A Chelsea player has ended a two-and-a-half month goal drought but it was not Fernando Torres, as Florent Malouda sealed an ugly 1-0 win over Wigan.
Malouda drove home through a crowd of players with 23 minutes remaining to ensure the stuttering Premier League champions moved back into third place, two points clear of Manchester City.
But Torres' misery continued, the Spaniard flopping again in front of goal after coming off the bench for the final half-hour against a Wigan side who remained rooted to the foot of the table.
Wigan seemed tailor-made for the £50m man to end his 12-hour goal drought, with Chelsea having scored 14 times in the sides' last two meetings.
Torres' substitute role appeared to indicate he would start Tuesday night's Champions League quarter-final second leg at Manchester United.
