Summary Nobody said it was going to be easy. A much livelier Chelsea in the second half than the first took the game to the home side but with three penalty shouts turned down and two good saves by Stoke keeper Amir Begovic, the breakthrough proved elusive.

Neither side created a genuine chance in a first half of much huff and puff. Petr Cech was busy rather than tested. When the Blues took control of the game it was a challenge on Frank Lampard that most justified a penalty. John Mikel Obi was one of the players then denied by the keeper, followed by Anelka whose shot was pushed on to the bar. Fernando Torres plays his best game so far for Chelsea but for the second season running the Blues take just a point back from the Potteries.


Best moment The brief second when it looked like Mikel would finally score a league goal and negate a penalty shout just turned down. But his superb volley from 25 yards was matched by the save. A mention is deserved too for an Ashley Cole backheeled pass as he was being hauled to the ground.

Team news The starting 11 had just two changes from the one that began against Rangers eight days ago. One is enforced, Malouda in for suspended Sturridge. Bosingwa was preferred to Bosingwa at right-back. Torres starts, with Drogba on the bench and had to wait until late on to be introduced. The chosen shape was 4-3-3, switching to 4-diamond-2 after changes.

Stoke made one change from their Europa League qualifier. Rory Delap replaces Dean Whitehead in central midfield.

First half
The home side's most famous method of attack did not take long to arrive but the first Delap throw was repelled by a Cech punch after just a minute. The Chelsea keeper was then fouled as the first Stoke corner was played in. There was plenty of aerial defending for Chelsea to do early on.

On five minutes Ramires did well to force Huth to head behind for a Chelsea corner but Stoke also defended well. Torres beat two people on an enterprising run on the right-hand side before a Bosingwa cross-cum-shot forced Begovic to paddle the ball behind. As the corner was played Terry's way, the whistle went for a foul by Torres on the Stoke keeper.

If that decision was questionable, the one to book Stoke's combative skipper Shawcross wasn't. The defender had kicked Torres off his feet with the ball nowhere near.

Referee Halsey was less interested when Kalou went over in the box after 12 minutes when Ramires had foraged possession well. No penalty was given. Huth then headed a Delap throw over soon after. It was a bustling, committed opening to the game by both sides but it lacked quality.

The game started to heat up after 20 minutes. Both sides were losing possession in risky areas and the home fans voiced their ire when neither Cole nor Ramires were booked after fouls. Torres hit a good pass to Lampard to cross, but Shawcross got an important head to it.

Chelsea needed to settle more on the ball to create proper chances. On 31 minutes came the most positive play from the boys in blue yet. Torres was good on the ball to retain possession before Ramires surged into the area with menace. Unfortunately his final ball flew across the six yard box to no avail.

Alex had to jump well at the far post to clear a dangerous cross after Mikel had given the ball away dangerously on 36 minutes. The half ended with a twisting, turning run into the penalty area by Torres, but then a scuffed shot. It was an unmemorable opening 45 minutes to the campaign.


Second half
There was more than one controversial note to open the second 45 minutes. First Torres was seemingly tripped by Shawcross on the left edge of the Stoke area but Halsey waved play on. The Spaniard also went down much closer to goal as he and Woodgate tried to get on the end of a header. That was less of a case for a spot kick.

However on 54 minutes came the really big shout. Lampard surged into the box onto a loose ball and Wilson's leg intervened. It looked a penalty but again the ref didn't whistle. Chelsea continued the attack and there was Mikel hitting the sweetest of volleys, only to be denied that highly elusive goal by Begovic's acrobatic tip over.

The next shot on target was from Malouda, rifling powerfully into the midriff of the keeper. That was the winger's last touch. Anelka was introduced in his place with 25 minutes to go. Stoke lost both Etherington and Delap to injury midway through the half.

On 71 minutes Chelsea struck woodwork, Anelka chipping a shot high at the target and the keeper tipping it onto the bar at full-stretch, the rebound falling beyond Torres. Then Bosingwa picked out Kalou with a cross but the Ivorian's diving header was stopped low down by Begovic. That was a good chance.

Again the player involved was almost immediately subbed, Drogba introduced with 15 minutes to go. Chelsea went to 4-4-2 with Anelka playing behind Torres and the new arrival.

For most of the second half the Blues had looked the only side likely to win the match but Drogba struck a 30-yard free-kick too central and Begovic saved.

Frank Lampard became the first Chelsea booking of the season before the end when he threw the ball down.

Drogba tenacity won a free-kick in stoppage time but both he and Alex, with a follow-up shot, had their efforts blocked.

Chelsea are denied victory on opening weekend for the first time since 2001, against a Stoke side living up to their hard-to-beat reputation on their own patch.


- Match stats

Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Bosingwa, Alex, Terry (c), Cole; Ramires, Mikel, Lampard, Kalou (Drogba 75), Torres (Benayoun 88), Malouda (Anelka 65).
Unused subs Hilario, Ferreira, Ivanovic, McEachran.
Booked Lampard 88.

Stoke (4-4-2): Begovic; Huth, Shawcross, Woodgate, Wilson; Pennant, Whelan, Delap (Pugh 70), Etherington (Whitehead 62); Jones (Shotton 85), Walters.
Unused subs Sorensen, Collins, Diao, Wilkinson.
Booked Shawcross 9, Wilson 12.

Referee Mark Halsey
Crowd 27,412

- Match report by Chelseaf.com