The only consolation for Wolves in the teeming west London rain was that they did not emulate their predecessors. The last time the Midlands club were in the Premier League they conceded five goals on each of the two occasions they faced Chelsea. The final tally was one fewer this time around, but that should in no way disguise the utter domination of Carlo Ancelotti's side on a day they revelled as champions-elect.
A 12th consecutive home victory, a club record, was achieved with minimum fuss and remarkable class. The league leaders lacked key performers in Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack and Didier Drogba through injury, yet lost none of their commitment and, on numerous occasions, displayed eye-stretching movement. It was almost impossible, for example, to define Ashley Cole as a full-back, Michael Essien as a midfielder or Nicolas Anelka as a striker, such were the varied and numerous positions they took up on the pitch.
There was individual joy, too, for Joe Cole who scored his first goal for the club in 13 months following recovery from a knee injury. His was a roaming and penetrative display throughout the 90 minutes. "Every game he is improving," said Ancelotti of the midfielder. "That is good for us as he can do a good job for the team in the position he plays."
In truth, those words could have been expressed about every man in blue.
Returning from an international break and seeing only relegation-fodder in front of them, Chelsea could have allowed complacency to mark their approach to this fixture. Instead, though, they were ruthless from the start.
Florent Malouda opened the scoring after five minutes with a rasping left-footed drive following Jody Craddock's weak header before Essien secured two further goals in the space of 10 minutes, the first a free header from Malouda's inswinging corner and the second a low drive from the edge of the area following Salomon Kalou's sideways pass. "He is one of the most important midfielders in the world," Ancelotti said of Essien later. On the basis of this performance, it was hard to disagree.
The hosts created further chances, most notably though Malouda and Alex, before Cole sealed the rout. After that, the home supporters' loudest cheer was reserved for news of Arsenal's defeat at Sunderland. It had, for them, been a perfect afternoon.
Not so for the visitors who passed the ball well at times and could have taken the lead had David Edwards connected with a fourth-minute cross from the impressive Matthew Jarvis. But ultimately they remain 19th having conceded four times for the second successive game. Next up is the potentially crucial visit of local rivals Birmingham.
"I was happy to get nil in the end," said the Wolves manager Mick McCarthy, joking.
Indeed, such was the hosts' dominance that they could afford to bring on a trio of youngsters, none more notable than Gael Kakuta, the 18-year-old whose arrival at Stamford Bridge led to Fifa imposing a transfer ban on the club in September.
The French teenager impressed in the 30 minutes he was given by Ancelotti and the manager later made him the third player he singled out for praise.
"He has a lot of talent and he showed in this game what he can do," said the Italian. "For two or three weeks after the ban [was announced] he had some difficulties because he is young. But he is training and playing with the first-team now and we feel sure he will do better in the future."
