swansea 4-1

Independent:

Chelsea 4 Swansea 1
By Ben Rumsby

Fernando Torres' mixed fortunes continued as he found the net before seeing red for an ugly challenge in Chelsea's comfortable Barclays Premier League victory over Swansea.
Sunday's defeat at Manchester United had seen £50million man Torres score for only the second time in his Blues career before producing one of the worst open-goal gaffes in Premier League history.
He scored today with another fine finish before seeing red for inexplicably diving in studs first on Mark Gower in between a Ramires brace, which was followed by Ashley Williams' consolation and a comeback goal for Didier Drogba.
But being down to 10 men for more than half a game for the second time in four days - Chelsea suffered the same fate in their midweek Carling Cup win over Fulham - was hardly ideal preparation for Wednesday's Champions League showdown in Valencia.
Torres' dismissal also meant a three-match domestic ban and ensured he would once again make headlines for the wrong reasons, despite beginning to repay his record-breaking transfer fee in earnest.
Frank Lampard starting on the bench today was also a talking point, although the midfielder played 76 minutes on Wednesday night.
He looked certain to start at Valencia, emphasising that, at 33, he was being held back more and more for the big games.
Chelsea's bid to close the five-point gap to United did not begin well, with the hosts outplayed by the visitors in the opening 15 minutes.
Raul Meireles volleyed over when well-placed and Ramires had a close-range shot blocked but Chelsea were failing to replicate the beautiful game Villas-Boas insisted they had produced last weekend.
Torres was also struggling to repeat his Old Trafford exploits, where his horror miss marred what was otherwise his best performance in a Chelsea shirt.
That changed in dramatic fashion in the 29th minute when Juan Mata chipped a ball over the top and Angel Rangel played Torres onside, allowing him to swivel and find the bottom corner.
Mata was needlessly booked for hauling back Rangel, with Williams close to converting the resultant free-kick.
But Chelsea's scintillating football finally arrived nine minutes from half-time when a sweeping breakaway saw Ashley Cole pick out Ramires, who drilled the ball through Michael Vorm's legs.
But Torres then undid all his good work when he was sent off three minutes later for a shocking tackle on Gower.
Referee Mike Dean had no choice but to show red for the challenge, despite it appearing more clumsy than malicious.
Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers, who enjoyed a pre-match ovation on his return to the club where he was reserve-team boss for four years, threw on Wayne Routledge for Leon Britton during the interval.
The visitors laid siege to the Chelsea goal after the restart as Meireles almost slid the ball into his own net, the livewire Nathan Dyer saw his shot deflect off John Obi Mikel and loop onto the crossbar, and Williams misdirected a header from the resultant corner.
A desperate challenge from Mikel prevented Leroy Lita converting Rangel's cross and the subsequent corner was headed goalward by Williams, only for Jose Bosingwa to clear off the line.
Dyer was booked for felling Anelka as Chelsea broke and Ramires also volleyed wide before Mata was withdrawn for Florent Malouda and the fit-again Danny Graham came on for Lita just before the hour mark.
Anelka almost scored a superb individual goal after being allowed to carry the ball 25 yards before unleashing a piledriver against the bar.
Chelsea began to cope with their man disadvantage, as they had against Fulham on Wednesday, forcing Swansea to introduce Stephen Dobbie for Dyer.
Garry Monk was booked for tripping Anelka 15 minutes from time and the 10 men made it 3-0 a minute later, Ramires too easily cutting inside Williams before passing the ball beyond Vorm.
Drogba made his long-awaited return from his sickening head injury for the final 11 minutes as Anelka was withdrawn.
Josh McEachran also replaced Ramires before Swansea finally netted in the 86th minute, the unmarked Williams heading home his first Premier League goal from Gower's free-kick.
Vorm saved well from Malouda, Williams went close to nodding in his second in stoppage time and Ramires dragged a hat-trick chance wide before Drogba turned on Malouda's pass and steered the ball beyond Vorm to add gloss to the scoreline.


