Didier Drogba may have stolen the headlines for his match-winning performance as a substitute last night, yet it was one of the unsung heroes in midfield who lay the foundation for the hard-fought victory.

Chelsea supporters have waited patiently for John Obi Mikel to come of age since Claude Makelele took his talents back to France.

At just 21, he lacks the vast experience of his predecessor in the holding role, however he is already showing the similar knack of being in the right place at the right time to frustrate Chelsea's opponents.

He could lay claim to being responsible for not one, but two turning points as the home side made hard work of things at Stamford Bridge.

In the first half he put his body in the way to clear a header from Hugo Alcantara off the line when the game was still goalless and tension among the supporters was palpable.

It was also his majestic interception on the edge of his area in the second half that sparked a swift counter attack and led to Drogba's fine strike.

Just like Makelele, his contribution ended up being overshadowed by the flashier work of others, yet it could be argued he was far more responsible for Chelsea coming out on top.