Quinn's quality captivates

Sunderland fans should look away now. One day after their club launched an impressive history of their first 120 years, they may have seen one of the finest red and white performances in that time. Certainly their greatest moment since 3.32 pm on May 5th, 1973 when Ian Porterfield's right hook gave them the FA Cup.

Yet the overriding image from this game was a blue one - Chelsea are not good enough to win the Premiership. Equally importantly; do they care? The question has been asked before, but with each domestic defeat its pertinence increases.

Since Chelsea put five past Manchester United on October 3rd, they have won one of seven Premiership matches. They have lost at Liverpool, at Derby, at home to Arsenal and drawn at Everton. In the same period Chelsea have drawn in Milan and outplayed Feyenoord. This morning they fly to Rome to play Lazio tomorrow. They may well earn at least a point.

Those who dislike Chelsea's European emphasis are finding their approach increasingly irritating. But they will laugh last because Chelsea will not win the European Cup.

Then Gianluca Vialli will be under pressure. By searching for European glory without first winning their domestic league Chelsea undermine the traditions of the English game and every single one of those 120 years of history Sunderland fans cherish. In this regard Chelsea are probably UEFA's favourite team.

Their superannuated continentals received yet another English lesson here and, although after it Vialli delivered a statement of his alleged ambitions, he was not at all convincing.

"It's much easier to play in the Champions League," he said. "It is more difficult to do well in England. My priority is to build a team good enough to be successful in England."

If so, maybe players such as Marcel Desailly, who sloped off at half-time, and who, perhaps understandably, is less inspired by Watford and Sunderland than Lazio and Milan, should be told. Chelsea go to Hull City in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday and then host Leeds in the league. Does Desailly really fancy many quintessentially English occasions?

One of the most amazing feats of Sunderland's record-breaking charge to promotion last season was Peter Reid's ability to have his side "ready" for the most mundane of fixture. Yet even that appetite has been upped and they bit Chelsea with such ferocity the visitors' shock was visible.

Quinn was untouchable, his 37th minute outmanoeuvring of Desailly an emblem for the afternoon. From the volley that followed Kevin Phillips scored his second and Sunderland's third. The collective scream verged on the sexual. Phillips now has 17 goals in 17 Premiership matches. His 16th was his best, a sumptuous 25-yard shot that soared over Ed de Goey. And the Dutch goalkeeper was Chelsea's best player.

Quinn's second, also a beautifully controlled volley, means the partnership is worth 24 goals. Chris Sutton has scored two. Gustavo Poyet, gatherer of a late consolation, is Chelsea's top league scorer with five. His best was his acrobatic effort against Sunderland in the 4-0 thrashing on the opening day. Reid hates that goal.

He can forget about it now. He can forget about being Davy Crockett too. "Like John Wayne," was how he said he felt.

Sunderland: Sorensen, Makin, Craddock, Williams, Gray, Summerbee (Holloway 84), Thirlwell, Roy, Schwarz, Quinn, Phillips. Subs Not Used: Oster, Marriott, Reddy, Butler. Goals: Quinn 1, Phillips 23, 36, Quinn 38.

Chelsea: De Goey, Lambourde, Babayaro, Desailly (Terry 46), Hogh, Poyet, Wise (Wolleaston 77), Morris, Harley (Goldbaek 46), Zola, Flo. Subs Not Used: Petrescu, Cudicini. Booked: Babayaro, Harley. Goals: Poyet 81.

Referee: S Dunn (Bristol).