Report............

Jose Bosingwa's first goal for almost three years handed Chelsea a barely-deserved half-time lead in today's Barclays Premier League clash with Norwich.

It looked like the Blues were finally set to demonstrate their title credentials under Andre Villas-Boas when Bosingwa's 25-yarder crashed in off the post after less than six minutes.

But they allowed their opponents back into the game and should have been made to pay by Grant Holt and Chris Martin, who missed golden chances to equalise.

Villas-Boas and Blues captain John Terry used their programme notes to urge the home fans to get fully behind their team today after some booed them off at half-time against West Brom last week.

But supporters could be forgiven for wanting to see a performance to give them hope Chelsea have what it takes to topple Manchester United as champions this season - something called into question by their opening two displays.

The inclusion of Torres and Drogba saw Villas-Boas abandon a 4-3-3 formation in favour of 4-4-2, with a midfield diamond, while Norwich elected for a five-man defence.

The signs were ominous for the visitors when they fell behind inside six minutes.

After allowing Ramires to test John Ruddy from 25 yards, they made the same mistake with Jose Bosingwa, who brilliantly found the back of the net via the inside of the post.

Desperate defending prevented Frank Lampard making it 2-0, while there were even signs of an understanding between Torres and Drogba.

But the Canaries began to settle and should have levelled in the 17th minute when Grant Holt beat the offside trap but was unable to get a touch on Hoolahan's brilliant ball over the top.

Chelsea's passing was becoming ragged, although Torres was close to teeing up Drogba, who also blazed a free-kick wildly off target.

Chris Martin wasted another great chance to equalise, Hoolahan playing him clean through only for Hilario to save before crowding out the forward's attempt at netting the rebound and tipping over Kyle Naughton's 25-yarder.

He also smothered Holt's header before City boss Paul Lambert withdrew Whitbread for Anthony Pilkington on the half-hour mark.

Villas-Boas was becoming frustrated on the touchline and his mood would not have improved when Bosingwa was booked for a needless tackle on Marc Tierney.

Andrew Crofts followed for a cynical tackle from behind on Drogba, whose latest free-kick was inches over.

HT: Chelsea 1 Norwich 0

The good news for Chelsea was they had been playing much better in the second half of games.

And they might have doubled their lead within eight minutes of the restart had Pilkington not nodded Terry's header off the line or Ivanovic powered Lampard's corner wide.

Torres was cautioned for leaving his foot in on Leon Barnett, as was Naughton after hauling back Drogba before Hoolahan was withdrawn for Steve Morison on the hour mark.

The change took less than three minutes to pay off thanks to a moment of madness from Hilario, who needlessly came racing off his line to claim a cross and collided with Ivanovic, allowing Holt to hook the ball into the empty net.

It got worse for Chelsea as they tried to regain the lead, Drogba appearing to be knocked unconscious after an aerial challenge with Ruddy.

The striker landed in sickening fashion and medics raced onto the field to treat the stricken 33-year-old, with the game stopped for seven minutes while he was loaded onto a stretcher and carried off wearing what appeared a breathing aid.

Villas-Boas also withdrew Malouda and brought on Nicolas Anelka and Mata for his debut.

FT: Chelsea 3 Norwich 1 Norwich showed no sympathy and Morison was put clean through, Terry thwarting him with a desperate tackle.

Holt also mistimed a free header from the resulting corner before Mata and Torres combined for the first time, the latter nodding his fellow Spaniard's cross too close to Ruddy.

It looked anyone's game but all that changed with just over 10 minutes remaining when a brilliant Chelsea breakaway brought a penalty and a red card for Ruddy.

Anelka sent Ramires racing clear and he was brought down by the onrushing goalkeeper.

Lambert appeared to be furious with the Chelsea bench following the dismissal and Lampard blasted the penalty straight down the middle past newcomer Declan Rudd.

Lukaku came on for his debut for Torres, sending a diving header wide and missing an Anelka cross after Norwich almost levelled again when Morison hooked over.

Ivanovic somehow failed to kill the contest when he headed wide from three yards and Lampard also missed on the rebound after Lukaku's shot was saved in the 11 minutes of stoppage-time that followed.

And Mata's debut ended in dream fashion as De Laet presented him with the ball in the final minute and he slotted beyond Rudd.

INTRO: Chelsea avoided an early blow to their Barclays Premier League title hopes but lost Didier Drogba to a sickening injury as they struck late again to beat 10-man Norwich.

The Canaries looked set to stun Stamford Bridge when Grant Holt pounced on a horrible error from Hilario to equalise and Drogba appeared to be knocked unconscious in an aerial challenge with John Ruddy.

But Frank Lampard blasted home from the penalty spot after Ruddy was sent off and Juan Mata scored on his debut, adding to Jose Bosingwa's first goal for almost three years.

Posted By: BSE Canary, Aug 27, 17:19:41