FT Chelsea 5-0 Blackburn: Rampant Blues back on top of Premier League

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Published 19:39 24/10/09

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Chelsea went back to the top of the Barclays Premier League with a 5-0 demolition job on Blackburn at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues only led 1-0 at half-time thanks to a Gael Givet own goal after squandering a host of chances.

But four second half goals inside 15 minutes through a Frank Lampard brace, Didier Drogba and Michael Essien, handed Sam Allardyce his biggest defeat since he took charge at Ewood Park.

Chelsea dominated the opening 45 minutes and should have increased their lead but Frank Lampard, Nicolas Anelka and Joe Cole all squandered clear-cut chances, with Rovers goalkeeper Paul Robinson making a series of key saves.

Blackburn were restricted to the occasional counter-attack and failed to test Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech.

Manager Carlo Ancelotti had returned from tending his sick father to take charge of the Blues.

The Italian coach arrived back in England this morning having rushed home to Italy on Thursday after learning father Giuseppe, 86, had been taken ill.

Joe Cole should have opened the scoring for Chelsea within the opening minute but he somehow headed a cross from Frank Lampard wide of the target from six yards.

Chelsea captain Terry made an uncharacteristic mistake in the fifth minute when his wayward header fell to Morten Gamst Pedersen on the edge of the penalty area.

Thankfully for Terry, the ever-alert Ricardo Carvalho spared his blushes by covering superbly.

Lampard was inches away from giving Chelsea the lead in the 10th minute when his 20-yard shot just evaded the far post.

But Chelsea broke the deadlock in the 20th minute with a goal of classic simplicity.

A Blackburn attack broke down allowing Michael Ballack to collect the ball in midfield.

The Germany captain fed Nicolas Anelka on the left-flank with a superb low pass and when the France international crossed the ball into the six-yard box, it was turned past his own 'keeper by Givet.

Drogba was unlucky not to make it two in the 22nd minute but he could not keep his balance as he attempted to fire the ball into the net and it ended in the side netting.

Blackburn had to rely on counter-attacks and in the 25th minute they almost grabbed an equaliser but Pedersen's 20-yard effort flashed wide of Cech's right-hand post.

Chelsea's players were lining up to shoot now and Michael Essien tried his luck from 25 yards in the 29th minute but although the ball dipped violently in the air, it still fizzed over the crossbar.

Lampard headed wide another chance to increase Chelsea's lead moments later when Ballack's cross found him unmarked on the edge of the six-yard box.

In the 33rd minute, Rovers goalkeeper Paul Robinson came to his side's rescue when Lampard fed Anelka inside the penalty area as he blocked Anelka's shot hit him in the chest.

It was turning into shooting practice for Chelsea and Robinson did well to punch away a 35-yard blockbuster from Drogba. Five minutes before the break, Anelka turned and twisted before firing an 18-yard shot into the side-netting.

Pedersen was the first player into the referee's notebook on the stroke of half-time for a foul on Branislav Ivanovic. Seconds later Robinson pulled off a magnificent save to deny Lampard again.

Chelsea went further in front in the 48th minute through Lampard.

The England midfielder scored his first goal in open play in the top flight since last April when he finished off a fine move.

Essien sent Drogba racing into the penalty area and his cross from the goal-line was only half cleared by Lars Jacobsen, leaving Lampard to pick his spot from eight yards.

It was 3-0 in the 51st minute when Essien sent a 35-yard shot beyond the despairing Robinson.

Anelka then tried to repeat the feat in the 54th minute and his 20-yard shot was so fierce that Robinson had to save at the second attempt.

It was such a one-sided contest that the game was being played almost exclusively in the Blackburn half.

It got worse for Rovers in the 58th minute when Ryan Nelsen brought down Drogba inside the penalty area and Lampard converted the spot-kick with ease for his second of the game.

It was so easy for Chelsea who looked likely to score with every attack.

Had they taken all their chances in the opening half the scoreline may well have reached double figures.

Drogba underlined their superiority in the 63rd minute when he rose highest to head home a corner by Lampard to make it 5-0. It was the Ivory Coast international's eighth goal of the season.

In the 67th minute Chelsea replaced defender Ricardo Carvalho with youngster Jeffrey Bruma for his Premier League debut.

Daniel Sturridge was handed his home league debut when he replaced Joe Cole in the 76th minute.

Cole received a standing ovation for his superb performance and was given a bear-hug by coach Carlo Ancelotti.

Chelsea could have added a sixth late on but Anelka's shot was saved by Robinson at the second attempt.

Chelsea v Blackburn pictures and stats

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