Source: Team_Talk
Blackpool rocked by four-star Blues
Chelsea rocked Blackpool with a dazzling first-half display as a 4-0 home win put them four points clear at the top of the Premier League.[LNB] The Blues destroyed Ian Holloway's side with four first-half goals - two from Florent Malouda and others from Salomon Kalou and Didier Drogba.[LNB]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.[LNB]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.[LNB]It was the Ivory Coast striker's fourth league goal of the season and Chelsea's 22nd in total so far this season.[LNB]Michael Essien almost made it two in the seventh minute but the midfielder's 20-yard shot was too high.[LNB]But Chelsea doubled their lead in the 12th minute when Kalou put Drogba clear of the Blackpool defence.[LNB]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.[LNB]Branislav Ivanovic almost made it three seconds later but his header from a Malouda corner fell just wide of the upright.[LNB]Chelsea goalkeeper 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.[LNB]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.[LNB]Chelsea were now in rampant form and only some poor decision-making from Cole prevented Blackpool from falling further behind.[LNB]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.[LNB]In the 38th minute another Chelsea attack almost brought yet another goal.[LNB]Paulo Ferreira headed the ball into space for Kalou to collect but his cross was smashed wide by Malouda.[LNB]Another simple Chelsea move sliced Blackpool open in the 41st minute to make it 4-0 to the champions.[LNB]Drogba's ball over the top to Kalou was inch-perfect and he crossed for Malouda to fire into the bottom corner.[LNB]Gilks then thwarted Drogba in the 44th minute as the Chelsea forward looked to make it five.[LNB]Blackpool almost reduced the arrears in the 49th minute when DJ Campbell rounded Petr Cech but Ivanovic cleared the ball off the goal-line.[LNB]Moments later Luke Varney squandered a chance for the visitors when he volleyed over from eight yards.[LNB]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.[LNB]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.[LNB]Seconds later Holloway removed Elliott Grandin and Varney and replaced them with Brett Ormerod and Marlon Harewood.[LNB]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.[LNB]Moments later a cross from Drogba was met by Malouda but the France international's far-post volley was tipped over by Gilks.[LNB]In the 66th minute, Malouda spurned another hat-trick chance by firing wide of the left-hand upright.[LNB]Essien sent a rising shot over the crossbar 10 minutes from time and Drogba did the same four minutes from time.
