Chelsea rip Hammers apart

Hasselbaink too hot to handle for West Ham

Chelsea 5-1 West Ham
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Two goals apiece for Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Eidur Gudjohnsen, plus a fifth by Mikael Forssell sealed an emphatic victory for Chelsea over West Ham.

Claudio Ranieri's side once again showed that they are a match for any team on their day with a polished display against their London rivals.

It was important to get three points - and we all did that together, working very hard

Chelsea's Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink

And Hasselbaink proved that record-breaking striker Ruud van Nistelrooy is not the only Dutchman to be feared in the Premiership.

The Chelsea forward was in impressive form and, but for a superb save by David James midway through the first half, could have had a hat-trick.

Gudjohnsen also produced finishing of the highest order to match his strike partner - the pair have now scored 35 times between them this season - both goals coming after deft footwork from the Icelandic international.

Chelsea defender John Terry also deserves praise for his lofted, defence-splitting pass that set up Gudjohnsen for his first goal.

Any thoughts West Ham entertained of staging a dramatic comeback were dashed when captain Paolo di Canio was sent off for kicking out at Jody Morris.

  Key incidents

21 mins: Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink's blistering free-kick tipped onto bar by David James

46 mins: Hasselbaink fires home Chelsea's opener

51 mins: Eidur Gudjohnsen finishes clinically for Chelsea's second

60 mins: Hasselbaink strikes again

70 mins: Paolo di Canio is sent off

87 mins: Gudjohnsen adds Chelsea's fourth

88 mins: Jermain Defoe pulls one back for West Ham

90 mins: Mikael Forssell seals an emphatic victory

West Ham's prodigiously talented striker Jermain Defoe scored a consolation goal two minutes from the end after coming on off the bench.

But West Ham's miserable afternoon at a rain-sodden Stamford Bridge was compounded by another substitute, Forssell, who immediately restored the four-goal advantage.

The blustery conditions made for a, at times, disjointed opening period.

Chelsea started brightly and put West Ham under some good early pressure.

James was kept busy, with Gianfranco Zola unleashing a wicked shot which the keeper did well to hold.

Gudjohnsen on target twice

Hasselbaink gave a signal of his intent in the 21st minute.

The Chelsea striker fired a blockbuster free-kick which James superbly tipped on to the crossbar and out of play.

From the resulting corner Mario Stanic headed home, but was adjudged to have fouled Nigel Winterburn in the build-up and his goal was ruled out.

Don Hutchison was another to feel the full force of Hasselbaink, whose momentum after striking another shot carried him through onto the Scottish international's chest.

West Ham were fortunate not to be punished by the inspirational Zola 10 minutes before the break.

A mistake by Tomas Repka allowed the diminutive Italian to bear down on the West Ham goal, but James did well to stand his ground and smother the shot.

However, James stood no chance of saving Hasselbaink's first goal on the stroke of half-time despite making a good initial block to deny Gudjohnsen.

It's the first time I've let five goals in in my career - but it could have been more

West Ham's David James

Glenn Roeder's side posed little in the way of any real attacking threat.

That was due mainly to the excellent William Gallas in the Chelsea defence and the tireless running of Emmanuel Petit and former Hammers man Frank Lampard in midfield.

And once Di Canio was shown the red card, it was game over.

Chelsea treated the Stamford Bridge to some showcase football, with Zola, Hasselbaink and Gudjohnsen a joy to watch.

In fact the only thing missing from the game was a goal from Zola, who was later given a standing ovation, as was Hasselbaink, by the home fans.

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Chelsea: Cudicini, Desailly, Terry, Gallas, Melchiot, Stanic, Lampard, Petit (Morris 62), Zola (Zenden 74), Hasselbaink (Forssell 79), Gudjohnsen.
Subs Not Used: de Goey, Keenan.
Booked: Stanic, Zola, Morris.

West Ham: James, Repka, Winterburn, Dailly, Schemmel, Cole, Carrick, Hutchison, Sinclair (Courtois 64), Kanoute (Defoe 79), Di Canio.
Subs Not Used: Andersson, Foxe, Kitson.
Sent Off: Di Canio (70).
Booked: Sinclair.

Att: 40,035

Ref: A D'Urso (Billericay).