England round-up: Honours even at Ewood

Blackburn Rovers FC still face an anxious bid to avoid relegation after failing to stretch their run of successive Ewood Park victories against a Chelsea FC side again struggling on their travels.

Champions League football
Graeme Souness's Blackburn should have made it four in a row at home, but were forced to settle for a draw which leaves them languishing in 17th in the FA Premiership, just three points above the drop zone. The point, though, was good enough for Chelsea to leapfrog Newcastle United FC back into fourth place. With that comes UEFA Champions League football next term, although Newcastle have two matches in hand.

Cuducini in form
Chelsea were indebted to goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini for ensuring they suffered nothing worse a draw in Lancashire. The Italian needed to be at his best as Blackburn played with confidence belying a team in their position. In an entertaining encounter, Cudicini was helped by his post early on as Andy Cole - returning from suspension - struck the outside of the woodwork, albeit from an acute angle.

Duff denied
But then Cudicini superbly blocked a powerful Damien Duff drive, while later in the half he was at full stretch in pushing away a 13-metre shot with the outside of his right boot from Lucas Neill. Duff was again denied by arguably the best save of the game early in the second half when the Republic of Ireland winger struck an angled screamer, only for Cudicini to somehow keep out a shot destined for the top right-hand corner. In the end, neither side will have been happy ending the game honours even.