Chelsea started the game fairly poorly and nearly went behing early on but Michael Gray failed to take advantage of a stray Mario Melchiot pass, sending his shot just wide. Sunderland continued to take the game to the hosts, so they would have been disappointed to concede first. A high corner from Graeme Le Saux was well met by Desailly, whose header was knocked in by the knee of William Gallas. It was Gallas' second goal in the past week. The first half continued to be played at a high tempo and both sides created chances before the break without troubling the keepers.
Sunderland started the second half just as they had started the first and Carlo Cudicini had to be at his very best to tip Kilbane's low drive past the post. The Blues had to wait until 20 minutes from time before securing the victory. The impressive Jesper Gronkjaer dazzled a flat footed Sunderland defence before laying the ball onto Eidur Gudjohnsen. The Icelandic international looked to have wasted the chance with a poor first touch but somehow managed to beat Tomas Sorensen to the ball with a cheeky chip into the back of the net. A wonderful goal by one of the in-form strikers in the league, Gudjohnsen is fast becoming one of the world's top strikers. He would be replaced soon after by Mikael Forssell, making his usual cameo appearance. A minute later it was 3-0. Forssell played a neat one two on the edge of the Sunderland penalty area before thumping a left footed piledriver past Sorensen. It was a goal that even Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink would have been proud of!!! Sunderland heads had dropped by this stage and Sam Dalla Bona took full advantage of this. He was forced to scrap hard for his goal but it was a well struck effort that fizzed past Sorensen.
Chelsea were good value for their victory and a trip to Liverpool awaits the Blues...