LONDON (AFP) - Chelsea's resurgence under Avram Grant gathered pace as they cruised to a 2-0 win over Schalke 04 in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Grant's side were gifted the lead when Schalke goalkeeper Manuel Neuer let Florent Malouda's shot trickle through his legs before Didier Drogba scored with a second half header at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea are now on a four-match winning run and stretched their unbeaten streak under Grant to six matches. Perhaps suggestions that Jose Mourinho's departure would cause Chelsea to lose their way were premature.

They are back on track to qualify for the knockout stages of Europe's elite club competition and there were even glimpses of the crowd-pleasing football that Roman Abramovich has demanded.

Grant has promised Chelsea will turn on the style after three years of spectacularly effective but often uninspiring football under Mourinho.

While this was hardly the stuff of greatness, it was enough of a contrast to Chelsea's last Group B home match - the dour draw with Rosenborg that signalled Mourinho's departure - to please Abramovich.

The Russian couldn't ask for much more on his 41st birthday and Grant dedicated the win to his boss.

"I haven't seen him yet but if we can bring him a present for his birthday that is good," Grant said. "He did so much for the club, so much for the fans and for football.

"He is a very positive guy. I don't want to speak more about him except to say Happy Birthday."

The Israeli believes Chelsea are gradually playing the kind of attacking football he wants.

"We can play better but on the other hand we played good, positive football," he said.

"We scored two goals and could have scored more. We won and are in first place. I can't ask for more at this moment."

Schalke coach Mirko Slomka felt Drogba's goal killed off his side.

He said: "The goals came at bad moments and that affected our motivation. The second goal was a bitter blow but there may have been a question of it being offside.

"We were unfortunate to hit the post but overall Chelsea were able to cope with everything we offered."

The German club's preparations were hit by Kevin Kuranyi's late withdrawal through injury and Slomka's side still hadn't recovered from the loss of their star striker when they fell behind in the fourth minute.

Chelsea could hardly believe their luck at receiving such a present.

When Drogba flicked Frank Lampard's long pass to Malouda there was no real danger. The France winger tricked his way past Rafinha but his weak shot should still have been simple enough for Neuer.

Instead the Schalke keeper made a complete hash of it and allowed the ball to squirm through his legs into the net.

It was Malouda's first goal since the opening day of the season and he will seldom score so easily.

Chelsea were able to stay in cruise control for long periods, with one prolonged spell of keep-ball frustrated Jermaine Jones so much that the Schalke midfielder earned a booking for scything down Wayne Bridge.

When Michael Essien headed wide from Lampard's corner, it seemed only a case of when Chelsea would score again, but Schalke should have snatched an equaliser moments later.

In the 28th minute, Carlos Grossmuller beat Petr Cech from close range, only to see a linesman's flag rule out his effort.

Television replays suggested Schalke were unlucky not to be level.

That sudden threat re-energised Chelsea and Drogba forced a good save from Neuer with a glancing header from Malouda's cross.

Joe Cole tested Neuer again with a powerful low drive just before half-time as Chelsea raised the tempo.

Drogba claims he wants to leave because Mourinho's departure has affected morale, but you would never know it from his performances.

He had lifted Chelsea out of their post-Mourinho blues with the winner in Valencia and struck again at Middlesbrough on Saturday.

Drogba started and finished the move that led to Chelsea's second goal in the 47th minute.

His pass to Lampard was spread wide to Paulo Ferreira, who whipped in an inviting cross that Drogba dived to head past Neuer from close range.

Schalke's unstinting work-rate was all well and good but they lacked a cutting edge.

When they finally did carve open the Chelsea defence their luck was out.

Rafinha's cross was crying out to be met with a convincing header. Soren Larsen did just that, but held his head in disbelief as the ball cannoned off the post and into Cech's grateful grasp.

Alex was fortunate to escape a red card in the final minutes when he cynically pulled back Larsen as the Schalke striker chased his weak backpass, but Chelsea had done enough.