Eidur Gudjohnsen made sure his actions spoke louder than his words by firing Chelsea to a convincing win over Derby.

The Icelandic hitman had warned Claudio Ranieri that he was not prepared to sit on the bench for much longer and, with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink banned, proved his worth.

He had already seen team-mate Sam Dalla Bona fizz one over when he broke the deadlock on ten minutes, bending a beautiful effort around Mart Poom and in off for the post after being freed by Celestine Babayaro.

The Rams had kept four clean sheets in their last five Premiership outings, but were picking the ball out of the net again within six minutes as Gudjohnsen netted his second.

Restored midfielder Gustavo Poyet created the goal, wrestling possession from Taribo West near the by-line and whipping in a cross which the striker steered home at the near post.

Gudjohnsen could have had a remarkable eight-minute hat-trick but guided his header wide minutes later, while Dalla Bona and Dennis Wise both tried their luck from long range.

The third goal was always on the cards though and as Derby sought the sanctuary of the half-time dressing room, they were undone again to all but condemn them to their second defeat in three league games.

Gudjohnsen was involved again as he crossed for Poyet to head clinically past Poom following John Terrys raking 50-yard pass and Babayaros quick release of the two-goal hero.

Only Rory Delaps speculative effort had threatened to redress the balance for Derby, but with Deon Burton thrown on at half-time and the Rams reverting to a back four, they at least offered more after the break.

Substitute Chelsea keeper Carlo Cudicini who had replaced Ed de Goey at the break - did well to keep out Chris Powells low shot and was rewarded for his efforts with a fourth goal.

Dalla Bona loaded the bullets this time, lofting a cross to the back post where Zola had drifted away from his marker to despatch a typically sweet left-foot volley past the powerless Poom.

Chris Riggott did home a Lilian Martin free-kick minutes later but with Zola and rasping another effort just wide and sub Rati Aleksidze and Wise again testing Poom with pildedrivers, Derby somehow avoided a real drubbing.

Chelsea: de Goey (Cudicini 45), Babayaro, Desailly (Bogarde 75), Poyet, Wise, Melchiot, Morris, Gudjohnsen (Aleksidze 83), Dalla Bona, Zola, Terry.
Subs Not Used: Jokanovic, Harley.
Goals: Gudjohnsen 10, 16, Poyet 37, Zola 54.

Derby: Poom, Carbonari (Burton 45), Powell, Delap, Burley, Christie, Bohinen (Murray 75), Higginbotham, Martin (Morris 61), Riggott, West.
Subs Not Used: Mawene, Oakes.
Booked: Murray.
Goals: Riggott 56.

Att: 34,317
Ref: P Taylor (Cheshunt).