Boss Chris Hutchings opted to pack his midfield with five men, with Marcus Bent up front as a solo striker and Antonie Sibierski dropping to the bench. But Chelsea powered themselves to a comfortable lead within minutes.

The Blues took just eleven minutes to take the lead, and it all started with Shaun Wright-Phillips who used his pace well to get past the Latics defence, and his curling pass from the right flank found the marginally off side Frank Lampard (not noticed of course) in the area who easily slotted the ball past Chris Kirkland.

Then seven minutes later, defender Juliano Belletti gave Latics a huge headache as he scored a screamer from twenty-five yards. Shaun Wright Phillips dragged the ball back to Belletti after it had blatantly gone out for a Wigan throw (not noticed of course) and then the Brazilian was allowed to walk through the midfield and then unleashes a screamer from long range.

There was however, a controversial moment before Chelsea broke the deadlock; in the 8th minute Paul Scharner's cross from the right flank found Jason Koumas at the far post. The Welshman's shot only found the side netting, but Marcus Bent had also appeared to have been fouled by Belletti in the area. However, referee Steve Bennett didn't believe it warranted a spot kick.

A minute later saw Petr Cech called into action. Michael Brown took a short free-kick to Denny Landzaat, whose thirty yard drive was well caught by Czech international in the Chelsea goal.

Latics came out more determined but were denied another penalty claim four minutes after the restart when Koumas' through ball found Bent who broke the offside trap, and the striker sped towards the box but he looked like he was fouled by Ricardo Carvalho who was the last defender. But once again Bennett said no penalty.

Wigan continued to persevere and it almost paid off three minutes before the hour when Brown saw his shot blocked by Brazilian defender Alex, and the ball went out for a corner.

Antonio Valencia, who at times certainly tested Wayne Bridge, produced a teasing right-wing cross which was headed away by the Chelsea defence, but only as far as Paul Scharner, whose dipping volley from twenty-five yards only just went over Cech's bar.

With eight minutes left, boss Chris Hutchings threw on Antonie Sibierksi and the Frenchman had an instant impact with two chances in the last three minutes.
Koumas sent a cross from the left-flank towards Bent, whose downward header found the former Manchester City and Newcastle man in the box. Sibierski managed to get a foot onto the ball and divert it towards goal, but which Cech only just saved with one hand. However, the linesman flagged was raised for offside anyway, although it did provide optimism.

Sibierski got on the end of a Valencia cross a minute later, but this time he headed it over the bar.

Despite Chelsea's overpowering start, Titus Bramble produced a solid performance at the back picking up the vital pieces when it mattered most. The former Ipswich and Newcastle man blocked a Didier Drogba shot just after the half-hour mark, and also cleared the ball away as Florent Malouda sent squared a dangerous looking cross in the six yard area.

Captain Mario Melchiot also made a potentially match saving tackle on Malouda shortly after Chelsea's second goal. The French winger managed to sneak through the Latics defence, and Melchiot managed to steal the ball from the former Lyon man and shepherd the ball back to Kirkland.

Despite conceding two goals, not many of Chelsea's shots really tested Kirkland. Wright-Phillips had a shot straight at the Latics’ keeper on the half hour, and in the 63rd minute the former Manchester City man laid the ball to Lampard, whose shot was also straight at Kirkland.

Lampard was given the chance to get himself a brace with a free-kick five minutes from time, and even though the ball went through the defensive wall, it was straight at the Kirkland once again. Malouda should have made better with his 35th minute effort when his first time shot was skewed wide of the far post after he connected to Belletti's cross.

The second half performance certainly showed more grit by Latics, but unfortunately results have dropped us into the relegation zone.

By Jason Taylor (www.cockneylatic.co.uk)