Chelsea 2 Schalke 04 0:This period of seclusion might just be to Chelsea's taste. They consolidated at the top of Group B without inspiring any bullish predictions that they are set to win the Champions League. No one is fixated with them for the time being. Even the referee, Peter Frojdfeldt, did not pay much attention when Alex, after perpetrating a short backpass, brought down Schalke's Soren Larsen in the 85th minute. Somehow, no foul was awarded, no red card shown.

In reparation, Didier Drogba was denied an obvious penalty almost immediately. Interest in the game as a whole was flagging by then and the outcome had been easy to predict, in view of the opening to the occasion.

It is only polite to bring a gift when visiting a convalescent, and Chelsea will have appreciated Schalke's good taste in presenting them with an absurd goal after four minutes.

With three consecutive victories, the Premier League club had already started to experience a faint sense of the old well-being. Avram Grant himself sought some encouragement here as well.

The single home game under the direction of the new manager had been the 0-0 draw with Fulham. He was not made to wait long for a goal last night. With four minutes gone, Florent Malouda showed his characteristically tenacious sort of skill to get away from the right back Rafinha, but his shot was hit straight to Manuel Neuer. There was not any great speed on the ball either, yet it still ran through the goalkeeper's legs.

At the weekend, Neuer had chucked a throw-out straight to an opponent, so permitting Hansa Rostock their equaliser in a draw.

Schalke must have a deep sense that the fates are pursuing a vendetta. The striker Kevin Kuranyi hurt himself before kick-off against Chelsea and, with the line-ups already submitted, Larsen had to be promoted from the bench to the starting line-up, even though manager Mirko Slomka had not named the full seven substitutes in the first place.

Nonetheless, the visitors were not disheartened even by the opener. They had won 2-0 away to Rosenborg Trondheim and attacked here with brightness.

The intended evolution of Chelsea from the dry rigour of the Jose Mourinho era has got no further yet than an increased vulnerability. Perhaps that can be ascribed over the next couple of weeks to the loss on John Terry to injury. Whatever the explanation, Grant's side could not deal with a cross and Carlos Grossmuller was wrongly given off-side when he tucked the ball home in the 28th minute.

There was errant flagging, too, after Joe Cole was released by Drogba six minutes before the interval, but his effort had been saved in any case. Neuer coped then, but there was still every reason to test the goalkeeper. Another Cole effort in the 45th minute was shoved out into the middle of the goalmouth, even if it did not run to a Chelsea player.

The match, at that stage, had been humdrum, and Grant, who had not included Shaun Wright-Phillips even among the substitutes, cannot have been in the mood for frivolity. Michael Essien was as great a danger as anyone, twice threatening with headers before the interval. It was a little odd to see him taking up such a role and Frank Lampard, at that stage, was conservative by comparison.

Grant's side, with as little elaboration as possible, had always been keen on delivering crosses. Drogba, of course, is the best target of all for Chelsea and he extended the lead after 47 minutes. Paulo Ferreira's run on the right was full of good intentions, but the forward had to supply the greatest quality, connecting with a diving header to beat Neuer.

This, indeed, had the air of an unassuming win. The admirable visiting support teased their opposite numbers for being subdued, but Chelsea had achieved their aim by ensuring that Schalke pose only a muted threat in Group B.

CHELSEA: Cech, Ferreira, Carvalho, Alex, Bridge, Essien (Obi 70), Makelele, Lampard, Joe Cole (Shevchenko 89), Malouda (Kalou 83), Drogba. Subs not used: Cudicini, Pizarro, Ben-Haim, Belletti.

SCHALKE 04: Neuer, Rafinha, Westermann, Bordon, Rodriguez (Bajramovic 81), Ernst, Jones, Grossmuller (Azaouagh 76), Asamoah (Rakitic 61), Lovenkrands, Larsen. Subs not used: Schober, Howedes. Booked: Jones, Rodriguez.

Referee: P Frojdfeldt (Sweden).