Chizaram Ezenwata opened the scoring just four minutes in, which set the tone for an entertaining afternoon. The striker reacted quickest in the box to convert from close range and put the Blues ahead.

We continued to press hard and were rewarded before the half-hour mark when Kiano Dyer smashed home his second goal of the season to make it 2-0 at the interval.

Our momentum continued after the restart, with Ollie Harrison hammering in a powerful strike. Midfielder Jimi Tauriainen then marked his return from injury with a commanding header.

The scoring was completed in stoppage time as Sol Gordon got the decisive touch from a set-piece, rounding off a dominant victory and securing Chelsea’s place at the top of the Premier League 2 table.

Fast start

The Blues wasted no time in asserting our dominance, breaking the deadlock inside five minutes. Calvin Diakite did brilliantly down the flank before cutting the ball back into the box, where Ezenwata reacted quickest to tap home.

We almost doubled the advantage soon after. Ezenwata’s sharp movement created space for winger Leo Cardoso on the edge of the area, and he unleashed a powerful strike that sailed just over the crossbar.

After a frantic opening, the game began to settle, but the Blues continued to threaten. Following more lively work from Cardoso down the wing, the ball fell to Jesse Derry inside the area. He fired a venomous effort on target, forcing goalkeeper Blake Wolsoncroft into a strong save.

Moments later, Derry went close again after being fouled just outside the box. He stepped up confidently for the resulting free-kick, whipping a powerful effort that drifted inches wide of the far post.

Doubling our lead

Chelsea’s pressure was eventually rewarded as we extended our advantage. A swift attacking move saw Harrison McMahon lift a dangerous ball into the area, where Genesis Antwi headed it back across goal. Dyer was perfectly positioned to smash the ball home and make it 2-0.

With momentum firmly on our side, the home supporters thought a third was imminent when the attacking right-back drove into the area and fired from a tight angle, only to see his effort crash against the near post.

We thought we had added another in first-half stoppage time when defender Justin Osagie found the net following a long ball from goalkeeper Max Merrick. However, the referee’s assistant flagged for offside, ruling out the goal.

Unstoppable finish

The second half began much like the first, with the Blues quickly finding the net. Ezenwata’s initial effort inside the penalty area was blocked, but Harrison reacted quickest to the rebound, hammering the ball into the top corner to make it 3-0.

Substitute Gordon made an immediate impact after coming on. A dangerous cross from Diakite found him rising highest to glance a header toward goal, but Wolsoncroft produced a strong save to keep the effort out.

Derry continued to cause problems down the flank, using pace and composure to beat his marker before cutting inside and firing from the edge of the area. Once again, the Blackburn keeper was equal to the task, pushing the effort away.

Sweet ending

Chelsea’s fourth came via a special moment for Tauriainen. On his return from injury, the midfielder connected superbly with a cross from Kian Best, powering a header into the net to cap a memorable afternoon.

The perfect ending arrived in stoppage time as Gordon capitalised on a corner from Derry, reacting sharply in a crowded penalty area to force the ball over the line and complete the scoring.

The 5-0 victory at Kingsmeadow secured Chelsea Under-21s’ third consecutive Premier League 2 win and capped a dominant performance from start to finish.

What's next

Chelsea Under-21s will next be in Premier League 2 action away against Birmingham City on Friday 13 February, kicking off at 7pm. The fixture will be available for Chelsea supporters around the world to watch via a live stream on the Chelsea Official App and website, free of charge.

The teams

Chelsea (4-3-3): Max Merrick; Genesis Antwi, Harrison Murray-Campbell (c) (Kaiden Wilson 62), Justin Osagie, Calvin Diakite (Kian Best 77); Harrison McMahon (Jimi Tauriainen 62), Ollie Harrison, Kiano Dyer; Leo Cardoso, Chizaram Ezenwata (Sol Gordon 62), Jesse Derry
Unused substitute: Hudson Sands
Scorers: Ezenwata 4, Dyer 29, Harrison 50, Tauriainen 85, Gordon 90+1
Booked: Murray-Campbell 40, Osagie 90+3

Blackburn Rovers: Blake Wolsoncroft, Idreess Namisi, Harvey Pates, Tom Atcheson (c) (Michael Decandia h-t), Max Davies, Isaac Dunn, Nathan Dlamini, Frank Vare, Igor Tyjon (Joseph Boggan 75), Jake Garrett (Valentin Joseph h-t), Osman Kamara (Zack Stritch h-t)
Unused substitute: Harry Holt