Cole injury blow as Blues blitz Blackburn

GOALS from Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard and substitute Salomon Kalou kept Chelsea in touch with leaders Manchester United at the top of the Barclays Premiership.

But more of a worry for Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho was the loss of England left-back Ashley Cole, with suspected knee ligament damage.

“It is incredible because we do not have small injuries. It is big injury after big injury,” said a frustrated Jose Mourinho.

Chelsea’s victory was comfortable enough with Drogba and strike partner Andriy Shevchenko proving too hot for the visitors to handle.

“I think it was Andriy’s best game. He played fantastic,” said Mourinho.

Chelsea took the lead in the sixth minute through top scorer Drogba.

He latched on to a through ball from Lampard and cleverly held off Stephane Henchoz before steering a left-foot shot under Friedel.

Moments later rampant Chelsea almost added a second through Shevchenko but the Ukrainian’s right-foot shot was saved by Friedel.

In the 16th minute, Friedel saved superbly to deny Shevchenko.

On the half-hour Blackburn had Friedel to thank yet again when he pushed out a shot from Drogba.

Michael Ballack, barracked by some of the home fans in the first half, wasted a gilt-edged opportunity to increase Chelsea’s lead on 46 minutes.

Diarra lofted a superb cross into the penalty area but, although the Germany captain directed his header on target, Friedel produced another fine save to deny him.

Chelsea were rocked in the 52nd minute when Cole sustained his injury – after appearing to catch his studs in the Stamford Bridge turf.

Cole was replaced by his England understudy Wayne Bridge and Chelsea quickly regained their momentum.

But on the hour Shevchenko wasted another great chance when a sublime backheel from Drogba put the Ukrainian clear once more.

However, Friedel dived low to his right to deny the Chelsea striker.

But there was nothing wrong with Lampard’s 25-yard drive in the 67th minute as it flew into the roof of the net for his 16th goal of the season.

The England midfielder could have increased Chelsea’s lead but two more efforts were saved by Friedel in a frantic last 15 minutes.

Blackburn’s best chance arrived eight minutes from time when Cech had to dive low to keep out a header from McCarthy.

Kalou completed the scoring in the 90th minute when he finished off a headed pass from Ballack .

CHELSEA: Cech; Diarra, Essien, Carvalho, Cole (Bridge 55) ; Ballack, Makelele, Lampard, Mikel (Ferreira 87); Shevchenko (Kalou 84), Drogba.

BLACKBURN: Friedel; Emerton, Nelsen, Henchoz, (Samba 79), Warnock; Gallagher (Nonda 62), Bentley, Kerimoglu, Pedersen; Derbyshire (Jeffers 78), McCarthy.

Referee: G Poll.