Blackburn 0-1 Chelsea: Second-half Frank Lampard header helps nervy Blues end poor run of form against struggling hosts

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Steve Kean, who has seen shoots of progress from his men in recent weeks, named an unchanged side to the team that threw away a 3-1 lead to draw 3-3 with Norwich City late on last week with Junior Hoilett, who had been a doubt due to suffering from a tight calf at Carrow Road, retaining his place.

Villas-Boas shuffled his pack, however, with five changes to the side that managed only a point away to Genk on Tuesday evening. John Terry returned to the starting XI despite the ongoing race row surrounding the England captain whereas Fernando Torres, vilified for his performances in recent weeks, was dropped to the bench as Daniel Sturridge took centre stage up front.

Having seen Newcastle defeat Everton in the afternoon's early kick-off to move into second, six points ahead of Chelsea, Villas-Boas' men will have wanted to reassert their power in the top four scrap.

Their start, however, was limp and it was the home side who nearly broke the deadlock early on after Mauro Formica delivered a neat squared ball into the path of Yakubu on the ninth minute, only for the powerful Nigerian to knock his effort wide as he slid into the six-yard box.

The resulting collision between the striker and Petr Cech appeared to break the keeper's nose and the game was stopped for six minutes as the Blues' medical team attempted to stem the flow of blood coming from the Chelsea shot-stopper.

The visitors then felt they deserved a penalty after Sturridge was felled in the box by Christopher Samba but it looked little more than a 50-50 collision. Referee Mike Dean wasn't convinced, but it was at least a statement of intent from the Blues.

That said, Blackburn were more than holding their own but discontent still reigned, as a plane carrying a banner reading 'Steve Kean out' flew above Ewood Park half way through the opening 45 minutes.

             Frank's the man | Lampard's second-half header secured victory for Chelsea

The vigour with which the hosts started the game lessened as the first half wore on and after losing Samba to a knock, Rovers looked perilously close to being overrun by Villas-Boas' men as Sturridge and Mata probed.

The teams remained goalless as half time arrived but the home side would have been wary of complacency, having lost against both Tottenham and Manchester City after going in level at the break in their last two home games in the league.

Villas-Boas clearly felt the need to change his side's approach and replaced Malouda with Torres at half time. Six minutes later and his side were in front, but it was a piece of beauty from Serbia, not Spain, that helped break the deadlock as Ivanovic pitched a divine low ball from the right into the area for Lampard to nod home with pinpoint accuracy.

With the pressure on Kean ramped up once again, his side delivered and should have equalised only five minutes later as Pedersen’s rasping free-kick was saved unconvincingly by Cech, only for Grant Hanley to limply knock a shot back towards the grateful Czech Republic international.

The game inevitably opened up as the home side looked to level the score and they should have on the 67th minute, as Yakubu pounced on a bouncing ball left alone by the Chelsea defence following a mix-up between Alex and Terry, but his curling effort was saved by Cech. 

The home side were battling valiantly and chances were to come their way in abundance, as a header from Ivanovic hit his own bar before Pedersen smashed an effort over as added time approached.

But with the resilience of true title challengers under immense pressure, the visitors, whose defence has been so staunchly, and rightly vilified in recent weeks, hung on to secure the precious three points.

The win will no doubt ease the pressure on Villas-Boas, who after a miserable fortnight and amid vocal protests against his opposite number, finally gave Chelsea fans something to shout about.