Blues back on top

There would have been more welcoming places for Scolari to celebrate his 60th birthday than Blackburn on a cold and rain-drenched afternoon but two Nicolas Anelka strikes and three points made the perfect present for the Chelsea manager.

Blackburn, who have now not won in six Premier League matches, had promised to give Chelsea a searching test, and it was one the league leaders passed with some comfort as only Paul Robinson in the Rovers goal kept the score respectable.

Disaster nearly struck early on for the home side when Keith Andrews' awful back pass was intercepted by Anelka, who appeared to be felled by the sliding Robinson, before losing his way.

Blackburn finally put a good passing move together, and only Petr Cech's acrobatics prevented Carlos Villanueva giving Rovers an undeserved lead with a fierce left-footed shot.

Lampard thumped in another 25-yard effort that the Rovers goalkeeper clubbed away, before Chelsea took the lead in freakish circumstances.

Jose Bosingwa's long-range hit-and-hope was heading wide until it struck Anelka and trickled across the line with Robinson wrong-footed.

Jason Roberts had a gilt-edged chance for an equaliser when he turned away from John Terry to give himself a clear sight of goal but Cech's looming presence blocked out the shot.

But the second goal came when Florent Malouda and Lampard combined on the edge of the box and the England midfielder stabbed a short pass to put Anelka in the clear and he finished with aplomb, lifting the ball over Robinson.

Lampard had a free-kick tipped onto the bar as Chelsea pressed for more, but two was enough to take them back top.