Hasselbaink hat-trick keeps Chelsea in touch

Chelsea 5 Wolves 2

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink celebrated his 32nd birthday by coming off the bench and scoring a 12-minute hat-trick, including his 100th Premiership goal, to help Chelsea come from behind to defeat a fighting Wolves team.

Mario Melchiot settled early nerves by putting Chelsea ahead in only the fourth minute, but Henri Camara capitalised on some sloppy defending to equalise after 23 minutes.

Wolves were dreaming of their first Barclaycard Premiership win away this season when Jody Craddock headed them into a 57th minute lead.

But Frank Lampard marked his 100th consecutive Premiership appearance with a 70th minute equaliser and Hasselbaink spared Chelsea’s blushes with a treble inside the final 12 minutes to flatter the hosts.