Hornets Humbled : Chelsea 5 Watford 0

Two goals from Daniel Sturridge inspired Chelsea to a thrashing of Watford as the FA Cup holders moved into the fourth round, reports espnstar.com.
Sturridge started and finished the scoring as Chelsea produced a five-star showing against their Coca-Cola Championship opponents.
An own goal from John Eustace, a deflected effort from Florent Malouda and a thunderous finish from Frank Lampard were sandwiched in between Sturridge's brace as Chelsea dominated from the start.
Sturridge, handed the task of replacing Didier Drogba while he is away on international duty in the African Nations Cup, put the home side in front in the fifth minute with his first goal for the club.
A corner from Lampard was headed down by Alex for John Terry to fire the ball into the six-yard box, where Sturridge pounced to score.
Sturridge was in fine form and almost added a second moments later but saw his 20-yard shot just flash past Scott Loach's left-hand upright.
But Chelsea went two goals in front in the 14th minute thanks to a comedy of errors from the Championship side.
Malouda's cross was hit back into the six-yard box by Joe Cole, only for the ball to cannon off Jay Demerit. The Watford captain watched in horror as the ball then slammed against Lampard before Eustace turned it into his own net as he tried to clear.
Chelsea were completely on top and moments later Loach made a superb one-handed save to stop a thumping header from Alex finding the net.
In the 19th minute Juliano Belletti was inches away from a third when he hit Lampard's corner first time from 20 yards out.
But Chelsea made it 3-0 in the 21st minute when a 20-yard shot from Yury Zhirkov deflected off Malouda and sent Loach the wrong way.
Another superb Chelsea move in the 37th minute almost brought the home side a fourth.
This time captain Terry joined the attack and his superb through-ball gave Sturridge the chance to score his second - but the striker sent his left-foot shot just wide of the far post.
Watford started the second half brightly and in the 52nd minute, Henri Lansbury saw a shot deflected for a corner as Chelsea's defence failed to clear.
Seconds later Demerit tested Chelsea goalkeeper Hilario with a firm header from the resultant corner.
But Chelsea soon got back on top of the game and in the 55th minute Ashley Cole was a yard wide with an angled drive.
The England-full-back then lifted the ball on to the roof of the net in the 60th minute as the Blues continued to dominate.
Sturridge then raced clear of the Watford defence but was foiled by a fine save from Loach as he attempted to lift the ball over his head and into the net.
But Chelsea made it 4-0 in the 64th minute with a superb Lampard strike.
The England midfielder was given time and space some 25 yards out and sent a thunderous rising drive into the roof of the net. It was a fabulous finish from the Chelsea midfielder who had been at the centre of all the home side's best moves.
Four minutes later it was 5-0 after Ashley Cole and Zhirkov combined superbly on the left wing. Cole's run into the penalty box was followed by a clever cross to the waiting Sturridge, who controlled the ball and slipped it beyond the helpless Loach.
However, the striker's hopes of a hat-trick were ended soon after when he was replaced by Fabio Borini, although he left the field to a standing ovation from the home fans.
In the 85th minute Joe Cole almost got himself on the scoresheet but his shot on the turn was just too high.
Chelsea continued push for a sixth and Lampard was inches away from getting a touch to a cross from Branislav Ivanovic in the 90th minute.

