JOSÉ MOURINHO may have failed his own maths test, but it would be impossible to argue with his logic. The Chelsea manager had demanded an improved attitude from his players and they responded with a performance of outstanding professionalism, securing the win that takes them through to the knockout stages of the Champions League.

The match was over as a contest after 15 minutes thanks largely to Hernán Crespo, who kissed and made up with his manager by scoring the first goal and creating the second for Ricardo Carvalho. Such was the sense of lethargy among the away team’s fans that they amused themselves, if no one else, by singing about supposed slums in Liverpool, whose visit to Stamford Bridge next month will decide who finishes top of group G. Mourinho also appeared relaxed, even giving Gérémi a rare runout, before defending his mathematics.

"First of all I’m very good on maths because I thought three points would be enough and it was," Mourinho said. "The performance was very good in the first half. The attacking was very good and the intensity was there. We played very, very well and controlled the game."

Crespo was crucial to Chelsea establishing such control, making his first Champions League start under Mourinho and the first since scoring two goals in last season’s final for AC Milan. Mourinho has gone out of his way to make the fragile Crespo feel at home after a bust-up before Chelsea’s defeat away to Real Betis and made a big statement by overlooking his beloved Didier Drogba, the sledgehammer he uses to crack nuts. A knee injury to the Ivory Coast forward also influenced his decision.

"I choose Hernán because first of all I feel Didier is a target player and Hernán is a movement player," Mourinho said. "I always pick the team depending on what we need in each game. Hernán gave us what we needed and I also need to motivate players.

"Hernán performed very well for us and I always felt he was settled. He has great quality. I always wanted two players for every position and am happy with them. I’m getting what I want from both of them."

Crespo appeared determined to make the most of his opportunity from the outset, demonstrating surprising machismo for one usually so meek. Mourinho’s message — perspiration beats inspiration every time — may have got through. In the seventh minute he reached a through-pass from Joe Cole he had no right to get to, beating Hannu Tihinen to the ball and showing strength to hold off the Anderlecht captain, but his shot was saved by Silvio Proto.

In an entertaining opening Anderlecht threatened themselves a minute later, Mbo Mpenza shooting across goal after a cross from the right by Christian Wilhelmsson with Petr Cech nowhere, but that was the end of their evening.

Chelsea are a class apart when they counter-attack and 30 seconds on they scored when Crespo showed wonderful balance to direct a Frank Lampard cross into the net with a crisp volley from 12 yards, for his fifth goal in seven starts this season.

Having lost their previous 11 Champions League games and fought among themselves during a defeat by Westerlo at the weekend, Anderlecht’s heads understandably dropped and seven minutes later were between their knees. Crespo was again their tormentor, heading a Lampard corner across goal from the right for Carvalho to provide a neat finish. They may share a fondness for lank locks but their goalscoring records could not be more different, with the Portuguese celebrating his third goal for the club.

Despite their contribution to an open contest the home side were greeted with jeers at half-time. Many of their players, fatigued by weeks of failure, may not have wanted to return for the second half but they showed commendable character in coming back for more. They had chances too, Mpenza stealing the ball in the 47th minute from Carvalho, perhaps dreaming of further attacking glory, only to be ruled offside.

Carvalho’s dreams almost came to fruition four minutes later after a rare foray forward but his cross was cut out by Tihinen, while Lampard hit the post late on.

For the most part, though, Chelsea were happy to keep the ball, contentedly killing a game well and truly under control. The most interesting aspect of the second half was the introduction of Lassana Diarra, who was given the final half-hour. The 20-year-old Frenchman was signed as a long-term replacement for Claude Makelele, but on his second Chelsea appearance operated ahead of Michael Essien on the right of midfield, keeping the ball well without demonstrating any real quality. Tougher tests await for both the player and his club.

ANDERLECHT (4-3-2-1): S Proto — M Zewlakow, V Kompany, H Tihinen, O Deschacht — A Vanden Borre, Y Vanderhaege (sub: O Iachtchouk, 46min), B Goor — C Wilhelmsson, A Serhat (sub: F Ehret, 74) — M Mpenza (sub: P Zetterberg, 59). Substitutes not used: D Zitka, R Juhasz, M De Man, D Mitu. Booked: Vanden Borre.

CHELSEA (4-3-3): P Cech — W Gallas, R Carvalho, J Terry, A Del Horno — M Essien, F Lampard, E Gudjohnsen (sub: Gérémi, 78) — J Cole (sub: L Diarra, 63), H Crespo (sub: C Cole, 86), D Duff. Substitutes not used: C Cudicini, D Drogba, P Ferreira, R Huth. Booked: Del Horno, Terry.

Referee: S Farina (Italy).

INS AND OUTS

Qualified for knockout stages: Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Juventus, Lyons, Ajax, Bayern Munich

Cannot qualify: Rapid Vienna, FC Bruges, Rosenborg, Olympiacos, Panathinaikos, Sparta Prague, FC Thun, Anderlecht, Real Betis, Fenerbahçe