Match Report: Chelsea 4 - 0 Blackpool

Chelsea moved four points clear at the top of the Barclays Premier League with a comfortable victory over new boys Blackpool at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea destroyed Ian Holloway's side with four first-half goals - two from Florent Malouda and others from Salomon Kalou and Didier Drogba.

Blackpool improved in the second half and Branislav Ivanovic had to clear off the line from DJ Campbell while substitute Gary Taylor-Fletcher brought a fine save from Petr Cech.

It took just two minutes for Chelsea to take the lead when Drogba's corner was flicked on by Branislav Ivanovic and Kalou supplied the finish at the far post.

It was the Ivory Coast striker's fourth league goal of the season and Chelsea's 22nd in total so far this season.

Michael Essien almost made it two in the seventh minute but the midfielder's 20-yard shot was too high.

But Chelsea doubled their lead in the 12th minute when Kalou put Drogba clear of the Blackpool defence.

Instead of having a shot himself, Kalou's international team-mate chose to cross superbly for the unmarked Malouda to fire home his fifth goal of the season.

Branislav Ivanovic almost made it three seconds later but his header from a Malouda corner fell just wide of the upright.

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech was forced into his first save of the game in the 16th minute when he tipped a shot from Alex Baptiste around the post.

Chelsea made it 3-0 on the half-hour when Ashley Cole fed Drogba and the Ivory Coast striker's shot on the turn was deflected past Matthew Gilks. It was Drogba's fifth of the season.

Chelsea were now in rampant form and only some poor decision-making from Cole prevented Blackpool from falling further behind.

The England left-back should have made it four to the home side seconds after Drogba's goal but his cross-shot went wide of the far post.

In the 38th minute another Chelsea attack almost brought yet another goal.

Paulo Ferreira headed the ball into space for Kalou to collect but his cross was smashed wide by Malouda.

Another simple Chelsea move sliced Blackpool open in the 41st minute to make it 4-0 to the champions.

Drogba's ball over the top to Kalou was inch-perfect and he crossed for Malouda to fire into the bottom corner.

Gilks then thwarted Drogba in the 44th minute as the Chelsea forward looked to make it five.

Blackpool almost reduced the arrears in the 49th minute when DJ Campbell rounded Petr Cech but Ivanovic cleared the ball off the goal-line.

Moments later Luke Varney squandered a chance for the visitors when he volleyed over from eight yards.

Chelsea had lost the initiative and a 20-yard shot from Varney was deflected just over the bar as the visitors, for once, enjoyed the upper hand.

On the hour, substitute Gary Taylor-Fletcher brought a fine save from Cech with a curling shot which was going in until the Czech Republic international tipped it over the bar.

Seconds later Holloway removed Elliott Grandin and Varney and replaced them with Brett Ormerod and Marlon Harewood.

But Chelsea squandered a chance to go five in front in the 63rd minute when Drogba put Kalou in the clear but a poor touch allowed Gilks to save his eventual shot.

Moments later a cross from Drogba was met by Malouda but the France international's far-post volley was tipped over by Gilks.

In the 66th minute, Malouda spurned another hat-trick chance by firing wide of the left-hand upright.

Essien sent a rising shot over the crossbar 10 minutes from time and Drogba did the same four minutes from time.

Didier Drogba Wanted More Goals Against Blackpool

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has praised his side after a 4-0 rout of Blackpool maintained the Blues' perfect start to the season.

Despite creating a host of chances in the second half, all the goals were scored in a first-half blitz thanks to strikes from Salomon Kalou, Drogba and a Florent Malouda brace, but Drogba believes more goals could have been scored.

"It's fantastic you know I think we have improved and we try and score the most goals we can and we scored four in the first half and I think in the second we had seven chances," Drogba told Sky Sports after the game.

"I think it was a little bit of a lack of concentration [to not score more], poor position on the last pass, so this is something we have to think about even though we had a great result today."

With both captain John Terry and vice-captain Frank Lampard missing through injury, the armband was given to Drogba for the match and the Ivorian claims it was an honour to be captain whilst hoping his team-mates can get back to fitness quickly.

"It's fantastic you know, I've been here for six years. But it's always better to have them [Terry and Lampard] out on the pitch. I want them to come back quickly but it was an honour and pleasure for me to be captain today," he concluded.

Juventus & Chelsea Set To Lose Race For Sevilla Winger Jesus Navas

Juventus and Chelsea could be out of the race to sign Sevilla winger Jesus Navas, as Arsenal are reportedly in pole position for the 24-year-old.

The Bianconeri were interested in Navas to fill the right-wing position, as the side believes it requires further strength.

