Chelsea go top after easy win

Chelsea 4 Watford 0

Didier Drogba gunned down Watford with a stunning treble as Chelsea briefly moved level on points with Manchester United at the top of the Premiership.

Drogba, a constant threat throughout, slammed home his second treble of the season with goals in the 27th, 36th and 69th minutes.

The Ivory Coast hitman, who has now scored 14 this season, also turned provider to help Andriy Shevchenko bag Chelsea's third in the 53rd minute.

Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho kept faith with Italian goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini for their clash with Watford at Stamford Bridge.

Cudicini, who returned in place of Hilario for the midweek win over Aston Villa in the Carling Cup, makes his first league appearance since being concussed at Reading last month.

England left-back Ashley Cole replaced Wayne Bridge at left-back and captain John Terry was back after suspension in place of Khalid Boulahrouz.

Watford manager Adrian Boothroyd recalled Ben Foster in goal along with captain Gavin Mahon and striker Tommy Smith to the side which lost out on penalties in the Carling Cup to Newcastle in midweek.

Chelsea took just five minutes to win their first corner of the game but Didier Drogba's header was charged down by the Watford defence.

The Blues, looking to reach 50 league games without defeat against the Barclays Premiership newcomers, took longer than usual to find their slick passing style.

But in the 10th minute Drogba almost put them in front when he hooked Geremi's free-kick just wide of Ben Foster's left-hand upright.

Coach Jose Mourinho, clearly unhappy with Chelsea's rather lacklustre start to the game, urged his side forward in his usual animated style from the touchline.

It had the desired effect with Michael Ballack finding Geremi on the right flank with a beautifully flighted long pass.

The Chelsea defender clipped the ball back into the path of the waiting Frank Lampard only for his curling cross to be headed over the bar by Drogba.

Cudicini, making his first league start since being concussed at Reading last month, had little to do as Chelsea enjoyed the lion's share of the possession.

The visitors were matching Chelsea for effort and that was stifling the game in midfield.

Chelsea, without the pace of Arjen Robben in attack, were finding it increasingly difficult to find a way through Watford's well-marshalled rearguard.

The breakthrough finally arrived in the 27th minute when Drogba scored his 12th goal of the season.

Ricardo Carvalho fed the ball to Geremi on the right flank and his low cross was missed by Andriy Shevchenko before falling at the feet of the Ivory Coast striker to prod home from six yards.

Drogba added his second in the 35th minute after Chelsea carved open the Watford defence with efficient ease.

Lampard and Ballack combined in midfield with a myriad of short passes before the ball found its way to Drogba.

He played a neat one-two with Shevchenko before turning to fire home from an acute angle on the edge of the six-yard box.

It was not vintage Chelsea by any means but the champions had enough power and pace to overcome Watford's stubborn resistance without hitting top gear.

However, five minutes before the interval Cudicini did well to keep Chelsea's two-goal lead in tact when he saved with his feet to deny Dan Shittu.

In the 44th minute Lloyd Doyley came close to giving away a penalty when he upended the free-flowing Drogba.

Chelsea squandered the resultant free-kick when Shevchenko failed to connect with Lampard's pass and Ballack could not convert the loose ball from six yards out.

In the 48th minute Chelsea almost made it three when Drogba put Ballack in the clear but his cheeky lob fell the wrong side of the upright.

But five minutes later Chelsea stretched their lead even further with a simple three-man move.

Goalkeeper Cudicini sent a goal-kick high up the field for Drogba to control and play a clever ball to Shevchenko.

The Ukraine international, who celebrated the arrival of his latest child earlier this week, chested the ball round Foster before slipping it into an open net.

In the 61st minute Watford replaced Hameur Bouazza with veteran defender Chris Powell and moments later Chelsea made their first change of the afternoon when Robben was introduced to the action at the expense of Shevchenko.

Chelsea were in cruise control in what must have been one of the easiest afternoons they have experienced in the Premiership.

Robben made his presence felt immediately with a dazzling run down the left-flank.

However, the Dutchman's subsequent cross was headed clear by Powell as the ever-dangerous Drogba lurked with intent at the far post.

Drogba's hat-trick in the 69th minute was simplicity itself. Robben collected the ball on the right wing before sending the overlapping Geremi free.

The full-back's low cross was perfectly placed for the onrushing Drogba to fire past Foster and notch his second treble of the season.

In the 87th minute Robben was just wide of the target with a drive from 18 yards as Chelsea continued to search for further goals.

In the final seconds Carvalho headed just wide of the right-hand upright from Lampard's corner as Chelsea completed a five victory.