Didier Drogba scored a hat-trick as Chelsea began the defence of the English Premier League title with a crushing 6-0 victory over West Bromwich Albion at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
Victory left Chelsea on top of the table after an opening day that saw Blackpool mark their first top-flight match in 39 years with a shock 4-0 win away to Wigan.
Florent Malouda, who ended the goal spree in the 90th minute, started Chelsea’s rout with a sixth-minute goal after Baggies keeper Scott Carson spilled Drogba’s tame free-kick.
Chelsea doubled their lead in the 45th minute when Drogba scored a free-kick from 25 yards against a West Brom side managed by former Blues midfielder Roberto di Matteo.
Ten minutes after the break, Drogba made it 3-0 when he forced home from close range after John Terry’s goal-bound header from a corner was cleared.
England midfielder Frank Lampard added a fourth goal in the 63rd minute after good work by Nicolas Anelka and Ashley Cole.
Ivorian striker Drogba, who ended the last Premier League season with a hat-trick against Wigan, completed his treble five minutes later with the aid of a shot deflected off Gabriel Tamas.
“I am very happy because we played a good game, we showed good football,” said Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti, whose side came into this game on the back of a Community Shield final loss to Manchester United.
Malouda added: “We are champions and we have to improve what we did last season. We had a great record and scored a lot of goals but it’s a new season and we have to work harder and be even better than last year.”
Blackpool, promoted via the play-offs, have been widely tipped to go straight back down, but the Tangerines were 3-0 up before half-time, with former Villa striker Marlon Harewood scoring twice.
They went ahead in the 16th minute at Wigan’s DW Stadium when Charlie Adam played in Harewood, whose cross was tapped in by Gary Taylor-Fletcher.
Harewood then held off Antolin Alcaraz, before beating Chris Kirkland from more than 20 yards for his first Premier League goal in two-and-a-half-years.
Two minutes before the break, Harewood tapped in after Elliot Grandin’s shot was parried.
Then, 15 minutes before full-time, Alex Baptiste made it 4-0 when his cross beat Kirkland at the goalkeeper’s near post.
“I don’t think any of us in our wildest, wildest dreams imagined we could come here and do something like that,” Blackpool manager Ian Holloway told Sky Sports. “I’m so proud of the lads and the work ethic they showed.”
Life after Martin O’Neil
Aston Villa showed there was life after Martin O’Neill with a 3-0 win at home to West Ham just days after their former manager’s resignation.
England goalkeeper Robert Green, playing his first senior match since his World Cup blunder, helped give Villa a 15th minute lead when his poor punch ultimately led to a goal from Stewart Downing.
Villa made it 2-0 when Stiliyan Petrov headed in five minutes before half-time.
And in what could be a parting gift to Villa fans, before his possible transfer to Manchester City, England midfielder James Milner made it 3-0 after shooting powerfully from Albrighton’s cut back in the 66th minute.
In Saturday’s early kick-off England goalkeeper Joe Hart — chosen by Roberto Mancini ahead of Shay Given — produced several fine saves to help big-spenders Manchester City secure a point in a goalless draw at Tottenham.
But Everton’s United States goalkeeper Tim Howard gifted hosts Blackburn a 14th minute winner in a 1-0 victory when he somehow dropped a cross into the path of Nikola Kalinic, who duly scored.
Birmingham came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 against 10-man Sunderland.
Darren Bent opened the scoring for hosts Sunderland with a 24th-minute penalty. But two minutes before the break, Sunderland captain Lee Cattermole became the first player sent-off in the Premier League this season after collecting two yellow cards.
Sunderland went 2-0 up when Steve Carr looped a header into his own net.
However, late goals from Scott Dann and Liam Ridgewell saw Birmingham draw.
Wolves beat Stoke 2-1 after Kenwyne Jones limped off injured after just 14 minutes at Molineux.
They scored twice in two minutes late in the first half, going ahead through a 20-yard strike from David Jones before Steven Fletcher headed in a second.
But Stoke scored early in the second half through Abdoulaye Faye’s header.
Bolton and Fulham shared the points in a goalless draw.
Liverpool welcome Arsenal to Anfield on Sunday while Manchester United, last season’s runners-up, face Championship winners Newcastle at Old Trafford on Monday. — AFP