Half Time: Blackburn Rovers 0-1 Chelsea (From This Is Lancashire)

Half Time: Blackburn Rovers 0-1 Chelsea

4:48pm Sunday 21st March 2010 in

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Didier Drogba pounced early on, to give Chelsea a 1-0 lead at Ewood Park at the break.

It was a lively opening with both sides having chances. While the final ball was lacking for the home side, Drogba sent a shot just wide in the third minute before making up for it moments later.

Nicolas Anelka took advantage of the space on the right, before crossing for the unmarked Ivorian to cooly finish into the botton corner.

Chelsea were exploiting the vast spaces offered, but it was Blackburn who began to threaten. Nikola Kalinic's cross come shot went just over Turnbull's goal, before Moretn Gamst Pedersen went close with a free kick in the 15th minute.

The away sides quick passing had Rovers panicking at times, and after working a corner Alex nearly doubled the lead. However his volley from 12 yards was blocked, before Pedersen had another chance but miss hit his shot wide.

Debutant Phil Jones had the home support on their feet just after the half hour mark, with a number of crunching tackles. However Rovers couldn't create any real chance of note to test Turnbull, but they had successfully nullfied the Chelsea threat that was prominent early on.

When the visitors did get a shot away in the 38th minute, Jason Brown produced an instinct stop to deny Florent Malouda.

The half ended with no more real chances of note, and it went in at 1-0.