11/09/2002  Blackburn 2 Chelsea 3
 
Gianfranco Zola's majestic strike stole all three points for Chelsea in a game of swiftly-changing fortunes at Ewood Park.

The veteran Italian struck with 10 minutes remaining to settle an intriguing contest which had swung first in Blackburn's favour, thanks largely to David Thompson on his home debut, and then finally towards Chelsea.

Zola will be the man this match is remembered for however. Chelsea have not found goals easy to come by this season, but the little Italian struck twice to make him the club's leading scorer with a tally of four in five games.

The only consolation for Blackburn was the form of Thompson, who at £1.5million rising to £2.5million, can be considered a steal even in these deflationary times .

He was instrumental in most of the home side's promising moves, and struck his side's second after David Dunn's controversial penalty had opened the scoring. Jesper Gronkjaer had equalised first, and then Zola made the scores level after the break before saving the best until last.

Talk before the match that England Under-21 defender John Terry might feature for Chelsea for the first time this season came to nothing, as he was not even on the bench. Blackburn, meanwhile, were missing the injured Damien Duff, and miss him they did.

Both meetings last season ended 0-0, but there was no similar limp fate in store for this encounter.

From the opening exchanges, attacks looked on top, and Thompson caused panic in the Chelsea ranks when he wriggled to the edge of the box and struck a low shot which the keeper managed to turn aside.

Thompson then set up Andy Cole but the striker flashed his volley high, before Rovers were denied claims for a penalty. Garry Flitcroft's shot clearly struck Marcel Desailly on the hand, but referee Mike Riley was content to declare it unintentional and award a corner.

Dwight Yorke tried his luck from 25 yards, but his rising drive, though sweetly struck, whistled past the top              In the 18th minute, Blackburn did win a penalty when Celestine Babayaro dived in on Lucas Neill. There was no doubt the Chelsea player caught his man, but the visitors could argue with some justification that contact was first made outside the box.

That stood for nothing in referee Riley's eyes though, and Dunn slotted home the spot-kick to put Blackburn in front.

Frank Lampard had an excellent chance when Zola's corner presented him with a free header but he thumped it over the bar. At the other end, Thompson caught Mario Stanic napping near his own penalty area, stole possession and fired in a cross. Yorke got an almost perfect touch but somehow Cudicini threw himself into the air to finger-tip the ball wide.

In the 38th minute, Chelsea contrived an equaliser when Stanic, who was given a rough time by the home fans for some theatrical falls, bent over a tricky cross, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink burst between two defenders and cut the ball back for Gronkjaer to bury an unstoppable shot low into the far corner.

In first-half injury time, Cole toyed with Chelsea down the right, then cut the ball back for Thompson to strike a low drive through a crowd of defenders and - with Cudicini unsighted - into the net.

Soon after the break, Thompson blasted a ball across the goal-line, somehow Yorke failed to get a touch and then headed a return cross wide.

Then, in the 52nd minute, those misses proved costly as Blackburn's defence caved in and Zola's goal pulled Chelsea level again.

The danger had seemed to have been averted for Rovers when Brad Friedel's presence put off Hasselbaink, and Gronkjaer screwed a shot well wide. However, Blackburn were guilty of ball-watching as Stanic picked up the scraps and crossed for Zola to arrive unchallenged and head past Friedel.

Chelsea began to flex their muscles. Friedel came to the rescue to parry Hasselbaink's powerful drive, then the Dutch striker was denied a goal by an offside flag, and a debatable one at that.

With 10 minutes left, Zola put Chelsea ahead for the first time in the match with a mouth-watering effort from the edge of the box, which curled into the top corner leaving Friedel grasping thin air.

With time running out, Cudicini produced another wonder save to block Gillespie, and Chelsea were home and dry.