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Drogba on target as Chelsea ease to win

  • Story Highlights
  • Chelsea beat bottom club West Bromwich Albion 2-0 on Boxing Day
  • Goals from Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard seal three points at Stamford Bridge
  • Chelsea were winning at home in the league for first time in two months
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(CNN) -- Chelsea stayed in second place in the English Premier League with a 2-0 win over bottom club West Bromwich Albion in an early kick off on Boxing Day.

Drogba's early goal set Chelsea on their way to a comfortable three points.

Drogba's early goal set Chelsea on their way to a comfortable three points.

Luiz Felipe Scolari paired Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka in his starting lineup for the first time this season and it reaped immediate award.

Ivory Coast striker Drogba took just three minutes to break the deadlock at Stamford Bridge when he headed Joe Cole's cross past Scott Carson to give Chelsea a crucial early lead.

Midfield star Frank Lampard then picked up on Ashley Cole's deflected cross to chip over Carson and double Chelsea's lead on the stroke of half time.

Chelsea continued to press in the second half and Carson had to be at his best to keep out Drogba just after the hour.

Scolari promptly took off Drogba, making his first league start since September, replacing him with Florent Malouda.

West Brom created few chances and Paul Robinson saw his late strike blocked by Alex before Anelka nearly made it three in the dying moments.

It was Chelsea's first home league win in almost two months, lifting them to 41 points after 19 games, one behind Liverpool who beat Bolton 3-0 in a later match on Friday.

Chelsea assistant manager Ray Wilkins said his team were delighted to have Drogba back.

"It is always nice to score early on and it was a classic center forward's goal: a powerful header," he told Sky Sports News.

"It is lovely to have Didier fully fit although we took him off in the second half because he got a kick on the thigh. He is an exceptional center forward."

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