11/01/2003  Chelsea 4 Charlton 1
 
On a pitch resembling Copacabana beach, Chelsea produced a 
performance to match with their touch of Brazilian flair 
overwhelming Charlton at Stamford Bridge.

Despite the appalling surface, the Blues, who had taken 
just one point from their three previous league games, wasted 
no time in relaunching their Premiership campaign in some 
style.

They seized the lead after just two minutes through Jimmy 
Floyd Hasselbaink's contentious penalty, the day after Claudio 
Ranieri had effectively admitted his forward was for sale at 
the right price.

And with further strikes by William Gallas and Eidur 
Gudjohnsen, they were out of sight well before half-time.

Although Charlton pulled a goal back through their own 
spot-kick, an appalling blunder by keeper Dean Kiely allowed 
Graeme Le Saux to put Chelsea 4-1 ahead on 54 minutes.

Other chances came and went but their most convincing win 
of the season still ensured a measure of revenge after 
Charlton had completed the double over them in the past two 
seasons.

Ranieri's side, who also triumphed at The Valley in August 
in a late comeback, still benefited from a controversial 
ruling by Mike Dean less than two minutes into this game.

A neat flick by Gudjohnsen set up Le Saux to cross but any 
contact that Chris Powell then made with Hasselbaink as they 
went for the ball together was at best minimal.

Referee Dean nevertheless pointed straight to the spot - 
when he could find it, that is - and Hasselbaink sanded 
himself down before sending Kiely the wrong way.

It was clearly not Powell's day. For he had little time to 
recover before playing an unwitting role in Chelsea's second 
goal with just 10 minutes gone.

Jesper Gronkjaer's through-ball looked harmless enough 
until Powell miskicked his clearance and Gallas took full 
advantage as he volleyed the loose ball into the far corner of 
the net.

Despite the appalling conditions, Chelsea were still 
managing to play one-touch passing game that gave them the 
edge and Le Saux flashed another shot just wide.

Charlton, meanwhile, were rather less dangerous up front 
and they still struggled to make an impact even though 
Emmanuel Petit was drafted back into defence as John Terry 
went off injured.

Euell wasted three openings, including an indirect 
free-kick near the penalty spot, and Chelsea's response was as 
effective as it was simple.

In a classic counter-attack, Gronkjaer went past Powell and 
crossed towards Gudjohnsen at the far post for him to deliver 
a shot which deflected off Luke Young and duly evaded Kiely at 
his near post.

There was some relief for the visitors five minutes before 
the break when they earned their own dubious penalty after 
Petit had conceded possession on the edge of his box.

Marcel Desailly was adjudged, possibly harshly, to have 
fouled Kevin Lisbie and Euell this time held his nerve to beat 
Cudicini from the spot.

Alan Curbishley boldly made a double change at the 
interval, with strikers Kevin Bartlett and Jonatan Johansson 
replacing midfielder Radostin Kishishev and full-back 
Powell.

However, amid a feisty start to the second half, it was 
still Chelsea who continued to threaten.

Le Saux's free-kick almost managed to lob Kiely, but the 
Charlton keeper recovered his ground to tip the ball over the 
bar.

Kiely was nevertheless left red-faced when his awful 
mistake allowed Le Saux's speculative long-range shot to slip 
through his grasp and sneak inside the far post.

Hasselbaink came desperately close to putting Chelsea 
further ahead when he struck the inside of the post and 
despite moving to a back three, Charlton were still under 
pressure.

That they survived without going even further behind was 
more down to luck than judgment as their superb run of eight 
league games without defeat came unceremoniously to an end. 
Chelsea, in turn, moved back to five points behind Arsenal.

The pitch, meanwhile, will now be relaid although, on this 
display, maybe the Blues have mastered their own brand of 
beach football.