Chelsea find top form to hand Carlo timely boost

CHELSEA fans sang Carlo Ancelotti’s name, Frank Lampard scored twice and Nicolas Anelka finally looked back to form as the FA Cup holders hit Roy Keane’s old boys for seven.

It would be an exaggeration to say this result will turn Chelsea’s season around, especially given a real lack of quality from managerless Ipswich who arrived in west London just days after Keane had been sacked; but the performance could certainly prove significant at a time when Ancelotti was said to be under intense pressure after one fan hung out a banner at Cobham calling for him to go last week.

That lonely fan will have few backers now, however, after a seven-goal demolition of Championship side Ipswich threw up a series of positive notes for Ancelotti to cling to, not least the performance of Lampard and two goals for Daniel Sturridge who had been given a rare opportunity to start up front ahead of Didier Drogba.