This was, after all, meant to be a celebration of Gianfranco Zola’s enduring artistry as the veteran Italian made his 300th appearance for Chelsea, albeit as a half-time substitute.

However, even the frustrated Chelsea fans were forced to acknowledge that Brad Friedel and David Dunn had stolen the show as Blackburn secured a hard-earned victory.

Friedel’s superb reflexes, with a string of top-class saves, gave Blackburn the platform to seize the lead with five minutes left when substitute Dwight Yorke struck with a header.

That was from a corner taken by Dunn and the former England Under-21 international rounded off victory himself with a sweet strike in stoppage time.

Dunn may have earned a public warning from Graeme Souness earlier this season not to allow his lifestyle to interfere with his career, but he remains a richly-talented midfielder.

His goal ensured that not even Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s late free-kick could haul Chelsea back into contention and keep their Champions League push on track.

Indeed, on his return to the side, Dunn had been Blackburn’s main source of early inspiration down the right flank, with a low drive forcing Carlo Cudicini into a full-length save.

Chelsea, meanwhile, were again driven forward by Frank Lampard, who struggled to make an impact for England at Upton Park recently but has consistently impressed for his club.

It was Lampard who began the neat move that ended in Eidur Gudjohnsen being denied for the first time by Friedel.

Chances were otherwise few and far between, with Chelsea also forced to take off Graeme Le Saux after just 17 minutes with an apparent groin injury.

That brought on Celestine Babayaro and he soon faced a spell of Blackburn pressure, with Carlo Cudicini saving a far-post volley by Corrado Grabbi.

Babayaro also deflected a cross-shot by Andy Cole just past his own goal, while Craig Short headed narrowly wide from the ensuing corner.

Chelsea finally broke free from their midfield shackles and almost made the breakthrough just before the break, only for Hasselbaink to be denied by first Friedel and then Vratislav Gresko.

The game was crying out for the inspiration of Zola and Claudio Ranieri responded by introducing the Italian at half-time for Jesper Gronkjaer.

Zola was immediately involved in the thick of action as his through-ball gave Gudjohnsen a sight of goal from a tight angle but Friedel was equal to it, denying him with his legs.

The changes continued, with both managers attempting to find the missing spark, as Yorke, Keith Gillespie and Boudewijn Zenden were all introduced.

A magical back-flick by Zola did enthuse the crowd but not Ranieri, although both were equally frustrated when Hasselbaink narrowly failed to connect after Friedel had parried Babayaro’s drive.

The American keeper was also equal to a full-blooded drive from Lampard, while Hasselbaink this time skimmed the bar with his follow-up effort and then headed wide as the goal beckoned.

For all of Chelsea’s pressure, however, it was Blackburn who finished the strongest, as Egil Ostenstad came on for Cole, and the visitors finally made the breakthrough.

William Gallas headed narrowly past his own post to concede a corner but the threat had not vanished. For Dunn’s pinpoint delivery was met by Yorke, who had stolen ahead of Gallas to head past Cudicini.

Chelsea pushed for an equaliser, with Friedel denying Zola, but they were hit on the break when Dunn cut inside and beat the exposed figure of Cudicini.

There was still just time for Hasselbaink to strike an unstoppable free-kick past Friedel but referee Graham Poll blew the final whistle a few seconds later to confirm a victory that not even Zola’s magic managed to prevent.