Chelsea 6 Wolves 0 - match report

Gary Cahill (4), Ryan Bertrand (7) and Juan Mata (17) gave Wolves their usual early mountain to climb at Stamford Bridge.

And although Slawomir Peszko missed an open goal for Wolves in the 25th minute, chances for the visitors were thin on the ground and Chelsea were more than worth their six-goal hammering.

Oriol Romeu with a 53rd-minute penalty, Fernando Torres (58) and Victor Moses (70) gave the scoreline an accurate look, but it could have been more as Wolves crashed to their heaviest defeat since losing 6-0 to Southampton in March 2007.

As expected, Wolves boss Stale Solbakken made 10 changes to the side that beat Peterborough 2-0 on Saturday.

The only survivor was Peszko on a night when he was being watched by the Poland manager.

John Terry captained Chelsea just 24 hours after retiring from England duty.

But despite the fresh legs from the visitors, Wolves were no match for the European champions and Premier League leaders, and once Chelsea took the lead, the destiny of the contest never looked in any doubt.

Cahill headed the first when he climbed all over Richard Stearman at the far post to Mata's free kick after Ronald Zubar fouled Moses.

Soon after left-back Bertrand crashed home the second from the edge of the box after keeper Dorus De Vries parried Romeu's shot and Lucas Piazon fed through from the loose ball.

By the time the influential Mata sliced through Wolves' defence, it was a case of game over as the midfielder, pursued by Stephen Hunt, exchanged passes with Ramires then Torres before firing a first-time left foot shot beyond De Vries from just inside the area.

Wolves barely got out of their half for the first half, but when they did, they created two decent chances.

First David Davis sidefooted a rising effort that was tipped over by keeper Ross Turnbull in the 22nd minute.

And three minutes later, Peszko rounded Turnbull only to fire into the sidenetting with the goal at his mercy after Davis fed him and the winger outpaced Cahill.

With the game won well before the break, Chelsea could afford to take their foot off the gas but Mata almost made it 4-0 in first-half injury-time with a 25-yard free kick that fizzed inches wide.

Anthony Forde replaced Hunt for Wolves at the break but it had little effect as the one-way traffic continued.

Chelsea made it 4-0 when Romeu drove home from the spot after De Vries brought down Moses who latched onto Mata's defence-splitting pass in the six-yard box.

Wolves missed the chance of a consolation in the 56th minute when the unmarked Peszko sliced wide from 13 yards out with only Tunrbull to beat after Boukari beat debutant Cesar Azpilicueta and Cahill in a pacy run to the byeline before crossing to the unmarked Pole.

And Wolves paid a heavy price as they were punished in ruthless style.

Torres grabbed Chelsea's fifth when he met Mata's inswinging corner with a bullet header that rocketed into the roof of the net to give De Vries no chance.

Stearman bravely dived in on the line to prevent Romeu poking home the sixth on 66 minutes after Mata and substitute Oscar performed two one-twos deep inside the area before Mata crossed.

But Chelsea still managed a more than deserved sixth when Moses easily rose above Zubar to plant a fierce, downward header past De Vries from Oscar's left-wing cross.

Clean-through Torres somehow missed the chance to make it 7-0 when he drove against De Vries' left leg.

But enough damage had been inflicted on Wolves, who gave a debut to 18-year-old Ismail as an 83rd-minute substitute for Peszko.

By Tim Nash