Fulham Floored : Chelsea 2 Fulham 1

Chelsea came from behind to spare their blushes against west London neighbours Fulham and restore their five-point lead at the Premier League summit, reports sportal.co.nz.
Zoltan Gera gave Roy Hodgson's side a fairytale start at Stamford Bridge when he struck after just three minutes and Fulham looked comfortable for the first hour.
But then Chelsea moved through the gears and was rewarded with two goals in two minutes with Didier Drogba notching the equaliser before the pressure forced defender Chris Smalling to concede an own goal.
It was a cruel blow for Fulham who defended heroically until the Blues' onslaught began to take its toll.
The 20-year-old Smalling, deputising for the injured Brede Hangeland, will feel particularly aggrieved after making a fine full debut - until he turned the ball into his own net.
Chelsea's unconvincing performance, which was one-dimensional and lacked imagination, will have given its title rivals further encouragement that the championship race is far from over.
Jose Mourinho, watching from the stands in preparation for Inter Milan's Champions League clash against his former club, will also have been encouraged by what he saw.
Carlo Ancelotti reacted to Chelsea's run of just one victory in five matches by making six changes.
Only John Terry remained from the back four that started the goalless draw against Birmingham with Ricardo Carvalho, Yury Zhirkov and Paulo Ferreira joining him.
Midfielders Joe Cole and Michael Ballack also returned, while Drogba and Salomon Kalou played their last matches in club colours before heading off to the African Nations Cup.
But despite the shake-up Chelsea suffered from an abysmal lack of penetration in the final third where vast reams of possession were wasted amid a flurry of mis-hit shots.
In contrast, Fulham was able to unpick its opponent as early as the third minute.
Paul Konchesky found acres of space on the left before launching a cross that deceived Terry and the England skipper watched in horror as Bobby Zamora, stationed six yards out, found Gera.
The Hungarian was stood at point blank range but still had work to do as he controlled the ball, turned and planted his shot beyond Petr Cech.
Gera celebrated with a back flip but whatever the scoreline said it was all Chelsea with Fulham struggling to string more than a couple of passes together.
Only resolute defending was keeping the blue horde at bay with Konchesky executing a well-timed tackle on Lampard as the England midfielder weaved his way into the area.
For all their possession, however, Chelsea were failing to create any chances and were becoming less of a threat as the match progressed.
Cech had to palm a shot by Clint Dempsey over the crossbar after the American had been expertly set up by Zamora, whose physical presence was causing Chelsea problems.
Referee Andre Marriner told captains Danny Murphy and Terry to speak with John Pantsil and Drogba in response to the African rivals' running battle.
It was then Schwarzer's turn to talk to Drogba following his challenge on Pantsil and moments later the Ivorian was floored by a kick from his nemesis after his thunderbolt had been blocked.
Chelsea enjoyed a lucky escape seconds after the interval when a poorly-judged backpass by Carvalho was intercepted by Zamora, whose shot cannoned off the leg of the advancing Cech.
Schwarzer was pressed into action on the hour when he made a fine stop of Drogba's curling effort from the edge of the area.
Fulham's defence was finally starting to creak but two poor shots by Kalou and Lampard let them off the hook.
Chelsea replaced Mikel with Daniel Sturridge and Fulham brought on Andy Johnson for Gera as the match entered the final 20 minutes.
The equaliser finally arrived in the 73rd minute, substitute Branislav Ivanovic picking out Drogba who rose above Chris Baird at the far post to nod home.
And two minutes later Chelsea stormed ahead when Smalling, attempting to clear Schwarzer's save of Sturridge's shot, turned the ball into his own net for the winner.

Brummies Unbreached : Birmingham C 0 Chelsea 0

The Blues had to be content with a Boxing Day point at in form Birmingham as the two sides played out a scoreless draw, reports sportal.co.nz.
While Chelsea enjoyed the better chances, it was Birmingham who had the ball in the net at St Andrew's, Christian Benitez poking it over the line and apparently being played onside by an injured Didier Drogba only to see the flag raised against him.
The visitors, defending a four-point lead over second-placed Manchester United, had excellent chances to win it themselves as Branislav Ivanovic, Daniel Sturridge, Alex and Florent Malouda all went close. Malouda, meanwhile, was dismissed in the closing stages after receiving a second caution.
Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti handed Sturridge - whose father Michael and uncle Simon are former Birmingham players - his first Premier League start in the absence of the injured Nicolas Anelka.
Birmingham were unchanged for the seventh successive game as they attempted to build on a nine-match unbeaten run.
The home side carved out the first chance less than a minute into the match, Barry Ferguson catching Chelsea cold with a sweeping pass that Cameron Jerome brought under control only to fire off target.
Chelsea right-back Ivanovic came close to opening the scoring in the 11th minute when he rose to meet Malouda's corner but headed just over.
Frank Lampard scooped a 35-yard effort well over as Chelsea continued to push forward, while Juliano Belletti headed just wide from a tight angle in the 18th minute.
Drogba continued the assault when he met Ivanovic's cross from deep with a powerful volley that whistled wide, and soon afterwards Sturridge blasted a shot that Joe Hart did well to save.
Lampard's snap-shot forced another good save from Hart after good forward play by Drogba to create the opening.
Birmingham had the ball in the net in the 31st minute only for it to be ruled out somewhat harshly.
When the ball was fired back into the box after a free-kick, with Drogba lying injured, Liam Ridgewell directed the ball towards goal - only for Benitez, apparently in an offside position, to stab it over the line and see the goal ruled out by the assistant referee's flag. However, television replays suggested the home fans' frustration was justified, with Drogba playing the striker onside.
Chelsea hit back, with Alex's powerful free-kick from distance smashing into the crossbar with half-time approaching.
In added time, Sturridge had a glorious opportunity when Drogba crossed from the right but the youngster's volley at the far post was narrowly wide.
After a quiet opening to the second half in which Chelsea probed without making headway, City striker Benitez cut inside for a shot that Terry blocked well with his head in the 58th minute.
Livewire Benitez was Birmingham's dangerman and he forced Malouda to foul him and concede a yellow card on the hour following more determined dribbling.
From the resulting free-kick, Sebastian Larsson curled a trademark effort towards the top left-hand corner that Petr Cech did well to save, injuring himself against the post in the process but recovering quickly.
The visitors continued to press at the other end and Belletti and Lampard had half-chances, while Ancelotti replaced Sturridge with Salomon Kalou in the 67th minute.
Kalou nearly had an immediate impact as his cross from the right found Malouda, who miscued woefully in lots of space.
Hart produced another excellent save from Drogba's shot in the 71st minute before Lampard scuffed a first-time effort from the corner that followed.
Birmingham broke forward in the 74th minute after James McFadden fed Jerome but the striker could not provide an end product as he was smothered in the Chelsea box.
Malouda's nightmarish afternoon was complete when he received a second yellow card in the closing stages for an ill-judged challenge on Stephen Carr, while substitutes Keith Fahey and Damien Johnson both created half-chances for Birmingham during six minutes of added time.

