Burnley 1 Chelsea 2

TEAR WE GO ... sex-scandal skipper John Terry sobs after hitting Chelsea's winner

TROUBLED John Terry put his demons to one side — scoring ON the pitch as Chelsea beat Burnley.

Tearful Terry nodded home the winner here — on the day his affair with the ex-girlfriend of pal Wayne Bridge was revealed.

Nicolas Anelka had given the Blues the lead before Steven Fletcher levelled matters.

But the script was written for Terry to extend his side's lead at the top of the table to four points.

Brian Laws had come into his home debut on a dreadful run of three straight defeats.

And his Turf Moor coronation nearly got off to a shocker when Chelsea carved out the game's first opening.

Joe Cole and Anelka lead a lightning Blues counter-attack — but Burnley were saved when new boy Leon Cort turned away the France star's cross.

Chelsea set up shop in Claret territory, with Frank Lampard then spooning a shot over the bar.

Anelka also scuffed a chance after Joe Cole had carved out an opening.

At the other end, Robbie Blake thumped a free-kick into the wall after Michael Ballack had fouled Chris Eagles.

Chelsea made the breakthrough in the 27th minute through Anelka's 12th goal of the season.

Joe Cole was at the end of a sweeping Blues move and delivered a cross to the back post.

Florent Malouda then chased what looked like a lost cause — but managed to steer the ball back for Anelka to polish things off.

At the other end, Andre Bikey then rattled a shot over the bar as Terry tried to close him down.

The Chelsea skipper was booked in the 35th minute for bundling over Blake as he tried to burst forward.

Carlo Ancelotti's men came tearing out of the traps in the second half with Malouda smacking a shot wide in the 47th minute.

But they were stunned three minutes later when Burnley grabbed a leveller.

Fletcher got the better of Alex after Blake's ball in and deftly flicked home.

The Blues hit back and Joe Cole found the net in the 56th minute — but his joy was short-lived with the goal chalked off for offside.

Lampard and Alex both had shots as the Londoners went on the hunt for a winner.

And Terry, who had been a doubt for this game after his affair was outed, duly obliged by heading home from a corner in the 82nd minute.

Burnley: Jensen, Mears, Cort, Carlisle, Kalvenes (Edgar 35), Elliott, Bikey, McDonald (Paterson 60), Eagles, Blake (Thompson 72), Fletcher. Subs Not Used: Weaver, Duff, Gudjonsson, Nimani N'galou. Booked: Bikey.

Goals: Fletcher 50.

Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Alex, Terry, Ashley Cole (Deco 76), Ballack, Zhirkov, Lampard, Joe Cole (Sturridge 72), Malouda, Anelka. Subs Not Used: Turnbull, Carvalho, Paulo Ferreira, Matic, Borini.

Booked: Terry.

Goals: Anelka 27, Terry 82.

Att: 21,131

Ref: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire).

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