25/08/2007  Chelsea 1 Portsmouth 0
 
Frank Lampard's first-half goal moved Chelsea to the top of the Barclays Premier League and cast doubt on the ability of Portsmouth goalkeeper David James to reclaim the England number one jersey.

James, who watched Paul Robinson drop a real clanger in England's defeat to Germany on Wednesday night, did not enhance his own case when he failed to prevent Lampard's effort from hitting the net.

James is hoping to replace Robinson for England's two European Championship qualifiers against Israel and Russia next month and could ill afford such a blunder in front of the watching Steve McClaren.

Chelsea began in their customary attacking fashion and almost took a first-minute lead when Claudio Pizarro sent a low drive just beyond the reach of James and his right-hand upright.

In the 10th minute, the home side put together another fine move, with Pizarro and Florent Malouda combining on the left-blank.

However, Malouda's left-foot shot from an acute angle could only find the side-netting.

Two minutes later, a free-kick from Malouda almost paid dividends for the home side but Pizarro's header was just too high to trouble James.

Portsmouth have never beaten Chelsea in eight meetings since they returned to the Premier League in 2003 and, although they had taken five points from three games prior to their trip to Stamford Bridge, Harry Redknapp's side showed little desire to change that record.

But the visitors did enough to stifle the home side and such was their success that Jose Mourinho spent much of the first half berating his side for not taking the game to their opponents.

Chelsea found themselves having to defend for the first time in the game and, in the 23rd minute, Pompey almost took the lead.

Matt Taylor found himself with time and space in the penalty area and his curling shot deflected inches wide of Petr Cech's far post.

Moments later, Lauren tried his luck from distance but his effort failed to trouble Cech.

But Chelsea broke the deadlock in the 31st minute thanks to England midfielder Lampard.

The goal owed much to the bravery of Didier Drogba, who collected a kick in the face for his efforts as he found Lampard with a flick-on.

Lampard ran clear of the Pompey defence to drive the ball under James. The England stopper should really have done better but, although he got a hand to the drive, he could not prevent it going in.

It was his second goal in four days after the midfielder had netted for England in their 2-1 defeat by Germany at Wembley on Wednesday night.

It was the signal for Chelsea to increase the pace and moments later Shaun Wright-Phillips skied an 18-yard effort high over the crossbar.

It was all Chelsea now and in the 42nd minute Wright-Phillips almost managed to get on the end of a cross from Drogba.

But the diminutive winger could not anticipate the flight of the ball adequately.

Moments later, Lampard almost made it two but James was equal to his quickly-taken free-kick and managed to save comfortably.

Chelsea began where they left off and a clever move involving Malouda and Drogba ended with Wright-Phillips shooting just wide of the target from the edge of the penalty area.

A minute later, Portsmouth should have equalised when Davis collected a neat pass from Kanu only to fire over the crossbar from eight yards.

The visitors squandered another opportunity in the 58th minute when a counter-attack caught Chelsea's defence napping but Gary O'Neil could not find the target from the edge of the penalty area when presented with a clear shot at goal.

Portsmouth continued to push for an equaliser but Cech gathered the ball safely when Sylvain Distin looked to prosper from Sully Muntari's long ball into the penalty area in the 67th minute.

Yet, Chelsea showed they were very much in charge when Malouda sent a 20-yard effort just inches wide two minutes later.

James was at his best to prevent Drogba from adding a second goal fives minutes from time when he took advantage of a fine pass from Malouda to deliver a stinging drive which the Pompey did well to hold on to.

But Chelsea were lucky to escape three minutes from time when a header from Hermann Hreidarsson was cleared off the line by Ashley Cole.