Sunday Times
Chelsea score a magnificent seven
Chelsea 7 Sunderland 2
Brian Glanville at Stamford Bridge
Brian Glanville at Stamford Bridge
AS STEVE BRUCE, Sunderland’s rueful manager, forlornly admitted: “You can’t come to Chelsea without eight first-team players and hope to avoid disaster.” Though Sunderland might be said, with some irony, to have had the last word, or at least the last goal, knocked home almost at the climax of stoppage time by Darren Bent, overall they looked sadly invertebrate.
Bruce admitted that every time Chelsea attacked, they seemed likely to score. As Chelsea’s Italian manager, Carlo Ancelotti, emphasised — it was done without the team’s four African players, including Didier Drogba and the motor of the midfield, Michael Essien, both of whom are in Angola for the Africa Cup of Nations.
Many years ago, when asked why he did not recruit talent from below the Sahara, Ken Bates, then owner of Chelsea, said it was because African players were so frequently absent at international tournaments. So they were again, in a competition which takes place every two years rather than four — the habit of the World Cup and the European Championship. But yesterday you couldn’t see the difference.
Drogba, under the aegis of Ancelotti, has at long last formed a productive partnership with Nicolas Anelka. Yesterday, in his absence, Anelka played alone up front and was simply irrepressible. He scored a couple of goals and could have had several more, notably after four minutes of the second half when a ferocious right-footer from distance was pushed gallantly on to the woodwork by Marton Fulop, Sunderland’s besieged but defiant goalkeeper.
It was Anelka after eight minutes of the first half, set up by Juliano Belletti and Michael Ballack, who unlocked the floodgates, coolly dribbling wide of Fulop and guiding the ball into the open net. Anelka’s other goal came when Fulop, rushing out to oppose the second-half substitute Yury Zhirkov, could only push the ball to Anelka, who found the unguarded goal. In fairness to Fulop, he might have been distracted by the attempt of Daryl Murphy to intercept the ball.
“I think, maybe, the best performance of the season,” said Ancelotti. “We did very well. Started very well in the first minute. I’m very happy. It was important for us because we were without the African players. We could have had some problems, but the others played very well.” Not surprisingly, he praised Anelka: “Nicolas did very well today. He is a fantastic striker, the top striker.”
Fantastic, indeed, was the 17th-minute goal by the French attacker Florent Malouda, a glorious solo effort not from the left wing — his familiar habitat — but from a central position, in which he left Sunderland’s defence bemused and finished by scoring with his right foot, rather than his more familiar left The ears of Ashley Cole were burning, too. Cole, who had to come off at the break with an ankle injury, inflicted consistent damage down Sunderland’s right flank and scored a goal which his manager described as a “fantastic moment”.
That goal, Chelsea’s third, came midway through the first half when Ashley Cole, seemingly with little hope of making his way through a packed defence, skilfully twisted his way from the left past stopper Lorik Cana — playing out of position in midfield — and went on to beat the unfortunate Fulop. Then, it was a low cross on 34 minutes by Ashley Cole which gave Frank Lampard such an easy goal. Where, you wondered at that moment, was Sunderland’s central defence?
Ancelotti had praise, too, for Joe Cole, but for those of us who have watched this player since the days when he inspired West Ham United’s youth team, this wasn’t quite the Cole we have long admired.
This may have had something to do with his slightly indeterminate position, notionally on the right but frequently moving into the middle of midfield where, despite all his England caps on the flanks, he is surely at his best and most creative. Sometimes he tended to give the ball away too easily but there were sufficient clever touches and neat passes to make one hope that he will be given more time in the middle, where England still lack a genuine playmaker.
He could, in fact, have put Chelsea ahead in only the second minute when Malouda set him up but Cole’s shot was blocked point-blank by Fulop. Not that Chelsea’s own goalkeeper, Petr Cech, so often, perhaps unfairly, the butt of criticism this season, was given a day off. In the midst of this avalanche of Chelsea goals, Bolo Zenden, the much-travelled Dutch midfielder, got one back for Sunderland 11 minutes into the second half. Earlier, Cech had to come to Chelsea’s rescue when an untypical mistake by John Terry, who was rested for the second half, put the home goal in danger, but Cech was quickly off his line to block. Ballack, in the 52nd minute, and Lampard, in the last, completed the scoring.