Irons Inspired : West Ham 1 Chelsea 1

Frank Lampard showed the nerve which has made him one of England's finest players to rescue a point to draw 1-1 with West Ham which takes Chelsea four points clear at the top of the Premier League at Christmas,reports sportal.co.nz.
Lampard, once hailed but now routinely jeered inside the Upton Park ground he graced as a youngster, slotted home a penalty in the second half which he was forced to take three times.
Some players might have been thrown by that. Lampard simply kept rippling the back of West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green's net until referee Mike Dean finally signalled the goal which cancelled out a first-half penalty by Alessandro Diamanti.
But if it signalled two dropped points for Chelsea in their quest for the title, then for West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola perhaps this was the corner he has been waiting to turn.
The corner which means the Hammers will not be bottom on Christmas Day, which is usually a prelude to relegation.
Instead, Zola can forget bringing in a psychologist, as he had admitted thinking of, to boost the confidence of his West Ham players.
All he needs to do is show them the video of this battling performance, when at last they added grit to their undoubted style.
Maybe the improvement was sparked by the fact that Zola was facing his old club and opposing manager Carlo Ancelotti, with whom he used to play for Italy.
You certainly could not fault West Ham's work rate, nor their readiness to play football. It was committed to the fluent, passing, scampering style of play for which Zola has always been famed.
Scott Parker, in particular, was a terrier in the centre of midfield. So was Jack Collison, while Guillermo Franco was a threat up front.
True, Chelsea, with Joe Cole and Lampard back on the ground where they learned their football, always had more physical power.
They might have taken the lead after 22 minutes when Branislav Ivanovic's powerful header from a corner was chested off the line by Parker.
Lampard, who received a predictably hostile reception, also spurned a good chance when he fluffed a left-footed shot from eight yards.
But it was West Ham who took the lead and no-one could say they did not deserve it, even if it was via the penalty spot.
Collison surged at the heart of Chelsea's defence and as he bore down on goalkeeper Petr Cech, England full-back Ashley Cole slid in.
The tackle needed to be perfect. It wasn't and referee Mike Dean had no hesitation pointing to the spot to allow Diamanti to send Cech the wrong way.
Cue the sort of Upton Park euphoria which has been in scarce supply this season.
It must have been an easy half-time team talk for Zola. Carry on playing as you are.
And they tried to, snapping and harrying the blue shirts with a tenacity which made a nonsense of their lowly league position.
They were undone by what looked like a dodgy refereeing decision from Mr Dean, who pointed to the spot when Matthew Upson tackled Chelsea substitute Daniel Sturridge.
It looked as if he took the ball, a message he attempted to deliver to the assistant referee when he raced to the touchline miming the shape of a football.
No matter, Lampard took the spot kick and scored, only for it to be scratched by the referee for encroaching players. Lampard tried again and scored again, only for the picky Mr Dean to order the kick to be retaken once more.
To Lampard's credit he did not let it upset him, stroking the ball home once more and this time the referee did point to the halfway line.
West Ham could have let their heads drop as they has done in recent months when faced with adversity.
But they did not and it took a diving save from Cech in the 72nd minute to beat away a powerful left-foot shot from the lively Diamanti.
They also found the resilience to keep out a surging Chelsea finish.
"Things can change very quickly in football," Zola told the fans in the matchday programme.
He was right. Now the Hammers need a lot more of the same.