Los Nervionenses have put a €25 million price-tag on the talented player, and the Gunners seem to be the most interested in the winger.

Itasportpress.it also claim that the Gunners and Navas have agreed to terms verbally, but more discussions will be required to finalize an official deal.

Sevilla are currently in second place in the league, on seven points from their three matches.

Chelsea Plan £9m Summer Move For German ‘Lampard'

Whilst it would be hard to imagine why Chelsea would need any new faces at Stamford Bridge given their stupendous start to the new season it does seem that Carlo Ancelotti continues to plan for the future and a move for 20 year old German international Toni Kroos would helpfully act as a useful successor to Frank Lampard’s berth in the side in years to come.

Even though there may be a tendency to think of the Bayern Munich man as a new ‘Ballack’ he is far more like Lampard in his style of play. He is acting, direct and has an eye for goal, unfortunately he appears to have little hope of breaking into the Allianz Arena picture any time soon.

Kroos had a great season last term on loan at Bayer Leverkusen but was reticent about making such a move a permanent one, the £9m rated youngster would no doubt jump at a move to the Premier League champions.

Carlo Ancelotti Anticipates 'Fantastic' Match Between Chelsea And Manchester City

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti is expecting a "fantastic" match between his side and Manchester City next week.

Roberto Mancini's side beat Wigan Athletic 2-0 at the DW Stadium on Sunday afternoon, as Chelsea were extending their 100 per cent record this season, beating Blackpool 4-0.

City got the better of Chelsea in their last outing at Stamford Bridge in a 4-2 defeat for the hosts, but Ancelotti is keen to carry on his side's unbeaten run.

"I think that next week we have important games," he told BBC Sport. "We have started very well, we wanted to do this, we are happy for this moment and we want to continue.

"Obviously Man City will be a fantastic match, we have to pay attention but we want to do our best."

Nicolas Anelka and John Terry were both rested at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, but Ancelotti is expecting them both to be fit for this coming Saturday.

He said: "I think that we have a very good squad. At this moment I wanted to give a rest to Anelka, Terry had a little problem last night and we wanted to play [him], so he rested and we hope he will be fit next week."

Ancelotti also indicated he would rest a host of first team regulars for the League Cup meeting with Newcastle United in midweek.

He continued: I want to give thew chance to the younger players. We have fantastic younger players and I want to give them the opportunity to show this quality, but it will be a strong team.

Frank Lampard also sat out Sunday's victory over Blackpool and Ancelotti hinted he will not be involved against Newcastle.

He said: For Wednesday, I don't know. We hope he will be fit for Man City.

Ancelotti Urges Fringe Stars To Shine

Carlo Ancelotti is ready to utilize the depth in his Chelsea squad after they went four points clear at the top of the Barclays Premier League with a 4-0 drubbing of Blackpool at Stamford Bridge.

The Italian will use the Carling Cup to blood his youngsters before welcoming back England men John Terry and Frank Lampard against Manchester City at the weekend.

Two goals from Florent Malouda and other strikes from Salomon Kalou and Didier Drogba put paid to Blackpool in a sensational opening half yesterday.

But Chelsea is entering a period where they play two games per week and Ancelotti is ready to use all his resources.

"We will need to use all of our players," said Ancelotti. "The squad is so strong that we can change players to offer something different to the team or change the shape if we want to.

"We want to show, during this season, that we can adapt to any game - this can be our strength."

But victories over West Brom, Wigan, Stoke, West Ham and Blackpool have hardly stretched Chelsea and Ancelotti accepts their biggest test so far will come against City in the Premier League at Eastlands on Saturday.

"It is important to have confidence in our play - we have that," said Ancelotti.

"We know the next game in the league will be more difficult.

"It is an important test for us next week but it is also an important test for them. We have not played against the top teams but we are playing well. It is necessary for us to do it against the top teams."

Ancelotti confirmed that Terry and Lampard should be fit after injuries to face City but he also revealed their Carling Cup team against Newcastle on Wednesday will predominantly be filled with youngsters.

"Frank is training, he is not 100% yet," said Ancelotti. "He will be able to play against Manchester City. Terry had a problem with his ribs and was not able to play, but he should be okay in two or three days.

"We will change a lot of players for the Carling Cup because we want to use this competition for our younger players."

Reaction: Confident For Big Test Ahead

Enjoyment at the sheer spectacle of the first half against Blackpool and understanding that his team couldn't extend the 4-0 lead in the second half were the primary emotions expressed by Carlo Ancelotti after the latest win.

