Diouf puts dent in Chelsea´s title challenge

El-Hadji Diouf delivered a significant blow to Chelsea’s title challenge as the Blackburn striker scored his first goal this year to salvage a 1-1 draw at Ewood Park on Sunday.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side had been coasting towards another three points when Didier Drogba put them ahead after just five minutes with his 28th goal of the season.

But the Blues missed several chances to extend their lead and paid the price midway through the second half when Diouf rose above the flat-footed Paulo Ferreira to head home his third goal of the season.

It could and should have been so different for Chelsea, yet this major setback leaves them in third place in the table, now four points behind leaders Manchester United, with a game in hand to come at Portsmouth on Wednesday.

Blackburn boasted a good home record going into this contest, having won their last four and lost just once in their last 14 outings in front of their own fans.

With survival all but secured, Blackburn had their sights set on heading towards a potential top ten finish which would be an admirable achievement in their financial circumstances.

Three of Chelsea’s five league defeats this season had also come in the north west of England, while Ancelotti’s men had won only two of their last seven games on the road.

So the omens pointed towards a potential upset, despite the fact Rovers boss Sam Allardyce was forced to hand a league debut in defence to teenager Phil Jones due to injuries to Ryan Nelsen and Gael Givet.

Chelsea, meanwhile, were without Michael Ballack after Ancelotti dropped the German international from his squad.

The visitors were desperate to bounce back from their midweek defeat to Inter Milan in the Champions League and keep pace with Arsenal and United.

Chelsea made a bright start, however, with the movement of Frank Lampard, Drogba and Nicolas Anelka giving Blackburn’s makeshift defence much to think about.

Drogba tried his luck inside the opening three minutes but saw his curling effort go just wide.

Yet he went one better just two minutes later as the visitors made the perfect possible start. Lampard released Nicolas Anelka down the right and he weaved beyond the feeble challenge of Keith Andrews courtesy of a cheeky nutmeg before pulling the ball back for the unmarked Drogba, who drilled a low shot beyond Jason Brown.

The lead could have been doubled moments later when Salomon Kalou headed Lampard’s corner inches over as Chelsea threatened to run riot.

Blackburn’s pride was hurting though and a series of unflinching challenges from several of Allardyce’s players towards the interval lifted the crowd and showed Chelsea they still had some fight in them and wouldn’t be bullied.

Rovers even threatened to score just after the re-start when Morten Gamst Pedersen’s long throw was flicked on by Chris Samba but substitute Yuri Zhirkov was well placed on the line to clear.

Moments later Pedersen blazed well wide when he had time and space to at least hit the target.

But Diouf spared his colleague’s blushes in the 70th minute when he met Michel Salgado’s far post cross to beat Ross Turnbull and slow Chelsea’s title charge.