Chelsea manager Avram Grant is prepared to wait until the last possible moment before deciding whether key duo Frank Lampard and Petr Cech will fly to Istanbul to prepare for Wednesday's Champions League showdown with Fenerbahce.
Lampard missed Sunday's 1-0 victory over Middlesbrough because of sickness, although he was able to watch the match at Stamford Bridge from the stands.
Goalkeeper Cech has been sidelined by an ankle injury picked up on Champions League duty in the previous round and his deputy Carlo Cudicini almost gifted Middlesbrough a goal with a mad rush from his line yesterday.
Grant said: "Lampard was very sick and he didn't even come to (the training ground at) Cobham. If he can be available, we will take him on the plane and we will see about Petr Cech at the same time."
Chelsea moved back into second place in the Premier League thanks to a rare goal from defender Ricardo Carvalho, who had not found the net for almost a year.
The Portugal international rose to head home Wayne Bridge's free-kick in the fifth minute but the home side almost went on to regret missing a number of chances as Boro revived after the break and hit the woodwork three times.
Cudicini was at fault for the first when he charged out but failed to get to the ball ahead of Afonso Alves.
The Italian was relieved to see the Boro substitute find a post from 35 yards rather than an empty net and that was also the case when the Brazilian, and then David Wheater, headed against the bar from close range in the space of a few seconds.
Chelsea defender Juliano Belletti was also fortunate to escape a strong penalty shout for use of an arm.
Boro boss Gareth Southgate said: "I can only compare it to one that was given against us at Villa about three weeks ago when our player wasn't even looking at the ball.
"It wasn't as if the ball was played from close range, it was a long while coming. It hit him and then rolled down his arm. We have seen them given - but not for us."
Grant conceded that Middlesbrough could have come away with a point.
He said: "They were unlucky but we also created some good chances from open play. We started very well and, maybe because of that, we thought it would be easy.
"We controlled the ball and controlled the game but by not making it 2-0 it became a good chance for the other team. But I think we deserved the win. At this stage of the season, it's about winning."
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