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Telegraph:

Chelsea 4 Swansea City 1

Andre Villas-Boas believes the media have an obsession with Fernando Torres, but the Spanish striker cannot keep himself out of the headlines at the moment.
Last week it was a sublime goal and ridiculous miss at Old Trafford. Against Swansea City, Torres was hero and villain, beauty and the beast, Jekyll and Hyde – choose your own cliché.
Torres scored one terrifiic goal and set up another to put Chelsea on their way to victory over the Welsh side, but then left his side playing with ten men for 50 minutes after a dreadful two-footed lunge on Mark Gower that brought a deserved red card. All of this took place in the space of ten minutes.
It meant Villas-Boas had a more anxious second-half than he would have liked and will now be without the services of his £50m striker for the next three league games.
It also ensured that most post-match conversations, in the pubs and on air, revolved around Torres once again. Yet it had all started so brightly for the Spanish striker.
Having scored his first goal of the season last week, he was off the mark within half an hour, opening the scoring with a stylish goal, made in Spain.
Juan Mata chipped a pass forward to Torres, who sharp as a tack, moved off his marker, took the ball on his chest and spun to fire a shot into the far corner of goal.
It got even better six minutes later when Torres took out three Swansea players with a pass from the halfway line that sent Ashley Cole away down the left. Cole swept the ball across for Ramires, raiding down the right, to take one touch before firing through the legs of goalkeeper Michael Vorm.
But then came a moment of madness from Torres that left his side, already with Frank Lampard dropped to the subs' bench, down to ten men. Gower had the ball on the halfway line, close to the touchline and certainly not in a threatening position. What prompted Torres to go flying in with both sets of studs showing is a mystery, but the conclusion of it was not. Torres was apologising for his action before almost sliding into the Swansea dugout.
Referee Mike Dean had no hesitation in showing the Spaniard a red card, giving Swansea a numerical advanatge.
The visitors knocked on Chelsea's door repeatedly after half-time, but the Blues stood firm. Nathan Dyer rattled Petr Cech's crossbar, John Obi Mikel made two vital blocks in front of goal, and Ashley Williams had a header cleared off the line.
But Chelsea broke quickly and Anelka also hit the bar before Ramires made it 3-0 after running on to Jose Bosingwa's through ball in the 76th minute.
Williams headed a late goal that was of little consolation to Brendan Rodgers, the former Chelsea coach, on his return to Stamford Bridge.
There was time for Didier Drogba to make a well-received return after recovering from the serious head injury he sustained against Norwich last month, and the striker made it 4-1 with a low shot in stoppage time.
But all the talk was about Torres – again.

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Mirror:

