Chelsea became the first team to qualify for the knockout stages of this season's Champions League campaign with a hard fought and richly deserved victory in Moscow tonight. The game played in Lokomotiv Moscow's stadium in front of a capacity of 30,000 partisan and vociferous Russians (UEFA deem that CSKA's stadium is not up to standard) creating an atmosphere of noise that would put most clubs to shame, Chelsea started brightly with Robben causing problems down Moscow's right and being checked as many times in a few minutes. After the start that Moscow had made at the start of the game at Stamford Bridge two weeks ago, it was strange to see Moscow play what appeared to be a cat and mouse game. In fact although Moscow dominated the corner count by the half time whistle the only shot on target from Moscow's Brazilian Love, produced a super one handed save by Cech, diving to his left and turning the ball away for another corner.

Whoever believes the media about JM's selection policies always makes interesting reading. How anyone could have thought that JM would rotate Lampard, must have either misunderstood JM's press conferences, or took a gamble for an exclusive that all reporters strive for. Lampard as well as JT are the mainstays of Chelsea. They will always be in the team sheet first and you pick the team around them. Not anyone else! Terry was superb in defence, marshalling Gallas (before being subsituted at half time) Ferreria, Carvalho and young Johnson, in for Ferreira from the beginning. Lampard was his usual industrious self, probing, running and trying to play the balls out wide to Duff and Robben.

The only major changes in the Chelsea line-up at the start was Johnson at right back and Parker in midfield. To be fair especailly in the first half neither player looked out of place. Both had excellent halfs. Johnson stubborn, strong and resolute in defence whilst Parker was moving around like he use to play in his Charlton days. I hope that Parker has enough mental strength to stay at Chelsea and fight, fight and fight all the way for a regular starting position.

The only goal of the game came in the 24th minute, from Chelsea's new star Arjen Robben. After a series of passes just outside of the Moscow box, Duff played the ball through and Robben stroked, ney passed the ball into the bottom left of the net, leaving the Mosow goalkeeper completely bemused and stranded. A sublime goal from a quality player.

The second half started exactly how I thought the first would start. Moscow pressed from the kickoff and within a minute were awarded a penalty when Johnson mistimed his tackle just inside the left hand side of the penalty area. In Beckhamesque style Love blasted the ball high and higher over the bar, and that proved to be Moscow's only and most serious attempt at goal throughout the whole of the second half. For all Moscow's effort and pressure, Chelsea's defence held out a smothered everything that Moscow could throw at them. Once Tiago came on for Parker, the avenues for pressure were slowly but firmly sealed. I have to say, Glenn Johnson was outstanding. Despite giving away the penalty at the start of the 2nd half and then getting booked soon after, he regained his concentration to complete a solid and outstanding ninety minutes.