Chelsea 2 Middlesborough 0: There had been good reason to curse Ashley Cole's inability to convert Jose Bosingwa's cross at the far post, the full-back nodding down and into the side-netting with Ross Turnbull exposed.
THE GRIND goes on. Chelsea’s pursuit of the Premier League leaders has been maintained, though it said much for this downbeat occasion that the most raucous cheer to erupt here was prompted by confirmation of Wigan’s equaliser against Liverpool at a distant JJB Stadium rather than anything conjured by their own team.
Luiz Felipe Scolari will take his team to Anfield on Sunday above the Merseysiders on goal difference. There was much to be gained from squeezing out victory last night as Salomon Kalou kept their title aspirations alive with a second-half double.
Kalou opened the scoring in the 58th minute and added a second 10 minutes from time as Chelsea moved second in the table, two points behind Manchester United.
In many ways this was as unconvincing a success as that achieved against Stoke City in their previous league game. It merely lacked the late drama of that turnaround.
It had always felt likely to prove as much a test of Chelsea’s patience as their pedigree. The visitors arrived without a win in this arena in 34 years or, more pertinently, a success of any kind against anyone in the division since early November, a sequence stretching back 10 games.
There was an admirably rugged and committed nature to their approach; the frenzy of tackles mustered by the back four and the midfield quintet stifled the home side’s intent and choked the mood of optimism in these parts generated by three successive wins.
The first wailed discord from the stands duly erupted just after the half hour, anguish spilling over as yet another laboured home attack ran aground on massed ranks of red.
Scolari, his agitation having long been evident on the touchline, directed his frustration at the visitors’ assistant manager, Malcolm Crosby, after Mohamed Shawky was penalised for hand ball. The fourth official, Steve Bennett, stepped in to curtail the furious finger-wagging and was called upon again as the players retreated at the interval, Scolari’s mood having long since darkened.
Thereafter, Boro rather kept the hosts at arm’s length, optimistic shots rarely testing the goalkeeper while Kalou found the roof of the net from Frank Lampard’s corner.
Desperate times called for desperate measures, with Didier Drogba summoned from the bench for the ineffective Florent Malouda at the interval. The Ivorian was needed as a battering ram to discomfort David Wheater and Chris Riggott.
He might have scored with his first involvement, intercepting a hurried clearance and squirting a shot wide of the far post, but his mere presence served to unsettle.
Drogba provided muscle to undermine the visitors’ resolve.
Kalou had already flicked over from close range when, just before the hour mark, Lampard’s corner was headed down by Alex. Drogba leapt with Wheater, the African’s frame choking the clearance, and the loose ball was dispatched emphatically beyond Turnbull by Kalou to pierce Boro’s resistance.
His second 10 minutes later settled the nerves.
Guardian Service
CHELSEA:Cech, Bosingwa, Alex, Terry, Ashley Cole, Mikel, Kalou (Deco 82), Ballack, Lampard, Malouda (Drogba 46), Anelka (Stoch 88). Subs not used: Hilario, Ivanovic, Ferreira, Mancienne.
MIDDLESBROUGH:Turnbull, McMahon, Wheater, Riggott, Pogatetz, Adam Johnson, O'Neil, Shawky (Sanli 64), Bates, Downing, King (Alves 64). Subs not used: Jones, Taylor, Emnes, Huth, Arca. Booked: Shawky, Riggott.
Referee:Lee Probert (Wiltshire).
