Match Report: Chelsea 4-1 Wigan Athletic

No changes from the Southampton game, was that good or bad? On the face of it, you have to say it was our strongest line up with Arouna Kone only just returning, none else in the team is really ready to step up to the plate. So we played with the same team, a narrow midfield and very one sided.

No surprise then for guessing we didn't really threaten Chelsea, but we did manage to have more of the ball early on in the game resembled more a 5-4-1 in the opening stages as we tried to keep possession and slow down Chelsea. We should have gone for the jugular and pushed them early on.

Chelsea not really threatened, and with their first chance of the game them cut us open. David Luiz slipping Fernando Torres through our sluggish defence, as the striker turned the ball into the path of Ramires who made it 1-0. Chelsea to push on and rack the goals up? Not really.

Although Chelsea looked to hit us hard, they only looked to hit us on the counter. For being the home team, they weren't being very dominate with the ball, yet to play against Latics you don't have to be; you just have to be clever. They tried as much as they could Chelsea, but they weren't going to break through our 10 man strong backline.

Only once did Ali Al Habsi have to be called into action. The omani having to make a finger tip save to deny Fernando Torres a goal. The rest of Chelsea's efforts were either wide or blocked as they tried to get a two goal lead before half time.

As it was the teams went in with the London club 1-0 up and Wigan looking under pressure. Changes at half time? None were forthcoming from either side, and so the game went onward in the same vein. However this time Chelsea managed to get that second goal.

Ten minutes into the half and Eden Hazard scored the second. The midfielder drifting into the box to get on the end of a cross from right back Azpilicueta, before slotting the ball home. Chelsea now were free to run away with the game, that was for two minutes before Shaun Maloney got in on the scoring act.

The midfielder bagging his second in two games, as Peter Cech came rushing out to the midfielder on the right of the box. The Scotland international stayed clam and slotted the ball home. A life line for Latics, could we draw level in this one?

It was time to rattle some cages, and Franco Di Santo started to get involved up front more as Latics started to push harder up front. Yet the striker was foiled twice by Gary Cahill as he looked to go through on goal, while Gary Cahill would survive a penalty shout after he handled the ball in the box. It wasn't a penalty, but Latics had the same thing given against them against Sunderland.

The flames in Wigan died out as legs became tired. That second goal looked to have alluded the Lancashire club, and Chelsea were now starting to look the more likely to score. They did just that with three minutes to go, as the man they wanted rid of Frank Lampard came to their rescue. Frank doing what he does best, a pass from Hazard and Lampard opened his body up and curled the ball home.

3-1 were they done? No there was still time for Chelsea to grab a late fourth with Marko Marin scoring his first Chelsea goal. Ali Al Habis parrying a shot from Azpilicueta into the path of the German winger. There was nothing Ali could have done as he was at full stretch to save the first shot.

A flattering score line for a Chelsea team that were there for the taking.