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Last Updated: Saturday, 18 December, 2004, 16:50 GMT
Chelsea 4-0 Norwich
Chelsea's Damien Duff slots home the opener
Chelsea moved six points clear at the top of the Premiership after sinking lowly Norwich at Stamford Bridge.

The visitors began brightly but paid for a Thomas Helveg error when Damien Duff intercepted his pass to score.

Frank Lampard hit a screamer into the top corner from 25 yards to double the lead before Arjen Robben struck a volley after Tiago had set him up.

After the break Lampard forced a fine save from Robert Green before Didier Drogba powered home a late header.

With the two clubs 25 points apart in the Premiership before kick-off, you might have expected one-way traffic from the start and indeed most of the play did take place at one end.

But it was Norwich who began much the brighter, particularly David Bentley, who surged down the right and forced John Terry to bravely head away with Darren Huckerby lurking.

The Canaries were dominating possession, the visiting supporters even chanting 'ole's' as they sprayed the ball around the pitch with consummate ease.

But a schoolboy error soon put paid to their promising start, Helveg playing a blind pass 10 yards outside his own box and Duff taking advantage to curl the ball past Green and into the bottom corner.

To their credit, Norwich refused to buckle and continued to pass and move in a style that belied their lowly position.

But defensively they looked in trouble every time Chelsea moved forward and, after Lampard had seen a goalbound shot blocked, the England midfielder got himself on the scoresheet.

Another Norwich mistake proved their undoing, Gary Doherty passing straight to Robben, who fed Lampard to spectacularly lash home from 25 yards.

Two minutes before half-time it was all over, a truly sensational Chelsea goal securing the points to further deepen Nigel Worthington's gloom.

Robben played Lampard down the right, he chipped in to Tiago on the edge of the box and the Portuguese midfielder's sublime flick sat up for Robben to crack a sweet volley past Green from 18 yards.

It seemed harsh on Norwich after their spirited display, but Chelsea came out after the break keen to add to their tally and the Canaries had their backs against the wall.

Tiago blazed over from just inside the area and then Lampard hooked a left-foot volley over after Norwich had failed to clear a corner.

Chelsea were ploughing forward and Robben mis-kicked after a lovely Duff cross before Lampard badly screwed a shot wide from a fine Tiago through ball.

Jose Mourinho took the opportunity to rest some of his players, with Eidur Gudjohnsen, Tiago and Robben being replaced by Drogba, Scott Parker and Mateja Kezman.

The inspirational Lampard skipped past two defenders before seeing his left-foot drive tipped away by Green, but moments later it was 4-0, Duff's inswinging corner powerfully headed home by Drogba.


Chelsea: Cech, Paulo Ferreira, Terry, Gallas, Bridge, Lampard, Makelele, Tiago (Parker 76), Duff, Robben (Kezman 78), Gudjohnsen (Drogba 60).
Subs Not Used: Johnson, Cudicini.

Goals: Duff 10, Lampard 34, Robben 44, Drogba 83.

Norwich: Green, Edworthy, Fleming, Doherty, Charlton, Jonson, Helveg, Safri (McVeigh 70), Bentley, Huckerby, Svensson (McKenzie 8).
Subs Not Used: Drury, Ward, Shackell.

Att: 42,071.

Ref: M Dean (Wirral).




WATCH AND LISTEN
Interview: Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho


Interview: Norwich boss Nigel Worthington


Interview: Chelsea's Frank Lampard




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