A brace of free-kicks from Didier Drogba, taking his tally for the season to 25, and an own goal from Abel Xavier kept Chelsea six points behind United at the Premiership summit. The win over Middlesbrough was Chelsea's fifth consecutive success since they lost to Liverpool last month . . . scoring 14 goals and conceding none in the process.

And here it took Chelsea just six minutes to carve open the Middlesbrough defence when Frank Lampard's stunning pass set up Drogba. The Ivorian sent a thunderous volley just wide of the target and a minute later he again went close when Middlesbrough's defence failed to clear a loose ball. This time though he sent a low left-foot drive just wide of Mark Schwarzer's right-hand upright.

But it was Gareth Southgate's side who were guilty of squandering the best chance when Mark Viduka headed wide from a cross by Stewart Downing in the 12th minute. Middlesbrough went into the game unbeaten in 2007 and they showed enough in attack to worry the champions.

Aiyegbeni Yakubu did well to spring Chelsea's offside trap but he failed to deliver a telling cross as the home defence scrambled back to recover the situation. Lampard . . . whose own future at the club continues to come under the Aiyegbeni Yakubu did well to spring Chelsea's offside trap but he failed to deliver a telling cross as the home defence.