Ballack helps Chelsea set record

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Ballack headed home in the 33rd minute as Chelsea equalled a club record of nine successive wins in all competitions.

The previous record was set in Joe Mourinho's tenure two years ago and the victory also made it 75 consecutive league games unbeaten at Stamford Bridge.

Steve Coppell's side had been hoping for their first away win in the Premier League for 13 games but were robbed of an attacking edge when striker Dave Kitson was ruled out with flu.

Ballack's early free-kick brought a diving save from Marcus Hahnemann and in the 18th minute the Reading keeper did well to save a rising drive from Joe Cole.

Hahnemann had to be at his best again moments later to deny Shaun Wright-Phillips after Claude Makelele had put him clear with a slide-rule pass.

In the 26th minute a mistake by Hahnemann almost led to Chelsea's opener when he attempted to punch the ball clear but only succeeded in sending it towards his own net where John Oster cleared off the line.

Chelsea finally broke the deadlock in the 33rd minute when a fabulous cross from Paulo Ferreira was headed into the net by Ballack from six yards.

In the 50th minute Chelsea should have been two in front when the impressive Makelele put Wright-Phillips in the clear for the second time in the game only for Hahnemann to deny the winger once more.

In the 74th minute Reading had their best chance when James Harper got on the end of a cross from Lita but the ball somehow got wedged under his feet and Chelsea's defence cleared the danger.