If this is what happens when Chelsea's squad is stretched, Blues supporters will never fear injury news again.

Having responded to facing an in-form Aston Villa last game with some big players missing by putting on a display the opposing manager described as brilliant, the top-placed team followed it up with our biggest away win since Wolves were beaten 5-0 five years ago.

As he sat back and surveyed the state of his side after a Saturday lunchtime victory in the north-east, Felipe Scolari acknowledged that he is continuing to learn more about some of his players, especially those who are so ably deputising for stars such as Didier Drogba, Ricardo Carvalho, Ashley Cole, Michael Essien, Michael Ballack, Joe Cole and Petr Cech.

'They are sending a message to me - a message that I am here, I have good form, please look at me more times,' Scolari said.

'Today is good for us. I put some players in that haven't played many games and they showed they are in good condition to play for Chelsea. It isn't only 11 and this spirit of a group is what I want.'

The scoresheet alone, containing as it did two goals from Salomon Kalou and one fantastic strike from Juliano Belletti, plus a 100^th Chelsea clean sheet for Carlo Cudicini, was testament enough to the contribution made by some of this season's lesser-used players.

Scolari asked the flexible Belletti to fill a different gap, this time playing him centrally, ahead of anchor man John Mikel Obi.

'I know Belletti very well, I am Brazilian and I know him from when he started to play in Sao Paolo,' Scolari explained. 'I played against him many times and I know his potential, and he helps us in whatever position you put him.

'It was a good performance from the team but I think they have played many games very well. Sometimes we score many goals, sometimes one or two but in the 11 games, only one or two I am not happy with my team.

'If we win all the games 1-0, I am happy, but we need to understand that Middlesbrough or other teams in the Premier League, they have good quality and if we make any mistake, they kill us.

'If we put two goals in, it becomes easier to work the ball, there is more space. Sometimes you need to have possession and in that time if we don't make more goals, we need to accept 1-0. But today they gave chances for a second goal, a beautiful goal for Belletti and after a few minutes more, a third goal for us.

'It opened the space and it was calm for my players.'

The Wolves side despatched 5-0 on their own patch in 2003 were relegated that season. At this early stage of the season, Middlesbrough are clear of the drop zone at the moment but a shell-shocked Gareth Southgate was not hiding from the truth.

'It was a humbling experience for us and when play a side of Chelsea's quality, that can happen,' the Boro boss said.

'I don't think Chelsea had to be at their best. We made bad mistakes and looked edgy in possession, but the reality is we have been outclassed.

'I told my players that if they are even beginning to think they are top players, that is what they have to look to aspire to.

'Chelsea had about the same number of players missing as us today, but a difference was who they could bring in.'

Scolari was able to put an even bigger grin on the face of Chelsea fans by announcing he hopes to have Didier Drogba back in a week's time - but he is refusing to go as far as agreeing that Chelsea are the league title favourites, even after such a crushing win.

'We have many games in front of us and we have won one more game. If this was game number 35 or 36 and we were three points in front, okay, favourites, but other teams will arrive at that stage with us, and we need to play every game as if it is the last game of the season.'

The game can be seen in full from 6pm on Sunday on Chelsea TV, with highlights on Chelsea TV.