Uefa Champions League: Chelsea may yet become the strongest team on the planet but their fans are clearly not willing to pay to watch every step along the path.
A crowd of only 29,575 saw last night's game, including a sizeable number from Anderlecht. The 12,000 or so who stayed away might be glad to hear they did not miss much.
Chelsea's dominance of possession provided few chances against negative opponents, who almost pulled off the shock they craved when Anthony van den Borre hit the post with a rare and deflected Anderlecht shot.
As it was Frank Lampard's earlier goal, which ought to have been saved, extended Chelsea's winning streak and they have still not conceded a goal in the league or Europe. In common with several of their performances this season, there was little sparkle, but they did enough.
A limited Anderlecht made life difficult with their defensive approach and made a concerted effort to score only in the final 20 minutes.
Lampard put Chelsea ahead with a swerving shot after 19 minutes. It was the midfielder's third goal of the season, not bad for a player described by Sven-Goran Eriksson as a slow starter between his pallid performances for England in Wales and Northern Ireland. The goal was a relief for Chelsea, who were at that stage finding it hard to break down opponents who had set up to frustrate them.
Anderlecht are traditionally known as an attacking side and have scored 17 goals in their opening five Belgian League games, but their mindset here was very different.
Playing with five across the back and three not far in front, their game plan was designed to minimise the threat of Chelsea and strike, if possible, on the break.
Although Chelsea made early chances, with Michael Essien and Damien Duff bringing saves from Daniel Zitka, Anderlecht's plan had gradually begun to restrict the home side. Their wing-backs closed down Duff and Arjen Robben and, by crowding central areas, the Belgians made it hard for Chelsea to hit passes into Didier Drogba's feet or play neatly near the penalty area.
In the end it was a set-piece which gave Chelsea the breakthrough. Lampard's shot was powerful and swerved considerably after a free-kick had been tapped to him by Robben, but Zitka ought to have stopped it. The keeper can place some blame on his wall as the ball also appeared to clip an Anderlecht heel en route to goal.
Going behind did not tempt Anderlecht out of their defensive shell. They showed a distinct lack of quality with the little possession they got, with too many passes failing to find their target.
Jose Mourinho's team enjoyed no clear-cut opportunities before half-time to put the game beyond doubt.
The second half was virtually identical, with Chelsea constantly pushing forward but unable to make much headway. Robben usually had a couple of men to beat when he got on the ball and Drogba could not make an impact.
Robben was invariably heading infield on to his left foot from the right flank, and there seemed a case for bringing Shaun Wright-Phillips earlier than he was. But one Anderlecht break saw Van den Borre strike a shot which deflected off John Terry and hit a post with the Cech beaten.
Guardian Service
CHELSEA: Cech, Paulo Ferreira, Terry, Ricardo Carvalho, Gallas, Duff (Joe Cole 77), Essien (Huth 90), Makelele, Lampard, Robben (Wright-Phillips 67), Drogba. Subs not used: Cudicini, Crespo, Geremi, Diarra. Booked: Wright-Phillips. Goal: Lampard 19.
ANDERLECHT: Zitka, Zewlakow (Jestrovic 81), Juhasz, Tihinen, Deschacht, Vanden Borre, Vanderhaeghe (Delorge 89), Deman, Goor, Mpenza, Akin (Wilhelmsson 70). Subs not used: Proto, Baseggio, Hasi, Zetterberg. Booked: Akin, Vanderhaeghe.
Referee: Wolfgang Stark (Germany).
