Nicolas Anelka struck twice in each half to propel Chelsea to the top of the Premier League on goal difference at the expense of Paul Ince’s Blackburn Rovers on a rain-soaked Lancashire afternoon. The win, on Luiz Felipe Scolari’s 60th birthday, erased the memories of a horrible midweek Champions League loss at AS Roma.

Blackburn’s physical game was always going to test Chelsea’s determination on a terrible playing day as the heavens opened up to render the pitch nearly unplayable. But it was the side from Stamford Bridge that settled into the rain far more quickly compared to the home side.

For the first twenty minutes there seemed to be only one side that looked for goals as Chelsea kept Blackburn stranded into their own half as Deco and company launched waves of aerial bombardment towards the fantastic Paul Robinson’s goal. The former Spurs keeper was in an inspired form as he single-handedly thwarted Chelsea with some glorious saves on appalling playing conditions.

With all the domination, it wasn’t until the 39th minute that the two-time champions broke the deadlock when Anelka somehow deflected a Jose Bosingwa long-ranger past Robinson despite massive appeals from the keeper for a handball. Replays though showed the deflection came off the French striker’s knees.

Conditions improved in the second half and with it came Blackburn’s turn to rattle Chelsea. Petr Cech had to be on his toes as lone striker Jason Roberts and Carlos Villaneuva tested the Chelsea keeper during a sustained Rovers attack right after the break. Yet the gulf between the two teams was evident as Chelsea put the final nail on Blackburn’s coffin after sixty eight minutes by hitting the home side on the break as Nicolas Anelka excellently lobbed a loose ball past an incoming Paul Robinson to effectively finish off Blackburn’s resistance on a wet Ewood Park pitch.

By recording the sixth away win in as many matches, Chelsea go on top of the table leveled on 29 points with Liverpool but with a better goal difference. As far as the match was concerned, Paul Ince had to be defensive with the loss of his star strikers Benni McCarthy(suspension)and Roque Santa Cruz(injury). With Jason Roberts as the lone striker, the manager had no option but to opt for a strategy of frustration and hitting on the break. Well it failed as the Blues stamped their class and provided their manager with a perfect birthday present. In footballing terms, this win was important following Chelsea’s loss at Rome and Liverpool and Arsenal’s fine wins on Saturday.

It was a busy Sunday as Harry Redknapp’s rejuvenated Spurs side came from behind to beat nine-man Manchester City at Eastlands. It is hard to believe that how a change of management can turn around the fortunes of the same team that didn’t know anything other than loss on the football pitch under Juande Ramos. Darren Bent followed up his hattrick against Dinamo Zagreb on Thursday with a brace at the City of Manchester Stadium to cancel out Robinho’s opening strike for City.

Aston Villa were shocked by Midddlesborough 2-1 at home via a Tuncay Sanli winner following a horrible defensive lapse, thus missing the chance to go fourth ahead of Manchester United. Newcastle’s woeful away record continued with a 2-1 loss to Fulham at Craven Cottage later on Sunday.