Chelsea 4-1 Swansea:
By Chris Hatherall

Fernando Torres once again pressed the self-destruct button on his Chelsea career.
The troubled Spaniard scored a sublime goal against Swansea but then got himself stupidly sent off, leaving fellow scorer Didier Drogba ready to snatch his place.
Drogba, finally back from a head injury, came off the bench to wrap up a comfortable victory that also featured two goals from midfielder Ramires and a consolation effort from Swans defender Ashley ­Williams.
Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas condemned Torres by declaring the red card a “good decision”.
But the manager was otherwise delighted with his side, saying: “It was a good performance with 10 men.
“The sending off I have nothing to say, it looks a good decision by the referee.
“But we never lost our will to attack and it paid off. It’s an important win for us after the defeat at Old ­Trafford. It showed good resilience to come back with a good result and good display.”
In contrast to his comments about Torres, Villas-Boas hailed Drogba’s return.
He said: “It was good to see Drogba back and to see him score. But the most important moment was the way he challenged the first ball.
“It was an aerial challenge and it shows the commitment of the player that he went for it. Maybe a different player wouldn’t have challenged with that commitment and drive.”
Torres, who thought he had turned his season around last week when he scored against United, only to then miss a sitter, must be wondering if he will ever get it right at Stamford Bridge.
He came out of the blocks flying and opened the scoring by chesting down a wonderful Juan Mata pass before turning to score with an excellent finish in the 29th minute. But just when it seemed ­everything was rosy he allowed adrenalin to get the better of him as he hurled himself into a terrible
two-footed challenge on Mark Gower on the halfway line.
The idiotic tackle came more out of enthusiasm than malice — but there was little doubt it was dangerous and referee Mike Dean had no choice but to show a red card. With only 39 minutes on the clock, Torres’s afternoon was over. It was a bitter blow for the former Liverpool striker who had scored in back-to-back games for the first time since November 2010.
And the only consolation for Chelsea was that by that time they were already 2-0 ahead; Ramires having drilled home a second in the 36th minute after good work from Torres and Ashley Cole. Torres now faces a three-match ban, and considering there is an international break later this month he will not play ­another Premier League match until October 29 against Arsenal – at the earliest...
The Spaniard will miss matches against Bolton away, Everton at home and QPR away — and may even face a battle to win back his place after Drogba took only 15 minutes to get back on the scoresheet in stoppage time. Yet Swansea, who started brightly, couldn’t make Chelsea pay for Torres’s stupidity.
The Swans started the second half at breakneck pace, hit the bar from a deflected shot by the excellent Nathan Dyer and then saw Williams’ header cleared off the line by Jose Bosingwa.
But 10-man Chelsea gradually regained control and Villas-Boas was confident enough to take off playmaker Mata to save him for the Champions League clash with Valencia in midweek.
And his afternoon was made even better when Ramires burst through to drill another goal under Michel Vorn with 14 minutes to go.
It was just reward for the Brazilian’s all-action display — especially as he was chosen ahead of Frank Lampard who was left on the bench.
Williams headed home a late Gower free-kick but Drogba — in action for the first time since August — ghosted in to make it 4-1 and rounded off a pretty ­satisfying day for the Blues. Even if Torres had done his best to ruin it.
VERDICT: In the end it was an efficient and tactically astute victory for 10 man Chelsea. Swansea never stopped playing attractive football but they were still second best.
***
THE BIG ISSUE: Should Villas-Boas ship £50million man Fernando Torres out on loan to try and recapture his form?
He may have been stupid to get sent off with a ­reckless challenge but Torres did enough in the previous 38 minutes to suggest he will still be a big player for Chelsea this season.
His goal was superbly taken and he played an ­excellent pass to Ashley Cole in the build-up to Chelsea’s second.
The Torres jinx struck again after that when he was rightly sent off for a two-footed lunge – but Chelsea would be mad to send him on loan and there is little chance of them doing so.
Andre Villas-Boas may fear that the Torres factor is overshadowing his team but the £50m striker has shown he still has the talent – will he be able to pick up the thread after a month on the sidelines while he serves a three-match ban?


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Star:

