09/12/2000 Chelsea 4 Derby 1 Chelsea responded to Ken Bates' pre-match prediction that a third-placed Premiership finish was still in sight with a scintillating display at Stamford Bridge. The demolition of Derby was even more impressive considering the Blues were without 11-goal leading scorer Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. Eidur Gudjohnsen wasted no time in filling the Dutchman's boots, however, with two goals in the opening 15 minutes. Gus Poyet added a third with a trademark header before the break and a Gianfranco Zola firecracker wrapped things up before Chris Riggott registered a consolation. Chelsea supremo Bates, who has endured a hectic week as chairman of Wembley National Stadium Limited, attempted to raise Blues supporters' spirits by claiming the nine-point gap to a Champions League place could still be bridged. They started the match just eight points above the drop zone, however, on the back of their disastrous away form. But it has been a different story at Stamford Bridge and the Blues' old swagger appeared to have returned in earnest as Derby, who had kept five clean sheets in their seven previous games, were put to the sword. Chelsea coach Claudio Ranieri paired Zola and Gudjohnsen up front with Hasselbaink starting a three-game ban. Franck Leboeuf was also serving a suspension but with Dennis Wise returning, Marcel Desailly slotted into the back four after deputising for the Blues captain in midfield against Manchester City last week. A ban accounted for Derby's Seth Johnson while the largest void for the visitors was left by flu victim Giorgi Kinkladze. Norwegian Lars Bohinen returned in Kinkladze's place after a long lay-off. Without the Georgian playmaker Derby were devoid of invention and were besieged by wave upon wave of Chelsea attacks. Sam Dalla Bona twice went close in the opening exchanges to set the pattern for the afternoon. First a slick build-up climaxed with the Italian teenager firing a right-foot shot wide from the edge of the area. Then Zola was sent racing down the right by a clever flick from Poyet and the striker's centre was snuffed out by goalkeeper Mart Poom at the feet of Dalla Bona. Chelsea's early threat was rewarded, however, as early as the 10th minute with a goal from Gudjohnsen. The Icelandic forward was found by Celestine Babayaro 12 yards out and Poom was given no chance with a curling cross-shot from the left of the box that thudded in off the far post. It got better for Gudjohnsen and Chelsea on the quarter-hour mark as he made it 2-0. Poyet refused to give up on what appeared a lost cause down the right and challenged Taribo West, who was trying to shepherd the ball out for a goal-kick, and the Uruguayan managed to cross. Gudjohnsen's dash to the near post was rewarded, meeting the centre to steer it past Poom. The former Bolton player may have had an eight-minute hat-trick as a Babayaro cross from the left found him in space but his free header was guided the wrong side of Poom's upright. There was little respite for the Rams, although Malcolm Christie did sneak into the Chelsea area to send a header over the bar. The game should have been all but over as early as the 27th minute with Poyet again the provider of the chance. A raking through-ball split the Derby defence, Dalla Bona raced clear but crashed his shot into the sprawling Poom. The Estonian keeper was then relieved to see Wise's follow-up deflect to safety via Horacio Carbonari's ankles. Christie forced Ed de Goey into his first real action in the 35th minute, the big keeper having to hold a shot-on-the-turn after Rory Delap flashed in a cross from the left. But a stunning break from Ranieri's side made it 3-0 two minutes later, with Gudjohnsen involved again and Poyet this time the beneficiary. Terry's piercing 50-yard pass was controlled superbly by Babayaro, the Nigerian laying the ball off to Gudjohnsen. The striker in turn found Poyet's forehead, the Uruguayan guiding his effort wide of Poom's outstretched left hand. Derby boss Jim Smith sought to add more firepower to the visitors' attack on the resumption with the introduction of Deon Burton - centre-half Carbonari was sacrificed as a result with the Rams revering to a flat back four. Ranieri sprang a surprise by replacing de Goey with Carlo Cudicini and the young Italian keeper produced a smart save low to his left from Daryl Powell's 52nd-minute shot. Derby's reduced backline was breached at the other end, though, from Chelsea's next foray forward. Dalla Bona found Zola unmarked on the left-hand side of the area and the diminutive Sardinian thumped a left-foot volley past Poom. But Derby pulled a goal back almost immediately, Chris Riggott climbing highest to meet Lilian Martin's free-kick and plant a header in off the post via Cudicini's left hand. Poyet headed over Zola's 58th-minute cross as Chelsea pressed for a fifth - and they were inches away from grabbing it after Poyet returned the compliment. The Italian failed to control initially but his second touch more than made up for his first as he swivelled and whizzed a shot just wide. Poom produced a magnificent save from Wise after the home skipper tried his luck with a 30-yard drive 16 minutes from time. Substitute Rati Aleksidze saw another long-ranger palmed away by the Estonian in the last minute and Poom then tipped a Wise shot in injury time over the bar to avert a landslide.