Blues see off brave Shrimpers

Captain Adam Barrett headed the Shrimpers into a shock first-half lead - after the match had initially been called off because of fog - but Michael Ballack fired an equaliser a minute from half-time.

Salomon Kalou - in the starting line-up at the expense of the axed Didier Drogba - put the Barclays Premier League side in front with a well-worked effort on the hour, and Nicolas Anelka wrapped things up late on, with Frank Lampard adding a fourth in stoppage time.

Chelsea made a lively start as Kalou burst into the penalty area down the left, and got to the touchline before cutting the ball back across goal and Ballack's shot was blocked.

Set-pieces have proved Chelsea's undoing in recent games - and was again their Achilles heel as the hosts snatched a shock lead on 15 minutes.

Junior Stanislas, on loan from West Ham, sent over a corner, which the visitors failed to deal with and Barrett arrived on cue at the far post to power a header into the net.

Southend almost snatched a second on the break - as Chelsea went on the offensive - but somehow Petr Cech kept out a bullet header from Alex Revell.

But just when it seemed Southend would go into the break ahead, Chelsea grabbed an equaliser. A high ball into the penalty area caused confusion between Peter Clarke and his goalkeeper, with Ballack crashing in a stunning half-volley into the top left corner.

Chelsea started the second half well and finally got themselves in front on the hour mark. Joe Cole showed some neat footwork to release Kalou on the right, and the Ivory Coast forward drifted past two defenders before drilling a low shot into the far corner.

Chelsea wrapped things up with 13 minutes left when Kalou and Lampard created space for Anelka to run into the box and he made no mistake from 12 yards before Lampard rubbed salt into the wounds to net a fourth after a breakaway in stoppage time.