Write Chelsea off at your peril, warns Joe Cole

The Blues thrashed West Ham 4-0 on Saturday to keep themselves in the Premier League title race after a week of upheaval at Stamford Bridge.

Last Sunday's Carling Cup Final defeat by Tottenham was followed by reports of infighting and fall-outs between the players and the coaching staff.

It led to manager Avram Grant demanding to be shown "more respect" in his most passionate outburst since taking over from Jose Mourinho.

There were also suggestions at the weekend that his omission from the Wembley showpiece had irked Cole so much that he would be looking for a move at the end of the season, but the England midfielder insisted he was not one to sulk.

"I don't get too involved with all the dramas surrounding the club," he said. "My job is to try and perform as well as I can when selected.

"I made a contribution and I'm happy we got the right result."

Chelsea are now six points behind second-placed Manchester United - who are one further back from Arsenal with a game in hand - and still have to play the top two at Stamford Bridge.

With Chelsea favourites to beat Olympiacos on Wednesday after the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie ended goalless, and Barnsley their only barrier to reaching another FA Cup semi-final, Cole insisted they were in a good position. The England midfielder, who scored the second of the four goals at Upton Park, added: "It's looking good because we have everyone fit now and this is the right time to be going forward.

"Every match will be a pressure game but we've been in this position before and that can only help. The race for the title is getting close now and I am sure it will go down to the last few games."

Chelsea were today still studying footage of Frank Lampard's red card at West Ham, before deciding whether to appeal. Lampard was dismissed by referee Peter Walton in the 34th minute on the advice of a linesman who believed the England star had shoved Luis Boa Morte in the face.

TV pictures suggest that Lampard only made contact with Boa Morte's chest, although the England midfield star did appear to aim a kick at the West Ham player, who also retaliated, when both were on the ground.

Chelsea are mindful, however, of the recent case involving Middlesbrough's Jeremy Aliadiere who was sent off for a similar seemingly innocuous push on Liverpool's Javier Mascherano and then, on appeal, had his three-match ban increased to four.

A similar result for Lampard would mean he would miss the crucial clash against fellow title contenders Arsenal.

West Ham remain in 10th spot, despite their heaviest defeat of the season, and manager Alan Curbishley is determined to put things right at Liverpool on Wednesday.

He said: "We're desperately disappointed for the fans and ourselves. A result like that hasn't happened to us all season and now we have to try and bounce back.

"The Chelsea game was the start of a tough week and now we have Liverpool and Tottenham. It won't be easy but we are determined not to allow the season to fizzle out."