Chelsea beat poor Leeds

Sam Dalla Bona wrapped up victory for Chelsea

Chelsea 2-0 Leeds United
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First-half goals by Eidur Gudjohnsen and Sam Dalla Bona ensured Chelsea won a one-sided encounter at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea played with a purpose and verve that belied the fact they have now played 17 games since the start of December.

  Key moments

2 mins: Gudjohnsen scores for Chelsea

31 mins: Dalla Bona doubles Chelsea's lead

87 mins: Stanic hits the post for Chelsea

Mario Stanic and Emmanuel Petit were excellent in midfield and Chelsea's defence restricted Leeds to few chances at goal.

Leeds - playing their first match in 10 days - failed to recover from conceding an early goal and never really found their rhythm on a heavy, muddy pitch

Gudjohnsen got the game off to a flying start with an excellent goal after 90 seconds.

The Icelandic international swept the ball into the top corner of Nigel Martyn's goal from the edge of the area, following a flowing build-up involving Mario Stanic and Emmanuel Petit.

We came here with plenty of confidence but the early goal knocked us back

Leeds assistant boss Eddie Gray

But Leeds manager David O'Leary - sporting a pair of black eyes after plastic surgery on his nose - was clearly distressed by the ease in which Stanic had skipped past three Leeds players before passing to Petit.

Leeds' problems might have increased after 17 minutes.

Jonathon Woodgate was booked for a tug on Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink on the edge of the Leeds penalty area.

But the defender could easily have been red carded if referee Steve Bennett had decided Woodgate was the last defender between Hasselbaink and goal.

O'Leary was recovering from surgery

Chelsea continued to press forward and deservedly doubled their lead after 31 minutes.

A long throw into the Leeds penalty area was chested by Hasselbaink into the path of Dalla Bona.

The Italian created a yard of space in a congested area and shot diagonally with his left foot, beating Martyn's despairing dive to his right.

Leeds were incensed that Dalla Bona had not been penalised for handball when he received the ball from Hasselbaink - and Jason Wilcox was booked for protesting.

It's a very important win for us tonight but Leeds are still in front of us

Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri

The visitors had created no openings of substance and their problems increased when Seth Johnson limped off after 37 minutes to be replaced by Robbie Keane.

Leeds enjoyed more possession in the opening phase of the second half but - lacking width - failed to cause Chelsea problems.

And Frank Lampard almost added a third for the Blues with a long-range shot that drifted just wide on the hour mark.

Gudjohnsen and Petit celebrate Chelsea's opening goal

Carlo Cudicini made his first save of the evening after 65 minutes, punching a long-range shot from Gary Kelly out for a corner.

But Leeds were unable to exert the sort of pressure that might have culminated in a comeback.

Substitute Harry Kewell forced a save from Cudicini after 85 minutes- but the nearest the game came to a third goal was when Stanic headed against the post with minutes remaining.

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Chelsea: Cudicini, Melchiot, Terry, Desailly, Le Saux, Stanic, Lampard, Petit, Dalla Bona, Hasselbaink, Gudjohnsen (Forssell 83).

Subs Not Used: de Goey, Jokanovic, Ferrer, Zola.

Booked: Stanic.

Leeds: Martyn, Kelly, Woodgate (Harte 45), Ferdinand, Matteo, Bowyer, Batty, Johnson (Keane 38), Wilcox, Viduka, Fowler (Kewell 64).

Subs Not Used: Robinson, Dacourt. Booked: Woodgate.

Att: 40,614

Ref: S Bennett (Kent).