Source: Telegraph
Chelsea 4 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0: match report
For most teams, losing the spine of your side through injuries to four international superstars might cause a problem or two. [LNB]But Chelsea overcame the loss of Didier Drogba, Deco, Frank Lampard and Michael Ballack to rack up a comfortable win over Wolverhampton Wanderers, increasing their lead at the top of the Premiership and setting a new club record of 12 successive home victories. [LNB] Related ArticlesBirmingham City 1 Fulham 0Burnley 1 Aston Villa 1Hull City 3 West Ham 3Liverpool 2 Manchester City 2Sunderland 1 Arsenal 0Premier League actionThey also equalled an 82-year-old record for the most successive clean sheets - 10 - at Stamford Bridge. [LNB]The game was effectively over as a contest with barely a quarter of the allotted time gone. Malouda opened the scoring in the fifth minute, although the move that led to his goal originated in a last-ditch clearance by the Chelsea defence. [LNB]Matt Jarvis, the Wolves forward, found plenty of space down the right and measured a low cross into the centre of goal where David Edwards was sliding in but unable to make contact. [LNB]Instead the ball was cleared upfield, Jody Craddock's poor clearance fell to Malouda, and the Frenchman advanced unchecked as the Wolves defenders stood off, allowing him to rifle in a shot with his left foot from 30 yards that flew past Wayne Hennessey. [LNB]Michael Essien made it 2-0 after 12 minutes, rising unmarked at the near post to head home Malouda's corner, and then scored again in the 21st minute. [LNB]The Ghanaian midfielder started a flowing move that involved Ashley Cole and Malouda before Essien drove a shot from the edge of the penalty area through a crowd of players. [LNB]Hennessey got a hand to the ball but could not do enough to stop it, and it was a similar story when Joe Cole increased Chelsea's lead 10 minutes into the second half. [LNB]Nicolas Anelka, taking the main striker's role in the absence of Drogba, sent in a low cross from the left, Salomon Kalou laid the ball back and Cole hit a low shot from the edge of the penalty area, with Hennessey again getting a hand to the ball but failing to prevent it crossing the line. [LNB]Minutes later Carlo Ancelotti chose to introduce the first - and most significant - of three young substitutes, Gael Kakuta, the French teenager whose transfer from Lens led to Fifa banning Chelsea from transfer activity, a punishment currently suspended. [LNB]Kakuta showed with his first few touches exactly why he was coveted by Chelsea, as the Blues rained more efforts on Hennessey's goal. [LNB]Essien, striving for his hat-trick, had a dipping volley from 30 yards tipped on to the bar by Hennessey and then hit the sidenetting from long distance, Kakuta shot just wide and Kalou wasted a good chance when he beat the offside trap but shot high over the bar. [LNB]In the end it was exhibition stuff from Chelsea, while Wolves were on a damage limitation exercise, and when the news came through that second-placed Arsenal were losing at Sunderland, there was a loud cheer from the home fans. [LNB]Heady days indeed. [LNB]
