Chelsea had the better of this highly competitive match at Stamford Bridge last night, but a late headed goal by Ashley Ward, with only five minutes remaining, gave Blackburn a crucial anti-relegation point.
Chelsea player-manager Gianluca Vialli, a year as player-manager today, and Blackburn defender Marlon Broomes were sent off near the end after a clash on the edge of the Blackburn area.
The fact that only Jody Morris's sweet goal separated the sides with a few minutes to go was a tribute to the Blackburn goalkeeper John Filan. Man of the match in Sunday's Cup tie against Newcastle, Filan produced another astonishing performance of athleticism to deny Chelsea.
The pace of the opening 15 minutes was breathtaking. In only the second minute the Chelsea manager Vialli put over a cross for Gianfranco Zola and Stephane Henchoz cleared off the line with Filan beaten.
Blackburn had some ambitions of their own and Ed de Goey had to make a smart save from Matt Jansen. But for the most part they had difficulty disturbing Chelsea's fluid rhythm and in the ninth minute the home side were given a penalty.
Broomes appeared to have been harshly judged for his challenge on Vialli and there was an element of justice in Frank Leboeuf's wasted spot-kick, although it was a fine save by Filan which pushed the ball on to the post.
It was almost half-time before Chelsea took the lead. In the 44th minute, after a corner on the left, Vialli laid the ball back to Jody Morris whose sweet volley from 20 yards flew low to Filan's left.
It was something of a relief for Chelsea supporters because Blackburn had become something of a bogey team for their club. Since the Premiership started in 1992 they had played each other on 13 occasions before last night with Chelsea winning only once.
Blackburn looked for reinforcements at half-time and brought on winger Keith Gillespie.
Still Chelsea, sometimes playing delightful football, might have extended their lead in the 63rd minute when Vialli worked the ball to Di Matteo on the right and the midfield man did well to put in a testing cross from a difficult angle. But Zola failed to get any power in his header.
Chelsea: De Goey, Lambourde, Desailly, Leboeuf, Le Saux (Newton 25), Petrescu (Goldbaek 80), Morris (Forssell 88), Di Matteo, Babayaro, Vialli, Zola. Subs Not Used: Hitchcock, Terry. Sent Off: Vialli (84). Booked: Lambourde, Leboeuf, Morris. Goals: Morris 44.
Blackburn: Filan, Kenna, Henchoz, Broomes, Croft, McAteer, Dunn, Marcolin (Gillespie 46), Jansen (Duff 80), Ward, Sutton, Duff (Peacock 85). Subs Not Used: Flowers, Blake. Sent Off: Broomes (84). Booked: Marcolin, Sutton, Peacock. Goals: Ward 84.
Referee: U Rennie (Sheffield).
