Blackburn Rovers 1 Chelsea 2:AFTER A performance that mingled endeavour and style but yielded no points this was a kick in the teeth for Blackburn Rovers but it was Sam Allardyce's hand that was hurting. 

His fingers were swathed in sticking plaster and bandages and, when the Blackburn manager laughed and said he had done it punching the dressing-room wall, you wondered if he were joking.

Other managers, from Arsène Wenger to Roberto Mancini, would have shared the pain of Chelsea’s snatched victory.

The champions would have been happy with the draw. They were delighted with the win.

As the clocks go back, Chelsea tend to go forward. They did not drop a point last November and, if that kind of form can be repeated, their lead will lengthen as the nights shorten.

Russian Yury Zhirkov will play a crucial part in his side’s title defence after his wonder show stole the points. Manager Carlo Ancelotti relished Zhirkov’s work to provide the cross from which Branislav Ivanovic could hardly miss, heading home in a match Ancelotti admitted his side were “lucky” to win. Zhirkov’s heroics to set up the winner for Ivanovic came less than a minute after the home side should have wrapped up the points themselves with substitute Jason Roberts missing a sitter at the other end.

Rovers had failed to make the most of their series of first-half chances against the strangely flat champions, with Benjani Mwaruwari’s headed opener all they had to show for their efforts.

Michael Essien rammed a shot wide as the visitors belatedly stirred and it took just one sweeping move to bring them back level, Nicolas Anelka converting after Didier Drogba headed down Florent Malouda’s superb cross-field ball.

Champions League Watch

Chelsea host Spartak Moscow on Wednesday. The Russian side came from behind to defeat Rostov, 2-1, at home on Saturday. In the 39th minute, Aidan McGeady passed two defenders before sending a cross to Wellinton who equalised. And McGeady scored a late penalty to give Spartak victory.