Chelsea 3 - 0 Burnley

By Mark Ashenden

Anelka was a handful for the Burnley defence all afternoon

High-flying Chelsea crushed Burnley with a destructive display of flowing football to make it maximum points in their first four Premier League games.

Burnley's Martin Paterson wasted an early chance but Nicolas Anelka hooked in the opener just before half-time after Didier Drogba's square pass.

Frank Lampard chipped in for Michael Ballack to head the second and Ashley Cole volleyed in a stunning third.

Burnley's Brian Jensen inspired in goal as Chelsea eased towards another win.

It had been 35 years since the two sides met in the top flight - a 2-1 win to Chelsea at Turf Moor in 1974 - and apart from a couple of early scares the result was never in doubt for the rampant Blues.

Despite claiming the scalps of Manchester United and Everton in an impressive start to their Premier League campaign, Burnley began the match like a team over-awed in the company of their west London opponents.

On the same turf where they dumped Chelsea out of the Carling Cup last year in a penalty shoot-out, the Blues could easily have scored three times in the opening six minutes.

The best of these chances fell to Anelka, chosen as the second layer, alongside the effervescent Deco, of manager Carlo Ancelotti's 'Christmas tree' behind Drogba.

With Andre Bikey dithering on the ball, the French striker stole the ball and was through on goal but after Anelka's sloppy second touch, a relieved Jensen - impressive throughout - was able to smother the ball.

For all the confidence and swagger you would expect from a team who have not lost a league game since March, the hosts amazingly allowed Burnley to have two early opportunities.

Midfielder Chris McCann weaved his way through the defence and chipped wastefully over the bar, and then Paterson almost made Lampard pay for falling asleep on the edge of the box.

Defender Mears nicked the ball off the English midfielder and squared the ball to Paterson who skewed his shot disappointingly wide of Peter Cech's right post.

The Blues, though, kept piling forward with Essien and Deco dominating the midfield and it seemed only Jensen in the sticks was the only man capable of preventing a goal.

The Danish shot-stopper continued to take centre stage in the first-half, denying Ballack, a John Terry left-foot volley and a close-range blast from Lampard.

But with half-time looming, the opener arrived and fully deserved it was too.

The tireless Essien linked up well with Drogba down the right and after squaring a pass across to the back post, Anelka, under close supervision by defender Clarke Carlisle, slid the ball in off the right post.

It would have been a deflated away changing room and worse was to follow after their interval's cup of tea.

Anelka, finding room on the left, fed in Lampard who chipped over to the German Ballack to head the ball firmly into the back of the net.

With the comfort of a two-goal lead, Burnley looked shocked and with the shackles removed from the hungry Chelsea players, another goal soon arrived making it three strikes in seven minutes either side of half-time.

Lampard was again involved and after a cute one-two, Cole burst into the box to volley a stunning strike into the top left corner to notch only the third goal for his club.

The Blue tide showed no sign of stopping with an Essien shot pushed wide by Jensen, and the keeper was immediately in the thick of the action, tipping over another Ballack header.

Burnley boss Owen Coyle had spent 88 minutes screaming at his hard-working but out-classed players, but as the match neared its finish, the lively Scot even found time to laugh as he watched Mears clear Kalou's effort off the line.

Live text and stats

Saturday, 29 August 2009

Premier League

Home Team	Score	Away Team	Time
Chelsea	3 - 0	Burnley	R
(HT 1 - 0)
Anelka 45+2 Ballack 47 A Cole 52

