Given the size of the snowfall in northern Norway at the moment, "digging deep" might take on a new meaning for Chelsea in Tromso on Thursday. For the moment Ruud Gullit is happy to use the phrase in its metaphorical sense to describe his side's performance against Leicester as Chelsea warmed up for their European Cup Winners' Cup visit to the Arctic Circle by proving on a baking day that cool nerves are superior to hot heads.

Chelsea enjoyed 90 per cent of the possession and created 98 per cent of the chances but, as 90 minutes approached, they were still struggling to score the goal that would have rewarded them with three points.

With the clock ticking anxiously away, Chelsea sides of old might have begun to panic. But this team's mentality is modelled on that of its manager. They kept calm, kept passing and three minutes from time Frank Leboeuf popped up with a screaming winner from 30 yards.

As Chelsea moved above Leicester into fourth place in the table, Gullit and his players could reflect on the most satisfying win of all.

"The players said that this was our best win, not the 6-0," said the manager. "That is because we had to dig deep, stay concentrated and stay patient. The team played with their heads, kept on passing and their patience was rewarded. It was a good lesson for them. They saw the results of doing it this way and now they will believe in it more."

It helped on Saturday that Gullit was on the pitch calming by example rather than fidgeting on the bench, though the circumstances of his arrival as a 28thminute substitute were not ideal.

The England left wing-back Graeme Le Saux lost his footing and landed on his arm, dislocating his elbow. he will be sidelined for at least two weeks. It comes just four days after Gustavo Poyet suffered a cruciate injury that will keep him out for the season.

But here too Gullit's planning has proved invaluable, for his summer expansion of the squad to cope with just such realities means that the effect of these losses will be cushioned.

By contrast Martin O'Neill was compelled because of the small size of his squad to include in Saturday's side four players who had not trained all week due to various knocks. As a result Leicester defended deep in the hope of eking out a draw.

"I would like to entertain if I had world class players at my disposal," admitted O'Neill, though he hopes to pick up some much-needed transfer funds from this week's flotation of the club.

In the dying moments of training on Friday morning, O'Neill also lost his goalkeeper Kasey Keller with a dislocated finger. As it happens his replacement proved a revelation.

Pegguy Arphexad is a Frenchman who arrived on a summer free transfer from Lens and is probably already fed up with jokes about the suspect gender of his first name.

After a nervous start, this natural acrobat kept out Chelsea with save after flying save, though it has to be said he was aided by the home side's proclivity for shooting too close to him.

The debutant's repertoire included two soaring tip-overs from Leboeuf 30-yarders. However, Arphexad's compatriot was merely setting his range. With time running out, Leboeuf, for once, fired the ball firmly into the corner of the Leicester goal. Not even the flying Arphexad could reach it and Stamford Bridge let out an exultant sigh of relief before trooping home, presumably, to watch the Weather in Norwegian.

The 30 clubs in the Scottish first, second and third divisions today called on the breakaway 10 to lay their cards on the table. The 30 meeting in Cumbernauld decided to back the Scottish League management committee and urge them to continue their talks with the Premier League clubs.