Impoverished Rovers stung by successors

Chelsea - 4 Blackburn Rovers - 0: With just under half an hour remaining, Arjen Robben rose from the bench to make what was to be an eye-catching debut. But, as Chelsea unwrapped their latest present, their support could have been forgiven for concentrating so much on their post-Soviet Santa that they did not notice they were playing the ghost of Christmas yet to come.

There was a time when Blackburn were famous for having their own wealthy benefactor, happy to fund the team in their search for the title. Admittedly Roman Abramovich has always looked beyond finding the modern-day equivalent of Roy Wegerle but his quest for glory has not so far found the success achieved by Jack Walker in Lancashire, where the Premiership was won 10 years ago this season.

There is little to recall that side now. Defeat here, and unfavourable results elsewhere, left Mark Hughes's team bottom of the league. Funds are limited, attendances disappointing. They have conceded 10 goals in their past three games, scoring twice. Their first shot on target here came in the 61st minute and was not so much saved by Petr Cech as simply picked up. It was as close as they came to scoring all day.

If Blackburn's feckless football here could have taught Chelsea anything, it was that they should enjoy themselves while they can. And against opponents such as these Chelsea could enjoy themselves a great deal.

Before the first goal Chelsea's superiority had been evident but incomplete, Blackburn's defence, aided by the home side's selection of only one forward in Eidur Gudjohnsen, growing increasingly comfortable. But the moment they themselves worked that out, they relaxed and in two minutes the game was lost.

Twice a ball over the back four found Gudjohnsen unmarked in the inside-right channel. Twice Brad Friedel struck the same pose as the ball was slipped past him. Five minutes after half-time the Icelandic striker won and converted a penalty and Chelsea spent the remainder of the game having fun.

That Damien Duff's low shot against his former club was the only subsequent goal was more down to poor finishing and occasional over-elaboration than any success on Blackburn's part.

So dominant were they that even Mateja Kezman almost scored, from Robben's pull-back 10 minutes from time. But from six yards out and with the goalkeeper drawn out of position, the Serbian striker hit the bar.

The game also revealed one of the more obscure rules in Mourinho's coaching manual, as he prepared to replace Gudjohnsen with Kezman by swapping Tiago for Alexei Smertin because, in his own words, "I always need four big players in terms of size on the pitch, because of defensive and attacking set plays. I need a minimum of four. And, when I decided to take off Gudjohnsen, I needed to have Tiago on the pitch. It's only for this reason."

This is bad news for the diminutive Scott Parker, who impressed on his first start of the season only to discover that his 5ft 9in frame means that until the advent of platform studs he is unlikely to become a regular.

"I was surprised to play," he said, having been selected only because Claude Makelele woke on Saturday with a fever. "I felt under a bit of pressure and it was probably the first time in my life I'd felt like that. I knew I had to go out there and give it a go because it might be the only chance I get," he said, all too realistically.