Chelsea	3 - 0	Middlesbrough
Scorers Drogba 45 Xavier o.g. 66 Drogba 83	Half Time ( 1 - 0 )	Booked Downing 48

Chelsea kept up the pressure on Manchester United with a 3-0 thumping win over Middlesbrough. The visitors will feel aggrieved to have suffered such a heavy defeat after having a wonderful chance to take the lead through Mark Viduka with scores at 0-0. However, Gareth Southgate’s side were made to pay for their wastefulness as a brace from Didier Drogba and an own goal from Abel Xavier condemned ‘Boro to defeat at Stamford Bridge.

‘Boro more than held their own in the first 45 minutes and really should have taken the lead when Andrew Davies crossed for Viduka but the Australian could only nod wide from six yards when he really should have scored.

It proved to be a huge let off for the Champions and Chelsea made sure they took full advantage. Having already fizzed another effort just wide of the ‘Boro goal, Drogba finally put Chelsea ahead on the stroke of half time as his rasping free-kick had no problems in breaking through the ‘Boro wall before beating an unsighted Schwarzer.

‘Boro continued to fight in the second half and Yakubu wasted a glorious opportunity to bring his side level as he scooped the ball harmlessly over the crossbar after some impressive skill.

The visitors continued to threaten and Andrew Davies came within a whisker of finding a spectacular equaliser as his deep cross-cum-shot looped over Petr Cech only to hit the angle of post and bar.

That was the last meaningful opportunity that ‘Boro would be afforded as Chelsea wrapped up the game in rather fortuitous circumstances. Arjen Robben, on as a substitute for Diarra, made a run into the ‘Boro penalty area and his cross was deflected home by the leg of Xavier.

It was cruel on the visitors who didn’t deserve to concede a goal like that but in the end it was immaterial as Chelsea wrapped up proceedings with yet another Drogba goal with the Ivorian striker smashing home another free kick via a deflection off the head of Davies.

Drogba’s 25th goal of the season put the seal on another Chelsea victory and prolonged their unbeaten stretch at Stamford Bridge in the league to a staggering three years.


Chelsea: Cech, Diarra (Robben 65), Ferreira, Terry, Bridge, Essien, Makelele, Lampard, Kalou (Wright-Phillips 85), Drogba, Shevchenko (Geremi 88).

Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Boulahrouz.

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Davies, Xavier, Pogatetz, Taylor, Morrison (Euell 73), Boateng, Arca (Rochemback 84), Downing, Viduka (Christie 84), Yakubu.

Subs Not Used: Jones, Hines.

Att: 41,699

Ref: C Foy (Merseyside).

By James Masters