20/01/01: Back in the security of their home surroundings, Chelsea reasserted their largely unfulfilled potential as they swept aside Ipswich with a second-half display matching style with substance.
The Blues have failed to win away all season but they are still a match for any side at home and so they proved again as Gustavo Poyet led the way by scoring twice and hitting the bar.
Having initially shown their Mr Hyde persona for the opening half-hour, with Marcus Stewart giving Ipswich a well-deserved 21st-minute lead, Chelsea threw off their mental shackles and emerged as Dr Jekyll.
Their fortuitous equaliser, through Poyet, on the stroke of half-time was crucial but with reformed tactics as Mario Melchiot came on, and a reborn attitude after the break, they were unstoppable.
Captain Dennis Wise put them ahead, then Poyet made it 3-1 and Hasselbaink completed the scoring from the penalty spot, all within the space of 14 minutes.
Ipswich had significant cause for protest at the penalty, as Fabian Wilnis made contact with the ball while John McGreal was shown a straight red card, apparently for foul language.
However, despite their first-half promise and although they have previously won six Premiership games away from home, they were outplayed in the second period.
There was no chance of an Ipswich comeback and only a last-ditch intervention by substitute Wayne Brown prevented Chelsea from scoring a fifth after Hasselbaink had gone round Wright. In other matches played today Everton beat Coventry 3-1, Newcastle beat David O'Leary's Leeds 3-1, Manchester United beat Aston Villa 2-0, Derby drew with Manchester City 1-1, while there were no goals scored between Liverpool and Middlesbrough, Leicester and Arsenal, Tottenham and Southampton. -PA