Chelsea 8-0 Wigan

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Chelsea are the Premier League champions after destroying Wigan at Stamford Bridge.

Coming into the game with a one-point lead over defending title holders Manchester United, the Blues knew that only victory would guarantee them their first championship since 2006, and their first without José Mourinho at the helm.

And the final obstacle for Chelsea to overcome was the enigma of Wigan Athletic. Roberto Martinez' side have had an incredible season - whilst they have beaten Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal previously this campaign, they were hammered 5-0 by Manchester United and infamously thrashed 9-1 by Tottenham at White Hart Lane.

The goal for the hosts was simple enough - and the West London outfit did not disappoint.

A 2-0 half-time lead courtesy of Nicolas Anelka and Frank Lampard eased the nerves before a stupendous second half showing which saw Didier Drogba hit a stunning sixteen-minute hat-trick to seal the Premier League Golden Boot.

Anelka volleyed home a second in fine style after Salomon Kalou had found the back of the net after a brilliantly-worked team move and Ashley Cole completed the rout with his fourth goal of the season late on.

With the same team that had disposed of Liverpool at Anfield lining up on the hallowed Stamford Bridge turf, confidence and togetherness was evident as Chelsea raced into an early lead through Anelka's well-taken volley.

Drogba's free-kick was headed on by Michael Ballack after the wall had blocked the initial attempt, before Florent Malouda set up Anelka who fired beyond the experienced Mike Pollitt - a former United trainee.

If the early goal - coming after just six minutes - hadn't soothed any early nerves then Lampard's penalty half an hour later soon had the crowd bouncing.

Ashley Cole had been inches away from converting a cross from Anelka only moments earlier, before Lampard was hauled down inside the area by Gary Caldwell. A straight red card was shown to the ex-Celtic man, and Chelsea's vice-captain duly converted with admirable composure.

A show of petulance by Drogba soured the mood somewhat; the Ivorian complaining Lampard did not give the spot-kick opportunity to him. There would be no complaining from the newly-elected Player of the Year in the second half, and it was he who led the celebrations as Kalou further increased the margin of victory.

After Lampard had just hit the bar, Kalou played a super one-two with the England midfielder. One touch and strike later, Kalou had netted his 12th - and best - goal of the season.

With the title won and wrapped up in several layers of cotton wool, Ancelotti decided to bring on Joe Cole and Juliano Belletti, who would be making his final appearance in a Chelsea shirt. Kalou was one of the players taken off to a standing ovation.

Anelka then scored arguably the best of a good bunch of goals when he volleyed home Ivanovic's pinpoint cross. The Serb picked out his team-mate with unerring accuracy and the France star's effort was equally as brilliant.

Drogba's mood had notably changed by now and he was delighted just minutes later when he added Chelsea's fifth - incidentally their 100th league goal of the campaign. His initial overhead kick saved brilliantly by Pollitt, he headed home from Lampard's cross to overtake Wayne Rooney in the quest for the Golden Boot.

On 67 minutes Drogba had the chance of doubling the lead from the spot, and he rifled the ball in off the post. It was Ashley Cole who had won the penalty when tripped by Melchiot - Wigan were in danger of being the next team to face a seven-goal drubbing by the Blues.

Nemanja Matic came on for the hosts as Ancelotti looked to utilise the team's youth players, and the young Serb played a role in the seventh for the Blues which eventually saw Drogba stab home from Joe Cole's parried effort to complete a perfect hat-trick.

On 85 minutes Petr Cech underlined why he would be sharing the Golden Gloves with Pepe Reina when he made one of the saves of the season to deny Moses a goal from 40 yards; the Czech diving to his right to make a terrific save.

After a season of consistently hitting seven goals, what better than to score eight on the title-winning day? Ashley Cole was the scorer; a brilliant volley after magnificent persistence from his namesake Joe, who was enjoying an excellent cameo appearance.

All that was left was for John Terry to lift the Premier League trophy - and didn't he enjoy it!

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Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Ivanovic (Belletti 58), Alex, Terry ©, A Cole; Lampard, Ballack (Matic 69), Malouda; Kalou (J Cole 58), Drogba, Anelka

Wigan (3-5-2): Pollitt; Boyce, Caldwell, Gohouri; Melchiot ©, Diame (Scharner 71), McCarthy, Watson (Thomas 61), Figueroa; Rodallega (Moses 80), N'Zogbia

The TalkChelsea.net Man of the Match was Chelsea's number 11, DIDIER DROGBA

[NattyBlue 44]

This was the best game I've ever went to and one of the best days of my life!

And what a second half performance by the players in the second half, we really turned it on as we set out to win the league!

Wigan really came at us, to no avail ultimately but there were some worrying moments for us fans and players but the goals came at the right times!

[Ray. 217]

This was the best game I've ever went to and one of the best days of my life!

And what a second half performance by the players in the second half, we really turned it on as we set out to win the league!

Wigan really came at us, to no avail ultimately but there were some worrying moments for us fans and players but the goals came at the right times!

I totally agree with you, I just found the whole experience magical. I emailed the club to ask whether there would be a possibility of them releasing the match onto DVD and they said no, but it would be included in the end of Season DVD. Ffs, it's the final game of the season and surely the fact that we demolished Wigan with an 8-0 win is good enough reason to release it onto DVD.