Chelsea 3 Middlesbrough 0: Chelsea are determined to push Manchester United all the way before relinquishing their hold on the Premiership crown and they provided further evidence of that commitment by handing Middlesbrough their first defeat of the year.

A brace from Didier Drogba, taking his tally for the season to 25, and an own goal from Boro's Abel Xavier kept Chelsea six points behind United at the Premiership summit.

Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho will be more than content with the deficit as he knows United still have to visit Stamford Bridge in April.The win over Middlesbrough was Chelsea's fifth consecutive success since they lost to Liverpool last month - scoring 14 goals and conceding none in the process.

It took Chelsea just six minutes to carve open the Middlesbrough defence when Frank Lampard's stunning pass set up Drogba. The Ivorian sent a thunderous volley just wide of the target and a minute later he again went close when Middlesbrough's defence failed to clear a loose ball.

This time though he sent a low left-foot drive just wide of Mark Schwarzer's right-hand upright.

Instead, Chelsea were forced to wait until the stroke of half-time to take the lead when George Boateng hauled down Lassana Diarra on the edge of the penalty area and they made Boro pay.

The free-kick, in a central position, provided Drogba with the perfect opportunity to curl a low drive into the bottom corner of the net for his 24th goal of the season.

In the 65th minute Chelsea opted to replace the injured Diarra with Dutch winger Arjen Robben for his first appearance since injuring ankle ligaments in the defeat by Liverpool at Anfield.

It took Robben just four touches to help put Chelsea further in front a minute later when his run and shot from the right flank was deflected into his own net by Boro defender Xavier.

But Drogba was not finished yet and the Ivory Coast striker completed the scoring in the 82nd minute when another free-kick was deflected over Schwarzer and into the top corner.