Deadly Drogba on the double for unstoppable Blues

Chelsea 2 Boro 0

The Blues brushed Middlesbrough aside with two goals inside three first-half minutes from Didier Drogba to extend their unbeaten run to 13 games.

It gave them a 100% record over the holiday programme and Chelsea's night was crowned by Arsenal and Manchester United both drawing their games against Manchester City and Tottenham respectively.

It means Chelsea, gunning for their first domestic title for 50 years, have now increased their lead at the top, and are an astonishing 11 ahead of United in third place.

Drogba put Chelsea in front with a well-taken goal in the 14th minute.

Latching on to a pass from Frank Lampard, Drogba cleverly turned former England defender Gareth Southgate before slotting the ball beyond Schwarzer from just inside the penalty area.

Middlesbrough had no answer to Drogba's pace and power in attack and he put the Londoners 2-0 up in the 16th minute when he headed home a beautifully placed Lampard free-kick.

Clarke was adamant that the massive gap at the top still meant nothing to the manager or the players.

He said: "It was a good night for us. But we don't have to worry about results elsewhere. We set out before the holiday programme to pick up 12 points and that's what we've done. We've been in front for a long time and all we can do is focus on what we have to do.

"We are very happy as people outside the club were expecting us to drop points but we were focused and we knew that it was important to come out the other side with 12 points. We did that very well over the holiday period.

"But what pressure is going to be different from the pressure we have already had this season? At the moment we are out in front and we are enjoying it. There was no pressure in our performance tonight. We were fantastic and with a bit of luck it could have been five or six.

"The only thing that matters is to be in front in May, whether it is by three, five, seven or ten points. Pressure won't affect us because we are just focused on what we must do."

Clarke was full of admiration for Drogba, who is back to his best following a groin operation during October. He took his goals superbly in the 14th and 16th minutes to earn Chelsea three more valuable points.

Clarke said: "It is great for Didier. He had the operation and it takes a long time to come back. It takes a little bit longer than six weeks. In recent games he's shown one or two signs of coming back to his best and tonight was great for his confidence.

"I told him before the game that he was fresh and could make a difference and he did."

Middlesbrough remain in sixth place and manager Steve McClaren believes the title is now Chelsea's to lose.

He was full of praise for the way his side refused to give in under the Chelsea onslaught but added that the testing time for Chelsea would arrive when any of their key players got injured.

He said: "I can't fault my players at all. It has been a difficult period and four games in 10 days is ridiculous unless you have got a big squad.

"We could have folded tonight against a very good Chelsea side but I was proud of the way they kept going and never gave up.

"Chelsea are favourites and it is theirs to lose. But they have not had injuries to their key players yet. The likes of Arsenal and Manchester United have had that and had to cope with it. If that happens (to Chelsea) then Arsenal and Manchester United are always waiting. But it is still a three-horse race."

CHELSEA: Cech, Paulo Ferreira, Terry, Gallas, Smertin, Makelele, Lampard, Cole, Duff, Robben, Drogba.

MIDDLESBROUGH: Schwarzer, Reiziger, Southgate, Cooper, Queudrue, Parlour, Doriva, Zenden, Downing, Hasselbaink, Nemeth.

Referee: S Bennett (Kent).