Blackburn 3 Chelsea 4

By David Anderson, PA Sport

Supersub Tore Andre Flo scored two goals in four minutes to record Chelsea's first Premiership victory over Blackburn as Graeme Le Saux was sent off on his return to Ewood Park.

Rovers were leading this incident-packed game 3-2 with only eight minutes remaining before the Norwegian international struck to turn the match on its head.

Flo equalised in the 82nd minute before he beat the Rovers defence to slot home the winner four minutes from time.

Chelsea's win was their first at Ewood Park in 22 years, but the night was a personal nightmare for England wingback Le Saux.

He was dismissed on his first appearance at Blackburn since his 5million move south for swinging a punch at Sebastien Perez midway through the second half.

The Frenchman joined Le Saux on the sidelines when he was shown a second yellow card for his part in the bust-up.

It was a truly miserable night for Le Saux who was booed by the home fans whenever he touched the ball, while he was also turned inside out by Chris Sutton for Rovers' first goal.

Blackburn and Chelsea went into the game with just one win apiece from their opening handful of games, but they combined to serve up an absolute classic.

The omens had not looked promising before hand and Blackburn's 14 outfield players on the pitch and on the bench had failed to muster a single Premiership goal between them.

Rovers were also without Kevin Gallacher, Damien Duff and Kevin Davies through injury and illness, and Martin Dahlin was handed his first start of the season.

It was Chelsea who opened the scoring when Gianfranco Zola, who made his Premiership debut on this ground two seasons ago, struck with a beautifully-executed free-kick on 15 minutes.

Referee Peter Jones ruled that Christian Dailly had fouled former Rovers target Pierluigi Casiraghi 20 yards from goal and the diminutive Italian curled the ball home over the Rovers wall and beyond Tim Flowers.

Callum Davidson denied Chelsea a second when he cleared Zola's shot off the line and a minute later he helped create Rovers' equaliser.

Leboeuf could only head his long pass into the path of Dahlin who swept the ball on brilliantly for Sutton to beat Le Saux and score.

The goal was his first of the season and added weight to the case for a new beginning with England coach Glenn Hoddle.

It also gave Rovers great heart and Chelsea were fortunate to go in all square at half-time.

Chelsea re-took the lead six minutes into the second half through a controversial penalty when Jones ruled that Flowers had brought Zola down as the Italian rounded the goalkeeper from Gustavo Poyet's pass.

Leboeuf stepped up to stroke the spotkick home into the bottom of the corner for his second goal of the season.

A furious Rovers manager Roy Hodgson came out to the touchline to protest, but there was nothing he could do.

Hodgson was smiling after 58 minutes, though, when Blackburn levelled once again thanks to great perseverance from Garry Flitcroft.

The midfielder got his head to a throw-in on the left and then knocked the ball back from the byline with an overhead kick for Perez to score his first goal for Blackburn.

The match was now coming to the boil nicely and Chelsea keeper Ed De Goey denied Rovers a third four minutes later when he produced a magnificent save to keep out Dahlin's diving header.

Le Saux and Perez were then sent off and the 10 men of each side revelled in the extra space.

Blackburn went ahead for the first time in the match when Michael Duberry brought down Dahlin for a penalty 11 minutes from time and Sutton rammed home the spotkick.

Back came Chelsea and Flo, who had only been on the pitch for four minutes as a replacement for Casiraghi, equalised in the 82nd minute.

Flo won the game for Chelsea four minutes later when he shot home into the bottom corner to send the travelling fans wild.

Teams:

Blackburn: Flowers, Davidson, Sherwood, Peacock, Henchoz, Flitcroft, Sutton, Wilcox (McKinlay 78), Dahlin, Perez, Dailly.

Subs Not Used: Kenna, Johnson, Dunn, Filan.

Sent Off: Perez (67).

Booked: Flitcroft, Perez, Sutton.

Goals: Sutton 22, Perez 57, Sutton 79 pen.

Chelsea: De Goey, Babayaro, Leboeuf, Desailly, Poyet, Casiraghi (Flo 78), Wise (Di Matteo 54), Duberry, Le Saux, Ferrer, Zola (Laudrup 70).

Subs Not Used: Lambourde, Hitchcock.

Sent Off: Le Saux (67).

Booked: Duberry, Leboeuf.

Goals: Zola 15, Leboeuf 51 pen, Flo 82, 86.

Att: 23,113

Ref: P Jones (Loughborough).