Middlesbrough 0 Chelsea 5:CHELSEA LACKED some players, but they brought the full force of their reputation to Teesside. Middlesbrough quaked, as if their own turf were hostile territory. Victory becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy when the opposition is sure it will be beaten.
While Luiz Felipe Scolari's league leaders are a treat to watch, there is also a pragmatic benefit when rivals are incapacitated by the dread of embarrassment.
"I was concerned after three or four minutes because we didn't seem to have the energy and verve to go and chase the ball," manager Gareth Southgate he said.
The booing of some fans following the interval only faded when they walked out early. Southgate called it "understandable".
Chelsea, presented with timid opponents, were quite wonderful. When asked if this drubbing sent out a message to rivals, the manager replied that the important statement was the one addressed to him: those who took the place of the many absentees are intent on staying in the first team.
Juliano Belletti, for example, had been outstanding as an attacking midfielder long before he scored the second with a bending 30-yarder.
If Chelsea do still count on one person it is Frank Lampard. He is running games nowadays, and also kept his goal tally ticking over when heading Chelsea into a 4-0 lead from Salomon Kalou's perfect cross. The Ivorian appears to be flourishing under Scolari's tutelage.
The home side were terribly vulnerable on their right, where Jonathan Grounds, a left-back by preference, had to deputise for Hoyte. Wayne Bridge crossed from that flank in the 14th minute and David Wheater's clearing header was indecisive.
Belletti's shot then deflected into the path of Kalou, who finished easily.
The scorer's other goal came at the heart of a spell in which Chelsea beat Ross Turnbull three times in 12 minutes. Another excellent ball from Bridge was laid back by Florent Malouda and Kalou's drive broke off the chest of a woebegone Wheater en route to the net. The visitors halted the drubbing after the 67th minute, when Turnbull had spilt a Nicolas Anelka attempt on to the post and Malouda tucked in the loose ball.
Guardian Service
