Chelsea's Didier Drogba (left) scores as Blackburn Rovers' Andre Ooijer (right) watched during their English Premier League soccer match at Ewood Park in Blackburn, northern England, yesterday. - Reuters

LONDON (AP):

Two-time defending champions Chelsea beat Blackburn 2-0 yesterday in the English Premier League, winning on Frank Lampard's 50th-minute penalty and a late goal from substitute Didier Drogba.

Unlike the Blues of the last two seasons, Chelsea looked unconvincing - particularly in the first half. The victory came just days after a 3-2 loss to Middlesbrough.

Lampard had a miserable World Cup for England, missing a penalty kick in a shoot-out loss to Portugal in the quarter-finals.

He was nearly foiled yesterday too, as Blackburn goalkeeper Brad Friedel got his hand on the penalty kick but failed to stop it.

Drogba sealed the victory in the 81st, beating defender Andre Ooijer and lifting a 10-metre shot over Friedel.

The victory gave Chelsea six points from three games, three behind league-leading Manchester United. Blackburn have only one point.

Earlier, Luke Moore and Juan Pablo Angel scored first-half goals to lead Aston Villa to a 2-0 win over Newcastle and into second- place. Everton also have seven points.

Summer signings

Chelsea started both of their summer signings - midfielder Michael Ballack and striker Andriy Shevchenko. It was Ballack's debut in a regular-season game after moving from Bayern Munich.

Lampard was given the penalty after referee Mark Clattenburg called Ooijer for pulling down John Terry in the area. A few minutes later, Chelsea defender Ricardo Carvalho got away with a similar move.

"The penalty decision totally changed the game from our point of view," Blackburn manager Mark Hughes said.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said his team was handicapped playing without injured wingers Joe Cole and Arjen Robben.

"You have to adapt to the reality of the game," Mourinho said. "I'm sure my players would like to play with more quality than we did in the first half.

"When we scored the goal the game was open."

Terry said the team was ready after losing to Middlesbrough. He also praised Drogba, who changed the game after entering as a substitute in the 70th minute.

Frustrated

"He was frustrated about not starting today," Terry said. "He comes on and puts on a performance like that."

Villa manager Martin O'Neill and new majority shareholder Randy Lerner, an American billionaire, were greeted with rousing applause in what fans expect to be the start of a winning era for the beleaguered English club.

Moore gave Villa a 1-0 lead in the third minute and Angel made it 2-0 in the 38th.

It could not have been a better day for Villa fans.

Team captain Gareth Barry signed a four-year deal just before the start of the game. For many, Barry is the club's key player.

For Newcastle, it was a miserable day.

Newly-signed striker Obafemi Martins, who moved to the club from Inter Milan on a US$20 million transfer, was taken off the field on a stretcher midway through the game with what looked like a knee injury.