CHELSEA 4 SWANSEA 1
By Gary Jones

FERNANDO TORRES' mixed fortunes continued as he found the net before seeing red for an ugly challenge inChelsea'scomfortable Barclays Premier League victory over Swansea.
Sunday's defeat at Manchester United had seen £50million man Torres score for only the second time in his Blues career before producing one of the worst open-goal gaffes in Premier League history.
He scored today with another fine finish before seeing red for inexplicably diving in studs first on Mark Gower in between a Ramires brace, which was followed by Ashley Williams' consolation and a comeback goal for Didier Drogba.
But being down to 10 men for more than half a game for the second time in four days - Chelsea suffered the same fate in their midweek Carling Cup win over Fulham - was hardly ideal preparation for Wednesday's Champions League showdown in Valencia.
Torres' dismissal also meant a three-match domestic ban and ensured he would once again make headlines for the wrong reasons, despite beginning to repay his record-breaking transfer fee in earnest.
Frank Lampard starting on the bench today was also a talking point, although the midfielder played 76 minutes on Wednesday night.
He looked certain to start at Valencia, emphasising that, at 33, he was being held back more and more for the big games.
Chelsea's bid to close the five-point gap to United did not begin well, with the hosts outplayed by the visitors in the opening 15 minutes.
Raul Meireles volleyed over when well-placed and Ramires had a close-range shot blocked but Chelsea were failing to replicate the beautiful game Villas-Boas insisted they had produced last weekend.
Torres was also struggling to repeat his Old Trafford exploits, where his horror miss marred what was otherwise his best performance in a Chelsea shirt.
That changed in dramatic fashion in the 29th minute when Juan Mata chipped a ball over the top and Angel Rangel played Torres onside, allowing him to swivel and find the bottom corner.
Mata was needlessly booked for hauling back Rangel, with Williams close to converting the resultant free-kick.
But Chelsea's scintillating football finally arrived nine minutes from half-time when a sweeping breakaway saw Ashley Cole pick out Ramires, who drilled the ball through Michael Vorm's legs.
But Torres then undid all his good work when he was sent off three minutes later for a shocking tackle on Gower.
Referee Mike Dean had no choice but to show red for the challenge, despite it appearing more clumsy than malicious.
Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers, who enjoyed a pre-match ovation on his return to the club where he was reserve-team boss for four years, threw on Wayne Routledge for Leon Britton during the interval.
The visitors laid siege to the Chelsea goal after the restart as Meireles almost slid the ball into his own net, the livewire Nathan Dyer saw his shot deflect off John Obi Mikel and loop onto the crossbar, and Williams misdirected a header from the resultant corner.
A desperate challenge from Mikel prevented Leroy Lita converting Rangel's cross and the subsequent corner was headed goalward by Williams, only for Jose Bosingwa to clear off the line.
Dyer was booked for felling Anelka as Chelsea broke and Ramires also volleyed wide before Mata was withdrawn for Florent Malouda and the fit-again Danny Graham came on for Lita just before the hour mark.
Anelka almost scored a superb individual goal after being allowed to carry the ball 25 yards before unleashing a piledriver against the bar.
Chelsea began to cope with their man disadvantage, as they had against Fulham on Wednesday, forcing Swansea to introduce Stephen Dobbie for Dyer.
Garry Monk was booked for tripping Anelka 15 minutes from time and the 10 men made it 3-0 a minute later, Ramires too easily cutting inside Williams before passing the ball beyond Vorm.
Drogba made his long-awaited return from his sickening head injury for the final 11 minutes as Anelka was withdrawn.
Josh McEachran also replaced Ramires before Swansea finally netted in the 86th minute, the unmarked Williams heading home his first Premier League goal from Gower's free-kick.
Vorm saved well from Malouda, Williams went close to nodding in his second in stoppage time and Ramires dragged a hat-trick chance wide before Drogba turned on Malouda's pass and steered the ball beyond Vorm to add gloss to the scoreline.


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Observer:

Fernando Torres scores and is sent off but Chelsea beat Swansea City
Jamie Jackson at Stamford Bridge

On noting that Frank Lampard was on the bench, Fernando Torres might have felt relief that the midfielder's fortunes under André Villas-Boas were starting to overtake his own as the No1 Chelsea sideshow.That was before what Torres was about to receive in a match that pitted one José Mourinho managerial disciple (Villas-Boas) against another, Swansea City's Brendan Rodgers.
Regarding Lampard, the jury is out on whether he was rested ahead of Wednesday's Champions League trip to Valencia, or dropped for the (presumably) more dynamic Raul Meireles, chosen instead of the 33-year-old who saw another rival, Ramires, score twice.
Villas-Boas stated that the two hours played by Chelsea in their Carling Cup third-round penalty shoot-out win against Fulham on Wednesday caused him to make nine changes against Swansea, and Lampard was merely one of these. Yet the midfielder started that tie on the bench; a more instructive insight into the manager's view of the 33-year-old might be found in his removal at half-time in the 3-1 defeat at Manchester United last weekend.While the team-sheet for Valencia will be a fascinating read to see if Lampard features in Chelsea's toughest outing in the group stage, the opening half here featured a near-anonymous Swansea, and the good, the bad and the ugly from Torres, who continues to wake from his unwanted slumber only to find the sporting gods are still toying with him.On balance, he will probably take the red card he received from Mike Dean 10 minutes before half-time in payment for having earlier increased his tally to three for Chelsea since the £50m move from Liverpool to west London in January. But he seems to be working off some particularly heavy karma.For the 27-year-old, the bad arrived after 20 minutes, when he fashioned another of those moments that seem to bemuse him as well as any spectator.
On the edge of the visitors' area, the striker looked up and appeared ready to shoot or flip in a pass. But, instead, hesitation was followed by a meander back towards his own goal and, when he was dispossessed, the concession of a soft foul that came laced with frustration.If this suggested Torres was about to disappoint, what unfolded was more complex. Just before the half-hour, Juan Mata saw the Spaniard's clever left-to-right run inside the City area and dinked the ball into him; a chest-down, a swivel, then a sweet finish into the corner followed, and that was two in two games, following his strike at United last Sunday.If this was the good (or very good), Torres followed with more of the same, precipitating the move that ended in Ramires scoring Chelsea's second.
Having dropped inside his own half, Torres found Ashley Cole, the left-back crept forward, then slid the ball across midfield to the Brazilian. His shot was struck well, but passed under keeper Michel Vorm .Torres was flying. But now came the ugly. Near halfway, Torres launched both boots at Mark Gower and made contact. Out came Dean's red card, and off Torres marched, head down.Villas-Boas described the sending-off as a "pity". He added: "There is nothing [for Torres] to apologise for. The sending-off, I have nothing to say, it looks a good decision by the referee."
Swansea's manager, Brendan Rodgers, who was formerly on the staff as a coach at Stamford Bridge, said that Torres's poor start to his Chelsea career may be causing him to be over-enthusiastic: "I don't think he's a malicious player. He probably feels it's there to be won and he's trying to show his intention at the moment that he's fighting for everything."Ramires sealed the points by dancing past Ashley Williams – who added a late consolation for Swansea – and finishing. Then Didier Drogba, on for the first time since being knocked out against Norwich City a month ago, made it four.


