14/01/2004  Chelsea 4 Watford 0
 
Chelsea's strikers did their talking eloquently on the pitch as they sent a defiant message to owner Roman Abramovich amid the club's on-going search for yet another top-class forward.

Adrian Mutu scored twice, while Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Eidur Gudjohnsen were also on target as Chelsea completed a routine FA Cup third round replay victory against Watford at Stamford Bridge.

And the trio can only hope that Abramovich was paying close attention.

Four leading forwards might seem enough for one club but, especially with Hernan Crespo injured for six weeks, the Russian may not be able to resist the temptation to enter the transfer market again.

Whether it is eventually Louis Saha, Christian Vieri, David Trezeguet, Adriano or anyone else who now arrives at Stamford Bridge still remains to be seen as the rumour mill does its usual rounds.

However, the pressure was always set to grow even further on Hasselbaink, Mutu and Gudjohnsen after the apparent interest in Saha had been revealed.

It was just as well, therefore, that Mutu, who ended a 13-game goal drought at Leicester, struck again after just seven minutes against Watford, with Hasselbaink taking his season's tally to 13.

While Mutu scored again late on, there was also the added bonus of Damien Duff making his long-awaited return from injury as a substitute as he set up Gudjohnsen for Chelsea's late fourth.

All in all, therefore, a satisfying night for Claudio Ranieri as he showed his determination to win the FA Cup by fielding a virtually full-strength line-up against a gallant Watford side.

Then again, with such spending power behind the club, no one can be quite sure of their Chelsea future these days.

While the pressure is currently on the club's four strikers, Ranieri was moved to issue a pre-match statement assuring Joe Cole of his position amid speculation linking the club with Scott Parker.

Cole was promptly included in the starting line-up, with Marcel Desailly rested after being given such a torrid time by Watford at Vicarage Road.

Chelsea had fallen behind just five minutes into that original tie when Heidar Helguson's header was wrongly adjudged to have crossed the line.

Referee Wiley, who had also officiated in that game, nevertheless took just seven minutes to make amends at Stamford Bridge.

When Frank Lampard's shot was parried by Lenny Pidgeley, who is on loan from Chelsea, Hasselbaink contested the rebound with Neal Ardley and, when the ball fell to Mutu, the Romanian striker converted from close range.

Referee's assistant Bernard Baker flagged Mutu offside, but Wiley correctly ruled that Ardley - and not Hasselbaink - had, in fact, played the ball to Mutu and therefore awarded the goal.

Watford's attempts at a comeback reached their height when Jamie Hand bustled his way into the penalty area and let fly with a shot that cannoned back off the post.

Sadly for Watford, there is simply no substitute for finishing class - as Hasselbaink promptly proved.

With 33 minutes gone, the Dutchman controlled Gallas's long-ball with his instep before sweeping his shot past Pidgeley with the same foot in the same effortless movement.

Watford still did not abandon their five-man midfield, but Chelsea continued to dominate and Makelele struck an effort narrowly wide just before the break.

It was much the same story after the restart, with Chelsea clearly in command, even though Cole skewed a volley wide.

However, Watford refused to give up and Gavin Mahon curled the ball just past the post after Lee Cook's initial effort had been blocked.

Indeed, Lewington responded to his side's increased tempo by bringing on Scott Fitzgerald and Danny Webber with 32 minutes still left.

Fitzgerald even managed to block an attempted clearance by Carlo Cudicini but he was unable to take full advantage as William Gallas moved in quickly to cover.

Once again, Watford were quickly given a lesson in finishing, this time by Mutu, who adeptly controlled a high-ball before curling his shot around Cox.

Gudjohnsen was nevertheless not to be outdone and after Duff had replaced Mutu, the Irishman set up the Iceland international to finish with aplomb into the top corner.

The message to Abramovich could not have been more unequivocal. Not that even four goals for the second game running may be enough to persuade him to put his cheque-book away just yet though.