Chelsea sealed their first league and cup double with a 1-0 win in the FA Cup Final against Portsmouth, at Wembley Stadium.

After hitting the woodwork five (yes, five!) times in the first half, Chelsea looked like they would pay when Portsmouth were awarded a penalty, but Petr Cech’s penalty save closely followed by Didier Drogba’s free kick, saw Chelsea close out a deserved victory.

Chelsea were unchanged from the side that thrashed Wigan Athletic 8-0, meaning that Branislav Ivanovic and John Terry were both passed fit. Portsmouth lost Hassan Yebda on match morning, so he was replaced by Papa Bouba Diop, whilst Hayden Mullins took the place of the injured Marc Wilson. Jamie O’Hara was also fit to start.

Portsmouth had been given early warning by Frank Lampard who fired wide from the edge of the box, before the frame of the goal was rattled for the first time by the Chelsea number 8, whose thirty yard effort swerved into the far upright.

Nicolas Anelka forced a save from David James, before Cech made one of the saves of the season, reacting like lightning to turn away Frederic Piquionne’s touch from three yards out. It was an unbelievably good save.

Salomon Kalou hit the bar from five yards after being set up by Ashley Cole before Terry’s towering header also came back off the bar from a Florent Malouda free kick. There was still time for Drogba to hit the bar twice, once with a swerving 35 yard free kick that took a touch from James and landed on the line, and the next with a poke under the body of the Pompey keeper, after Aaron Mokoena and Steve Finnan made a hash of clearing.

Juliano Belletti replaced the injured Michael Ballack late on in the first half, but gave away a penalty early in the second. Kevin-Prince Boateng stepped up and went low down the middle, but Cech, having committed to his right, reacted quickly enough to save with his feet. It was turning into a vintage cup final performance from the man in yellow.

Within two minutes, the Blues were finally in front. Drogba took charge of the free kick, whipping it around the wall and past James, via the post. At last, the woodwork was kind to Chelsea! The King of Wembley had struck again.

Lampard won a penalty of his own in the dying moments, but uncharacteristically dragged it wide. Daniel Sturridge, so impressive in the cup campaign, made an appearance in injury time, as Chelsea closed out the win.

Drogba’s goal was his 37th of the season and his third in cup finals at Wembley, whilst Cech became just the third keeper to save a penalty in the showpiece event.

Make mine a Double!

In just a few hours Chelsea have the chance to write their names into an elite group of clubs who’ve won the ‘double’ in England.

Avram Grant’s Portsmouth team, relegated from the Premier League this season, and riddled with all manor of financial problems, stand in our way.

With Chelsea coming off the back of a record 8-0 thrashing of Wigan last week, confidence will surely be at a premium, and that could be our downfall if we’re not 100% focused on the match, and nothing is assumed.

Porstmouth are currently a very wounded animal, will have many players looking to fashion an exit from the club, who may play above themselves in rising to the big occasion.

Chelsea should have enough to take Portsmouth comfortably, but for that to happen, Malouda, Lampard, Drogba and Anelka will need to get about the Pompey back line quickly, harrying them in possession and and not leaving them any time on the ball.

An early goal for Chelsea should settle this, however as the game goes on Portsmouth will gain confidence and so will their support.

If Chelsea kill this early, we could be on for a win of Wigan proportions, if not, then I expect a nervous 2-0 with a late goal being decisive.

Ladbrokes have Chelsea at 1/5 for the win, with the draw at 11/2, whilst Pompey are at lengthy odds of 12/1 to take the trophy back to the south coast.

Chelsea moved to within a point of Manchester United at the top of table after an impressive 5-0 drubbing of bottom of the table Portsmouth.

Daniel Sturridge came in and replaced the out of form Nicolas Anelka in the side, which also included Petr Cech for the first time since the defeat in Italy, as well as Ricardo Carvalho who’d also been out through injury.

Deco was handed his first start since early February while Paulo Ferreira came in for the injured Branislav Ivanovic.

The first half wasn’t much to write home about, other than when David ‘Calamity’ James lived up to his name for the first goal, air kicking a ball to allow Didier Drogba to tap into an empty net, which saw the score quite tight at 1-0 as the lads came in for half time.

The second half was a much better story with Florent Malouda scoring a brace, Drogba grabbing his second and Lampard wrapping it up with a late header to end the match 5-0 with some lovely football played.

Lampard and Drogba played very well, and the team itself looked more comfortable than they did at Blackburn. Malouda was excellent and has really taken off this season.

There were some controversial moments, not least a couple of elbows which although accidental, managed to cause a few broken bones, thankfully the ref saw sense and only brandished the yellow card, despite Pompey supporters baying for a red.

There was also a debut for Patrick Van Aanholt, who came on and did well, almost creating a goal for Drogba, who sadly sliced over.

All in all not a bad day at the office, but it was Pompey and we have got much tougher tests ahead.

Chelsea travel Fratton Park, where former manager Avram Grant is in charge of the debt ridden, relegation threatened Portsmouth.

The FA has docked the South Coast club nine points for going into administration, leaving them with virtually no chance of staying in the Premier League beyond this season.

John Terry will match Chopper Harris’ benchmark of 324 appearances as Chelsea captain, having first led Chelsea out on December 5, 2001 against Charlton Athletic, after initially taking the armband four days prior at Old Trafford after the substitution of Graeme Le Saux.

Branislav Ivanovic will be out for a month with a knee injury, meaning Paulo Ferreira has suddenly become first choice right back. Petr Cech should return in place of Ross Turnbull in goal.

Portsmouth will be without Arune Dindane and Anthony Vanden Borre. However, Frederic Piquionne will be a threat, as will Nwanko Kanu, should he play.

The reverse fixture required a Frank Lampard penalty to get Chelsea all three points after Nicolas Anelka and Piquionne had scored in the first and second halves respectively.

At Fratton Park last season, Paul Hart and Guus Hiddink were the managers as Chelsea won 1-0, a goal in the 78th minute from Didier Drogba enough to defeat the South Coast side.

Ladbrokes has Portsmouth at long odds of 9/1, with the draw paying a teasing 9/2. The bookmakers still have faith in Chelsea though, posting them at 2/7 for victory.