Chelsea go marching on at home and abroad, with their 100% record intact in both EPL and UEFA Champions League, although they have deigned to concede goals – one in each competition – as the form of goalkeeper Petr Cech provides manager Carlo Ancelotti with a rare concern.

Cech was badly at fault for the goal Chelsea conceded against Slovak champions MSK Zilinia in their opening Champions League Group F fixture this week.

He also made a number of other handling errors, although he appeared at the end of the game to be telling colleagues the floodlights at the Stadion Pod Dubnom were to blame.

 

But Chelsea had the game long won by then, going four goals up inside 48 minutes, with a brace for Nicolas Anelka, a third goal in two games for Ghanaian midfielder Michael Essien, and Daniel Sturridge’s first Champions League goal in his first Champions League start.

Anelka celebrated his first strike by miming being locked in handcuffs, which were then unlocked by co-celebrant Malouda, a piece of theatre which Anelka explained as “something for the French Federation about what happened at the World Cup.

The Federation banned Anelka from international selection for 18 matches for his part in France’s strife-torn World Cup. “It was just a joke,” Anelka added.

Before the game, played at the venue of and against the opposition for Chelsea’s first Champions League tie under Roman Abramovich’s ownership, John Terry emotively stated:

“Until we win that trophy I’m not going to die a happy man, that’s a fact.”

 

Referring to his penalty miss which cost them victory in the 2008 final against Manchester United in Moscow, he added: “I owe it to every Chelsea fan after what happened...I still hold that as a big responsibility.”

Chelsea’s European win came on the back of an equally comfortable away success in the EPL at London rivals and EPL bottom club West Ham.

Carlo Ancelotti’s men were two goals to the good within 18 minutes and ultimately cruised to a 3-1 win. They went ahead with a rare Essien headed goal. And their third goal was another “rare” Essien headed goal.

In between, they were gifted a freak goal when Didier Drogba’s long-range free-kick was spilled by West Ham’s former England keeper Robert Green.

Hammers centre-back Matthew Upson’s attempt to clear up the mess cannoned off Salomon Kalou’s heel and the ball looped into the net.

Chelsea are now two points clear of nearest rivals Arsenal at the EPL’s summit.

There was also good news on the injury front for Carlo Ancelotti’s men as pivotal midfielder Frank Lampard looks set to return to first-team action after his recent hernia operation.

Lampard last played in the Blues 2-0 home win over Stoke on August 28^th but is expected to retake his place in the starting line-up for newly-promoted Blackpool’s visit to Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

Ancelotti confirmed that “Lampard trained (on Wednesday) in Cobham (Chelsea’s Surrey training ground). I think he will be able to play on Sunday.”