Avram Returns : Chelsea 2 Portsmouth 1

A second-half penalty from Frank Lampard spared Chelsea's blushes as bottom club Portsmouth threatened to further undermine their title ambitions, reports sportal.nz.
Lampard scored from the spot in the 78th minute after Branislav Ivanovic had been fouled by Marc Wilson.
Chelsea had followed defeat to Manchester City with a 3-3 home draw with Everton but were back to winning ways for the first time in five games in all competitions to restore their three-point lead at the top of the table.
Lampard's strike also ruined former boss Avram Grant's return to Stamford Bridge after lowly Pompey had threatened to leave with a point when Frederic Piquionne cancelled out a first-half goal from Nicolas Anelka in the 50th minute.
Yet again Chelsea's defending from set-pieces was called into question as they conceded their 12th goal out of 14 this season from a dead-ball situation.
Chelsea almost opened the scoring in the second minute when Michael Ballack's shot flashed just the wrong side of Asmir Begovic's left-hand upright.
Anelka was just as close with a 20-yard drive that was tipped around the post by Begovic.
Chelsea were completely on top and a corner from Deco in the seventh minute found the head of Ballack.
The Germany captain flicked the ball into the six-yard box where Salomon Kalou headed over the bar from point-blank range.
England midfielder Lampard, normally deadly from the edge of the penalty area, was thwarted by Begovic in the 18th minute.
The Pompey goalkeeper dived low to his right to collect Lampard's low drive with some ease.
But the goal finally arrived for the home side when central defender Alex made a stunning run down the right flank and crossed for Anelka to sidefoot home from six yards.
The Brazilian defender held off the challenge of Hermann Hreidarsson to pull back for Anelka who finished with ease.
Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech had been a spectator for most of the first-half but the Czech Republic international preserved the home team's lead in the 33rd minute.
Portsmouth finally put a decent move together with Jamie O'Hara feeding Piquionne.
The Pompey striker turned and hit a vicious low shot which Cech did well to save as the ball sped towards the bottom corner.
But Chelsea responded quickly and when Ballack played a free-kick into the path of Alex, the Brazilian drilled a shot just wide of the far post.
In the 40th minute, Portsmouth should have equalised when Ivanovic gave away a free-kick.
But former Chelsea defender Tal Ben Haim headed O'Hara's free-kick just over from six yards.
Chelsea's nervousness from set-pieces was clear to see and Kevin-Prince Boateng almost made them pay in the 43rd minute but shot wide.
However, Chelsea's set-piece disasters continued in the 50th minute when captain John Terry fouled Boateng 25-yards out.
O'Hara's free-kick rebounded against the wall and then off the unfortunate Ashley Cole into the path of Piquionne who fired an equaliser into the roof of the net.
Ancelotti's insistence that his side would learn their lessons from recent setbacks had clearly fallen on deaf ears.
But Chelsea only had themselves to blame. They had given away so many free-kicks around the penalty area that it had only been a matter of time before Portsmouth took advantage.
The response from the home side was immediate as they increased the tempo of the game.
But yet again Chelsea had waited for the opposing team to score before they began to play with restored intensity.
Ivanovic forced Begovic into a fine save when the full-back let fly from 25 yards in the 57th minute.
Ancelotti had clearly seen enough of the disappointing Deco and in the 58th minute, the Portugal international made way for Joe Cole.
Five minutes later Chelsea replaced John Mikel Obi with Florent Malouda as the home fans became more and more frustrated by their inability to re-impose themselves on the bottom club.
Anelka forced Begovic into a fine save at his near post but Chelsea's attempts to get back in front were somewhat laboured.
Chelsea finally got themselves out of trouble in the 78th minute when Ivanovic was felled by Wilson inside the penalty area and Lampard fired home the spot-kick to make it 2-1.
Substitute Fabio Borini then squandered a chance to make it three when he fired wide from an acute angle after rounding Begovic in the injury time.