John Terry opened the Blues’ account on 20 minutes, scoring a header as Lampard made it three to the visitors in five minutes after scoring from the spot and then open play moments later. Jason Puncheon got a late consolation goal for the Tangerines on 86 minutes.
As the two sides lined up before kick-off at Bloomfield Road the fans could read the attacking intent Blackpool boss Ian Holloway was bringing to the touchline. “I'll still try and attack because we need to win the game, although a draw wouldn't be a bad result,” he said in his pregame programme notes.
Ashley Cole was making a landmark 200th appearance in a Chelsea shirt in the Premier League clash which the Blues were hoping to take three points from after beating league leaders Manchester United 2-1 last time out.
Richard Kingson in the Blackpool goal had an extended spell laid out in his own penalty area after a clash with Chelsea forward Didier Drogba after just seven minutes. Cue a worried looking Holloway on the sideline as substitute keeper Mark Halstead ran the line in preparation for coming on for what would have been his first Premier League appearance. Thankfully for the Seasiders their man between the sticks quickly recovered.
It was just before the 20 minute mark before anything of note happened in front of either goal. Terry beat Kingson from a Lampard corner after a bright start for the home side. The Chelsea skipper made a run from the edge of the area amidst poor marking and connected with the corner, heading the ball into the awaiting goal to make it 1-0 to the visitors.
Just minutes later the Blackpool goal was threatened again as José Bosingwa found himself in space on the right hand corner of the Seasiders’ penalty area and blasted a shot which was curling into the top far corner, forcing a superb acrobatic save from Kingson.
James Puncheon nearly pulled one back for Blackpool after a mistake by Yuri Zhirkov saw the 25-year-old run at the Chelsea defence and fashion enough space for himself to get the shot away. It was a low, powerful shot which skipped along the surface of the turf. Petr Cech, making the save, nearly pushed the ball into his own net – but luck was on the Champions’ side as the ball bounced away off of the inside of Chelsea’s left hand post.
Blackpool went on to enjoy a spell of positive possession, piling the pressure on to the Chelsea goal with a number of attempts on target and a few half chances – defenders Ian Evatt and Neal Eardley closest to the target for the Tangerines.
Chelsea’s makeshift right midfielder Ramires had the last chance of the half. Cutting in from a wide position and finding himself on the edge of the Blackpool area, the Brazilian let rip with a long range effort but Kingson pounced quickly to push the ball out for a corner.
The referee called time on the first half after 48 minutes of end-to-end, open, flowing football – with the visitors walking off the pitch and into the dressing room leading by one goal, but with the home team still firmly in contention.
It appeared that Holloway had the better of the half-time team talks as it was his side that came out on top in the second half, placing the visitors on the back foot.
Ten minutes into the second half Drogba picked up an injury after a collision with James Beattie in his own penalty area. He signalled that a change needed to be made and after what seemed to be an age Saloman Kalou came on the replace him in his 93rd appearance for the Blues from the bench.
On 61 minutes Blackpool gave away a penalty after Evatt brought down Kalou in the box. Lampard stepped up to take and sent Kingson the wrong way, coolly slotting the ball to the left of the keeper low and hard along the ground.
Lampard scored again just moments later, earning himself two goals in five minutes, after receiving a clever ball from Kalou which cut through the Blackpool defensive line. The midfielder took a touch and ran into the Tangerines’ box and with just Kingson left to beat placed his shot to the right this time as the ‘keeper could only watch the ball roll into the back of his net.
Moments after the third goal, Kingson headed off the pitch for Halstead in a substitution that seemed a long time coming.
With 15 minutes remaining Fernando Torres received the ball a few yards into the Blackpool half from Michael Essien. The Spain international worked his way into the box and tried to beat the fresh keeper with a cheeky chip with the outside of his boot. Halstead held comfortably, furthering the frustrating start Torres has had to endure so far during his time with the Blues.
Blackpool had a chance to secure themselves a consolation goal in the last 10 minutes as Matt Phillips found himself free on the break. But it wasn’t to be as the substitute screwed his shot wide across the face of goal from the left after working himself into a decent shooting position.
On the 86th minute the Seasiders finally managed the goal they probably felt they deserved and it was Puncheon who found the back of the net after a ball from Beattie. He struck the ball low and hard to the right of Cech – the Chelsea keeper unable to get down quick enough to stop the shot.
With just two minutes of the game left Brett Ormerod nearly put the home side right back in it, coming very close to scoring in a packed Chelsea penalty area but shooting just wide.