The Icelandic striker, who went into the match with only two goals to his name this season, doubled his tally with a superbly taken brace in the space of two first-half minutes then converted a 51st-minute penalty to ensure he went home with the match ball.

A late strike from Ireland winger Damien Duff completed a highly satisfactory performance that proved Mourinho's men are capable of displaying attacking flair to match their defensive virtues.

The win moved Chelsea back to within two points of Arsenal at the top of the Premiership table ahead of the champions' showdown with Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Mourinho claimed he would be watching that match with pleasure.

"Whatever the result it will have a positive side for us," the Portuguese manager said.

"If Manchester United win then it pushes us closer to Arsenal and if Arsenal win it keeps us further ahead of Manchester. A draw would mean both sides drop points."

For Blackburn, the defeat left them second from bottom and, on this evidence, Mark Hughes's side face a tough battle to get out of trouble.

"The goals against column doesn't lie -- it is quite obvious where our problems lie," the former Wales manager said.

Everton remain in third place after a 3-2 victory over winless Premiership newcomers Norwich at Carrow Road.

David Moyes's side allowed a two-goal lead to slip away when Leon McKenzie and Damien Francis cancelled out Kevin Kilbane and Marcus Bent's first half goals.

But former Scotland striker Duncan Ferguson came off the bench to head the winner and make it seven victories out of 10 for Everton so far this season.

It was also a good day for their Merseyside rivals Liverpool, who climbed to fifth place after a 2-0 home win over Charlton.

John Arne Riise's strike from the edge of the area, seven minutes after half-time, was followed up by Luis Garcia's 30-yard strike a quarter of an hour from the end.

Despite the win, Liverpool boss Rafael Benitiez found himself having to defend misfiring strikers Milan Baros and Djibril Cisse who again failed to find a breakthrough.

"They can play together," insisted Benitez.

Elsewhere, it was a day to remember for Crystal Palace, who leapt off the bottom of the table and right out of the relegation zone with a convincing 3-0 victory over fellow strugglers West Brom, whose manager Gary Megson branded his side's defending as "pathetic."

Andy Johnson took his tally for the season to seven with a 12th minute penalty and a stunning second half strike after Fitz Hall had given Palace an early lead.

Aston Villa won for the first time in six league matches with a 2-0 home win over Fulham that leaves the Londoners only one place above the relegation zone.

Peru international Nolberto Solana and midfielder Lee Hendrie scored the goals that moved Villa up to seventh.

"We scored two individual goals to break the deadlock and that was the difference," manager David O'Leary admitted.

Tottenham's early-season momentum slipped further as Jacques Santini's side slumped to a second successive defeat, at home to Bolton.

Substitute Henrik Pedersen notched the winner for Bolton after Spurs striker Robbie Keane had cancelled out Tunisian defender Radhi Jaidi's early header from a Gary Speed free-kick.