“We had our backsides well and truly kicked. We couldn't get near them today, it was a procession, and we can only hope that we respond,” said Bruce. He had reason to lament his many absentees, three of whom were established centre-backs, but having said and acknowledged this, one had to record that the Sunderland team showed little commitment and resilience. Butchered to make a Chelsea holiday, you might say, but Chelsea for their part might ask, who needs the Africans?
Star man: Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea) Yellow card: Sunderland: Bardsley
Referee: C Foy Attendance: 41,776
CHELSEA: Cech 7, Ivanovic 7, Carvalho 7, Terry 7 (Alex h-t, 7), A Cole 9 (Zhirkov h-t, 7), J Cole 6, Ballack 7, Lampard 7, Belletti 7, Malouda 7, Anelka 9
SUNDERLAND: Fulop 7, Bardsley 5, Da Silva 5, Cana 5, McCartney 5, Malbranque 6 (Zenden h-t, 6), Henderson 5, Meyler 5, Murphy 6 (Campbell 71min, 5), Bent 6, Jones 5
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Telegraph:
Chelsea 7 Sunderland 2
By Ben Findon at Stamford Bridge
Table-topping Chelsea raced to their most emphatic win of the season with an imperious destruction of an all-at-sea Sunderland.
Nicolas Anelka struck twice and Florent Malouda, Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard and Michael Ballack were also on target with Bolo Zenden and Darren Bent mustering Sunderland's consolations.
How Steve Bruce's side must dread the sight of Chelsea. They were crushed 5-0 in London last season and outclassed 3-1 at the Stadium of Light in August. They were lambs to the slaughter as Chelsea turned on the style once again.
The rout was underway within eight minutes, Anelka turning clear of an uncertain Lorik Cana, sprinting forward and stepping around goalkeeper Marton Fulop before rolling the ball home.
Sunderland had already been fortunate to escape when Joe Cole scuffed a shot at the Sunderland goalkeeper and Ashley Cole headed wide, and the tone of the afternoon was well and truly set.
Chelsea, despite being without their Africa Cup of Nations contingent, were two clear in the 17th minute.Malouda won the ball from George McCartney in the centre circle, skirted two ieneffective challenges and buried a shot from just inside the penalty area.
Six minutes later it was three, Ashley Cole showing delightful control, first to slip the ball passed Cana, then to curl it beyond Fulop.
Anelka should have scored again when put through by Juliano Belletti but no matter, within a minute Chelsea had fashioned a superb fourth goal. Anelka played in the overlapping Ashley Cole and his cross was met perfectly by Lampard, who slid the ball between a wrong-footed Fulop and the near post.
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti withdrew John Terry and the marauding Ashley Cole at the interval, sending on Alex and Yury Zhirkov, but there was no respite for Sunderland.
Anelka's powerful drive cannoned off the underside of the visitors' crossbar before, in the 52nd minute, an unmarked Ballack headed home from Joe Cole's free-kick.
There was a moment of respite for Sunderland when Stamford Bridge old boy Zenden, introduced as a half-time replacement for Steed Malbranque, scored a 56th-minute consolation but Chelsea were far from done.
Anelka claimed his second and Chelsea's sixth when presented with an open goal after Fulop's miscued punch in the 65th minute. Lampard registered another as the 90 minutes ended and Bent posted a footnote for Sunderland in the last seconds. Blue murder indeed.
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Observer:
Anelka stars in magnificent seven for Chelsea as Sunderland suffer
Chelsea 7 Anelka 8, Malouda 17, Cole, A 22, Lampard 34, Ballack 52, Anelka 65, Lampard 90 Sunderland 2 Zenden 56, Bent 90
Amy Lawrence at Stamford Bridge
This was supposed to be Chelsea in a moment of weakness.
Against opponents as subordinate as Sunderland they could even have left out a handful of Europeans as well as the Africans who are on international duty in Angola and still cruised to victory.
It was as if Steve Bruce sent out 11 cones. The invitation for Chelsea to enjoy themselves, express themselves and do wonders for their goal difference was accepted stylishly, as Carlo Ancelotti's men treated their audience to an exhibition. A 4-0 scoreline after 34 minutes actually flattered Sunderland. Absurd but true.
Nicolas Anelka was exceptional and has rarely looked so boyishly happy. Ashley Cole scored a solo goal of such distinction, and attacked with such marauding intent, that he was a contender for man of the match even though he played only 45 minutes before being withdrawn to protect an ankle knock. Florent Malouda's strike was not far behind in terms of individual skill.
