The veteran Italian struck with 10 minutes remaining to settle an intriguing contest which had swung first in Blackburn's favour, thanks largely to David Thompson on his home debut, and then finally towards Chelsea.

Zola will be the man this match is remembered for however. Chelsea have not found goals easy to come by this season, but the little Italian struck twice to make him the club's leading scorer with a tally of four in five games.

The only consolation for Blackburn was the form of Thompson, who at £1.5million rising to £2.5million, can be considered a steal even in these deflationary times.

He was instrumental in most of the home side's promising moves, and struck his side's second after David Dunn's controversial penalty had opened the scoring. Jesper Gronkjaer had equalised first, and then Zola made the scores level after the break before saving the best until last.

From the opening exchanges, attacks looked on top, and Thompson caused panic in the Chelsea ranks when he wriggled to the edge of the box and struck a low shot which the keeper managed to turn aside.

In the 18th minute, Blackburn won a penalty when Celestine Babayaro dived in on Lucas Neill. There was no doubt the Chelsea player caught his man, but the visitors could argue with some justification that contact was first made outside the box.

That stood for nothing in referee Mike Riley's eyes though, and Dunn slotted home the spot-kick to put Blackburn in front.

In the 38th minute, Chelsea contrived an equaliser when Mario Stanic, who was given a rough time by the home fans for some theatrical falls, bent over a tricky cross, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink burst between two defenders and cut the ball back for Gronkjaer to bury an unstoppable shot low into the far corner.

In first-half injury time, Cole toyed with Chelsea down the right, then cut the ball back for Thompson to strike a low drive through a crowd of defenders and - with Cudicini unsighted - into the net.

Soon after the break, Thompson blasted a ball across the goal-line, somehow Yorke failed to get a touch and then headed a return cross wide.

Then, in the 52nd minute, those misses proved costly as Blackburn's defence caved in and Zola's goal pulled Chelsea level again.

The danger had seemed to have been averted for Rovers when Brad Friedel's presence put off Hasselbaink, and Gronkjaer screwed a shot well wide. However, Blackburn were guilty of ball-watching as Stanic picked up the scraps and crossed for Zola to arrive unchallenged and head past Friedel.

With 10 minutes left, Zola put Chelsea ahead for the first time in the match with a mouth-watering effort from the edge of the box, which curled into the top corner.

With time running out, Cudicini produced another wonder save to block Gillespie.