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Mail:

Chelsea 4 Swansea 1: Ramires at the double as Torres sees red after scoring opener
By ROB DRAPER

It's all about Fernando. Andre Villas-Boas believes that football reporters have an obsession with the trials and tribulations of his principal striker and yet, on a day when Frank Lampard was dropped, Didier Drogba scored on his return and Ramires scored twice, he still dominated the post-match discussion.
How could he not? For 40 minutes here he built purposely on his Old Trafford performance - that is, on the encouraging part of it rather than the open goal he missed.
He showed aggression and vitality, helping to set up Chelsea's second goal and netting their first, the first time he has scored in successive games for almost a year.
Then, seemingly overenthusiastic, he committed a dreadful challenge that earned him a red card after diving in two-footed on Mark Gower when the Swansea player miscontrolled the ball.
The challenge appeared to be a sign of his insecurity, as though he was trying too hard to prove that he is back to his best. In reality, he should have maintained his equilibrium because he was already proving his worth without resorting to such tackling.
'He's trying to show that he's fighting for everything,' said Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers. 'I don't think he's a malicious player. The ball got away from Mark Gower and he feels it's there to be won. It was more for the intent than the contact. Contact was minimal.'
Villas-Boas was sticking resolutely to his line that Torres is not a subject for discussion. 'Yes, it was a good performance for the team,' he said at least three times when asked directly about the Spain striker.
'No there's nothing to apologise for,' the Chelsea manager added when asked if Torres had said sorry to his team-mates for exposing them. 'He is disappointed to be sent off,' Villas-Boas added, though he had no complaint with the decision.
It was of little matter. Chelsea survived a brief second-half revival from Swansea to ease home comfortably. More to the point, Lampard, so long a Chelsea stalwart, has now started only one of the last four games, and in that he was substituted at half-time at Manchester United.
The future, it seems, is Fernando not Frank. This team are constructed around the strengths of Torres and subtly different to the power play that used to be represented by the old guard at Stamford Bridge.
Indeed, the names on the bench - Lampard, Florent Malouda, Drogba, even Salomon Kalou - were first-team regulars in different times, and Lampard and Drogba defined the team.
Yesterday, Raul Meireles operated in Lampard's role, suggesting Villas- Boas is looking for a more Latin flavour to his side. Juan Mata is the same. Specifically signed with Torres in mind, he is proving his worth.
After a fine start by Swansea, Mata enabled Torres finally to breach their defence with a ball over the back four on 30 minutes.
Torres took it down on his chest delightfully and finished emphatically. Torres looked confident, a man briefly comfortable in his role.
He won the ball decisively on 35 minutes, fed Ashley Cole, who moved the ball on for Ramires, who finished well.
The game should have been over, but Torres's challenge on 40 minutes, betrayed his continued nerves.
It allowed Swansea to challenge briefly, with a fine 15 minutes immediately after the restart, the best moment of which was Nathan Dyer's deflected shot which came back off the bar.
'That's the defining period of the game,' said Rodgers. 'They had to show that belief when we came out and we weren't in fear or intimidated. If we get the goal in that period there can be a wee bit of nervousness. But we didn't and conceded a poor third goal.'
Indeed they did. Jose Bosingwa played the ball in on 76 minutes and Ramires was allowed through on goal all to easily by Ashley Williams before finishing well.
Williams did atone for his error when he embarrassed Bosingwa, losing his marker from a 86thminute free-kick from Gower to score Swansea's consolation.
Williams went close again in injurytime but, by then, the old guard had taken control, with Malouda playing in Drogba, who was allowed to turn too easily and score the fourth.
Having been carried off unconscious here last month, it was a big moment for the Ivorian.
Villas-Boas said: 'The most important moment today for me, seeing Didier back, was the way he challenged for the first ball because it was an aerial challenge. Maybe a different player wouldn't challenge for it after missing so many days with concussion. That represents Didier as a player and person.'
Torres will be banned in the Premier League for a month so Drogba will get games. But the future is less clear for the old campaigners.

