Blues outshine Derby

Hasselbaink and West both impressed for their sides

Derby 0-4 Chelsea

Chelsea have beaten Derby to claim only their second away win of the season with second-half strikes from Gianfranco Zola, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and two from Gustavo Poyet.

The result was extremely flattering for the visitors, as Derby were within touching distance of Chelsea until they were deflated by three very late goals.

The game was slow to come to life and with Adam Murray missing from four yards in the first half the result could have been very different.

  Derby v Chelsea action

17 min: Le Saux's shot well saved by Poom

27: Murray misses sitter from four yards

30: Zola's volley crashes against post

34: Wise receives first yellow card

55: Hasselbaink's shot is just over

62: Poyet's shot is dragged wide

64: Zola scores the opener

85: Gudjonsson hits the crossbar

85: Hasselbaink slots home

89: Poyet free-kick banged in

90: Poyet heads in fourth

But the goals from Zola and Hasselbaink were particularly well deserved as both worked tirelessly for the Chelsea cause.

The Blues continue to stutter towards a European spot and the Rams will still be looking over their shoulders for their relegation rivals.

A lacklustre opening

The first chance fell to Hasselbaink who proved a handful for Derby for much of the afternoon.

The lively Dutchman ran from the halfway line and after skipping over two challenges placed his shot just over the bar.

Graeme Le Saux livened up the proceedings, who after a pass from Eidur Gudjohnsen on the edge of the box, forced a fine stretched save from Mart Poom.

I would give away 10 of my goals just to keep up with Man United and Arsenal

  Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink

After an uninspiring opening, the crowd was awoken with a lively final 15 minutes in the first half.

And it was the home side who wasted a glorious opportunity to take the lead on the half hour.

Paul Boertien crossed from the left and with Malcolm Christie completely missing the ball, all it needed was Murray to place the ball in the back of the net.

It was not to be and the ball rolled agonisingly wide. How costly that would prove.

A delighted Zola celebrates the first goal

The apathy thankfully receded further and with Gudjohnsen crossing from the right, Zola was prowling 15 yards from goal.

The diminuitive Italian arched his back and cracked his volley against the upright.

With half-time approaching, Dennis Wise claimed the first booking after an unpleasant challenge on Darryl Powell.

Chelsea looked hungrier for the three points in the second period and Hasselbaink thundered another drive from 30 yards which flew just wide.

The stalemate was finally broken just after the hour.

Our only option is to try and get into Europe and we now have to fight

  Gustavo Poyet

Hasselbaink left Horatio Carbonari standing and whipped his cross in from the left.

The lurking Zola had time to pick his spot and calmly slotted the ball into the net.

Derby threatened briefly with the tricky Georgi Kinkladze brought on, but Poyet's introduction from the bench completely decimated all hope of a recovery.

A through pass gave Hasselbaink time to chip Mart Poom for the second goal and his 20th of the season with five minutes remaining.

And in the dying seconds, Poyet scored from a free-kick within the box, and added the fourth heading in from a Celestine Babayaro cross.

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Derby: Poom, Delap, Riggott, West, Carbonari, Boertien, Murray, Powell, Johnson, Christie, Burton. Subs: Kinkladze, Gudjonsson, Higginbotham, Mawene, Grant.

Chelsea: Cudicini, Melchiot, Desailly, Terry, Le Saux, Stanic, Dalla Bona, Wise, Hasselbaink, Zola, Gudjohnsen. Subs: de Goey, Babayaro, Poyet, Jokanovic, Gronkjaer.

Referee: S Lodge (Barnsley)