Gianluca Vialli marred his anniversary as Chelsea manager when he was sent off in a bad-tempered battle against Blackburn at Stamford Bridge.

The Italian had hoped to crown a year in charge tomorrow by closing the Premiership gap on Manchester United.

But instead his party turned ugly when Ashley Ward headed a late equaliser, then Vialli and Marlon Broomes were both shown the red card by Uriah Rennie.

The pair fell together in a challenge and when Broomes stood over the Chelsea boss in threatening fashion, Vialli lashed out with a foot.

The two clubs have a history of ill-tempered games and the drama erupted in the last five minutes.

Vialli was sent off in the same fixture last season and Graeme Le Saux and Sebastian Perez were dismissed when the clubs met earlier this season at Ewood Park, when Chelsea won 4-3.

Chelsea had never beaten Blackburn in the Premiership at Stamford Bridge and not in the league at home for almost 15 years but they came within five minutes of ending the record.

Jody Morris put them ahead but Ward's late header cancelled it out. Chelsea didn't help themselves early on with a string of missed chances including a penalty miss from Frank Leboeuf.

Gianfranco Zola could have headed his team ahead in the second minute but found John Filan in the same irresistible form which frustrated Newcastle in the FA Cup on Sunday.

Vialli had suggested there were signs of Chelsea's early season form returning in their own FA Cup success at Sheffield Wednesday at the weekend and these sentiments looked valid in this opening attack.

Dan Petrescu found his manager with a neat pass down the right, Vialli crossed and little Zola leapt high only to see his header beaten away by Filan.

Six minutes later, the big Aussie produced an even better save to keep out Leboeuf's penalty, harshly awarded in the eyes of Blackburn's furious defenders.

Le Saux had found Vialli with his back to goal inside the area and the Italian hit the turf as he tried to turn past Broomes. Mr Rennie pointed to the spot but Leboeuf's accuracy deserted him.

Roberto Di Matteo missed a gilt-edged chance with a close-range header and rifled wide from 25 yards.

Vialli almost broke the deadlock with a spectacular scissor-kick which landed just wide and the player-boss should have done better with a clear-cut chance after the break.

He pounced on Blackburn's indecision and hammered a low shot at goal but Filan stuck a foot out to save.

Matt Jansen was a constant thorn in Chelsea's side. The young striker was the most threatening of Brian Kidd's expensively assembled strike-force.

He almost stole a fourth-minute lead for the visitors when Ed de Goey beat out a stinging drive.

The former Crystal Palace striker fired half-chances wide and over with half-time approaching and Leboeuf cleared his cross-shot off the line in the second half.

It was left to Morris to show the way. He made no mistake a minute before the break when he volleyed home from 20 yards after being teed-up by his manager.

It looked like it would be enough but Ward pounced late in the day to head home a cross from sub Keith Gillespie.

Teams

Chelsea: De Goey, Lambourde, Desailly, Leboeuf, Le Saux (Newton 25), Petrescu (Goldbaek 80), Morris (Forssell 88), Di Matteo, Babayaro, Vialli, Zola.

Subs Not Used: Hitchcock, Terry.

Sent Off: Vialli (84).

Booked: Lambourde, Leboeuf, Morris.

Goals: Morris 44.

Blackburn: Filan, Kenna, Henchoz, Broomes, Croft, McAteer, Dunn, Marcolin (Gillespie 46), Jansen (Duff 80), Ward, Sutton,Duff (Peacock 85).

Subs Not Used: Flowers, Blake.

Sent Off: Broomes (84).

Booked: Marcolin, Sutton, Peacock.

Goals: Ward 84.

Att: 34,382

Ref: U Rennie (Sheffield).