The Sports Life

English Premiership Football 2006-07 ? Blackburn 0:2 Chelsea

Champions Chelsea bounced back to winning ways but it was a hard fought victory against a plucky Blackburn side that mirror the fighting spirit of their manager Mark Hughes.

A second half Didier Drogba goal confirmed the win and helped to steady the ship after a less than convincing start to Chelsea?s season.

Two defeats from their first three matches, including a last minute reverse against a Middlesbrough side struggling to find their feet under the inexperienced leadership of Gareth Southgate had threatened to raise the alarm bells of the millionaires from Kings Road.

Indeed it was Blackburn who looked the likelier to score during the early exchanges, Robbie Savage relishing the opportunity to mix it with the talented Michael Ballack.

But Chelsea?s grip on the game tightened as the half wore on and they were rewarded with a penalty on the half hour as John Terry was unceremoniously hauled to the ground in the area.

Frank Lampard, released from the shackles that plague England?s penalty takers, strode forward and confidently struck the ball into the net, though fortunate that a stronger hand from Brad Friedel in the Blackburn goal would have kept the ball out.

Blackburn huffed and puffed in the second half but the wind was taken from their sails by the strength of Didier Drogba.

The Chelsea striker powered his way into the box and unleashed a ferocious shot that left the helpless Friedel clutching thin air.

The defeat leaves Blackburn rooted to the foot of the Premiership as the pressure begins to mount on boss Mark Hughes.

A disappointed Hughes said ?I felt John Terry went down very easily. The penalty completely changed the game.

"If we go down that road we're going to have three penalties in every match. There was no chance it was a penalty.

"We had a real claim when Jason Roberts had his shirt pulled. Overall we were much the better side."

Steven Cronin writes the hottest English Premiership Football news, results and opinion at http://www.sargas.co.uk/english_premiership_football

MORE ARTICLES:

Audio Video Revolution Names Best HDTVs for 2007 Football Season
AVRev.com provides an inside track for NFL enthusiasts.

Spring Break Soccer Training and Spanish Language Camp in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Spring break soccer training and Spanish language camp will take place in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

New Top Secret Basketball Defense System Stirs Up Frenzy with Coaches; 136 Copies Sold in First 24 Hours
Sometimes you need to start with the basics all over again to ensure everyone is on the ball using the same successful strategies. The easy-to-understand diagrams and real photographs of man to man defensive players makes learning and teaching this system simple for anyone.

The Belief That NFL Football Players - Can Do Anything
Now, I remember when I was like 5 years old and someone flipped me off in front of my house. I had no idea what that meant, I just assumed that it was another way to wave.

Photo Frame Show News: "Euro 2008" Frames and E-cards Have Been Released
Celebrate the EURO 2008 Championship by sending your personal Euro 2008 photos to your sports buddies (or rivals) framed with photo Frame Show Euro frames.

The Soccer Jersey Store
Soccer fever is here again The Euro 2008 Championship is in full swing, bringing soccer fans together from all over the world

Get a Soccer Jersey and Celebrate Your Team
Soccer has been a popular game in England for a number of centuries, but it has only been in recent years that it has become famous worldwide In the field of international team sports, soccer is said to ?rule the arena?

MATCHhotels.com Launches To Help Football Fans Find Accommodation Near Football Stadiums
New website MATCHhotels.com helps football fans locate and book accommodation near football stadiums. The site displays the precise location of hotels, bed and breakfasts, guesthouses and apartments on maps centred on over 130 UK stadiums.

Youth Soccer Training Goes Online
2009 will be a winning year for youth soccer players, coaches and soccer parents. The YSI, Youth Soccer Institute, has unveiled its plans to launch or merge with over 100 independent youth soccer training websites and will be a dominant force on the net.