TWO second half goals from Chelsea condemned Rovers to their first home defeat of the season but that didn't tell the whole story at Ewood Park this afternoon.

It was a debut to forget for new signing André Ooijer as he was deemed to have pulled John Terry down in the area at the start of the second half for a penalty which Lampard dispatched from the spot, then with nine minutes remaining the former PSV man allowed Didier Drogba to get the better of him before he added a second.

It was tough on Rovers as they had more of the attacking play throughout the game and looked lively throughout, but just lacked that little class in front of goal that Chelsea offered and couldn't find a way past the impressive figure of Petr Cech in the Chelsea goal.

The manager had sprung something of a surprise with his team selection ahead of the game, he gave a debut start to new signing Andre Ooijer who came in at the expense of Andy Todd, whilst Lucas Neill was preferred to Michael Gray as he returned from his one-match ban.

Rovers started the game in a positive manner with the left side of the Chelsea defence an obvious target, David Bentley and Brett Emerton making good use of the space afforded to them with a couple of dangerous crosses into the area early on, Morten Gamst Pedersen perhaps should have done better when he headed over on seventeen minutes.

André Ooijer started nervously at the back, and he was thankful for the quick reactions from Brad Friedel after his back-pass was almost cut out by Salomon Kalou. Whilst his centre-back partner Zurab Khizanishvili read a dangerous situation as Chelsea attacked through the middle, the Georgian making an excellent interception from a Frank Lampard pass.

The home side's best sight of goal in the first half came just before the midway point, and it was from a set-piece. Morten Gamst Pedersen's free-kick deflected off Kalou in the wall, and with Petr Cech stranded he was fortunate to see the ball spin onto the roof of the net.

Chelsea weren't without their chances in the first half, Andriy Shevchenko and Salomon Kalou both had weak efforts at goal that didn't trouble Brad Friedel.

But all of Rovers' first half good work was undone just three minutes into the second half. Robbie Savage was harshly adjudged to have fouled Michael Ballack and from the resulting free-kick, André Ooijer and John Terry tangle in the area, the England captain goes to ground in the box and Mark Clattenburg had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot. Brad Friedel went the right way, but Frank Lampard's effort was low and hard and found the corner of the net.

The scores were almost level some five minutes later when Brett Emerton's ball from the right was controlled on the chest by Benni McCarthy in the six yard box, the South African poked the ball towards goal but Petr Cech pulled off a fantastic one handed save to thwart the Rovers forward.

Rovers continued to look the more likely side to get the next goal, Lucas Neill saw two efforts from the left flash wide, whilst David Bentley didn't trouble Petr Cech in the Chelsea goal with two long distance strikes.

Then came another talking point in the game when Jason Roberts burst through into the area and he was pulled back by Carvalho, but despite frantic appeals for a spot-kick, Mark Clattenburg waved away Rovers' claims.

Paul Gallagher was brought on at the expense of Morten Gamst Pedersen, and he immediately got involved forcing Khalid Boulahrouz into making a frantic clearance.

But with Rovers pouring forward in search of the leveller they were caught on the break, a ball over the top saw substitute Didier Drogba get the better of André Ooijer and the man from the Ivory Coast showed good strength to hold off the Dutchman before delivering the killer ball high into the back of the net past Brad Friedel.

Steven Reid tested Cech with a well-struck free-kick after the Irishman had been pulled down by Makelele, but once again the Chelsea stopper used his giant frame to tip the ball over the bar.

More half-chances came and went Rovers way in the remaining minutes, but once again Rovers go away from Ewood Park scratching their heads wondering how they didn't get more from this encounter.

There's now a break for the internationals matches before Rovers are next in league action in thirteen days time away at Bramall Lane against Sheffield United.

ROVERS: Friedel, Emerton, Khizanishvili, Ooijer, Neill (c), Bentley, Reid, Savage, Pedersen (sub Gallagher 69 mins), McCarthy, Roberts. Subs not used: Brown (GK), Todd, Kuqi, Jeffers.

CHELSEA: Cech, Boulahrouz, Carvalho, Terry (c), Bridge, Makelele (sub Mikel 89 mins), Lampard, Essien, Ballack, Kalou (sub Drogba 57 mins), Shevchenko (sub Wright-Phillips 83 mins). Subs not used: Cudicini (GK), Ferreira.

Booked: Savage, Khizanishvili, Ooijer (Rovers), Makelele (Chelsea).

Peter Jackson man-of-the-match: Brett Emerton.

Attendance: 19,398

Rovers World subscribers can get all the post match reaction from today's game on Monday's edition.