Chelsea 7 Ipswich 0:CHELSEA HAVE their light relief. Some two months of mounting frustration were taken out on Ipswich to offer the defending Premier League champions and FA Cup holders a reminder that their scintillating early-season form can still be replicated. There was no manic celebration from Carlo Ancelotti on the sidelines but a playful wave to those in the Matthew Harding stand chanting his name. It was not one of farewell.

This was a walkover from the moment that managerless Ipswich were breached. Their resistance evaporated, the locals delighting in the ease of a welcome victory that was secured initially with much-needed energy and later at a stroll.

Five goals were scored in a 20-minute period either side of the interval, the most eye-catching involving the often under-used Daniel Sturridge. Confidence flowed back into the system with each reward. Blackburn Rovers will arrive here wary on Saturday.

Sturridge’s appearance, his 40th for the club, will trigger a final instalment of €600,000 due to Manchester City – the striker has now cost Chelsea €6.6 million, with a further €1.2 million to come if he represents his country – but Roman Abramovich will consider that a minor expense if this team have finally shaken off their malaise.

The 21-year-old has been a bit-part player for too long. Five goals for the reserves in midweek in front of the manager, some 24 hours after the first-team had lost dismally to Wolves, and a knock to Didier Drogba presented him with an opportunity he took gleefully.

Chelsea were already ahead by then through Salomon Kalou’s tap-in after Nicolas Anelka’s shot had dribbled through Marton Fulop when, some 60 seconds later, Sturridge stole space ahead of Darren O’Dea and back-healed Jose Bosingwa’s centre beyond the goalkeeper.

His second, curled home brilliantly from just inside the area, capped the frenzy of Chelsea goals around the interval.

Sturridge has now scored nine times for this club, albeit always against lower-end or demoralised opponents and rarely at critical moments, but he may now earn the opportunity to make his mark against better rivals.

“Every player has to be ready when the moment arrives,” said Ancelotti. “Daniel deserved to play and did well. In the future he’ll have opportunities.”

Just as pleasing were Anelka’s first goal after 10 scoreless matches and the brace by Frank Lampard. Chelsea had managed just 11 goals in the previous 13 matches. The glut will have reminded them of their quality.

Ipswich were outclassed, their caretaker manager Ian McParland helpless on the touchline.

They had arrived with confidence shredded after a solitary win in nine league games. Roy Keane’s departure last Thursday, on the same day that Chelsea were reiterating their backing for Ancelotti, has left them rudderless.

“I live in the real world,” said McParland. “The boys are a bit shell-shocked after the manager went, so we were either going to give a good account of ourselves or take a right thrashing.”

Paul Jewell’s appointment as successor should be confirmed within the next 24 hours, with the former Wigan manager attempting to lure Wally Downes from West Ham as his assistant.

The team Jewell inherits had caused flutters of anxiety in the opening half-hour but, once two behind, they disintegrated. Carlos Edwards inadvertently flicked Lampard’s free-kick into the corner, with Anelka converting his first goal since November 3rd just after the break.

Fulop was motionless as Lampard scored from outside the area 12 minutes from time and was exposed again as the midfielder prodded in his second moments later.

Abramovich is due back in the country this week after the Russian holiday and will speak to his manager, with all parties aware that Chelsea’s momentum must be transferred to the league.

“We are all feeling better but nothing’s changed,” said Ancelotti. “We hope the bad moment has gone but we have to wait to see or not.”

This has to be the start of the recovery as they seek to at least ensure themselves of Champions League football for next season.