Premier League: Chelsea 2 Blackburn 0

Branislav Ivanovic came to Chelsea’s rescue as they beat Blackburn 2-0 to move back into the English Premier League’s top four.

Ivanovic opened the scoring just before the hour mark and set up an easy second goal for Nicolas Anelka as the Blues dominated from the outset at Stamford Bridge to record only their second win in 10 league games.

Despite winning on the scoreboard, Chelsea still looked far from their fluent best at times and failed to turn their territorial advantage into goals.

The first half was a succession of missed opportunities, mostly by Chelsea, as the Londoners struggled to provide a real threat to Paul Robinson’s goal.

They dominated possession and their approach play was fine but too often the final ball did not provide the penetration required.

On those rare occasions the Chelsea forwards got in sight of goal, Blackburn were stingy in defence, getting in blocks and tackles to deny their opponents.

Ryan Nelsen in particular was magnificent in the timing of his interceptions, although the best of the most perfectly timed tackles was one by Gael Givet that took the ball off Didier Drogba’s toes as the Ivorian steadied to shoot on goal.

Michel Salgado also slid in to deny Anelka on the edge of the penalty area, while Christopher Samba coped with most balls in the air.

Chelsea did not help themselves with some wayward shooting. Ramires thumped a volley against the bar from close range in the second minute, Drogba shot wide and Jose Bosingwa high as Ancelotti’s men struggled to find the target.

Anelka also shot wide from 20 yards before getting a foot to a good cross from Drogba, only to see the ball bounce off the woodwork again.

Blackburn were content to counterattack, with Mame Biram Diouf and David Hoillet forcing good saves from Petr Cech.

And with the strikers struggling to find the net, it was no great surprise that a defender should make the breakthrough.

When Blackburn’s defence half-heartedly cleared a corner in the 57th minute, Ivanovic squeezed his shot from a tight angle past Nelsen and Givet and under the body of Robinson, who may have been unsighted.

The keeper made a superb save in the 76th minute to deny Drogba, who had been put through by a terrible back pass from Samba, but from the resulting corner, Ivanovic leapt high to head goalwards, with Anelka getting the final touch as the ball crossed the line.

Robinson saved a stinging shot from Florent Malouda in the final stages to deny Chelsea a third.