Florent Malouda inspired Chelsea to three vital points as they defeated West Ham United 4-1 at Stamford Bridge to return to the top of the league.

The French wideman set up goals for Alex and Didier Drogba before scoring the third goal himself.

Drogba hit his second goal of the afternoon in stoppage time while the visitors' goal came from a Scott Parker blaster which briefly brought the east Londoners back into the game.

Drogba had a fine chance on 11 minutes, beating the Hammers back four but failing to control the ball and shooting aimlessly wide.

West Ham, with Carlton Cole on the bench, seemed to have come to defend and counter-attack and, on 13 minutes, had just chance to open the scoring.

An error by Paulo Ferreira let in Mido who passed to Araujo Ilan but he skied the ball over Ross Turnbull's crossbar.

Chelsea responded within seconds and an unmarked Alex powered a header from eight yards past a hapless Robert Green to put the west Londoners 1-0 up.

Drogba then pressurised Matthew Upson who clipped his own crossbar seconds later. The Ivory Coast international again had another good chance on 28 minutes but headed Frank Lampard's cross wide.

West Ham's second chance on goal resulted in a screamer from ex-Blue Parker who let fly from 20 yards and the ball sailed high past Turnbull - giving the former Middlesbrough goalkeeper no chance.

He received the ball direct from a Kieron Dyer throw-in which looked like a foul one.

Chelsea responded well with fine one-touch football. On 36 minutes, Green was forced to make a good save from a low Lampard drive.

Again, good approach play from Chelsea saw another chance - this time Ferreira had a header from close range that flew straight to Green.

Chelsea restored their lead on 56 minutes and it was from an excellent build-up. Drogba fed the ball to John Terry who passed it out wide to Malouda. The Frenchman put in an inch-perfect cross to the incoming Drogba who nodded home from three yards.

Green was forced to make another fine save when he parried away an Alex header 60 seconds later.

Joe Cole entered the fray on 66 minutes and a minute later West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola brought on Carlton Cole and Junior Stanislas for Mido and Dyer.

Chelsea's dominance of the game was affirmed on 77 minutes when Malouda took the ball to the edge of the West Ham area and slotted home a deft left-footer past Green's despairing dive.

Lampard almost made it four but his six-yard effort from Malouda's pass clipped off the West Ham upright with four minutes remaining.

Drogba sealed the emphatic victory on 90 minutes with his own tap-in after Green had failed to hold Lampard's drive.