The visitors from the north-west coast were cut apart on numerous occasions on their return to Stamford Bridge after 14 years, and Chelsea had Salomon Kalou and Didier Drogba goals and another Florent Malouda brace to show for it, but chances weren't taken second half and Blackpool had moments of their own, some spurned, some saved by Petr Cech.

Ancelotti admitted his team did take their foot off the accelerator that has been pressed firmly to the floor for much of the season.

'Blackpool had a good reaction after the first half, they made some chances to score and also we didn't play so well,' the manager said.

'After 4-0 up it was difficult to maintain concentration and stay in focus in the game, we had a lot of opportunities to score but it was not fantastic play like the first half.

'The first half was very good for us, it was a pleasure to watch my team playing like we played first half.

'But I am not angry about the second half because I know very well there are a lot of games in this period and maybe the players are looking to these next games. Maybe they lose a little bit of concentration during the game.'

Ancelotti also looked ahead to after the win that kept the team four points clear. He spoke about the midweek cup match against Newcastle and next weekend's visit to Manchester City. Some are saying it is only in that game that everyone will see if Chelsea are very good this season; pointing to a perceived easy set of fixtures so far.

'It could be that it is an easy start,' said Ancelotti. 'We didn't play against the top teams but we played very welland this is the most important thing. Now it is important to maintain the same level of play against the top teams but I think that we are able to do this.

'It is important to have confidence in our play and now we have confidence and we know very well that the next game will be more difficult. It is an important test to show the same level of play away against a fantastic team like Manchester City.'

Blackpool manager Ian Holloway was fulsome in his praise of the performance that beat his side, describing Chelsea as 'light years ahead'.

'We have seen some teams underestimate us but the champions certainly didn't,' he said.

'Some of the movement they showed I hadn't seen before and that caused our players problems.

'I have seen in the flesh now how good Drogba and Essien are. I have seen some football in my life and the way Chelsea played is an absolute credit to Mr. Ancelotti and their players. Some of their moving and passing and running is phenomenal.

'The tactics I tried to adopt didn't work,' he admitted, 'but we looked much better when in the second half we played the way we normally play, which is with four strikers, and we did cause them some problems.

'I expected it to be closer but we drew the second half and at half-time, I certainly didn't think we would do that.'

Ancelotti reported that he expects Frank Lampard to be fit in time for the Man City game and John Terry, who was missing against Blackpool due to a rib injury, will be 100 per cent in two to three days.

He also reiterated his intention to make plenty of changes for Wednesday's Carling Cup game.

'I am confident I will put out a very good team because we have young players who are ready to play for us,' he explained.

Playing With Pleasure

If it looked like the players were enjoying themselves on Sunday afternoon, it is because they were.

A first-half display of attacking football to rival anything else in the world saw us race into a 4-0 half-time lead against Barclays Premier League newcomers, with a goal apiece for Salomon Kalou and Didier Drogba and a pair for man of the match Florent Malouda, who explained afterwards just what a good time the lads were having.

'It was a real pleasure for us players on the pitch, and for the fans it was too. We really enjoyed it and we'll have to do it again,' said the Frenchman. 'We work hard every day in training, we have our system and shape, we have our philosophy and when you get results at the weekend it's a real pleasure.'

Captain for the day Drogba admitted we should have had more in the second half.

'We try to score the most goals we can in the game. We scored four in the first half and in the second we had so many chances, but I think it is a lack of concentration or bad decisions in the last pass. It is something we have to think about but the result was great today,' said the Ivorian, who was delighted to be asked to wear the armband in the absence of both John Terry and Frank Lampard.

'It's fantastic, I've been here for six years, this is my seventh,' the 32-year-old smiled. 'It is always better to have them on board and on the pitch, and I want them to come back quick even if it was an honour and a pleasure to be captain today.'

Malouda was also pleased to keep a clean sheet, which he believes was more important to adding to the score in the second half following on from games against West Ham and Zilina, where we conceded late consolation strikes.

'Most important was to keep the clean sheet because we couldn't do it against Zilina in the Champions League, it was important for us because we are confident up front and it is good for the defence to keep a clean sheet, so there was no disappointment in the second half,' he explained.

Next up in the league is a trip to Manchester City, which according to many will be our first big test of the new season. The players though are not so sure.

'We just want to win the league, we are not focused on Manchester City, we have to play all the teams,' Malouda responded. 'People are thinking about Man City because they don't give us credit for what we have done until now.

'We have to stay focused as we did last year, and can achieve great performances against big teams. We have a lot of games to come and we play to win every game.

'The season will be long and you don't win in September. We have to carry on and keep our focus, because we know there will be great expectation from our fans. You have to be on top at the end of May, and we're fully aware of that.'