5:55pm Sunday 21st March 2010
El-Hadji Diouf put a dent in Chelsea's title hopes, with a 69th minute header to give his side a deserved 1-1 draw.
Didier Drogba put the visitors ahead early on, after a good opening from Chelsea.
Nicolas Anelka took advantage of the space on the right, before crossing to the unmarked Ivorian who found the corner.
After the menacing opening Rovers soon got to grips with the Chelsea attack though, despite vast spaces still being prominent.
Alex and Moreten Gamst Pedersen both had chances, but the biggest cheer for the hosts come with a number of crunching tackles from the impressive debutant Phil Jones.
The defender quite rightly earning the man of the match award, keeping Drogba and co quiet for the most part.
The equaliser almost came within two minutes of the restart.
Pedersen's long throw was met by Chris Samba, whose header was inches away before being cleared off the line by Paulo Ferreira.
Chelsea then had a chance of their own as Frank Lampard hit a trademark thunderbolt from distance, but it drifted just wide of Jason Brown's right post.
Blackburn continued to deal well with the Chelsea attack, but couldn't create anything at the other end.
The substitution of Jason Roberts for Nikola Kalinic in attack, prompting an angry reaction from the home suuport.
Moments later Rovers had the equaliser their play so richly deserved, although Roberts wasn't involved.
Michel Salgado's pin point cross was headed home by Diouf, who beat Ferreira in the aerial battle to nod home in the corner.
As we entered the final ten minutes it was all Chelsea, but the injury ravaged Rovers defence were more than holding there own.
Even when Brown was called upon he proved he was more than up to the task.
A terrific diving save denied Drogba his second with three minutes to go, and the visitors were unable to create any more chances.
Blackburn add to an already impressive home record with this 1-1 draw, a run which has only seen them lose twice at Ewood Park all season.
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