Juliano Belletti excelled in the holding midfield role. It would have been a complete team performance had Petr Cech, John Terry and company had anything much to do.
"It sends an important message for us," Ancelotti said. "We can play without important players like [Didier] Drogba, [Michael] Essien, [Salomon] Kalou. Without the African players we could have had problems but I always said we have a fantastic squad and the players that came in did very well. Maybe it was our best performance this season."
It has not been a particularly onerous period for Chelsea, with only an FA Cup leg-stretcher against Watford to handle over the best part of three weeks. They were so invigorated this was the best possible advert for a winter break in England.
"We used this period very well, training without pressure, and we arrived at this game fit and with good motivation," Ancelotti added. They suffocated with possession, and finished with precision. It was an intoxicating mix.
Their prey were cowering from the off. With three centre-halves missing it was a wretched 90 minutes for a team who have conceded 18 goals in their last four meetings with Chelsea. "We simply couldn't cope," Bruce confessed. "Defensively it was inept. It is difficult to analyse after a hammering like that but for us to have eight big players missing is too many."
There had already been a couple of clear chances before Anelka opened the scoring seven minutes in. The velvet subtlety of Michael Ballack's touch, which transferred possession from Belletti's surge to Anelka's arcing run, did the damage. The France international was calmness personified as he ambled past the Sunderland goalkeeper and guided the ball in.
It felt suspiciously like game over as early as the 17th minute when Malouda threw some sunshine on damp London. It started when he picked up possession just inside the Sunderland half. Once he shrugged off his nearest marker he cantered, unchallenged, into the penalty area and steered the ball into the far corner of the net.
The exuberant Ashley Cole, virtually playing as a winger, was next to take up the baton. He tamed a lofted pass, left a bewildered Lorik Cana on his backside, and poked in a fabulous goal.
The outstretched foot of Marton Fulop prevented a fourth only temporarily, but Frank Lampard capitalised on more slack marking when he slid in Ashley Cole's tantalising cross.
Anelka's blistering shot suggested that whatever Bruce said at half-time was insufficient to limit the damage. Ballack glanced in the fifth from Joe Cole's angled cross, and Anelka swept in the sixth serenely. Lampard made it a splendid seven, converting with a firm header.
Chelsea blotted their copybook only when they allowed Sunderland to score twice, through Bolo Zenden and, in stoppage time, Darren Bent. It was hardly worth celebrating.
The fact that Ancelotti was able to jest that his players had enjoyed not one pre-match glass of wine, but two, said it all.
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Independent:
Anelka the star in magnificent seven-goal rout
Chelsea 7 Sunderland 2:
Weakened Black Cats made to pay heavy price as Blues issue notice of intent to their title rivals
By Steve Tongue at Stamford Bridge
Winners last weekend without playing – when Manchester United and Arsenal both stumbled – Chelsea barely needed to turn up either yesterday to earn some real points. Sunderland's depleted squad, back from a warm-weather break in Algarve found the leaders far too hot and must have wished they had stayed where they were.
This was men against bairns, and the bairns were four down in 34 minutes as Steve Bruce's fears in sending out a team missing four centre-backs as well as key midfielders became reality.
For Chelsea the absence of four players at the African Cup of Nations merely offered others the chance to emphasise their quality: notably Juliano Belletti as the defensive midfielder, and Joe Cole, back in his old Jose Mourinho position on the right of a three-man attack. What never happened under Mourinho was a scoreline like this; in those days Chelsea tended to declare once they were a couple of goals to the good. Roman Abramovich has demanded something more and Carlo Ancelotti seems capable of delivering. The tempo was maintained until the end even when victory was assured.
"When we move the ball quickly there's not a team that can touch us," John Terry said. They managed to do so even on a wet pitch and much stronger sides than Sunderland would have struggled to contain them. "Maybe the best performance of the season," Ancelotti suggested.
Bruce acknowledged: "It's hard enough coming here with a full-strength team but with eight missing, they were too good for us all over the pitch. Defensively we were inept. Every time they went forward they looked as if they'd score." That was certainly the case in the first half, although to be fair to the makeshift pairing of Lorik Cana and Paulo da Silva, the goals were excellent ones.
