Chelsea Resume Normal Service In Emphatic Fashion

Nicolas Anelka helped himself to a hat-trick as Chelsea got back to winning ways at Stamford Bridge with an easy 5-0 win over Sunderland.

It was a bitterly chilly afternoon in West London, but the football on offer warmed the hearts of those who had braved the cold.

Joe Cole recovered from an ankle injury picked up in midweek, and he was the fulcrum for much of Chelsea’s attacking threat.

Sunderland acquitted themselves well in the game’s opening stages, but nearly fell behind when Deco hit a shot onto the cross-bar from just outside the area.

However, Alex made the breakthrough moments later, tapping the ball in after Joe Cole’s shot was spilled by Fulop. It was the Brazilian’s first goal of the season and Chelsea’s 1,000th in the Premier League.

A second goal soon followed. Deco’s intelligent pass set Lampard away on the right side of the box, and his square pass was bundled in by Nicolas Anelka.

Anelka scored his second just before half-time. Joe Cole was involved, rolling the ball to Lampard, who in turn fed a lively Florent Malouda. The Frenchman then unselfishly played the ball across the area to his compatriot Anelka who had the simple task of tucking the ball home.

Sunderland’s misery continued into the second half as Chelsea added two more goals in quick succession. Joe Cole stood the ball up for Lampard to head in his 100th Premier League goal.

Anelka then completed his hat-trick with a shot that squirmed in, with Fulop unable to hold it.

The Blues began to sit back and play the ball around the park with ease, Sunderland having offered nothing going forward since the start of the game.

Joe Cole was replaced with half an hour to go, and the warm applause was well deserved for the winger, who had been a thorn in Roy Keane’s side all afternoon. The recently fit Didier Drogba was his replacement.

Scolari also gave Mineiro his Chelsea debut, and the Brazilian acquitted himself well.

Djibril Cisse did manage to run clear towards the end, but Cech managed to get out quickly and dealt with the danger.

Sunderland could have been on the end of an even bigger beating but with a trip to Roma on Tuesday, energy was being conserved for what should be a much tougher test.

After the traumatic events of last weekend, normal service has been resumed at Stamford Bridge once more.

Chelsea (4-1-4-1): Cech; Bosingwa, Alex, Terry (c), A Cole (Bridge 36); Mikel; J Cole (Drogba 62), Deco, Lampard, Malouda; Anelka (Mineiro 74).

Scorers Alex 26, Anelka 29, 45+1, 52, Lampard 50.

Sunderland (4-4-2): Fulop; Chimbonda, Nosworthy, Ferdinand, McCartney; Malbranque (Henderson h-t), Whitehead (c), Tainio, Richardson; Jones (Cissé 57), Waghorn (Diouf h-t).

Booked Tainio 38.