Both sides began the match with an intention to grab all three points and from the whistle go, the midfield engine from both sides were already in fourth gear.

Rooney, Fletcher and Carrick tried their luck for the Red Devils on multiple occasions but the first half was best summed up by a Nicolas Anelka effort which Van Der Sar had an one handed touch to it. Perhaps it was a piece of good goalkeeping but it could have been sheer luck.

The second half was littered by controversial decisions with Didier Drogba getting booked after he was kicked in the chest by Johnny Evans with a high flying kungfu kick.

But Chelsea scored the only goal of the game when Terry headed home from a Lampard freekick after Ashley Cole was fouled.

It was a tight game with Chelsea edging the encounter after settling into the game against a Manchester side which packed up their midfield.

It was a 11th consecutive home win for The Blues which is a club record and also a win on Joe Cole's birthday which is also mine.

Despite the fact that Chelsea worked as hard or even harder against the opposition, some have stated that only one team worked in the match. What kind of biased opinion is that?

And in a further justification that Chelsea would have won the match had the referee got all his decisions right, Evans would have been sent off after that high flying kick on Drogba and Chelsea would have earned a penalty.

Evans did get a yellow card later in the game and if the referee awarded a yellow for the challenge, it would have been a sending off for Evans as well.

So Chelsea would have won the match anyway.

Next up, Wolverhampton Wanderers at home without the injured Frank Lampard and Jose Bosingwa.

In their first of the double header clash with Bolton in 2 competitions, Chelsea came out top with their reserve team as a fit again Joe Cole was dominant in most of Chelsea's attacks and creating 2 goals as a result.

Chelsea took the lead in the 15th minute of play with Salmon Kalou heading the first goal in off a Paulo Ferreira cross. The Portuguese defender was starting his first game in since coming back from injury.

Hilario continued his heroic efforts for the team when he dived down to a Taylor shot but was hurt and subsequently injured. Ross Turnbull was brought on to replace the Portuguese stopper in goal.

Florent Malouda doubled Chelsea's lead when his header took a deflection and fell kindly for him to lash it back into the net to put the Blues 2 goals up at the interval. Essien came on for Kalou at the break.

Play resumed the same way it stopped with Daniel Sturridge fluffing two efforts at goal one minute after another. Both shots went wide much to the dismay of the young English striker and manager Carlo Ancelotti. Minutes later, Drogba replaced the young striker.

In the 67th minute, Joe Cole crossed a superb ball into the box after keeping it from going out of play but Drogba missed the ball which bounced nicely for Deco who made no mistake in increasing the lead.

With the game approaching an end, Klasnic found himself with an opportunity to shoot in Chelsea's penalty box but was cruelly denied by the post. 3 minutes later, a delightful Cole cross found Drogba who headed home the team's fourth goal of the match.

Both managers predicted it will not be the same kind of match come Saturday but just how different will it be?

The Blues went back to the top of the Premier League with a convincing display from all departments of the squad. In particular, the efforts of Joe Cole and Nicolas Anelka stood out.

Joe Cole made his first starting appearance in the league since an injury in January and was instrumental in numerous Chelsea attacks. As early as the first minute, Joe Cole nearly put Chelsea in front.

Without the services of regular fullbacks Ashley Cole and Jose Bosingwa, their replacements Juliano Belletti and Branislav Ivanovic did a more than superb job with their tireless running down the flanks.

Chelsea took the lead when Ballack found Anelka with an intelligent pass which the French striker crossed into the box using his left foot. Unable to stop Drogba who was bearing down quickly, Givet slid the ball into his own net to give The Blues a one goal advantage.

Despite a flurry of attacks, Chelsea were unable to add on to their lead until the 47th minute when Ivanovic did brilliantly well to win a throw in. The throw found Essien after some passes and the Ghanaian found Drogba with a smart pass. The shot was blocked but the rebound was poked to Lampard who made no mistake with his first goal from open play in weeks.

Chelsea were soon having shooting practice at the Bridge and Essien sent the stadium into loud roars when he crashed home a shot from distance. Drogba was then brought down and Lampard continued his tradition of scoring from the penalty spot.

It was really one way traffic as Anelka and Drogba next took turns testing Robinson with long range efforts. Drogba found the fifth when he headed home a Lampard corner and The Blues were ready to settle.

Out came Belletti, Carvalho and Joe Cole, and in went Ferreira, Bruma for his debut and Sturridge.

9 goals in 2 matches is certainly a very good haul for The Blues and looking in fine form to meet Bolton Wanderers in a double header with Chelsea at home in the Carling Cup before travelling to the Reebok Stadium for the league match.

Against the norm, Ancelotti has named his squad for today's Carling Cup match at Stamford Bridge and here is the lineup.

Hilario, Ferreira, Ivanovic, Alex, Belletti, Deco, Malouda, Ballack, Joe Cole, Kalou and Sturridge.

Substitutes are Turnbull, Bruma, Matic, Essien, Lampard and Drogba.

Captain Terry and Anelka takes a break from this match.