Ref: ClattenburgAtt: 40906

CHELSEA

BURNLEY

Possession

Chelsea 64%
Burnley 36%

Shots on target

Chelsea 17
Burnley 0

Shots off target

Chelsea 10
Burnley 3

Corners

Chelsea 10
Burnley 1

Fouls

Chelsea 7
Burnley 5

Final Result
Full Time
90:00+2:56 The referee blows his whistle to end the game.
88:34 The assistant referee flags for offside against Wade Elliott. Ashley Cole restarts play with the free kick.
87:10 Salomon Kalou has an effort at goal. Clearance made by Tyrone Mears.
86:12 Frank Lampard produces a cross, clearance made by Clarke Carlisle.
85:54 Deco takes the outswinging corner, Clarke Carlisle makes a clearance.
85:14 Corner taken by Deco from the right by-line, Juliano Belletti takes a shot. Blocked by Joey Gudjonsson.
82:53 Handball decision goes against Ashley Cole. Tyrone Mears delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from right wing, Frank Lampard manages to make a clearance.
82:03 Free kick taken by Brian Jensen.
82:03 Substitution Michael Ballack goes off and Mikel comes on.
82:03 Nicolas Anelka is ruled offside.
80:16 The official flags Nicolas Anelka offside. Brian Jensen takes the direct free kick.
79:01 Deco takes the outswinging corner, Clarke Carlisle manages to make a clearance.
77:51 Substitution Fernando Guerrero on for Robbie Blake.
77:25 Frank Lampard takes the outswinging corner, clearance by Clarke Carlisle.
76:51 Inswinging corner taken by Deco from the left by-line played to the near post, Michael Ballack takes a shot. Save by Brian Jensen.
76:37 Shot by Michael Essien. Save made by Brian Jensen.
74:37 Substitution Salomon Kalou joins the action as a substitute, replacing Didier Drogba.
73:43 Substitution Kevin McDonald comes on in place of Graham Alexander.
72:45 The ball is delivered by Graham Alexander, save by Petr Cech.
70:34 Didier Drogba has an effort at goal from long distance that goes wide left.
70:02 Shot from just outside the penalty box by Steven Fletcher misses to the left of the target.
69:15 Shot by Didier Drogba. Save by Brian Jensen.
69:03 Centre by Nicolas Anelka, clearance made by Andre Bikey.
67:49 Outswinging corner taken by Deco, Didier Drogba takes a shot. Save by Brian Jensen.
66:50 Shot by Michael Essien. Brian Jensen makes a comfortable save.
66:36 Corner taken right-footed by Deco from the right by-line, Clarke Carlisle manages to make a clearance.
66:18 Michael Essien takes a shot from 20 yards. Save made by Brian Jensen.
Correction - 64:47 Substitution Jose Bosingwa goes off and Juliano Belletti comes on.
Correction - 64:47 Unfair challenge on Stephen Jordan by Jose Bosingwa results in a free kick. Graham Alexander takes the free kick.
64:47 Substitution Juliano Belletti on for Jose Bosingwa.
64:47 Stephen Jordan fouled by Jose Bosingwa, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Graham Alexander.
61:50 Didier Drogba takes a shot. Tyrone Mears gets a block in.
59:58 Nicolas Anelka sends in a cross, Clarke Carlisle manages to make a clearance.
59:04 Didier Drogba produces a right-footed shot from inside the area that goes over the bar.
Correction - 57:51 Substitution Joey Gudjonsson comes on in place of Martin Paterson.
57:51 Substitution Steven Thompson comes on in place of Martin Paterson.
56:11 Corner taken right-footed by Robbie Blake from the right by-line, save made by Petr Cech.
54:34 Nicolas Anelka takes the chance to get an effort at goal.
54:03 The ball is delivered by Jose Bosingwa, Steven Fletcher manages to make a clearance.
51:16 Assist by Frank Lampard.
51:16 GOAL - Ashley Cole:Chelsea 3 - 0 Burnley Goal scored by Ashley Cole from the edge of the area to the top right corner of the goal. Chelsea 3-0 Burnley.
Correction - 51:09 Frank Lampard provided the assist for the goal.
Correction - 51:09 GOAL - Ashley Cole:Chelsea 3 - 0 Burnley Ashley Cole gets on the score sheet with a goal from just inside the area to the top right corner of the goal. Chelsea 3-0 Burnley.
50:08 Robbie Blake sends in a cross, John Terry manages to make a clearance.
49:57 Chris McCann crosses the ball, John Terry makes a clearance.
49:37 Tyrone Mears fouled by Frank Lampard, the ref awards a free kick. Graham Alexander takes the free kick.
48:30 Didier Drogba has an effort direct from the free kick.
48:30 Booking Tyrone Mears is booked.
48:23 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ashley Cole by Tyrone Mears.
47:50 Jose Bosingwa challenges Robbie Blake unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Stephen Jordan.
46:56 Assist by Frank Lampard.
