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Goals from Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard and Salomon Kalou kept Chelsea's title dream alive as they overpowered Blackburn at Stamford Bridge.

Drogba scored his 23rd goal of the season to give Chelsea a first-half lead, but the result was always in the balance until skipper Lampard fired a spectacular second.

Chelsea should have increased their lead but Andrei Shevchenko found Blackburn keeper Brad Friedel in inspired form, denying the Chelsea striker with a string of brilliant saves.

It eventually took an injury-time effort from sub Kaluo to give the scoreline a true reflection of Chelsea's domination.

But the victory came at a price as Ashley Cole was carried off with what looked a serious knee injury and is almost certainly out of England's clash with Spain at Old Trafford next Wednesday.

Rovers started brightly, forcing three corners in the opening minutes and Petr Cech had to be alert to turn over Morton Gamst Pedersen's cross-cum-shot over his own bar.

Chelsea, again without the injured John Terry, were all at sea early on and Ryan Nelsen could have done better with a free header which was only hacked away by Ricardo Carvalho on the edge of the six-yard box.

But Drogba settled his side's nerves after only five minutes when he latched on to a lovely pass from Lampard and held off the challenge of Stephane Henchoz before slotting a left-foot shot wide of Friedel.

Shevchenko could have doubled the lead three minutes later when he met a Lampard cross, but the Ukrainian's effort was weak.

The former Milan ace came even closer to adding to his Chelsea tally after 16 minutes. Cole's delightful back heal freed Michael Ballack down the left and Shevchenko met the German's cross well, but Friedel produced a stunning save from point-blank range.

Blackburn battled gamely and Benni McCarthy's header from David Bentley's free-kick was only just wide of Cech's right-hand post.

Shevchenko again game close for the Blues after neat inter-play with Ballack, but this time the striker's touch let him down.

But Mark Hughes' side continued to look dangerous and when Stephen Warnock weaved his way into the box only a brilliant last-ditch tackle by Michael Essien denied the former Liverpool man as he drew back the trigger.

And only seconds later Matt Derbyshire looked to have levelled the scores when beat the advancing Cech, but Ricardo Carvalho managed to clear the ball off the line.

With Jose Mourinho looking far from happy Chelsea stepped up a gear and Drogba was again denied by Friedel.

Rovers were struggling to contain the dangerous Drogba and this in turn was freeing up Shevchenko, who was giving Henchoz and Nelsen a torrid time in the final third.

And on the stroke of half-time the £30million man again went close but his header from Lampard's free-kick was straight at Friedel.

The American again came to Rovers' rescue immediately after the break when he pushed away Ballack's diving header from Lassana Diarra's cross.

However, Chelsea suffered a serious blow after 52 minutes when Cole collapsed in agony as he caught his studs in the turf.

The England left-back was carried off on a stetcher with what appeared to be a knee ligament injury and was replaced by Wayne Bridge.

Chelsea continued to dominate play and Drogba found Shevchenko, but the striker fired tamely at Friedel when he looked certain to score.

Blackburn were not finished and Carvalho again reacted well to black McCarthy's effort.

However, Lampard eventually put the result beyond doubt in the 67th minute when he rifled home his side's second from all of 25 yards.

With 15 minutes to go Shevchenko was again denied by the outstanding Friedel as Chelsea went in search of a third and it duly came in added time through Kalou when he slotted wide of Friedel.

Teams

Chelsea Cech, Diarra, Essien, Carvalho, A. Cole (Bridge 55), Ballack, Makelele, Lampard, Mikel (Ferreira 87), Shevchenko (Kalou 84), Drogba
Subs Not Used Hilario, Wright-Phillips
Goals Drogba 6, Lampard 67, Kalou 90.

Blackburn Friedel, Emerton, Nelsen, Henchoz (Samba 79), Warnock, Gallagher (Nonda 62), Bentley, Kerimoglu, Pedersen, Derbyshire (Jeffers 78), McCarthy
Subs Not Used Enckelman, Mokoena
Booked Samba.

Attendance 38,000

Referee G Poll