Two goals from Michael Essien and a strike each from Joe Cole and Florent Malouda saw Chelsea run out easy 4-0 winners at home to Wolves!

Chelsea could have gone behind in the fourth minute when a fine Wolves move saw Matthew Jarvis break free on the right but his cross just eluded David Edwards as he arrived in the six-yard box.

It proved costly for the visitors as Florent Malouda opened the scoring from the resulting counter attack after just five minutes.

The winger produced an unstoppable left foot effort into the roof of the net from 25 yards after Jody Craddock had mis-kicked the ball into his path.

Minutes later, another sweeping Chelsea move almost brought them a second goal but Hennessey tipped Kalou's 20-yard angled drive around the post.

Unfortunately for Mick McCarthy’s men their fortune evaded them when Essien broke free to double the home side’s advantage, stealing in at the near post to nod home Saloman Kalou's corner.

The Ghanaian then got his second and Chelsea’s third when he placed a 25 yard effort into the back of the net after 22 minutes.

Wolves will have been disappointed not to have closed him down, but keeper Wayne Hennessey ’s was also at fault with a poor attempt to keep the ball out.

Then Wolves almost conjured a goal out of nothing to the surprise of the Stamford Bridge crowd when a close-range header from Sylvan Ebanks-Blake was superbly kept out by Petr Cech on 39 minutes.

In the second half, Chelsea continued where they left off and a superb cross field pass by Nicolas Anelka found Malouda free on the left only for the Frenchman to slip at the pivotal moment.

But the league leaders did make it four in the 56th minute courtesy of a fit again Joe Cole. The England hopeful side-footed the ball into the net after Anelka's cross had been turned into his path by Kalou, although once again Hennessey could have done better.

Moments later, Anelka made way for substitute Gael Kakuta to make his first-team debut following the well publicised tapping up scandal which has forced a transfer embargo on the West London club.

Essien almost claimed his hat-trick just after the hour mark as Wolves struggled to make ends meet, but his shot was palmed onto the top of the bar by Hennessey.

Kakuta almost celebrated his debut with a goal but his 25-yard effort curled the wrong side of the upright.

The victory sends the Blues eight points clear at the top of the Premier League while Wolves remain in the bottom three after a dismissal performance.

Starting XI's and Star Man:

Chelsea: (4-4-2) Cech, Belletti, Terry, Alex, A.Cole, Mikel, Essien, Malouda (Matic 69’), Cole, Anelka (Kakuta 59’), Kalou (Borini 78’)

Wolves (4-5-1) Hennessy, Craddock, Halford, Stearman, Berra, Henry, Jarvis, Castillo (Kightly 53’), Edwards, Surman, Ebanks-Blake (Keogh 62’)