Chelsea Batter Black Cats

[James 5,143]

Ashley Cole increased the lead with a stunning finish, and Frank Lampard volleyed home a fourth to give the Blues a comfortable half-time lead.

Former Chelsea winger Bolo Zenden reduced the arrears after Michael Ballack had added a fifth for Chelsea, but further goals from Anelka and Lampard gave the hosts an incredible 7-1 lead, with Darren Bent’s late strike a mere consolation for the stunned Sunderland supporters.

Though Manchester United won against Burnley at Old Trafford, Chelsea’s lead at the top is retained, and with a game in hand over Sir Alex Ferguson’s side, the Blues’ title credentials were underlined with a fine attacking performance.

There were doubts pre-match about Chelsea’s ability to cope without star striker Didier Drogba, influential midfielder Michael Essien and also Salomon Kalou and John Mikel Obi – all on international duty in Angola – but those doubts were silenced with just eight minutes on the clock as Anelka rounded Martin Fulop and gave the Blues the lead with a composed finish.

The Blues could have scored twice by the time the Frenchman – back from a hamstring injury – had converted; Ashley Cole and Joe Cole had fluffed good early chances. However a similar mistake was not to be made by Florent Malouda, whose superb run from deep and cultured finish underlined the host’s superiority early on.

Cole then scored arguably one of the best goals of the season as he collected a pass from John Terry inside the area. Cutting inside his marker, he held off the challenge of Steed Malbranque to exquisitely chip Fulop for his fourth goal of the season.

On 34 minutes Lampard scored his customary strike against the Black Cats with a close-range volley from a low cross by the energetic Cole from the left. There were opportunities for Ballack, Joe Cole and Anelka to increase the lead, but bar a poorly-struck Belletti effort, Fulop’s miseries were spared until the half-time whistle.

Sunderland had barely had a sniff, though Darren Bent and Daryl Murphy forced good saves out of Petr Cech after good work by Kenwyne Jones on both occasions.

However Chelsea were not to be stopped, and Sunderland’s woes were added to when Ballack stole a march on his marker to power home a close range header for his first goal since September.

Sunderland’s Hungarian goalkeeper was powerless to stop the Chelsea number 13 from scoring his fourth of the season, but had earlier pulled off a sensational save to deny Anelka; tipping his powerful effort on to the bar and then the post as he denied Chelsea momentarily.

There was a moment for celebration for the travelling supporters as Zenden rifled home in terrific fashion from the edge of the area, but their reprieve was short-lived as Anelka made it six after Fulop had failed to clear Zhirkov’s cross.

Fulop denied Anelka a hat-trick from six yards out and Joe Cole hit the post with a header to give the away goal some respite, but there was no surprise when Lampard calmly nodded home his second of the match to give Chelsea their seventh.

Bent’s injury time consolation took some of the gloss off of a classy performance, but Chelsea’s 350th Premier League victory highlights the fact that the Blues are certainly back to their attacking best.

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Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Carvalho, Terry © (Alex 46), A Cole (Zhirkov 46); Ballack, Belletti, Lampard; J Cole, Malouda; Anelka</p> Sunderland: Fulop,  Bardsley, Cana ©, Da Silva, McCartney; Malbranque, (Zenden 46) Henderson, Meyler, Murphy (Campbell 72); Jones, Bent

The TalkChelsea.net Man of the Match was Chelsea’s number 39 – Nicolas Anelka

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