Chelsea 4 Blackpool 0

Last updated : 19 September 2010 By Paul Lagan

Didier Drogba was the star as Chelsea ran riot to demolish newly-promoted Blackpool at Stamford Bridge.

Drogba scored a goal and set up strikes for Malouda who notched up a couple while Salomon Kalou added to his score.

But it was the irresistible Drogba who could do no wrong as he powered past defenders at will,

This 4-0 win meant the home side had scored 54 goals in 13 successive league games as the Londoners stretched their lead at the top of the table to four points.

All the goals were scored in the first half while Chelsea went into cruise mode in the second.           

Salomon Kalou took just 80 seconds to put the league leaders in front.

The Ivory Coast hit man, in for rested Nicolas Anelka, tucked home a smart header from a Didier Drogba corner.

John Terry and Frank Lampard were both left out due to injuries.

The game was effectively over within, the half hour with two more goals.

Florent Malouda tucked home again on 12 minutes after Drogba set him up.

Drogba hit his fifth of the season after Ashley Cole passed to the striker whose shot took two deflections before nestling in n the bottom of the net.

Malouda decided to get in on the act again on when he hit number four.

This time the assist came from Kalou.

To their credit, Blackpool had two efforts in the first seven minutes of the second half, the best fell to DJ Campbell who had a shot kicked off the line.

Luke Varney forced a fine block by Branislav Ivanovic which went for a comer when going on target.

Cech produced a brilliant save by Gary Taylor-Fletcher 15 minutes into the second half as the visitor tried their best to dent the deficit.

Matthew Gilks in Blackpool’s goal foiled Drogba two minutes later as the Blues produced a fine counter-attack.

Malouda’s left-footed bicycle-kick forced Gilks into another excellent save on 65 minutes.

Brett Ormerod had a half chance but sent his effort way over Chelsea’s crossbar on 67 minutes.

Centre back Alex was replaced by Jeffrey Bruma with 19 minutes remaining.

Ramires was subbed two minutes later to be replaced by Yury Zhirkov and the final man to come on was Yossi Benayoun for Mikel with 15 minutes left.

With four minutes remaining Drogba failed to add to his tally when he shot high over Blackpool's crossbar.

 

Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Ferreira, Ivanovic, Alex (Bruma 71), Cole; Essien, Mikel (Benayoun 77), Ramires (Zhirkov 74); Kalou, Drogba, Malouda.
Unused subs Turnbull, Kakuta, Sturridge, Anelka.
Scorers Kalou 1, Malouda 11, 40, Drogba 30.
Booked Drogba 36.

Blackpool (4-1-4-1): Gilks; Eardley (Taylor-Fletcher h-t), Keinan, Evatt, Crainey; Bapiste; Grandin (Ormerod 60), Vaughan, Adam (c), Varney (Harewood 60); Campbell.
Unused subs Halstead, Southern, Cathcart, Carney.
Booked Eardley 37, Vaughan 53.

Referee Mark Clattenburg.
Attendance 41,761.