Kalou strike gives Chelsea half-time lead

Middlesbrough 0 Chelsea 1

Salomon Kalou fired injury-hit Chelsea into an early lead at Middlesbrough as Luiz Felipe Scolari’s stand-ins proved their worth.

The Ivory Coast international struck from close range with 14 minutes gone after the Teessiders had failed to deal with Wayne Bridge’s cross.

It might have been 2-0 at the break had Boro full-back Jonathan Grounds not got a touch on Frank Lampard’s shot in front of goal with the visitors utterly dominant.