For the first, the ball moved from Belletti to Michael Ballack and on to Nicolas Anelka for a calm finish. That was eight minutes in. Nine more and Florent Malouda turned cleverly away from one challenge just inside the Sunderland half, eluded another and kept going before shooting in with his weaker (right) foot. The adventurous Ashley Cole, who had been screaming for a pass on that occasion, was soon in on the act, scoring the third with less than a quarter of the game played. John Terry curled a pass forward for the England back, who took it down beautifully, slipped Cana's sliding lunge and chipped over Martin Fulop.
The goalkeeper did manage a save with his legs when Anelka went clear on him but within a minute the Frenchman offered Ashley Cole a cross that Frank Lampard slid in on the volley. Four-nil, 33 minutes gone; Bruce stood in the technical area with arms folded, then looked at his watch as if willing the hands to move more quickly towards five o'clock. Aiming at damage limitation in the second half, he made one change, replacing the ineffectual Steed Malbranque with the former Chelsea man Boudewijn Zenden. Ancelotti took off both Ashley Cole, who had a slight knock, and Terry but if the personnel changed, the pattern remained much the same.
Belletti won a tackle in midfield, allowing Joe Cole, in as much space as he could have wanted, to cross onto the head of the unmarked Ballack for a fifth goal. Sunderland, against all expectation, scored one themselves when Kenwyne Jones, an object of admiration for several other clubs, won a header from George McCartney's punt forward and the ball dropped nicely for Zenden to record his first goal for the club. Celebration was minimal, possibly not so much out of respect for former employers as for fear of reprisals. They duly arrived within eight minutes, Fulop's error in failing to deal with Yuri Zhirkov's cross from the left giving Anelka his tenth goal of the season. The striker is clearly not missing Didier Drogba.
Last season Anelka scored a hat-trick in Sunderland's 5-0 defeat here and there should have been a repeat, but, five yards out, he was denied by Fulop's foot. Joe Cole headed against a post from no further out before two more goals in the last couple of minutes. Lampard headed in an Anelka cross and Darren Bent unexpectedly had the last word with a tap-in.
Ancelotti may have said he was not concerned about sending a message to Chelsea's championship rivals, but this was an emphatic statement, weakened opposition or not.
Sunderland, with only one League win in a dozen games, since Bent's "beachball goal" against Liverpool in October, need some of those absentees back on parade.
Attendance: 41,776
Referee: Chris Foy
Man of the match: Anelka
Match rating: 7/10
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Mail:
By Steve Tongue at Stamford Bridge
Winners last weekend without playing – when Manchester United and Arsenal both stumbled – Chelsea barely needed to turn up either yesterday to earn some real points. Sunderland's depleted squad, back from a warm-weather break in Algarve found the leaders far too hot and must have wished they had stayed where they were.
This was men against bairns, and the bairns were four down in 34 minutes as Steve Bruce's fears in sending out a team missing four centre-backs as well as key midfielders became reality.
For Chelsea the absence of four players at the African Cup of Nations merely offered others the chance to emphasise their quality: notably Juliano Belletti as the defensive midfielder, and Joe Cole, back in his old Jose Mourinho position on the right of a three-man attack. What never happened under Mourinho was a scoreline like this; in those days Chelsea tended to declare once they were a couple of goals to the good. Roman Abramovich has demanded something more and Carlo Ancelotti seems capable of delivering. The tempo was maintained until the end even when victory was assured.
"When we move the ball quickly there's not a team that can touch us," John Terry said. They managed to do so even on a wet pitch and much stronger sides than Sunderland would have struggled to contain them. "Maybe the best performance of the season," Ancelotti suggested.
Bruce acknowledged: "It's hard enough coming here with a full-strength team but with eight missing, they were too good for us all over the pitch. Defensively we were inept. Every time they went forward they looked as if they'd score." That was certainly the case in the first half, although to be fair to the makeshift pairing of Lorik Cana and Paulo da Silva, the goals were excellent ones.
For the first, the ball moved from Belletti to Michael Ballack and on to Nicolas Anelka for a calm finish. That was eight minutes in. Nine more and Florent Malouda turned cleverly away from one challenge just inside the Sunderland half, eluded another and kept going before shooting in with his weaker (right) foot. The adventurous Ashley Cole, who had been screaming for a pass on that occasion, was soon in on the act, scoring the third with less than a quarter of the game played. John Terry curled a pass forward for the England back, who took it down beautifully, slipped Cana's sliding lunge and chipped over Martin Fulop.
