12) Chelsea Fc 4 - 0 Watford

Sat, 11th Nov 2006 Chelsea recorded a convincing victory for the second time in a week at Stamford Bridge with a confident performance that started rather slowly but rapidly improved as the game went on. The hero of the day was , once again, Didier Drogba who scored a marvellous hat-trick, but he was ably supported by his partner in crime, Andriy Shevchenko who scored the third and set up the first two goals. Sticking with the system that served him so well against Aston Villa on Wednesday night, Jose Mourinho rewarded Gérémi for his fine performance with another start. Ashley Cole was selected at left-back and began in positive mood, looking to get forward and support the diamond-shaped midfield as often as he could. In goal, Carlo Cudicini was tested with some high balls in the opening ten minutes of his Premiership return, but he proved equal to the task. On 11 minutes, Drogba turned well in the area, showing good strength to hold of Shittu, but he could not catch the ball how he would have liked to and his shot bobbled wide. And eight minutes later the lively Drogba might have headed Chelsea in front when Frank Lampard picked him out with a curling ball, but his connection was not right and the ball flew up and over. The lead did arrive in the 26th minute as Carvalho pushed forward and played a through ball to the surging Gérémi who swung a near post cross in. Shevchenko touched on to the back post and Drogba slid the ball in past the committed Ben Foster. A wonderful move that demonstrated the importance of our attacking full-backs at the moment. And the importance of Drogba at the moment was highlighted again when he scored yet another after 35 minutes, playing a neat one-two with Shevchenko on the edge of the box, and firing low inside the far post after a powerful run into the area. 'That's why we're champions' sang the supporters in the Shed and it seemed fitting as Chelsea's slick movement unlocked yet another defence. Five minutes prior to half-time, Cudicini had to make a close-range stop when a poorly cleared free kick was launched back into the box and Danny Shittu stuck his right boot out. The Italian goalkeeper stuck a leg out as he went to ground and made an excellent save in doing so. It was Watford's first opportunity, and showed that they would not be beaten this early in the game. Minutes into the second half, Gérémi sprung a throw in into Drogba whose neat touch bounced in behind the Watford defence and was met by Michael Ballack. His attempted lob, however, dropped wide of the far post.

The third arrived in the 51st minute when Shevchenko rounded the goalkeeper with a chested touch from Drogba's lofted through ball and pushed the ball in. A partnership has formed here, and it was at its most evident today. The form of Wednesday had effortlessly rolled over to the weekend with an attacking zeal noticeable in all the Blues players. And Lampard was the next to benefit from Shevchenko's superb vision when the Ukrainian played a left-footed pass on the turn to find Lampard in space on the left side of the area, but his shot was blocked by the recovering Doyley and went behind for a corner. Lampard, clearly hungry for a goal, then thumped a very central free kick over, although he caught it very well. After 65 minutes, Mourinho looked to stretch a weary Watford defence by bringing on the pacey Arjen Robben in place of the excellent Shevchenko. With a hand in all three goals, Shevchenko had enjoyed arguably his best game in Chelsea blue. Drogba secured his hat-trick with help, once again, of Gérémi who crossed from the right after Robben had released him. The Cameroonian's cross was met by the head of the rampant Ivorian who headed in Chelsea's fourth with 68 minutes on the clock. At this point there were no signs of Chelsea abandoning their attacking approach and Ashley Cole stormed forward minute's later - his shot saved well by Foster at the near post. Then, as he had done in the week, Mourinho brought on a second wide player in the shape of Joe Cole. Watford were well and truly on the rack by this moment and a wide Chelsea attack would surely test their tiring legs further. Ballack was the man to give way in this instance. So when yet another winger was brought on, this time Shaun Wright-Phillips, Joe Cole was given a more central role as Robben moved out to the left wing and Wright-Phillips took up his position on the right flank. As expected, Robben and Wright-Phillips were lively and dangerous. Chelsea looked calm and assured by this stage, but the industrious substitutes were out to impress, and Lampard continued to be the driving force in midfield that he had been throughout the match. A wonderful performance and a professional attitude had seen this Blues team take Watford to pieces and our unbeaten run at Stamford Bridge in the league was stretched to 50 games in wonderful style.

Chelsea (4-1-2-1-2): Cudicini; Gérémi, Carvalho, Terry (c), A Cole; Makelele (WrightPhillips 76); Essien, Lampard; Ballack (J Cole 72); Shevchenko (Robben 65), Drogba Scorers: Drogba 26, 35, 68, Shevchenko 51 Booked: Ballack 39 Watford (4-4-2): Foster; Doyley, DeMerit, Shittu, Stewart; Smith (Bangura 69), Francis, Mahon (c), Bouazza (Powell 62), Young, Henderson Booked: Doyley 44