Premier League: Chelsea v Blackpool full time report
Chelsea 4 Blackpool 0
Four first half goals ensured that Chelsea kept up their perfect start to the season at Stamford Bridge, as they went four points clear at the top of the Premier League table.
Salomon Kalou smashed the hosts in front from a corner as early as the second minute, before Florent Malouda converted Didier Drogba’s cross to make it two.
Drogba’s deflected shot and Malouda’s powerful finish made it four before the break, but the hosts were unable to add to their total in the second half.
Indeed, it was Blackpool who were on top for most of the second period, and Branislav Ivanovic was forced to clear a DJ Campbell shot off the line.
This had been expected to be one of the more one-sided matches in Premier League history, and after a lighting start for the hosts, it looked like it certainly would live up to its billing.
Only two minutes had been played when Ivanovic flicked on a Chelsea corner, and a completely unmarked Kalou was on hand to turn home from close range with his left foot. The floodgates were opened, and ten minutes later it was two.
The was a certain inevitability about what would happen when Drogba – captain for the day – broke free down the right, and his cutback was easily finished off by Malouda at the back post, and easy was certainly the word for Chelsea, who were making it look so simple.
Not that they were having it all their own way, and Alex Baptiste soon brought a world class save from Petr Cech with a powerful left footed effort from distance, but normal service was soon resumed.
The raiding Ashley Cole was a constant menace down the left hand side, and when he cut the ball back for Drogba, the giant Ivorian shot on the turn from the edge of the penalty area, and saw his effort deflect past a stranded Matt Gilks on its way into the net. It was 3-0 after half an hour, and the ruthless hosts looked like scoring every time they attacked.
They almost were, as Drogba released Kalou down the right, and he picked out French winger Malouda to smash into the bottom corner with his left foot. This was the fourth goal, in case you’re losing count.
Chelsea did attack and not score from time to time, as Drogba was denied by Gilks before Michael Essien headed a corner wide. Blackpool were happy to enter the safety of the changing rooms at half time.
To their credit, they emerged a much better side.
Campbell had an effort cleared off the line by Ivanovic, before Luke Varney volleyed wide from a tight angle and Campbell came close from a corner, only to be penalised for handball. Half time substitute Gary Taylor-Fletcher then saw Cech turn his shot over.
The ever-present Chelsea threat was still there though, and after Gilks raced out to deny Kalou, the Blackpool goalkeeper prevented Malouda from getting his hat-trick when he turned the Frenchman’s acrobatic shot over the bar.
Blackpool boss Ian Holloway had sent on Brett Ormerod and Marlon Harewood, and now had four forwards on the pitch as he chased a goal, and many Blackpool fans thought that Harewood had provided it when his close range shot slammed into the side netting.
The Tangerines have to be given credit for subduing their hosts in the second period, and the match petered out with Chelsea “only” having scored four.
Played five won five, the Blue machine rolls on.
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