Frank Lampard netted four goals and in doing so became the third highest scorer in Chelsea history on an afternoon of blistering attacking football at Stamford Bridge.

His was the opening goal that looked to have set Carlo Ancelotti's team on its way to a half-time advantage but Aston Villa equalised through Jon Carew, only for Lampard to score from the spot to restore the lead by the interval.

The Villa threat was over and as Chelsea moved into top gear in the second-half, following an opening 45 minutes that had at times been a frustrating affair, they made Martin O'Neill's side look a tired one indeed.

Florent Malouda scored the third and the fifth goals, both great finishes but it was another Lampard penalty, a second spot-kick won by Yury Zhirkov, that took him level with Peter Osgood and Roy Bentley on 150 goals. It also took him to 20 goals for a season yet again.

Substitute Salomon Kalou added himself to the scoresheet with goal number six before Lampard fittingly completed the scoring in the 91^st minute to take that personal total to 151.

Incredibly all this was achieved without Didier Drogba, Ancelotti deciding to rest the topscorer from the starting line-up, leaving him on the bench and playing Anelka at centre-forward.

Chelsea hit seven goals without either principle strikers scoring. What odds on that?

Joe Cole came in for Sturridge on the right wing as Chelsea continued to play with the formation that ended the Portsmouth game - pretty much a 4-3-3.

Chelsea's set-piece defending, that had failed us at Villa Park back in October, was tested in the second minute when Alex conceded a corner. Cech claimed the delivery confidently.

The opening stages were uneventful. Agbonlahor, playing on the right wing as Martin O'Neill's side adopted a4-2-3-1 shape, gave Zhirkov some work to do but the Chelsea goal was never in danger.

Anelka and Lampard tried to test Friedel but those shots were easy for the American; not so on 14 minutes when he found himself the wrong side of his own goal line in a failed attempt to keep out Lampard's far-post conversion of a Malouda cross.

That cross had been deflected on its way by a Villa defender, which wrong-footed his claret-and-blue shirted colleagues. It was Lampard that had started the whole attack with a clever chip into the path of Anelka. Chelsea were 1-0 to the good.

Villa captain Petrov was booked for dissent on 27 minutes after over-stepping the mark when protesting a challenge by Mikel on Petrov that left the Villa man floored. It appeared he had run into the Chelsea midfielder's stationary arm.

A minute later, the away side equalised. The source of the killer cross was Ashley Young who was allowed to cut inside from the left onto his right-foot, as is his strong preference, and his well-struck low ball was turned in by Carew at the far-post, the Norwegian having run around the back of Zhirkov.

Zhirkov's difficult start to the game continued with a 30^th minute booking for a foul on Agbonlahor.

Deco followed into the book nine minutes later for studding Petrov's shin in a 50-50 challenge. The decisions by referee Peter Walton were frustrating the Chelsea bench and their mood was not improved when Malouda went down under a challenge in the box and play was waved on. The penalty shout did look optimistic.

There was the opposite result however on 42 minutes when Zhirkov went down as he darted into the area onto Malouda's return pass and nipped the ball past Collins, before the Villa centre-back made contact. After a few seconds' thought the ref pointed to the spot. Lampard's penalty strike was high and true. 2-1 at half-time.

Joe Cole with a cross and Anelka with a header nearly combined to put Chelsea further ahead a minute after the restart. Ferreira then became a third Chelsea booking for a foul on Young.

On 56 minutes Chelsea put clear blue water between us and the West Midlanders with the goal of the game, Malouda finishing off Zhirkov's cross with a crisp volley from 12 yards out.

Mikel and Joe Cole had been involved early on and Deco's pass inside the full-back and out to Zhirkov was a moment to truly admire.

Zhirkov's afternoon was rapidly improving and it was going to get a whole lot better. It was the Russian who was clearly brought down by Dunne as he charged onto Malouda's pass.

This time Lampard shot low from the penalty spot but the result was the same. It had taken five more minutes for Chelsea to go from 3-1 to 4-1 and the vice-captain to hit the 150 milestone mark.

Chelsea were flowing forward now with ease but it wasn't all about the attacking players. Terry did brilliantly to repel an attack by substitute Delfouneso to really get Stamford Bridge singing.

Goal number five came on 67 minutes, Malouda shooting high into the net with his right-foot after Lampard had unselfishly drawn the defence and slipped the ball out to the left, Ferreira having played the ball in from the right. Eleven league goals in a season in a career best for Malouda.

Friedel saved well to keep out Anelka's shot, the Frenchman still looking to end his personal goal drought.

The only time the Chelsea goal came close to being breached in the closing stages was a Delfouneso shot that was deflected wide by Alex.

Ancelotti used the opportunity of big lead to give Patrick van Aanholt his home debut and he also brought on Kalou who would score Chelsea's sixth on 82 minutes.

The Ivorian finished low to Friedel's right from just inside the area after Anelka had swivelled in possession and passed. He may not have scored, but last season's Golden Boot winner was contributing to the party.

At the start of stoppage time Lampard smashed in his fourth as the ball bounced his way off Dunne following yet another Malouda cross.

It was seven goals scored at home for the second time this season and 12 in the last two games. If this wasn't a performance of table-topping quality by the Blues then nothing is!

Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Ferreira, Alex, Terry (c), Zhirkov (Van Aanholt 75); Deco (Ballack 71), Mikel, Lampard; J Cole (Kalou 75), Anelka, Malouda.
Scorers Lampard 14, 43, 61, 90+1, Malouda 56, 67, Kalou 82.
Booked Zhirkov 30, Deco 39, Ferreira 47

Aston Villa (4-2-3-1): Friedel; L Young, Collins, Dunne, Warnock; Sidwell, Petrov (c) (Downing 62); Agbonlahor (Beye 71), Milner, A Young; Carew (Delfouneso 62).
Scorer Carew 28.
Booked Petrov 27, Dunne 60.