Blackburn 0
Chelsea 2

Chelsea's 1-0 victory at Blackburn in February 2005 was seen as a crucial staging post on the way to their first League title for half a century. At Ewood Park yesterday, the Blues delivered another performance which bore the mark of champions.

Needing to respond to Liverpool's 3-0 win over West Bromwich Albion on Saturday to return to the top of the Premier League, Luiz Felipe Scolari's team found all the answers to give their manager an enjoyable 60th birthday.

Had it not been for an outstanding performance from Blackburn goalkeeper Paul Robinson, Chelsea would have won by more. On a pitch made almost unplayable in the first half by heavy rain, the visitors displayed better technique and composure than Paul Ince's determined but limited Rovers side.

With Didier Drogba left in London with a knee problem, Scolari relied on Nicolas Anelka for goals, and the Frenchman did not disappoint, scoring twice. He now has 11 this season and five in his last two League matches after his hat-trick in the 5-0 win over Sunderland last weekend.

Anelka's first goal was lucky, Jose Bosingwa's 35-yard drive six minutes before half-time clipping the striker's knee and trickling over the goal line past the wrong-footed Robinson, but it was an accurate reflection of the visitors' dominance.

His second, however, was a finish of real class. Zurab Khizanishvili could only clear Florent Malouda's left-wing cross in the 68th minute into the path of Frank Lampard, allowing the England midfielder to release Anelka, who lifted the ball calmly over Robinson to seal his team's ninth successive away win in the League.

While Chelsea are perhaps not quite as solid in defence and central midfield as second-placed Liverpool, who they lead on goal difference, their attacking play is far more varied.

Without Fernando Torres, Liverpool lack real bite when they attack, whereas Chelsea have proved they can be just as dangerous without players like Michael Ballack, Drogba and Joe Cole, who also missed this game due to a hamstring injury.

Lampard improved steadily as the game wore on and ended it his side's most influential player. Florent Malouda was excellent on the left wing, while full-backs Bosingwa and Wayne Bridge provided frequent and effective support going forward.

The only attacking player struggling to shine for Chelsea is Deco. After a fabulous start to the season, the Portugal playmaker has not been the same since he returned from a hip injury, and he was poor again at Ewood Park, giving the ball away far too often.

But such was Chelsea's superiority that they were still able to prevail comfortably. They should have been awarded a penalty in the fifth minute when Robinson tripped Anelka.

Shortly afterwards, Robinson tipped over Anelka's looping header, before saving with his feet from the same player minutes later.

Robinson rescued Rovers once more in the 15th minute when he scrambled away an effort from John Obi Mikel, who had met Malouda's free-kick from the right with a firm downward header.

The downpour caused referee Chris Foy to ask for a weather forecast and, for a spell in the first half, there seemed a genuine possibility that the match would be halted. The result, however, was far easier to predict.

Before Anelka put Chelsea in front in the 39th minute, Robinson had produced another stop to keep out the former Bolton striker's low strike, and Morten Gamst Pedersen was inches away from turning Mikel's cross into his own goal.

Anelka's second goal 13 minutes later ended Blackburn's hopes, while there was still time for Robinson to touch Lampard's fierce free-kick on to the bar, before denying Anelka his hat-trick after Lampard had released him with a superb pass.

It was all too much for Rovers manager Ince, who confronted Chelsea's assistant manager Ray Wilkins at the final whistle as the pair headed down the tunnel.

Wilkins had predicted the game would be "one of aggression" because Blackburn played in the style of their manager, but Ince called his remarks "garbage".

He revealed: "I told him in no uncertain terms to make sure he got his facts right." Wilkins brushed off the altercation and said: "A lot of people would have been wondering whether Chelsea would have fancied a game at Blackburn in difficult conditions, especially after losing at Roma in midweek.

"But you could see from their attitude that the players were well up for it."

Wilkins also revealed that the players and staff had celebrated Scolari's 60th birthday with a glass of champagne and a slice of cake.

If they keep playing like this, Scolari and his men can look forward to tasting more bubbly at the end of the season.