The day started off with a one minute appreciation for Ian Porterfield who died earlier in the week. Porterfield was Chelsea coach under Bobby Campbell when Chelsea won promotion back to the top flight in 1989 and for 20 months he was Chelsea manager when Chelsea and Campbell departed company.
As for the game I am not going to say that Blackburn came to park the bus, but they certainly set their stall out not to get beaten. In fact Blackburn only created one chance when Cech spectacularly tipped over a Savage shot in the second-half.
Chelsea was no better. Friedel had only two saves to make all game and they were both brilliant. The first came from an Essien piledriver in the first-half and the second came in the second-half when he got in the way of a close range header from The Shev. Sheva worked hard to get at the rebound, but Samba beat him to it and for his troubles Samba was rewarded with an accidental Sheva boot in the head which rendered him unconscious. The good news - Samba was able to rejoin his colleagues after hospital treatment on the flight back to Blackburn.
The major talking point from the game was the goal that was but was disallowed by Assistant Referee Peter Kirkup. Belletti played in a wonderful low cross on Chelsea's right and Kalou (TV replays proved Kalou was onside) slotted home from close-range. But whatever Kirkup was thinking and saw he raised his flag and Kalou's goal was disallowed.
It took a while for the Chelsea players to realise what was going on as they were over the other side of the pitch, hungrily celebrating what could have been the winner.
Overall it was a poor day. Poor performances by both teams, poor atmosphere from the almost sold out crowd and poor performances by the match officials who were intent on not letting the game run smoothly. Petty decisions, petty free-kicks and the flow of the game was spoiled.
I will say Chelsea have problems. Chelsea cannot be reliant on two players (Lampard and Drogba who were both absent yesterday) to score goals. Sheva had his chances but more on him later.
Pizarro was not even in the squad as he only returned from International duty with Peru on Friday and Jose considered him not fit to play.
With Rosenborg coming up on Tuesday in the Champions League and Man Utd next Sunday in the Premiership it is likely that neither Lampard or Drogba will be fit to play.
SO
KTBFFH