Inspired Cech saves Chelsea
Arjen Robben may have scored the goal which saw Jose Mourinho's side stretch the gap at the top to 11 points but it was Cech, who brilliantly saved a Paul Dickov penalty, who emerged as Chelsea's key man.
This was Chelsea's eighth consecutive league win all with clean sheets and Cech has now gone 781 minutes without conceding a goal, surpassing Peter Schmeichel's 1997 mark of 694 minutes.
Not since Arsenal drew 2-2 on December 12 has their defence been breached in the Premiership and not since then have an opposing side caused them so many problems.
Blackburn manager Mark Hughes has bought well in the transfer window and his side, allied to their combative approach, proved doughty competitors.
Rovers are, statistically at least, the dirtiest side in the Premiership with the most fouls, the most red cards (five) and the most yellow (48) of any club in the top flight and Chelsea were taken back by their physical approach.
Aaron Mokoena, playing in a holding role in midfield, ended Robben's match after 11 minutes the Dutch winger limping off with a bruised foot after a clash with the South African.
Robben had done his work by then but without him and the injured Didier Drogba the visitors looked a touch lightweight, especially in attack.
During the brief time Robben was on the field Chelsea looked in control. Former Rovers winger Damien Duff left Dominic Matteo for dead in the first minute after an exquisite dummy and turn, but Mokoena stood tall for Blackburn and cleared the cross.
There was a flicker of hope for the home side when Dickov picked up possession 25 yards from goal but Claude Makelele's block took the sting out of his strike and Cech was able to gather and claim that record from Schmeichel.
With less than five minutes gone Chelsea asserted their supremacy. Frank Lampard found Robben on the left flank and the Dutchman left Lucas Neill chasing his shadow before rifling a terrific shot low across Brad Friedel to make it 1-0.
Duff kept up the pressure with a long-range shot which swerved but was still comfortable for Friedel.
Mokoena's fierce rising drive from 30 yards just cleared the crossbar, before Andy Todd came mighty close to breaching that invincible goal with a powerful downward header.
Savage should have done even better when Dickov chested Morten Pedersen's long-throw towards him but skied his effort.
Chelsea had been warned, and only Cech's brilliance kept them in front. Savage won a penalty when he ran on to Dickov's backheel and had his ankles clipped by Paulo Ferreira.
Referee Uriah Rennie's decision looked spot on but Cech kept his record going, the Czech using all of his 6ft 5in frame to dive to his left to thwart Dickov, then bravely seizing the loose ball.
John Terry lost his temper with Dickov when the striker went diving in at Cech's feet. A fracas developed and Terry was fortunate that someone more card- happy that Rennie was not in charge.
David Thompson then tried an outlandish volley from 30 yards which soared several yards wide.
After an hour it had become apparent Chelsea had been told to match Blackburn's fire with fire and Terry went into Rennie's notebook for tangling once too often with Dickov.
At the same time, Chelsea had retreated into their shell and when they did poke their head out, it was not to great effect as Joe Cole sliced wide from 20 yards.
Dickov could have made up for his penalty miss when the way to goal opened up for him but he did not strike his shot cleanly and Cech was not properly tested.
Lucas Neill sliced wide as injury time approached and after another unseemly mass melee after Claude Makelele had knocked over Pedersen Chelsea held on for victory.
BLACKBURN: Friedel, Neill, Todd, Nelsen, Matteo, Emerton, Thompson (Reid 81), Mokoena, Savage, Pedersen, Dickov.
CHELSEA: Cech, Paulo Ferreira, Gallas, Terry, Bridge, Tiago, Makelele, Lampard, Duff, Gudjohnsen (Kezman 82), Robben (Cole 11), Cole (Jarosik 79).
Referee: U Rennie.
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