Drogba does talking on the pitch

Middlesbrough 0 Chelsea 2: Didier Drogba made amends for his infamous outburst to repair "broken" Chelsea's mission, with a timely goal in today's win at Middlesbrough.

The Ivory Coast striker, whose comments in a French magazine earlier this week prompted a red-faced statement last night, set his side on the road to their victory.

Drogba, warmly applauded by the travelling fans when he was replaced by Andriy Shevchenko, needed just eight minutes to put his side ahead at the Riverside Stadium with a finely executed goal to set the stage for what ultimately was a relatively comfortable win.

The points were clinched by Brazilian defender Alex's 57th-minute thunderbolt, just as the Teessiders were threatening to force their way back into the game.

Chelsea, who had lost on their last two league visits to the Riverside, were rarely in any danger — although Petr Cech saved Mido headers either side of the break in front of a crowd of 27,699.

Drogba's comments did not cost him his place as he returned from suspension in one of five changes to a side robbed of England duo John Terry and Ashley Cole through injury.

If he felt the need to further re-affirm his commitment — for now at least — to his club, he could hardly have done it in any more stylish fashion.

Having made himself available for Florent Malouda's pass, he laid it off to Frank Lampard in an instant and span away for the return before slotting a left-foot shot past the stranded Mark Schwarzer.

It was perhaps fitting that it was he and England scapegoat Lampard carved Boro open after a difficult couple of weeks for both men.

Mido might already have dragged his side back level on 17 minutes when he headed towards goal from Gary O'Neil's right-wing cross — but Cech saved at the second attempt.

Mido forced a solid save from Cech with a glancing 49th-minute header from Stewart Downing's cross — and the England midfielder was appealing in vain for a penalty soon afterwards when his cross was blocked by Mikel John Obi, who swiftly indicated the ball had hit his chest.

But then Fabio Rochemback, incensed at not being awarded a free-kick, gave referee Mark Halsey the opportunity to award one for a foul on Michael Essien 35 yards out.

The home fans were still venting their fury when Lampard tapped the ball sideways for Alex to blast a swerving shot into the top corner — with Schwarzer clutching at thin air.

From that point on, Boro were never really in the game as Chelsea dominated.

Malouda and Lampard — the Englishman curled an 83rd-minute free-kick just wide - both went close as Boro found themselves pinned back deep inside their own half, although O'Neil passed up a glorious chance to reduce the deficit three minutes from time.