Chelsea demolish Derby

FABULOUS FRANKIE: A delighted Frank Lampard (L) hugs his Chelsea teammate Didier Drogba after scoring his fourth goal against Derby County during their Premiership match at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.Photo: AFP

Avram Grant can breathe a little easier after Frank Lampard came to the rescue of his beleaguered manager with a four-goal haul in his side's 6-1 demolition of Derby on Wednesday.
After Saturday's humiliating FA Cup defeat at Barnsley, Grant knew another slip-up could prove fatal to his brief reign, but Lampard's goal spree and strikes from Salomon Kalou and Joe Cole brushed aside Derby's feeble challenge at Stamford Bridge. Although beating the rock-bottom Rams will hardly convince the sceptics that Grant is the right man for the job, this was the perfect way to at least stem the tide of criticism threatening to sweep him to the sack.
It may be premature to claim this as a turning point but Chelsea are now within five points of Arsenal with a game in hand.
With Arsene Wenger's league leaders due to visit Stamford Bridge in two weeks, the prospect of a title challenge emerging from Chelsea's chaotic campaign cannot be dismissed.
"We won more than 80 per cent of the games in the league since I came here. It is enough to be close to first place. I can tell you we will keep fighting," Grant said.
Grant made five changes to the team that lost at Barnsley. There was no place for Didier Drogba but Lampard was back after being rested at the weekend.
If Grant could have hand-picked the ideal opposition to face after his FA Cup embarrassment, Derby would have been top of the list.
Their return to the top-flight has been an exercise in futility and a miserable 23-match winless run has left Paul Jewell's side certain to be relegated and in danger of becoming statistically the worst team in Premier League history.
Jewell said: "I've sat there for 90 minutes squirming in my seat. It was like a world heavy-weight champion against a light-weight.
"We can't compete with Chelsea for ability but we can for desire. There's not enough of the players who have that."
Chelsea dominated from the start and were within a whisker of taking the lead in the third minute when Kalou's reverse pass played in Lampard.
The England midfielder's shot beat Roy Carroll only to strike the far post.
Grant was finally able to relax in the 28th minute.
Joe Cole slipped a pass through to Lampard in the penalty area and he stumbled under Dean Leacock's challenge.
The Derby substitute made minimal contact with Lampard but missed the ball as well and referee Chris Foy pointed to the spot. Lampard picked himself up and calmly stroked the penalty past Carroll.
Derby were completely out of their depth and presented Grant's side with a farcial second goal in the 42nd minute.
When Nicolas Anelka chased down Lampard's pass, Darren Moore waited for Carroll to clear, but the keeper opted for a despairing tackle which went straight to Kalou.
The Ivory Coast striker took full advantage as his first-time shot flashed into the empty net from 30 yards.
Chelsea showed no signs of easing up after half-time and a third goal arrived in the 58th minute.
Anelka's pass gave Joe Cole room to drill a low cross to Lampard and he tapped-in from close-range.
That was more than enough to seal the points but this was a chance for Chelsea to boost their goal difference as well as Grant's morale.
The fourth goal was Joe Cole's in the 64th minute. Anelka sprinted clear of Derby's woeful offside trap and although Carroll saved his shot, Cole was on hand to bury the rebound.
Lampard completed his hat-trick two minutes later when his fine effort from the edge of the area bounced in over Carroll's dive.
He wasn't finished there and claimed another with a low strike into the corner in the 72nd minute for his 17th goal of the season.
Chelsea could be forgiven for one lapse in concentration and David Jones pulled a goal back for the visitors with a simple finish a minute later.
It hardly mattered and Grant can only wish every game was this easy.