MATCH FACTS
Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole, Mikel, Mata (Malouda 59 mins), Meireles (McEachran 83), Ramires, Torres, Anelka (Drogba 79). Subs not used: Turnbull, Luiz, Lampard, Kalou.
Yellow cards: Cole, Mikel, Mata.
Red card: Torres.
Scorers: Torres (26), Ramires (36, 76), Drogba (90+4)
Swansea: Vorm, Rangel, Monk, Williams, Taylor, Britton (Routledge 46), Gower, Allen, Dyer (Dobbie 71), Lita (Graham 59), Sinclair.Subs not used: Tremmel, Moore, Bessone, Richards.
Booked: Taylor, Monk, Dyer.
Scorer: Williams 86.
Referee: Mike Dean.


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Express:

CHELSEA 4 SWANSEA 1: FERNANDO TORRES' HORRORS
By Clive White

For the second week running a piece of sublime skill from Britain’s most expensive footballer was followed by a mental aberration, only on this occasion it led to his first sending-off in English football.
Fortunately for Chelsea they were two goals to the good at the time, so a home win was never in much doubt.
The straight red card was out of character and as hard to explain as his open-goal miss against Manchester United the previous weekend.
Had Torres been enduring one of the kind of frustrating afternoons of which he has had many at Stamford Bridge since his £50million arrival from Liverpool in January, it would have been understandable.
Instead he was enjoying one of his better games for the club. He had opened the scoring with a delightfully-taken goal after 29 minutes and was looking bright enough to score a few more.
What made him launch himself at Mark Gower on the halfway line 10 minutes later with two feet and studs up is anyone’s guess. It’s questionable whether he made contact with the Swansea midfielder but the intent was there. Mike Dean, the referee, had no hesitation in sending him off.
And even Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas, who had spent much of the week venting his displeasure with the officials at Old Trafford, admitted that it “looked a good decision”.
Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers, who had recommended Torres to former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho when he was working at the Bridge five years ago, did offer an explanation for the Spaniard’s strange behaviour.
“I don’t think he’s a malicious player,” said Rodgers. “He probably felt the ball was there to be won and the moment and was fighting for everything.”
Chelsea had posed no threat to Swansea up until the moment Mata picked out Torres in space. Half a yard is all he needs and he turned to score with ease.
Torres also initiated the quick break which led to Chelsea’s second goal. A diagonal ball from Ashley Cole found Ramires, who took one touch before lashing it past Michel Vorm.
Had the Swans capitalised on some good early pressure, the extra man might have been a factor. As it was, Chelsea were just a little too good for them, as Ramires showed when he held off a half-hearted challenge from Ashley Williams to score again.
The Swansea central defender made partial amends with a well headed goal, but late substitute Didier Drogba had the final word with a neatly-taken goal in added time.

MAN of the MATCH: Ramires – The Brazilian went a long way to winning over doubting fans. In the absence of Lampard, Chelsea needed that sort of contribution from midfield.

