"I had Paolo in the wings and I said to him yesterday that if we were level or behind he would get at least half an hour," Brooking said after the game.
"He got very emotional in the dressing room afterwards and the lads wound him up by saying it had to be him who scored, but it has been a good day and we march on for another week.
"There was never any doubt for me when I came into this role that if Paolo was fit and had no recurrence of his gastric trouble then he would be involved. He has got that guile and awareness and if there was going to be a chance in the six-yard box then I am happy it fell to him.
"The way he finished was special. He just lifted the ball deliberately a bit over Carlo Cudicini who had spread his body well, he didn't snatch at it. Paolo will get the headlines but everyone did their bit and it was a team effort."
CHELSEA MATCH REPORT