggrieved. Kalou's long-range drive was at best speculative but inside the area, it was stopped with what was clearly the arm of Dawson. Referee Lee Mason, in charge of his second Chelsea game, waved play on.

Deco came on for Ballack with 18 minutes remaining as Scolari continued to search for the winning mix.

There was a wait for the next chance, and when it came from Anelka's pass and Kalou's determination to win that ball, the Ivorian shot too close to Duke.

Another free-kick on 86 minutes meant another player's turn, Drogba's this time, but he was a long way off-target.

Still Hull continued to give as good as they got in the second period. It took strong Terry defending to make amends after an Alex mistake and then Ashbee thankfully volleyed wide as a corner was cleared his way.

The whistle blew moments later on Chelsea fourth scoreless draw of the season, the first of 2009, but Hull had their first clean sheet in 16 league games.

Chelsea (4-3-3): Hilario; Bosingwa, Alex, Terry, A Cole; Ballack (Deco 72), Mikel (Belletti 56), Lampard; Quaresma (Drogba 62), Anelka, Kalou.
Booked Mikel 26.

Hull(4-2-3-1): Duke; Ricketts, Turner, Zayatte, Dawson; Ashbee (c), Marney; Garcia, Geovanni (France 80), Kilbane; Fagan.
Booked Ashbee 47

A brave second-half rearguard action after a hugely controversial red card for Frank Lampard was not enough as Torres found the net twice in the final minutes.

The Chelsea vice-captain had been dismissed in the 59^th minute for a foul on Alonso when he looked to have won the ball, the decision by Mike Riley altering what had previously been a balanced game of very few chances for either side.

Following the sending off and defending the Kop End, Chelsea threw everything we had in the way of Liverpool's advances until finally outdone by an 88^th minute header and then a follow-up goal inside stoppage time.

The result means the Blues have fallen short against a top of the table side once more, although the debate over the causes this time is bound the rage on.

Luiz Felipe Scolari had been able to choose an unchanged team and bench, a rare luxury this season. Alex continued as Terry's partner in the absence of hamstring victim Ricardo Carvalho and Anelka was again preferred to Drogba in attack.

Belletti's recent illness once more prevented his involvement but there were places for youngsters Michael Mancienne and Miroslav Stoch on the bench.

Liverpool's rotational changes were the expected ones. Reira and Kuyt were brought back to operate as the wide attacking players with Gerrard in the middle and Torres up front. Alonso replaced Lucas as Mascherano's colleague at the base of midfield.

The game began with a light flurry of snow and a succession of Liverpool fouls, the third a painful one on Bosingwa by Reira, earning the Spaniard some words from Riley.

With the fourth foul, Gerrard managed to kick Terry in the head.

Kalou briefly threatened to dribble right through the heart of the Liverpool defence in the ninth minute, but was dispossessed by last-man back Skrtel.

Two minutes later, Alonso was the first to threaten for Liverpool, his well-struck 20-yard kick tipped over by an alert Cech. Then Terry got away with a loose clearance that hit the shadowing Kuyt.

The first 15 minutes had seen a pretty even contest, Liverpool's one shot on-target and one corner the main indicators separating the two sides' performances. But Scolari will have been reasonably happy with how his side had settled.

Cech was asked to deal with another speculative long-range drive on 18 minutes, this time allowing Mascherano's shot to escape his grasp but no red shirts were even in the penalty area.

The Argentine midfield was involved in the next action too, booked for showing his studs to Mikel as he contested a 50-50 ball.

Ashley Cole followed into the book three minutes later, a harsh decision for contact between his arm and Kuyt.

Neither Anelka nor Lampard could make anything a viciously whipped-in cross from the right by Ballack before a good Liverpool spell around the half-hour mark, Cech needing to hurriedly stretch to clear in taking two touches to deal with Bosingwa's underhit ball back. Then Alex did well in throwing himself in the way of a Torres shot.

At the other end, Terry met Ballack's 32^nd minute corner but his header looped harmlessly over.

On 41 minutes there was a genuine escape when Cech was only able to push out Reira's angled low drive, the ball bouncing back off Cole's foot, thankfully the safe side of the post. The Blues by now were playing deep in our own half.

Liverpool almost broke through in stoppage time at the end of the first half but Gerrard and Torres's exchange of passes went astray. That apart, Chelsea would have entered the dressing room relatively happy with the manner in which we had contained the red threat, but a little concerned over the lack of penetration and threat to Reina's goal.

Within 40 seconds of the restart, Alonso went into the book for a nasty-looking, studs-showing slide through on Kalou in the centre circle. Happily, the Chelsea man was able to continue after treatment.

Mikel was booked seven minutes later for taking Arbeloa down from behind. The only moment of note between the cards was when Alex stooped and missed a header at a corner but Chelsea survived, as we later did when Cole blocked a thunderous Torres strike.

On 55 minutes Terry's committed challenge on Kuyt in the area was judged well-timed by the referee before Gerrard's slide into Kalou was bad enough for a Riley lecture.

The decisions of the ref were infuriating the home crowd, ironic when the events of the 59^th minute are considered.

As the ball fell between Lampard and his midfield rival Alonso, the Chelsea man stretched and clearly made contact with it before momentum took him into the player. It wasn't two-footed, it wasn't especially high. Alonso was a good yard from even being in possession.

Astonishingly, a red card was produced. Lamps couldn't believe it. His team mates were incredulous.

Past the hour mark, Chelsea had not yet worked Reina in the Liverpool goal and on occasions had looked outnumbered in midfield by the home side's five. Now down to 10 men, we had a huge task ahead.

On 67 minutes, Alonso shot from the edge of the area and Alex flung himself in the path. The ball ricocheted up and hit the bar. Phew!

Scolari made two substitutions a minute later, Deco for peripheral Malouda and Drogba for Anelka.

Gerrard was booked for a blatant dive before either touched the ball. And the Kop had the nerve to sing a song criticising the ref!

Mikel diverted a Torres shot wide as the game increasingly became a siege of the Chelsea goal.

Chelsea briefly rallied and on 74 minutes, had our first shot-on target, Reina catching Kalou's angled effort after a Deco pass.

Four minutes later at the other end, Cech dived full length to tip round a curler from substitute Benayoun, the Israeli following that soon after with volley that just cleared the bar.

In between these moments was plenty of spirited Chelsea defending and on 84 minutes, Scolari decided to change our attacking threat by replacing Kalou with Stoch.

Sadly, the Blues resistance finally broke on 88 minutes, the ball played wide to Aurelio whose cross from the left was met by Torres ahead of Alex, the header beating Cech at the near post.

Cech tipped over a Gerrard shot over to keep the score down as the game entered stoppage time, however the keeper was powerless to stop Torres adding second when the ball fell his way as Cole tackled Benayoun, the left-back's loose control having given away possession.

Before the end there was an unneccesary boot-up challenge by Bosingwa on Benayoun by the corner flag that might bring further trouble but by then, the result-altering incidents had long passed.

Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Bosingwa, Alex, Terry, A Cole; Ballack, Mikel, Lampard; Kalou (Stoch 84), Anelka (Drogba 69), Malouda (Deco 69).
Sent-off Lampard 59.
Booked A Cole 21, Mikel 52, Terry 61.

Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Reina; Arbeloa, Carragher, Skrtel, Aurelio; Mascherano (Babel 82), Alonso; Kuyt, Gerrard (c), Riera (Benayoun 73); Torres (Ngog 94).
Scorer Torres 88, 90+4.
Booked Mascherano 19, Alonso 45, Gerrard 69, Arbeloa 90.