27) Chelsea Fc 3 - 0 Middlesbrough

Sat, 10th Feb 2007 Two free-kick goals from the unstoppable Didier Drogba either side of an own-goal inflicted a first defeat of 2007 on Middlesbrough. A third consecutive 3-0 win at home for José Mourinho's team and a fifth straight clean sheet came against a side that started the game well - but this Chelsea side, with its captain back, is looking good. Plenty to be optimistic about with important fixtures imminent. John Terry made a welcome return into the starting line-up but the expected resumption of the first choice centre-back partnership was scuppered by Ricardo Carvalho succumbing to 'flu. Michael Essien was therefore asked to perform at the back once again and with no Ballack or Mikel, Diarra was handed midfield duties. Ferreira was therefore asked to play right-back with Wayne Bridge thankfully able to play on the left after his midweek thigh strain scare. Up front were three strikers - Kalou added to the usual Drogba and Shevchenko. Boro were robbed of Jonathan Woodgate who came out of international week with a hamstring problem. That was arguably one of the key factors on the afternoon's result. In the England international's absence, Abel Xavier was asked to move from right-back into the centre. The Portuguese defender is hard not to notice, but he was about to have an afternoon he'll wish everyone to forget. The first Chelsea attempt on goal came from the familiar combination of Lampard finding Drogba. The pass was supremely judged, evading Pogatetz and falling into our top scorer's stride. He flashed a first time drive wide of the near post. That was on six minutes and two minutes later, the ball fell Drogba's way after good initial work by Kalou but this time an angled drive was a yard wide of the far post. On 12 minutes, Middlesbrough could have taken the lead. A no nonsense route of attack a ball out wide to Downing, a cross whipped in from the left and Viduka was given far too much space for a striker of his aerial prowess. There were huge sighs of relief around the Bridge when the Aussie's downward headed bounced wide.

The visitors were enjoying the better of the game. Yakubu escaped onside down the left and forced Cech to push the ball out into the danger zone - Essien alert to clear. Chelsea's best responses centred around the lively Kalou who was prepared to take on the Boro defence with the ball at his feet. When he got the better of Davies and made space to shoot inside the right-back, his 31st minute shot was a yard high and wide. The flow of the game was lost in the quarter-of-an-hour before the break by a series of interruptions. When Drogba and Pogatetz clashed under an aerial ball, Gareth Southgate's verbal remonstrations prompted his opposite number to rise from his seat and a suggest the 'Boro manager button it. Then Davies fell awkwardly under pressure from Drogba and appeared to wind himself on the turf, needing lengthy treatment. When the fourth official showed two minutes stoppage time, it was greeted with derision by both the crowd and the Chelsea bench in light of stop-start play that had preceded it. But two minutes was all that Didier Drogba required. When the vertically coiffured Xavier was far too relaxed in dribbling out of his own area, Shevchenko wrestled the ball free and Diarra was then fouled just outside the box. It was a central position for the free-kick and after referee Chris Foy had persuaded the wall to retreat sufficiently, Chelsea's plan was executed to perfection. A wedge in the wall driven in by Terry and Makelele pulled out at the perfect moment and Drogba found the gap. Schwarzer got a touch on the low effort but it was not enough. 1-0 Blues at the break. For all Middlesbrough's good work, they now faced an uphill battle to achieve what no team has done at the Bridge in the Premiership for so long - and win. The first incident of the second-half was the game's first booking. Ferreira caught Downing on the wrong foot and surged passed him down the line. The England winger's recovery tackle was feebly late and rightfully earned a caution. Within that same opening five minutes, the luckless Shevchenko saw his firm header on a Lampard near post corner hacked off the line by Arca.

Middlesbrough then hit woodwork as the eventful start to the half continued. An intended cross by Taylor swung away from it initial trajectory, over the stretching Cech and onto the far post. There were more difficulties for the Blues when Boro broke from their own half on 59 minutes. Yakubu went past Ferreira and Makelele but drove his shot just over the bar. On 64 minutes, Diarra's afternoon came to an end. Minutes earlier an attack of cramp had floored the young Frenchman as a lack of games this season appeared to take its toll. Robben, with two days full training under his belt, was introduced - and how he grabbed the spotlight! His first dribble ended with a tumble but when Kalou laid the ball back, Robben's low strike into the area took a sizeable deviation off the leg of Xavier and flew past Schwarzer. The substitute had been on the pitch 60 seconds. Oh how the Chelsea bench enjoyed that one. Only a reflex Schwarzer save on 78 minutes prevented Drogba notching his second. Robben had began an attack with a run and cross, a scramble ensued before the hapless Xavier cleared straight to the Chelsea striker for a first time snap shot. Three minutes later, Drogba did have his second goal. Robben was fouled out on the left and the Ivorian lined up a free-kick. It was well-struck anyway but a big looping, helping touch off the head of Davies in the wall took it sailing out of reach of Schwarzer and into the net. That's quarter-of-a-century of goals for Drogba this season. Substitutes Wright-Phillips and Gérémi had the best shots of the remaining minutes, the former seeing his effort saved, the latter drilling over the bar after a surge through the middle. A 3-0 win keeps the gap at the top the same with Man United disposing of Charlton at home. Mourinho may have played down the importance before the game but everyone raise a toast to his Chelsea side - three years unbeaten at the Bridge in league games. Chelsea Cech; Ferreira, Essien, Terry (c), Bridge; Diarra (Robben 64), Makelele, Lampard; Shevchenko (Gérémi 87), Drogba, Kalou (Shaun Wright-Phillips 84).

Scorers Drogba 45+2, 82, Robben 65. Middlesbrough Schwarzer; Davies, Xavier, Pogatetz, Taylor; Morrison (Euell 72), Boateng (c), Arca (Rochembach 82), Downing; Yakubu, Viduka (Christie 82). Booked Downing.