Blackburn 1-1 Chelsea: The Daily Mirror match report

Ewood Park will always have a special place in the hearts of Chelsea fans.

But last night the ground where Jose Mourinho’s team knew they would be crowned champions was transformed into the place where Carlo Ancelotti’s side appeared to be giving up the title ghost.

And as Ancelotti bemoaned his side’s loss of “composure”, “confidence” and togetherness, the Italian looked like a man who feels the tide is running inexorably and inevitably against him.

In 2005, John Terry led the frenzied celebrations of a backs against the wall victory that made Chelsea believe it was their destiny, as Petr Cech saved a penalty and the Blues shrugged off Arjen Robben’s fractured ankle.

The final whistle on that freezing February night saw the entire Chelsea side rip off their shirts to throw them into the travelling fans at the Darwen End, a moment that has never been forgotten.

Last night though, as Ancelotti’s side ran out of conviction as swiftly as they did ideas, despite Didier Drogba giving them the perfect start, the scene could not have been more different.

This time, rather than moving as a group, they walked in dribs and drabs to the same end, heads bowed, shoulders hunched, with Drogba the only one bare-chested as he tossed his shirt apologetically into the small knot of supporters, brought low by El Hadji Diouf’s leaping header.

That is the way the title world ends, not with a bang but a whimper, and the hollow men, still haunted by the Champions League exit at the hand of Mourinho’s Inter, were in Chelsea colours, washed out by the teeming rain.

They knew that this was a game they should have won at a canter, should have strolled away with, especially when Drogba stroked them in front after just six minutes.

Earlier in the season, they would have done that too, yet now there is nothing easy, nothing simple, nothing guaranteed. That is the ghoul haunting Ancelotti.

The goal was simplicity itself, as Martin Olsson’s inability to get back after an attacking thrust ensured Blackburn’s vulnerable left flank was even more exposed.

Frank Lampard spotted the danger, playing down the line to Anelka, who walked past the alleged challenge by Keith Andrews before rolling back for Drogba to steer home without breaking stride.

It was the big Ivorian’s 28th of the season, his best-ever 22nd Premier League strike and in truth there could and should have been more, as Chelsea, destroying Blackburn on Olsson’s side - the full-back left utterly exposed by Diouf - created a welter of half-chances but not delivering the final execution.

Drogba, a foot wide from distance, Salomon Kalou and Anelka all failed to hit the target.

Kalou was inches away from converting Lampard’s cross after a terrific advantage was played by Steve Bennett following Olsson’s mugging of Anelka, while Florent Malouda, otherwise subdued in midfield, slalomed through the statuesque home defence before drilling straight at Jason Brown.

Yet the nagging fear was there for every Chelsea fan.

There is a reason they have won just two of their last eight away games, that inability to put matches away, and once again the weakest link in Ancelotti’s side - between the ears of his players - took its toll.

Sam Allardyce knew his players - the outstanding debut-making Phil Jones at centre-half aside - had not shown in that first half, but demanded a pressure game that almost bore instant fruit.

Yuri Zhirkov, who had replaced knee victim Branislav Ivanovic before the break - the Serb is a real concern after a tangle with Diouf - bailed out Ross Turnbull when the keeper went absent without leave as Christopher Samba nodded Morten Gamst Pedersen’s long throw goalwards.

Lampard, turning and taking aim from 25 yards, was a whisker away from finding the top corner but suddenly a game that should have long been over was turning twitchy, especially once Allardyce sent on Jason Roberts as a physical force up front.

And 20 minutes from time, as Terry complained at a throw he rightly felt should have gone the other way, Chelsea were undone.

Nobody closed Michel Salgado down, allowing the Spaniard two touches before he delivered to the back post, where Diouf soared above Paulo Ferrerira to nod down and past Turnbull.

A devastating blow to a side still reeling from their European exit and and while Chelsea pressed, only once, as Drogba met substitute Deco’s near-post corner with an instant strike turned aside, did they even test Brown, stymied time and again by Jones and Samba.

It was not good enough. Ancelotti knew it, his players too. Fear stalks Chelsea. Fear of failure. It looks and feels fatal.