Chelsea 4-1 West Ham

[BlueLion. 21,491]

West Ham's relegation fears were underlined after a 4-1 demolition by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea were dominant throughout and took a deserved early lead through Alex's first goal for nearly nine months. Ex-Blues midfielder Scott Parker equalised with a 25-yard belter in front of watching England manager Fabio Capello, but it was Frenchman Florent Malouda who stole the show with a match-winning performance.

In addition to setting up Alex's opener, Malouda provided the cross for Didier Drogba to make it 2-1 and Malouda himself fired home from the edge of the area to confirm the victory. Drogba poached a second in stoppage time as he continues his quest for the Golden Boot, as Chelsea returned to the top of the table in stunning fashion.

The omens are good for Chelsea - the last time they won the Premier League title they beat West Ham by an identical scoreline, and the confidence seems to have returned to Carlo Ancelotti's side after a terrible end to February with back-to-back defeats.

But stand-in keeper Ross Tunrbull was rarely tested on his Premier League debut as the Blues demonstrated the same defensive resilience they had shown earlier in the season. And Malouda's strike was the club's 100th in all competitions this season - showing Chelsea's new-found dedication to attack.

However in spite of all Chelsea's early possession, it was the visiting side that formed the best chance, and only a wayward finish from six yards out by Brazilian forward Ilan stopped Gianfraco Zola's side from going ahead.

Paulo Ferreira was beaten at the by-line by Mido who squared the ball for his strike partner, who lashed the ball feet over the crossbar. It was a miss that Chelsea would punish almost instantly - Malouda volleyed wide before winning a corner off Johnathon Spector.

The initial delivery was cleared as far as John Terry, who returned the ball to the Blues winger. Malouda had time to pick out the run of Alex, who met the ball with a fierce header to beat the despairing dive of Robert Green to hand Chelsea the lead.

Drogba scores... again...

West Ham were under mounting pressure and Chelsea came close to extending their lead but Malouda's cross was deflected on to the bar by Matthew Upson before Parker could hack the ball to safety.

The Hammers were soon on level terms thanks to Parker's excellent goal - his first of the season. Dyer's throw-in was flicked on by a stretching John Mikel Obi, and Parker took one touch before hammering home beyond the helpless Turnbull. That was as good as West Ham were to get, as the goal seemed to galvanise the hosts.

Frank Lampard stung the palms of Green with a fierce drive moments before half-time, and shortly after the interval it took some intelligent play from the England goalkeeper to deny Drogba as he raced out to meet the Ivorian.

But Drogba was not be denied, and he soon made it 2-1 - but the goal owed much to Chelsea skipper John Terry. The defender surged forward before laying the ball off to Drogba on the edge of the area. Drogba fed Malouda before racing into the area where he met the Frenchman's cross with aplomb for his 26th goal of the season.

Green then pulled off an excellent save to deny Alex before Terry poked the rebound wide of the target. Malouda then turned his marker on the edge of the area before firing into the bottom corner for his ninth of the campaign, and it was a deserved goal from the Frenchman.

Malouda then supplied a delightful flick to Lampard, who hit the base of the post with an instinctive effort from close range, before the rebound was blocked by a covering defender with Drogba looking to pounce. Malouda - enjoying one of his best spells in a Chelsea shirt - was then substituted to a standing ovation as Ancelotti looked to rest his troops before their crunch tie with Inter Milan.

And it was a tale of two saves in stoppage time - the first was from Green, who could only push the ball into Drogba's path from a Lampard effort, allowing the striker his second of the game, before Turnbull made a confidence-aiding save at his near post to ensure the scoreline reflected the events of the game.

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Chelsea (4-3-2-1): Turnbull, Ivanovic (Zhirkov), Alex, Terry ©, Ferreira; Ballack, Mikel, Lampard; Anelka (J Cole), Malouda (Kalou); Drogba

West Ham (4-3-3): Green; Spector, Gabbidon, Upson ©, Deprela; Kovac, Parker, Behrami; Ilan (Diamanti), Mido (C. Cole), Dyer (Stanislas)

The TalkChelsea.net Man of the Match was Chelsea's number 15 - FLORENT MALOUDA