The goalkeeper did manage a save with his legs when Anelka went clear on him but within a minute the Frenchman offered Ashley Cole a cross that Frank Lampard slid in on the volley. Four-nil, 33 minutes gone; Bruce stood in the technical area with arms folded, then looked at his watch as if willing the hands to move more quickly towards five o'clock. Aiming at damage limitation in the second half, he made one change, replacing the ineffectual Steed Malbranque with the former Chelsea man Boudewijn Zenden. Ancelotti took off both Ashley Cole, who had a slight knock, and Terry but if the personnel changed, the pattern remained much the same.
Belletti won a tackle in midfield, allowing Joe Cole, in as much space as he could have wanted, to cross onto the head of the unmarked Ballack for a fifth goal. Sunderland, against all expectation, scored one themselves when Kenwyne Jones, an object of admiration for several other clubs, won a header from George McCartney's punt forward and the ball dropped nicely for Zenden to record his first goal for the club. Celebration was minimal, possibly not so much out of respect for former employers as for fear of reprisals. They duly arrived within eight minutes, Fulop's error in failing to deal with Yuri Zhirkov's cross from the left giving Anelka his tenth goal of the season. The striker is clearly not missing Didier Drogba.
Last season Anelka scored a hat-trick in Sunderland's 5-0 defeat here and there should have been a repeat, but, five yards out, he was denied by Fulop's foot. Joe Cole headed against a post from no further out before two more goals in the last couple of minutes. Lampard headed in an Anelka cross and Darren Bent unexpectedly had the last word with a tap-in.
Ancelotti may have said he was not concerned about sending a message to Chelsea's championship rivals, but this was an emphatic statement, weakened opposition or not.
Sunderland, with only one League win in a dozen games, since Bent's "beachball goal" against Liverpool in October, need some of those absentees back on parade.
Attendance: 41,776
Referee: Chris Foy
Man of the match: Anelka
Match rating: 7/10
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Mail:
Chelsea 7 Sunderland 2:
Nicolas Anelka and Frank Lampard at the double as Black Cats humbled
Patrick Collins
When Chelsea's players gather at the close of their careers to talk about the days of distant glory, this is an afternoon which will come leaping to their minds.
An astonishing occasion, awash with resourceful passing, intelligent running and thunderous finishing. A match in which almost everything they attempted was delivered. And a result which was dramatic, but in no way flattering.
Some of the more honest characters might recall Sunderland's part in proceedings; the absence of challenge, the confusion of strategy, the meekness of surrender.
The sum of their failings made it embarrassingly easy for the side at the summit. No matter. The nature of the rout will linger long in Chelsea memories.It may even be recalled as the day the league was won.
The reaction of the respective managers was eloquent beyond words. Carlo Ancelotti spoke of 'the best display of the season'.
He praised his players for their attitude and skill. He lied that he allowed them not one, but two glasses of good red wine before the match. And he tried not to sound smug.
By comparison, Steve Bruce sounded like the accused at a show trial, pleading guilty to everything. 'We simply couldn't cope ... they were too good for us all over the pitch ... defensively we were inept ... anyone who finished above Chelsea will win the title'.
He concluded with a masterpiece of understatement: 'It was a very difficult afternoon.'
Indeed it was. And Chelsea made them pay for that ineptitude. Nicolas Anelka and Frank Lampard scored two goals apiece, Ashley Cole, Michael Ballack and Florent Malouda took the rest. And it could have been double. It could have been anything.
When they hit their game, Chelsea can sweep away the best of sides. They struck that form against one of the worst. Good as they were, it should never, ever be this easy.
The first half was embarrassingly simple for Chelsea. They played without care or challenge. They scored four goals, yet missed as many more. The whole affair resembled a third-round FA Cup tie in which the non-League side are overwhelmed by the occasion.
Sunderland could plead eight players were missing. But they could not make a case for even one of those who turned up. Nobody won a tackle, nobody came away with a 50-50 ball. They merely yielded.
Ashley Cole was awarded the freedom of the Bridge; careering down the left, infiltrating at will, enjoying the kind of space nobody dreams of in the Premier League. And he was not alone.
The surprise was that it took eight minutes to score. The odd chance had been squandered before Anelka was played into extravagant space and nudged the chance over the line.
Ten minutes later, Malouda collected at halfway and, with opponents backing off, he struck a successful drive from 20 yards.
