Chelsea managed to see off a spirited Notts County side in a thoroughly entertaining encounter at Stamford Bridge

The Premiership side were made to work hard by the second division outfit who belied their poor league form with their heroic performance.

The home side took the lead after 14 minutes when Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thundered home a right foot drive from 30-yards out.

Unfazed by going behind, Notts County fought back and levelled when Clive Platt flicked on a corner and Tony Barras stabbed home a close range volley.

As the cash-strapped County grew in confidence they were caught out at the back and allowed Glen Johnson to cross for the unmarked Eidur Gudjohnsen to head home from six yards out.

The Blue extended their advantage after twenty minutes of the second half when Jesper Gronkjaer was flattened by the onrushing Steve Mildenhall in the County goal and Gudjohnsen tucked home the penalty.

Billy Dearden's side refused to give in and could have got a goal back almost immediately when Clive Platt's flick-on evaded three County players sliding in.

They did find the net again as Marco Amrbrosio made a mess of an attempted punch clear and substitute Mark Stallard tapped into an empty net to narrow the lead to one.

As County pushed for an equaliser Chelsea added a fourth when Joe Cole was given all the time he needed to steer his shot into the bottom right corner and seal the win for Claudio Ranieri's team.

Teams

Chelsea Ambrosio, Babayaro, Johnson, Melchiot, Duff, Geremi, Gronkjaer (Cole 70), Huth, Veron, Gudjohnsen, Hasselbaink (Stanic 45).
Subs Not Used: Sullivan, Bridge, Lampard
Booked: Veron
Goals: Hasselbaink (14), Gudjohnsen (36), Gudjohnsen (pen 65), Cole (87).

Notts County Mildenhall, Baraclough, Barras, Fenton, Jenkins, Riley (Bolland 86), Baldry, Caskey, Richardson (Nicholson 80), Heffernan (Stallard 65), Platt
Subs Not Used: Garden, Hackworth
Booked: Mildenhall, Baldry
Goals: Barras, Stallard

Attendance: 35,997

Referee: R Styles (Hampshire).