Everton are falling out of Champion League contention as Chelsea's victory over the Toffees sees them leapfrog Newcastle United into third place in the Premiership.
Four goals by the Londoners in this dour Stamford Bridge encounter saw Chelsea canter the match.
The opener from Eidur Gudjohnsen on 25 minutes, owed much to good fortune and poor playing surface.
A seemingly innocuous free-kick by Jimmy Hasselbaink into the Everton penalty area was missed by David Weir who slipped over and the Iceland international took full advantage by blasting the ball past the despairing dive of Richard Wright from ten yards out.
Three minutes into the second half, and it was Hasselbaink's turn to show his critics that he has not lost his goal scoring touch.
However Chelsea got another piece of good fortune. Jesper Gronkjaer's long run down the left saw the Dane's left-foot cross met by the Dutchman's head and saw the ball slap the top of his head and loop over the hapless Wright and rebound off his far upright into the back of the net.
"I totally mis-hit it," admitted Hasselbaink.
"If I had hit it properly, the keeper would have saved it. The ball just hit the middle of my head." It was then route one for the Londoner's next two goals as first Gronkjaer latched onto a John Terry free kick on the hour, controlled it with his left foot and slotted it coolly passed Wright with his right peg.
With 13 minutes remaining, Everton got a consolation goal when Lee Carsley's right footer from just inside the penalty area was too good for Blues keeper Carlo Cudicini.
But as ever this season, it was the mercurial Gianfranco Zola who had the fans chanting his name after the match.
Another long ball, this time from William Gallas, saw Zola ghost to the edge of the Everton penalty area. In one swift movement, he lifted the ball imperiously over the head of Wright into the far corner of the net.
It was the last kick of the match and one that saw Everton's Champion League shattered and Chelsea's enhanced.
David Moyes, Everton's young Manager agreed they deserved nothing: "No complaints we conceded poor goals. We did not give Chelsea any problems with any of their goals - our concentration was very poor.
"The run-in has been hard, but the squad has competed well especially with other so called 'big sides' who have spent a lot of money. We won't be in the Champions League next season, but a UEFA spot is still within our grasp." Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri is using the lure of the Champions League to keep Gianfranco Zola at Stamford Bridge next season.
"I won't put pressure on Gianfranco, but I need him next season with me in Europe," said Ranieri.
"I need him as an example for my younger players. Today he was unbelievable and his goal was fantastic - he had eyes at the back of his head.
"I don't want UEFA Cup football next season, I am thinking only of the Champions League."