Four minutes on, John Terry chipped a ball into the path of Ashley Cole, who lifted the chance beyond Marton Fulop. Bruce sat and squirmed. In 33 minutes, Ashley Cole played a seductive cross which Lampard bundled in.
Bruce emerged from his dugout for the first time. Amazingly, he was not waving a white flag.
So, four up at half time, Chelsea took off Terry and Ashley Cole and brought on Alex and Yuri Zhirkov, with Sunderland introducing Bolo Zenden for Steed Malbranque.
Nothing changed except the shirt numbers. Sunderland wore the expressions of men who wondered just how bad things might become. In 49 minutes they were given a hint, when Anelka's brutal drive struck bar and post before staying out.
But two minutes later a curving cross from Joe Cole was met by the head of an unchallenged Ballack. In 56 minutes, the visitors scored. Kenwyn Jones headed down and Zenden drove in the chance.He punched the air in celebration, then blushed at his cheek.
But Chelsea's sixth in 64 minutes restored sanity to the score. Fulop came to punch a cross, only for Anelka to collect the ball and batter it into an empty net.
Sunderland survived further punishment until the 90th minute when Lampard headed his second goal and Chelsea's seventh.
The visitors even scored a second in added time, Darren Bent hacking in a chance with Chelsea defenders halfway towards the showers. But it had been a rout, a genuine thumping.
The Premier League season has seen nothing like it. One doubts that it will.
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NOTW:
Patrick Collins
When Chelsea's players gather at the close of their careers to talk about the days of distant glory, this is an afternoon which will come leaping to their minds.
An astonishing occasion, awash with resourceful passing, intelligent running and thunderous finishing. A match in which almost everything they attempted was delivered. And a result which was dramatic, but in no way flattering.
Some of the more honest characters might recall Sunderland's part in proceedings; the absence of challenge, the confusion of strategy, the meekness of surrender.
The sum of their failings made it embarrassingly easy for the side at the summit. No matter. The nature of the rout will linger long in Chelsea memories.It may even be recalled as the day the league was won.
The reaction of the respective managers was eloquent beyond words. Carlo Ancelotti spoke of 'the best display of the season'.
He praised his players for their attitude and skill. He lied that he allowed them not one, but two glasses of good red wine before the match. And he tried not to sound smug.
By comparison, Steve Bruce sounded like the accused at a show trial, pleading guilty to everything. 'We simply couldn't cope ... they were too good for us all over the pitch ... defensively we were inept ... anyone who finished above Chelsea will win the title'.
He concluded with a masterpiece of understatement: 'It was a very difficult afternoon.'
Indeed it was. And Chelsea made them pay for that ineptitude. Nicolas Anelka and Frank Lampard scored two goals apiece, Ashley Cole, Michael Ballack and Florent Malouda took the rest. And it could have been double. It could have been anything.
When they hit their game, Chelsea can sweep away the best of sides. They struck that form against one of the worst. Good as they were, it should never, ever be this easy.
The first half was embarrassingly simple for Chelsea. They played without care or challenge. They scored four goals, yet missed as many more. The whole affair resembled a third-round FA Cup tie in which the non-League side are overwhelmed by the occasion.
Sunderland could plead eight players were missing. But they could not make a case for even one of those who turned up. Nobody won a tackle, nobody came away with a 50-50 ball. They merely yielded.
Ashley Cole was awarded the freedom of the Bridge; careering down the left, infiltrating at will, enjoying the kind of space nobody dreams of in the Premier League. And he was not alone.
The surprise was that it took eight minutes to score. The odd chance had been squandered before Anelka was played into extravagant space and nudged the chance over the line.
Ten minutes later, Malouda collected at halfway and, with opponents backing off, he struck a successful drive from 20 yards.
Four minutes on, John Terry chipped a ball into the path of Ashley Cole, who lifted the chance beyond Marton Fulop. Bruce sat and squirmed. In 33 minutes, Ashley Cole played a seductive cross which Lampard bundled in.
Bruce emerged from his dugout for the first time. Amazingly, he was not waving a white flag.
So, four up at half time, Chelsea took off Terry and Ashley Cole and brought on Alex and Yuri Zhirkov, with Sunderland introducing Bolo Zenden for Steed Malbranque.
Nothing changed except the shirt numbers. Sunderland wore the expressions of men who wondered just how bad things might become. In 49 minutes they were given a hint, when Anelka's brutal drive struck bar and post before staying out.
