Player Ratings: Chelsea 2-0 Blackburn Rovers

Chelsea cruised to victory over Blackburn Rovers at Stamford Bridge. Football news predictions and bets rates the performers…



CHELSEA

Cech: 6.0 – Didn’t have an awful lot to do, in truth. Fumbled a Pederson shot in the first half but came out quickly to deny Warnock at the start of the second.

Bosingwa: 7.0 - A strong run forwards initiated the opening goal and he looked to attack whenever possible.

Alex: 6.5 - Steady at the back and had few scares against a toothless Blackburn side.

Terry: 7.0 - Very little got past the Chelsea skipper this afternoon and he cruised through a comfortable afternoon.

Ashley Cole: 8.0 - Looked the Cole of old, making countless runs forwards. Set up Anelka well before having a good shot saved mid-way through the first half. Might have had a penalty in the second half, before crossing for the second goal.

Essien: 7.0 - So strong in midfield and Rovers found his power difficult to deal with. Strong shot late on which Robinson did well to stop.

Mikel: 6.5 - Quietly effective in midfield and another Chelsea man who cruised through the afternoon.

Lampard: 7.0 - Made a super block on Grella and also hit the woodwork with a trademark first half shot. Good cross for Malouda just after the break and looked desperate to score but couldn’t beat Robinson.

Drogba: 6.5 - Not quite his day in front of goal but still had the presence of mind to square the ball to Anelka for the second goal and held the ball up well.

Anelka: 8.5 - A superb display by the Frenchman who set up the first with a wicked cross before firing home the second. Involved in all of Chelsea’s best moments and almost added a second but fired just wide with 20 minutes to go.

Malouda: 8.0 – A brilliant header for the opener and could have grabbed a second just after the break but couldn’t get enough of a touch on Lampard’s cross.

BLACKBURN ROVERS

Robinson: 7.5 - Saved well from Anelka and Ashley Cole in the first half and also kept out Lampard, Malouda and Essien after the break.

Andrews: 5.0 - Had a tough afternoon with Cole bombing forwards at every opportunity and Malouda also causing problems. Fortunate not to concede a penalty after appearing to pull down Cole in the box.

Nelsen: 6.5 – Seemed to be enjoying his battle with Didier Drogba before injury intervened and ensured he didn’t quite make it to half-time.

Givet: 6.5 – Made a great clearance after Malouda had dinked over Robinson but, like Nelsen, was injured early and failed to emerge after the break.

Warnock: 6.0 - Eager to get forwards down the left and combine with Pederson but struggled to cope with Anelka. His willingness to go forward saw him caught out of position for the opener but he had a great chance to score early in the second half but was just too heavy with his first touch

Diouf: 5.0 - Supplied some decent crosses from the right but toiled against Cole who raced past him time after time in the first half.

Tugay: 6.5 - The oldest man on the pitch by some distance but threaded some lovely balls forward. Almost managed a decent shot late on, which Cech saved.

Grella: 5.5 – Had a strong shot blocked by Lampard but was forced further and further back after the break and struggled to contain the Chelsea midfield.

Pedersen: 6.5 - An early run and shot tested Cech and he wasn’t afraid to shoot. Looked lively whenever he had the ball but tired and was replaced in the second half.

Samba: 6.0 - Started up front and had a couple of chances but put an acrobatic shot wide before heading over. Nelsen’s injury saw him drop back and he looked a lot happier in defence.

Villanueva: 5.5 - Some nice moments on the ball but didn’t really see enough of it to hurt Chelsea.

Substitutes

Doran: 6.5 - The teenager didn’t appear daunted by the challenge after replacing Nelsen in the first half and put in a decent shift.

Khizanishvili: 6.5 - Lovely ball up to Warnock early in the second half and made some vital blocks.

McCarthy: n/a