46:56 GOAL - Michael Ballack:Chelsea 2 - 0 Burnley Michael Ballack grabs a headed goal from close range. Chelsea 2-0 Burnley.
46:55 The ball is delivered by Frank Lampard,
45:36 Didier Drogba takes the chance to get an effort at goal. Brian Jensen makes a comfortable save.
45:01 The game restarts for the second half.
Half Time
45:00+2:23 The referee blows for half time.
45:00+1:15 Assist by Didier Drogba.
45:00+1:15 GOAL - Nicolas Anelka:Chelsea 1 - 0 Burnley Goal scored by Nicolas Anelka from inside the six-yard box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Chelsea 1-0 Burnley.
Correction - 45:00+1:08 The ball is delivered by Didier Drogba,
45:00+1:08 Didier Drogba produces a cross,
Correction - 45:00+1:06 Assist on the goal came from Didier Drogba.
Correction - 45:00+1:06 GOAL - Nicolas Anelka:Chelsea 1 - 0 Burnley Nicolas Anelka gets on the score sheet with a goal from close in to the bottom left corner of the goal. Chelsea 1-0 Burnley.
45:00+0:09 A cross is delivered by Tyrone Mears, save by Petr Cech.
44:10 Frank Lampard gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Graham Alexander. Direct free kick taken by Graham Alexander.
43:18 The ball is crossed by Didier Drogba.
42:44 Deco sends in a cross, clearance made by Clarke Carlisle.
42:27 The ball is sent over by Ashley Cole, clearance by Tyrone Mears.
39:58 Foul by Tyrone Mears on Nicolas Anelka, free kick awarded. Free kick crossed right-footed by Frank Lampard from left wing, save made by Brian Jensen.
38:55 Martin Paterson fouled by John Terry, the ref awards a free kick. Tyrone Mears takes the free kick.
36:28 Effort on goal by Michael Essien from long distance goes over the crossbar.
36:19 Michael Ballack sends in a cross, Clarke Carlisle makes a clearance.
36:04 Didier Drogba crosses the ball.
35:13 Michael Ballack crosses the ball.
34:17 Deco has an effort at goal from 25 yards. Save made by Brian Jensen.
31:45 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Steven Fletcher by Ashley Cole. Brian Jensen restarts play with the free kick.
31:34 The ball is delivered by Didier Drogba, clearance made by Graham Alexander.
30:46 Ashley Cole crosses the ball, Clarke Carlisle manages to make a clearance.
30:02 Frank Lampard takes a shot from 18 yards. Clarke Carlisle gets a block in.
29:43 Michael Essien takes the chance to get an effort at goal. Stephen Jordan manages to make a clearance.
29:20 Inswinging corner taken by Frank Lampard from the left by-line played to the near post, Graham Alexander makes a clearance.
28:47 Tyrone Mears sends in a cross, Ricardo Carvalho manages to make a clearance.
27:33 Foul by Steven Fletcher on Ashley Cole, free kick awarded. Petr Cech restarts play with the free kick.
26:28 The assistant referee flags for offside against Ashley Cole. Direct free kick taken by Brian Jensen.
24:17 The ball is sent over by Chris McCann, save by Petr Cech.
23:37 Didier Drogba has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the right of the target.
22:56 Corner taken by Deco, Shot by John Terry. Save by Brian Jensen.
22:38 Didier Drogba produces a drilled right-footed shot from 12 yards. Blocked by Clarke Carlisle.
21:19 The referee gives a free kick against Deco for handball. Brian Jensen restarts play with the free kick.
21:08 The ball is sent over by Frank Lampard, clearance by Clarke Carlisle.
20:38 Michael Ballack takes a shot. Brian Jensen gets a block in.
19:37 The ball is crossed by Martin Paterson, save made by Petr Cech.
18:55 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ricardo Carvalho by Martin Paterson. Petr Cech restarts play with the free kick.
15:15 The ball is sent over by Michael Ballack.
11:34 Michael Ballack gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Robbie Blake. Brian Jensen takes the free kick.
10:08 Deco takes a outswinging corner to the near post.
8:59 Effort from inside the area by Martin Paterson misses to the left of the goal.
7:43 The ball is crossed by Didier Drogba, clearance by Graham Alexander.
6:16 Shot on goal by Chris McCann from just inside the area clears the crossbar.
4:16 Graham Alexander gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Michael Ballack. Shot comes in from Didier Drogba from the free kick.
4:11 Jose Bosingwa crosses the ball, clearance made by Clarke Carlisle.
3:06 Michael Ballack delivers the ball.
2:42 Nicolas Anelka has a drilled shot. Comfortable save by Brian Jensen.
1:06 The ball is swung over by Jose Bosingwa.
0:00 The match has kicked off.

Live text and data provided by The Press Association.

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Saturday, August 29, 2009