But two minutes later a curving cross from Joe Cole was met by the head of an unchallenged Ballack. In 56 minutes, the visitors scored. Kenwyn Jones headed down and Zenden drove in the chance.He punched the air in celebration, then blushed at his cheek.
But Chelsea's sixth in 64 minutes restored sanity to the score. Fulop came to punch a cross, only for Anelka to collect the ball and batter it into an empty net.
Sunderland survived further punishment until the 90th minute when Lampard headed his second goal and Chelsea's seventh.
The visitors even scored a second in added time, Darren Bent hacking in a chance with Chelsea defenders halfway towards the showers. But it had been a rout, a genuine thumping.
The Premier League season has seen nothing like it. One doubts that it will.
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NOTW:
ASHLEY'S GOT X-FACTOR CHELSEA 7-2 SUNDERLAND
By ANDY DUNN
ASHLEY COLE. You might have heard of him. Never know, you might even have seen him.
Not the tallest bloke, not the shortest. Doesn't say a great deal but once lost control of his motor. Something about a pay-rise.
Got him? Oh, yes. His wife's always on telly. Sits next to Simon Cowell.
Ah, that Ashley Cole.
Sunderland and Steve Bruce were clearly still oblivious.
Maybe after his 31st foray forward - and that was just in the first, and Ashley's only, half - they clicked.
But by then, the riot was in full swing. And it never stopped.
African Cup of Nations, Didier? Michael? Salomon? Jon Obi or Obi Jon or whatever way round your name is? Take as long as you want.
Have a holiday after it, you might need it. Don't rush back.
The real carnival is happening here.
Forget Nicolas Anelka scored twice - but remember his smile stretched from the first whistle to the last.
Acknowledge that Frank Lampard collected a couple - but dwell longer on a return to his cavorting, confident self.
Admire Florent Malouda's piece of scoring individuality - but see his vibrant display as the exorcising of all those frustrations he poured into print.
Nod your head in approval at Michael Ballack's textbook effort - but shake it while double-checking if this is the same German who has looked so functional for much of his time at Stamford Bridge.
But it was the 45-minute cameo from Ashley Cole that symbolised this gleeful romp.
He must lay a claim to being the Premier League's most consistent performer of the last decade.
He is certainly the player England can truly depend on.
But this was not Cole the dependable, Cole the dogged, Cole the defensive limpet. For 45 minutes, he was Ryan Giggs. The young, coltish version. The shirt-whirling-around-the- head version. And that typified Chelsea against a Sunderland team decimated, firstly by injury and suspension, secondly by a spirit of adventure that electrified the Bridge.
When I told Cole recently that he had scored 15 goals, he replied with some astonishment: "That many?!"
Well, now it's 16.
And this one was worth a dozen. John Terry caught the spirit by going all Glenn Hoddle and clipping a long-range pass into his team-mate's path.
Control, floor the defender with a look, turn, chip the keeper.
Yep, Ashley Cole. Recognise him now? Thought not.
His next contribution was to finesse a cross on to Lampard's boot for his first and Chelsea's fourth.
Cole's bravado was bolstered by two early Chelsea goals.
Chelsea's irregulars revelled in the chance to shine, Sunderland's stand-ins caved in at the first sign of Big Four class.
Among the eight missing for Steve Bruce were four centre-halves.
He fills a tracksuit now, Brucey. But he might have been better registering on the playing staff during the transfer window.
Thorntons don't have softer centres. In view of the novicey nature of his defence, it was surprising that Bruce opted for a generous dash of adventure.
And for a fleeting moment, it looked like Kenwyne Jones and Darren Bent might cause a stir.
From the moment Lorik Cana - the midfielder standing in at centre-half - stood with arm raised as Anelka cantered on to a Ballack pass and negotiated Martin Fulop as if he were a cone, Sunderland were in disarray.
The Frenchman tapped in before Malouda strode in unchallenged to smuggle No 2 into the bottom corner.
Even Lampard - subject of some of Florent's florid outburst recently - joined the congratulations.
It was that type of afternoon. All together, having a ball.
Bruce admitted every time Chelsea went forward, they looked like scoring.
Even when they didn't go forward, they looked like scoring.
Sunderland were that bad. Carlo Ancelotti joked later his players had enjoyed a couple of glasses of wine before the game.
Bruce had obviously treated his lot to a couple of gallons. Vin de terrible.
