Source: Telegraph
Chelsea 8 Wigan Athletic 0: match report
Chelsea cruised to the Premier League title, easily sweeping aside 10-man Wigan Athletic, with the only moment of drama being provided by Didier Drogba, who went on to score a hat-trick to become the league's top-scorer, with an extraordinary act of petulance. [LNB]Following an absence of three seasons the title returned to Stamford Bridge, Chelsea prevailing by a single point over Manchester United, with two first-half goals setting them on the way to the victory they required, before a deluge in the second period. [LNB] Related ArticlesChelsea's four title-winning yearsDebate: are Chelsea a truly great team?Chelsea hit eight to win Premier LeaguePremier League tableTelegraph player raterSport on televisionIt was the first time this season that Chelsea had scored eight goals at home having on three previous occasions registered seven goals. Those goals also took Chelsea's tally in the league this season to 103, the first time any team has registered a century, and beating the previous best haul which had been set by United. It was a resounding endorsement of their attacking football this season and an emphatic claim to be Champions. [LNB]However Drogba argued with Frank Lampard over who should take a penalty, after the latter was fouled, earning Steve Caldwell a red card. Drogba had said he wanted to finish the league's top-scorer, and is second in line to take penalties after Lampard, but manager Carlo Ancelotti had made it clear that his regular taker would retain the duties. [LNB]However Drogba reacted embarrassingly, trudging back to the half-way line and refusing to join the celebrations as Lampard scored and later ignoring Ancelotti's demands for him to get on with the game. Before that and Nicolas Anelka had smashed a low shot beyond stand-in goalkeeper Mike Pollitt, after Florent Malouda had headed the ball into his path. [LNB]That settled Chelsea nerves and after the interval they destroyed Wigan with further goals. Lampard and Kalou combined with the former running outside the striker to cut the ball back. Kalou side-footed beyong Pollitt. Then [LNB]Branislav Ivanovic crossed deep for Anelka, unmarked, to strike a wonderful, crisp volley back across the goalkeeper and into the net. [LNB]Drogba got his goal, being picked out by Lampard with a cross which he headed, from the angle, across Pollitt. When Chelsea were awarded a second penalty, after Ashley Cole was caught by Mario Melchiot, Lampard deferred to Drogba whose shot struck a post but ricocheted into the net. It ensured Drogba would finish the campaign ahead of Wayne Rooney, earning him the league's Golden Boot, and he ran to Ancelotti to shake his hand. He wrapped up his hat-trick with his 29th league goal in bundling the ball over the line after Joe Cole's shot had been parried. [LNB]There was no consolation for Wigan with Petr Cech superbly tipped over Victor Moses's drive from distance. Instead Joe Cole showed tenacity to shake off Hendry Thomas and clip a deep cross which Ashley Cole met on the volley to finish the scoring and end the contest and the league campaign with a flourish. [LNB]
