FRANK LAMPARD smashed in another trademark long-range strike to give Chelsea a vital win against lowly Charlton yesterday.

The England midfielder made it eight goals in as many matches when he fired a 20yard effort past Scott Carson after 18 minutes.

Relegation-battlers Charlton worked hard but were unable to seriously test Blues keeper Petr Cech as Chelsea closed out the game.

The result moved Chelsea to within three points of Manchester United, who face a difficult trip to White Harte Lane to play Tottenham today.

Chelsea were boosted before the game by the return of England captain John Terry to the substitute's bench. The centre-half had not featured since December 13 because of a back problem, but was not risked from the start against the relegation-threatened Addicks.

Andriy Shevchenko was named in attack alongside Didier Drogba, while Wayne Bridge came in at left-back for the injured Ashley Cole in the only change from the side that beat Blackburn in midweek.

Charlton started the game in the bottom three but had collected four points from their last two matches and Alan Pardew named an unchanged XI for the third time in succession.

Marcus Bent led the attack in the absence of injured England striker Darren Bent, so former Chelsea man Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink had to make do with a place on the bench.

On three minutes, Drogba had a half-chance when he took the ball inside full-back Osei Sankofa on the left side of the box, but dragged his shot across goal.

It then took a breathtaking save from Scott Carson to deny Shevchenko. Hermann Hreidarsson mistimed his jump to clear a high ball, which saw possession break for the Chelsea striker on the right side of the penalty area.

The Ukrainian rifled in an angled drive, which England squad keeper Carson turned away magnificently from point-blank range.

Michael Ballack then saw his diving header fly wide following a left-wing cross from Bridge as the champions stepped up a gear.

The goal eventually came on 18 minutes, when Charlton again failed to clear on the edge of their own box.

Shevchenko out-muscled Amady Faye and tapped the ball out to Frank Lampard.

The England midfielder set himself before unleashing a stunning drive across Carson and into the bottom left corner.

Chelsea almost extended their lead soon after when Shevchenko headed over another good cross from Bridge. Chelsea were in complete control at this stage, and the atmosphere inside The Valley was subdued.

Drogba sent in a low strike from 30 yards, which Carson saved at his left-hand post.

On 23 minutes, though, Petr Cech had to back-pedal to touch over a looping ball into the area from El Karkouri.

As the half-hour mark approached, Cech scrambled down to his right to collect a low, 25-yard free-kick from Addicks skipper Matt Holland.

With winger Dennis Rommedahl pushed up into attack, the home side were at least seeing more possession but without making the most of some positive build-up.

In first half stoppage time Carson was again called into action when he beat away Lampard's fiercely-hit long range free-kick.

Hasselbaink - who left Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2004 to join Middlesbrough - replaced Rommedahl for the second half, but the visitors continued to look in control when play resumed.

Charlton got back into the game but just as in the first half, the home side lacked a telling pass in the final third.

With 26 minutes remaining, Charlton full-back Ben Thatcher had to hack clear from in front of his own goal when Lampard sent over a dangerous low cross.

Charlton enjoyed their best spell of the game late on and almost forced an equaliser.

Faye burst into the penalty area and sent a first-time shot towards the top-right corner but Cech somehow managed to finger-tip over. But Chelsea held on for a crucial win that puts the pressure on Manchester United.