Only the strikers could escape censure. And particular censure must go to Steed Malbranque for not being the first person to ignore Ashley Cole.
At least after Cole and Lamps had put the party in full swing, Sunderland kept double figures at bay.
That achievement looked on the cards when Joe Cole joined the party previously hosted by his namesake when crossing for Ballack to nod in.
But Jones provided sub Bolo Zenden with a goal to interrupt normal service.
It was resumed when Anelka, magnificent but not moody all afternoon, turned Fulop's punch into an assist and then popped a cross on to Lampard's head to give Chelsea their first seven-goal league performance since the days of Jimmy Greaves.
Sunderland's man of the match - Mr A. Goalframe - rebuffed Anelka and Joe Cole and, in almost surreal fashion, the last meaningful action was a scrambled Bent number.
By then, Chelsea minds were probably turning to that vintage bottle Ancelotti had uncorked.
I hope they finished it. They deserved it.
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Star:
SEVEN GOALS FOR ANCELOTTI'S CHELSEA LEAVES SUNDERLAND IN THE COLD
By Paul Hetherington
Chelsea 7, Sunderland 2
THE last time Chelsea scored seven goals in the top flight was 50 years ago – a 7-1 win against West Brom when Jimmy Greaves scored five.
And Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti admitted last night: “I can’t remember when a team of mine last scored seven. "
"Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini said this week that he was happy for his players to have a glass of wine."
"Mine must have had two each before this game! I am very happy as we have given our best performance of the season. This was an important test because we were without four players who are at the African Nations Cup. "
“This proves we can cope without those important players, because we have a fantastic squad. We kept going, kept looking for goals because our philosophy is to play for the full 90 minutes.”
This was the first Premier League game for the league leaders since losing Drogba, Essien, Mikel and Kalou on a month’s international duty. But it wasn’t much of a test against a Sunderland side who were even more depleted through injuryand Michael Turner’s suspension.
Chelsea were 4-0 up at half-time through Nicolas Anelka, France team-mate Florent Malouda, Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard.
Ancelotti took off John Terry and scorer Cole at that stage, yet in the second half, Michael Ballack, Anelka and Lampard were on target as Chelsea completed a magnifi cent seven. Anelka’s goals followed the four he scored against Sunderland last season as Steve Bruce suffered his heaviest defeat as the Black Cats boss.
Sunderland spent last week in Portugal searching for warm weather to prepare for this demanding task. And Chelsea certainly made it hot for the Black Cats from the start. Joe Cole shot weakly at Marton Fulop, then Ashley Cole headed across the face of the goal when he should have scored – and that was in the first four minutes.
So it was no surprise when Chelsea raced into an eighth-minute lead. Sunderland, with eight senior players unavailable, appealed unsuccessfully for offside as Anelka moved on to Ballack’s pass, went round Fulop and slotted the ball home.
Sunderland’s absentees included four central defenders and their problems were exposed 10 minutes later when Malouda made it 2-0. The France wide player broke away from George McCartney before striking a low right-foot shot into the corner.
By the 22nd minute, it was 3-0 for the rampant Blues as Terry’s long ball picked out Ashley Cole, who brilliantly beat Lorik Cana before cleverly poking the ball home. And Lampard made it four in the 34th minute when Ashley Cole supplied the cross and Lampard slid in to finish from six yards.
After, it was just a question of how many for Chelsea. Sunderland keeper Fulop superbly turned an Anelka pile-driver on to the underside of the bar before Ballack made it 5-0 in the 52nd minute from a Joe Cole cross.
Four minutes later there was another goal – but this time it came from the visitors. McCartney crossed, Kenwyne Jones headed down and substitute Bolo Zenden found the corner against his former club – Sunderland’s first goal at Stamford Bridge for nine years!
But back Chelsea came and in the 65th minute, Fulop punched out a cross but only as far as Anelka, who reacted quickly to drive the ball home. That was goal number six and a seventh arrived in the last minute of normal time when Lampard drove home at the far post following a corner.
But at least Sunderland kept going and in added time, following a right-wing corner, Darren Bent poached his 14th goal of the season from close range. Bruce said: “It’s very diffi cult after you’ve been absolutely hammered to analyse anything but the bottom line is that defensively we were inept."
“I’m not looking for excuses but we need our big players fit and we had eight missing today. When we are without defenders like Turner, Ferdinand and Mensah and midfielders like Cattermole, Richardson and Reid it is too many.”
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