Chelsea 1 - Steaua Bucharest 0: Demba Ba lifts Stamford Bridge

CHELSEA raised the Ba last night as a striker finally found the goal­scoring touch at ­Stamford Bridge.

Share 2

TOP OF THE PILE: Ba's early strike was enough for Chelsea to seal top spot in their Champions League group [AFP/GETTY]

Demba Ba’s 10th-minute strike wasn’t pretty – and he later missed a sitter – but given the drought the Blues strike-force are enduring, he will be glad he got his name on the scoresheet at all.

Jose Mourinho had pointed the finger at his forwards, and Ba responded after being preferred to Fernando Torres and Samuel Eto’o against Group E whipping boys Steaua Bucharest.

The Senegal striker bundled in a Willian corner with some help from Daniel Georgievski, who was initially credited with an own-goal.

Mourinho had aimed some stinging criticism at his side before this game, basically writing off their hopes of Champions League or Premier League glory.

But there is always an agenda with the Blues boss and if anyone really thinks that is what he believes, they need their head ­examined.

Chelsea knew a win would guarantee top spot in the group and give them an easier ride in the knockout stages.

After all, who wants to play Real Madrid or Barcelona this early in the competition when you can face Bayer Leverkusen, or Olympiakos?

ON TARGET: Mourinho's decision to start misfit striker Ba paid off as the striker nabbed the winning goal [GETTY]

Having taken aim at his shot-shy strikers after last weekend’s defeat at Stoke, Mourinho had a laugh at his back four’s expense this week.

He joked that with their luck even a training-ground dummy could score against Chelsea right now, and promised to make changes.
Even so, it was a surprise to see Mark Schwarzer brought in for his Champions League debut at the age of 41, with Petr Cech on the bench.

Steaua came to London without a single win in the group, and were soon under pressure, with David Luiz and Willian firing wide in the early stages.
It did not take long for Chelsea to break the deadlock.

­Willian swung in a corner and Oscar was allowed plenty of room to flick it on at the near post.
Ba was lurking at the far post but it was Steaua defender Georgievski who got the final touch.
The home side then survived a scare when Gabriel Iancu was clean through on goal, only to drag his shot wide of the target with only Schwarzer to beat.
Branislav Ivanovic was denied a rare goal by a stunning reaction save from Ciprian Tatarusanu after being picked out beautifully by Eden Hazard.

PIGGYBACK: Eden Hazard had another good game as he looks to press on with his development at Chelsea [EPA]

Mourninho’s biggest criticism of his side at Stoke was that they should have killed the game off by half-time. He must have been thinking the same thing here.

Chelsea were all over the visitors but it looked like they had left their shooting boots at home again as Frank Lampard missed twice from long range and ­Ashley Cole’s shot was saved.
This was the England full-back’s first start since November 2, when he suffered a rib injury in a loss to Newcastle and lost his place to makeshift left-back ­Cesar Azpilicueta.

The 32-year-old is no spring chicken and questions have been asked about his ­future.
He was given a ­licence to bomb forward at any opportunity last night but was also caught out badly in that first half and lucky not to be punished for it.
By half-time there was a sense of frustration around ­Stamford Bridge.
Where was that killer instinct the Chelsea of old used to show under Mourinho?

It was not in evidence when ­Willian laid one on a plate for Ba but he took his eyes off it and shinned the ball high over the bar from eight yards.
‘The Special One’ turned and shrugged in response.
Hazard, who was outstanding all game, almost broke through with a lovely bit of skill, only to be stopped in his tracks by a ­superb last-ditch tackle from ­Lukas Szukala.