Chelsea earned a hard-fought victory in the Midlands this afternoon thanks to a first Chelsea goal from José Bosingwa and substitute Nicolas Anelka.

Bosingwa's strike was the result of a speedy counter-attack from one of Stoke's dangerous set pieces, while Anelka capitalised on some unfortunate defending in the home side's area.

The home side worked hard, and provided a stiff physical battle, but could not break down a defence expertly protected by John Mikel Obi and marshalled by John Terry and Alex.

Chelsea arrived in Staffordshire looking for a sixth straight away league win, and a 27th Premier League game unbeaten, a run that stretches back to December last year and the 1-0 reverse at Arsenal.

The big team news came from the home team, with no human rocket launcher Rory Delap in the Stoke line-up, despite Luiz Felipe Scolari having prepared his side for the aerial onslaught of his long throw-ins.

That bombshell overshadowed the return of one Didier Drogba to the Chelsea starting 11, his first league start of the season, and he was joined by Salomon Kalou, twice a goalscorer in the past week.

On a sunny afternoon, it was the Blues who kicked off, but possession was quickly squandered and Petr Cech had to be alert to snuff out early danger.

Michael Ballack tested home keeper Thomas Sorensen after seven minutes, with a powerfully struck drive, and from the resultant corner it was the German who rose highest.Again Sorensen had to do well, and held the ball at full stretch as John Terry bore down.

The possession column on the stats page was already turning blue, and Tony Pulis soon emerged from the Stoke dugout.

The next chance fell to Drogba, still short on match practice, and he was denied by Sorensen's legs as the Dane rushed from his goal after Frank Lampard had sent a superb through ball over the home defence.

The former Aston Villa and Sunderland stopper was in good form, and was consistently plucking Chelsea crosses from the air. When he did though, he had little forward options, with Mamay Sidibe and Dave Kitson isolated and frequently forced to track back.

Sidibe did get a chance with 10 minutes remaining in the first half, a header at the far post as the ball pinballed around the Chelsea box. Cech gathered and immediately sent the ball forward.

Chelsea broke in numbers, and Mikel fed Lampard who spotted the advanced Bosingwa making ground in the Stoke area.

The full-back controlled with one touch and shot with his second, firing a volley into the far corner to send the Blues one up. It was the sort of slick counter-attacking football Scolari had said would be needed in his pre-match media briefing, and the presence of Andy Griffin on the line was not enough to prevent the goal, though he did get a touch.

At half-time Scolari replaced Kalou with Anelka, seemingly a precaution after the Ivorian had picked up a knock to the ankle in the first half. Chelsea reverted to more of a 4-3-3 shape, the Frenchman a direct replacement on the right.

The change of personnel didn't have an immediate effect on the game, as Chelsea came out on top again, Malouda seeing his drive diverted on to the crossbar by Sorensen's outstretched arm.

Ricardo Fuller replaced Kitson for Stoke, a move that tied in with a spell of free-kicks for the Potters, providing an opportunity for their host of six foot and above players to test Chelsea's resolve.

Florent Malouda and Griffin were booked after an altercation, rousing the home support.

Minutes later on the hour mark Leon Cort's header was destined for goal, but Mikel was on hand to head away off the line. If they had found things a little easy in the first half, Scolari's men knew they were in a game now.

If anyone could compete with Stoke's physical style though it was Terry and co, and the storm was soon weathered sufficiently for Pulis to make a further change, summer signing Michael Tonge replacing Liam Lawrence.

In response, Scolari opted to shore things up, with Juliano Belletti coming on at Drogba's expense. He moved to the right flank in a deeper role than Anelka had occupied, while the Frenchman operated as a lone forward.

His first act was to fire a second Chelsea goal.

Bosingwa sent in a devilish cross that bounced in front of Cort, who could only chest the ball into Anelka's path. His task was simple as he fired low beyond Sorensen. One Stoke goal had seemed unlikely, two almost impossible, and the points looked assured.

It could and maybe should have been three with 11 minutes remaining, as Ballack fed off Malouda's scraps but dragged his low shot slightly wide.

Lampard was the next guilty party, firing straight at Sorensen after Ballack had set him up 10 yards out. Moments later he had a better effort blocked.

Stoke were on the rocks, but anybody considering a second straight heavy away win would have to think again, as the final stages saw a game of keep-ball against a tired side.

Ultimately, it hadn't been entirely pretty, but the mission was accomplished as three points were acquired and taken back to SW6.

By Andy Jones

Stoke (4-4-2): Sorensen; Griffin(c), Abdoulaye Faye, Cort, Higginbotham; Lawrence (Tonge 64), Olofinjana, Diao, Cresswell; Sidibe (Amdy Faye 80), Kitson (Fuller 52).

Goals

Booked Griffin 55, Cresswell 66

Chelsea (4-1-4-1): Cech; Bosingwa, Alex, Terry (c), A Cole; Mikel; Kalou (Anelka ht), Ballack (Ferreira 89), Lampard, Malouda; Drogba (Belletti 72).

Goals Bosingwa 35, Anelka 75

Booked Malouda 55