CHELSEA: Cech; Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole; Mikel; Ramires, Meireles (McEachran 82nd), Mata (Malouda 59th); Torres, Anelka (Drogba 78th).

SWANSEA: Vorm; Rangel, Monk, Williams, Taylor; Britton (Routledge 45th); Gower, Allen; Dyer (Dobbie 71st), Lita (Graham 58th), Sinclair.
Ref: M Dean Att: 41,800


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Sun on Sunday:

Chelsea 4 Swansea 1

FERNANDO TORRES went from hero to zero as he saw red against Swansea.
The Spanish hitman looked to have shaken off his shocking run of form at Manchester United last weekend.
And when he hit the back of the net for the second time in two matches, Chelsea fans must have been rejoicing.
But after Ramires had doubled the lead, Torres lunged in on Mark Gower and was instantly dismissed by referee Mike Dean.
The Blues were fortunate that it did not affect the result with Brazilian midfielder Ramires grabbing his second.
Swansea did grab a consolation in the 86th minute through Ashley Williams but Didier Drogba netted a late fourth in added time.
Stamford Bridge boss Andre Villas-Boas left Frank Lampard on the bench, preferring to play John Obi Mikel in midfield.
Nicolas Anelka also started ahead of Daniel Sturridge with Torres selected instead of Drogba, who had recovered from concussion.
Swansea named an unchanged line-up and dominated possession in the opening 15 minutes, without really troubling their hosts.
At the other end, Raul Meireles had a claim for a penalty waved away before he fired a volley over.
Ramires had a close-range shot blocked but Chelsea were hardly hitting the high expectations of their manager.
But that changed in the 29th minute when Juan Mata chipped over the top to Torres, who swiveled and found the bottom corner.
Swansea had been well-drilled until that point and, moments later, their offside trap just caught out Mata, who failed to finish anyway.
The winger was then needlessly booked for hauling back Rangel, with Williams close to converting the resultant free-kick.
But Chelsea's scintillating football finally arrived nine minutes from half-time.
A sweeping breakaway saw Ashley Cole pick out Ramires, who drilled the ball through Swans keeper Michael Vorm's legs.
But the Blues were down to 10 men when Torres undid all his good work when he was sent off three minutes later.
He dived in with both feet off the ground on Gower and Dean had no choice but to show red for the studs-first challenge.
Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers threw on Wayne Routledge for Leon Britton during the interval.
And the visitors laid siege to the Chelsea goal after the restart.
Meireles almost slid the ball into his own net, Nathan Dyer's shot deflected off Mikel onto the bar and Ashley Williams misdirected a header from a corner.
But Chelsea were always a threat on the break and Ramires volleyed wide before Mata was withdrawn for Florent Malouda.
Danny Graham came on for Leroy Lita just before the hour mark.
Anelka, now playing in a central role in the absence of Torres, sprinted 25 yards before unleashing a piledriver against the bar.
And with 15 minutes left on the clock, any faint hope of Swans comeback was over when Ramires burst forward into the box and slot home.
With a three-goal cushion, Villas-Boas gave Drogba a run-out in place of Anelka.
Williams' simple header from a free-kick gave the Swans fans something to cheer about.
But it was nothing more than a consolation as the Blues cruised to victory to keep up their incredible run of 63 matches unbeaten against promoted teams as Drogba hammered in the fourth.

Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole, Mikel, Mata (Malouda 59), Meireles (McEachran 83), Ramires, Torres, Anelka (Drogba 79). Subs Not Used: Turnbull, Luiz, Lampard, Kalou. Sent Off: Torres (39). Booked: Mata, Cole, Mikel. Goals: Torres 29, Ramires 36, 76, Drogba 90.
Swansea: Vorm, Rangel, Monk, Williams, Taylor, Britton (Routledge 46), Gower, Allen, Dyer (Dobbie 71), Lita (Graham 59), Sinclair. Subs Not Used: Tremmel, Moore, Bessone, Richards. Booked: Dyer, Monk, Taylor. Goals: Williams 86.
Att: 41,800
Ref: Mike Dean (Wirral).