Frank Leboeuf's first half penalty made Chelsea the ton-up boys of the
Premiership, with 100 goals in all competitions this season.
And it was enough to keep sloppy Sheffield Wednesday still hovering
uncomfortably just above the relegation precipice.
With a six points buffer between them in the bottom three, manager Ron
Atkinson may not exactly be sweating on survival but a few more performances
like this - the Owls six consecutive away defeat - and he will certainly have to
admit to a worried frown.
Chelsea boss Gianluca Vialli offered his rival every encouragement to grab the
win Wednesday still need to feel completely safe by dropping himself and six
other stars of Thursday's European Cup Winners' Cup triumph against Vicenza.
But although Wednesday twice rattled the crossbar in the first half and Paolo
Di Canio forced Dmitri Kharine into the best save of the game soon after the
interval, Chelsea's shadow side was still comfortable enough in securing the
18th league win this season.
The decisive goal came in the 23rd minute and, in keeping with Wednesday's
performance, arrived through hesitancy in their defence.
Earl Barrett had plenty of time to deal with Steve Clarke's right wing cross
but dithered long enough to allow Tore Andre Flo to get in behind him and
finally had to bring him down with a desperate challenge.
Wednesday complained bitterly to referee Gary Willard but without any real
reason and Leboeuf stepped up to ram home the spot kick with impressive power.
Wednesday should have been ahead by that time, Petter Rudi crashing his shot
against the crossbar when it seemed easier to score in the 11th minute after he
walked round the prostrate figure of Kharine who had managed only to push out
Andy Booth's low cross.
Two minutes after Chelsea went ahead Di Canio's spectacular effort following
Clarke's mistake met similar fate, the ball bouncing back into play from the
bar. But until the Italian provoked a plunging save from Kharine early in the
second period there were precious few other opportunities for Wednesday to
repair the damage.
Di Canio and fellow Italian Benito Carbone were both booked which summed up
the visitors' frustration and it failed to inspire a telling comeback attempt as
Chelsea, despite the absence on the field of Vialli, Dennis Wise, Franco Zola
and Graeme Le Saux, still had enough about them to hang on to their lead.
In fact it was Roberto Di Matteo, returning to the side after missing
Thursday's success through suspension, who went closest to a second goal with a
fierce drive from 25 yards just before the end. It was on its way to the top
corner until deflected out of harm's way.
Chelsea could even afford to take off Leboeuf ten minutes from time even
though it was much to do with his efforts that their sometimes uncertain defence
was held together.
Midweek hero Mark Hughes battled with typical fire to earn a clinching second
goal, twice going close with headers but in the end picked only picked up his
10th yellow card of the season on an occasion which inevitably provided small
beer for 29,000 fans compared to Thursday's champagne triumph in Europe.
Teams:
Chelsea: Kharine, Leboeuf (P. Hughes 80), Clarke, M. Hughes,
Duberry, Di Matteo, Granville, Flo (Nicholls 70), Newton,
Charvet, Harley (Morris 64).
Subs Not Used: Hitchcock, Myers.
Booked: M. Hughes.
Goals: Leboeuf 23 pen.
Sheff Wed: Pressman, Atherton, Walker, Carbone, Booth, Di Canio,
Stefanovic, Hinchcliffe, Thome, Rudi (Pembridge 13),
Barrett (Magilton 85).
Subs Not Used: Clarke, Oakes, Whittingham.
Booked: Carbone, Di Canio.
Att: 29,075
Ref: G S Willard (Worthing).
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