Chelsea run continues

Avram Grant will be a happy bunny as tonight Chelsea scored an easy 2-0 victory over Middlesbrough in the Premiership at the Riverside. Didier Drogba and Alex scored on either side of the half time interval to take the Blues’ tally to 18 points from 10 games and their second away victory in a row after beating Bolton last week.

It took just eight minutes as Drogba scored the opener with an angular grounder from the left side of the box after stand-in skipper Frank Lampard provided the assist.

Minutes later, a similar run saw Drogba break into the Boro box and pulled the ball back but a good interception by rival defender prevented Lampard, placed in the centre of the penalty area, being brought into the picture.

Gareth Southgate’s side failed to stitch a single notable move in the first 15 minutes of play but gained a foothold into the game thereafter.

Blues keeper Petr Cech made a good save off a powerful header from Mido in the 18th minute after Gary O’Neil rounded off Paulo Ferreira, who was playing in left-back position in absence of injured Ashley Cole, to supply a pin-point cross inside the box.

Alex made an important block to prevent Tuncay Sanli from endangering the Blues citadel with an overhead volley after Luke Young had sent in an early cross from right wing.

Chelsea got a free-kick at the edge of the box as Jonathan Woodgate fouled Joe Cole in 32nd minute, but Drogba’s shot hit the side-netting. At the other end, Chris Riggott ballooned the ball over the crossbar off a free-kick taken by Fabio Rochemback.

Boro had a good chance to restore parity in the 49th minute as Stewart Downing orchestrated a sharp move but his cross was not great and Mido could not get any power into his header, and saw Cech having the easiest of saves to make.

Alex scored a stunning goal in the 56th minute off a free-kick from 35 yards after Lampard provided the initial touch. It was the first goal in the Brazilian defender’s Blues career after arriving at Stamford Bridge in the summer from Holland.