Chelsea illustrate stuff of champions

IF seasons hinge, twisting and turning almost imperceptibly, on numerous weekends of subtle momentum shifts, then Chelsea’s impressive victory at Ewood Park on Saturday may well prove to be one such moment in their attempt to hold onto the Premier League title.

A goal down, then level at 1-1, Chelsea were forced to survive a moment of late good fortune when Blackburn substitute Jason Roberts missed the target with Peter Cech and the visitors’ net at his mercy, before a dramatic late winner from Branislav Ivanovic.

The game was, in microcosm, an example of why Chelsea won the title last season and why many observers – including Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce – are pretty much prepared to accept that, barring a spate of serious injury problems, Chelsea will also win it in 2011, a bold statement given that it came before the end of October.

Only Manchester City, whose own title credentials were undermined at Wolves on Saturday, and Aston Villa, in a goalless draw in the Midlands, have taken points from Chelsea so far this season, an extraordinary statistic, even allowing for the defending champions’ somewhat generous fixture scheduling to date.

“It’s important when you don’t play well that you pick up points,” said Cech whose own contribution included an outrageous first half save made as he fell backwards and turned a Mame Biram Diouf shot over the bar while seated on his backside.

“That’s what makes the difference. When you play well everything seems easy but not everyone can win games when they’re not playing well. Today was a big three points for us. City lost, the gap is still five points which is good and we’ve put pressure on the other teams.

“We knew it would be tough here and when we went 1-0 down it became even harder. They had chances as well to get the winner, they didn’t take them and we scored at the other end. It was a very positive performance in terms of showing the character and determination to win. Everything didn’t go well but we still won.’’

In which case, the rest of their rivals had better hope there are not too many afternoons when everything does go well for Chelsea.

Those rivals – Tottenham, Manchester United and Arsenal specifically – will witness that, first-hand, when Chelsea face them in consecutive games next month, the sort of run that could have a huge bearing on the eventual top of the table and, clearly, it is a period which Cech and his team-mates already have pencilled in their diaries.

“Last season the key thing was we won all those head-to-head games against the top four,” said Cech. “This season will be the same, if we can win those games you increase the gap every time you win. It will be a massive help if we can win them.

“We know that November and Christmas will be a tricky period. We have Man United, we have to go to Liverpool, we play Tottenham and Arsenal. Everyone around us, really – but if we win those games it will be a massive advantage for us.’’

Beating the big four was the last thing on the mind of Carlo Ancelotti as he saw his team almost swept away by a superb 30-minute spell from the home side which featured the opening goal, a header from Benjani, his first since netting for Manchester City in December 2008.

But, as Allardyce noted, Blackburn failed to turn a number of chances into goals and, with a devastating attack, Chelsea were level before the interval with Cech’s long punt forward being helped by Florent Malouda and Didier Drogba into the path of Nicolas Anelka, who equalised.

Following Roberts’ miss, the stage was left for impressive Russian Yuri Zhirkov to carve out the winner, his magnificent cross finding the head of the unmarked Ivanovic who made no mistake from six yards.

Of course, the sight of Anelka in full flight for Chelsea was particularly poignant for Allardyce, who managed the Frenchman during a prolific spell at Bolton but who accepts that, even with the proposed takeover of the club by Indian millionaires waiting in the wings, such talent is beyond his reach at Ewood Park.

“I had a couple of minutes with them before the game in the boardroom,” said Allardyce of his meeting with representatives from Indian poultry giants Venky’s. “(Chief executive) John Williams invited me up to say hello to them and if and when the deal has been struck, and they tell me it hasn’t been finalised yet, we’ll look to sit down and see the way forward.

“I don’t know what the figures are and there’s no point discussing what might be and what might not be. I wouldn’t publicise any amount of money you’d get to spend. I’d say, ‘Let’’s keep it to ourselves’.

“Look at the lad here, Anelka. Those players simply are out of our reach now. Look at Phil Jones, Martin Olsson coming on, Steven Nzonzi was injured, the younger players are the key element for us. Nikola Kalinic is still to develop and Junior Hoilett, those are the players that will hopefully make us better. Someone ready-made and good enough at 26, 27 or 28 would be great and that’s a long way down the road.”