No Chelsea cheer as Boro are beaten

Two goals in two first half minutes from striker Didier Drogba fired another warning off to Arsenal and Manchester United - who both only drew last night - that the Blues are in no mood to relinquish the lead in the race for the title.

And Chelsea's fifth league victory in a row has left McClaren still searching for his first success over the rich west London club since taking charge in 2001 - a run of nine matches.

It is also a defeat that has ensured Middlesbrough's poor start to 2005 continues, having lost to Manchester United at the Riverside Stadium of New Year's Day.

While defeat at Stamford Bridge is as much as can be expected from a depleted Middlesbrough squad, it means McClaren's men failed to reclaim the fifth place they lost to Liverpool on Monday and there remains a two point gap between the sides.

A first half display of sheer quality from Chelsea was capped by the brace from Drogba.

The costly forward has been a much-criticised figure since his summer move from Marseille but his fifth and sixth league goals since his switch proved enough to overcome a disappointing Boro side.

Having ran Arsenal close at Highbury and claimed a creditable draw at Old Trafford against United already this season, there were reasons why McClaren may have been optimistic about pushing Chelsea hard on the Kings Road even without the influence of so many of his first team squad.

With regulars Mark Viduka, George Boateng, Gaizka Mendieta, Ugo Ehiogu and Chris Riggott already ruled out, Colin Cooper, Ray Parlour and Bolo Zenden were forced to play despite suffering knocks in the New Year's Day defeat to the Red Devils.

The state of Middlesbrough's squad has forced McClaren into examining his options on the transfer front but he has so far hit a brick wall in his attempts to inject new blood - with Inter Milan turning down an offer for Greek midfielder Giorgios Karagounis this week.

And Boro's poor return over the festive period - having now picked up only three points from a possible 12 - has allowed Liverpool to take the initiative in the race to topple Everton in fourth spot.

Past experiences at the Bridge pointed to things remaining the same - with Middlesbrough approaching 30 years in March since they last managed to return to the North-East with a victory at Stamford Bridge.

One man who has tasted success at this venue is Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, last night making an emotional return to his home for four years before he moved on for free in the summer.

Hasselbaink's former strike partner Eidur Gudjohnsen and the Blues fans acknowledged his achievements in west London - where he scored 88 goals in 177 appearances for Chelsea.

Mourinho had warned his players to be wary of the Hasselbaink threat but that must have been more of a token gesture to show his respect for the visitors, as there was no need for such talk.

Instead it was the Dutchman's expensive replacement Drogba who had had an immediate impact. The Ivory Coast international had already had two decent efforts on goal before finding the net.

Goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer plucked the striker's header out of the air and then held onto his stinging 20-yard volley on the turn.

But there was very little Schwarzer - a man in the midst of a contract dispute and who may turn his back on Middlesbrough this month - could do about Drogba's deadly double that had the game virtually sewn up with just 17 minutes played.

The £27m star, who scored the only goal in Chelsea's success at the Riverside earlier in the campaign, flicked the ball past Gareth Southgate, after neat interplay between Frank Lampard and Arjen Robben, before slotting his finish past Schwarzer.

Two minutes later the same three Chelsea players were involved again to make it two.

This time Robben stepped over the dead ball, Lampard's free-kick was met by the head of Drogba, who had outjumped Southgate, and the ball was directed beyond a static keeper.

And, as news filtered through that Arsenal were trailing to a Shaun Wright-Phillips goal at Highbury, it was party time at the Bridge as Chelsea relaxed and played what can only be described as championship winning football.

Before half-time the home side had conjured up 11 efforts on goal, nine on target, to Middlesbrough's none.

Flying Dutch winger Robben had one of those spilled by Schwarzer but Damien Duff's first touch let him down and wasted an opportunity to extend his side's lead from close range.

Only poor finishing denied both Lampard and full-back Paulo Ferreira when the players had shots saved and chipped over respectively, as Chelsea threatened to run riot.

To save further embarrassment, Middlesbrough could have been forgiven had they wanted to stay in the dressing room and not turned out for the second half.

After all Chelsea's fine goalkeeper Petr Cech, hardly troubled at all last night, had only been beaten eight times in 21 Premiership appearances so things could not have looked any bleaker for the away side.

There was a brief moment immediately after the restart when Boro might have found a way through.

Instead Bolo Zenden's shot was blocked and Doriva's long range effort flew harmlessly wide of Cech's left upright.

But normal service was resumed soon after.

Joe Cole's quick feet allowed gave him the space to shoot narrowly wide, while seconds later Duff's magical left foot rebounded to safety off the crossbar.

The first half fluidity may not have been on show but still Chelsea seemed capable of creating something out of nothing at will.

And Lampard had a shot well saved by the feet of Schwarzer after taking the ball from Robben, Duff fired just wide from the edge of the box and Robben's curling free-kick was stopped by Schwarzer.

Middlesbrough's night was summed up in injury-time when Hasselbaink's attempt at one of his trademark free-kicks ended high in the stands behind the goal.

Result: Chelsea 2 Middlesbrough 0.

Read more about Middlesbrough here.