Chelsea 7 Sunderland 2

GO WITH THE FLO ... John Terry and Florent Malouda help Ashley Cole enjoy his fine goal

CHELSEA mocked fears they will miss their African Cup stars by reaching seven heaven for the first time in 50 years.

The Premier League leaders struck four times in the first 34 minutes before Nicolas Anelka and Frank Lampard completed doubles.

Florent Malouda, the outstanding Ashley Cole and Michael Ballack underlined the Blues' utter domination against injury-hit Sunderland.

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti might still be irked at conceding second-half goals to Black Cats substitute Bolo Zenden and Darren Bent.

But that would be churlish as the Blues notched their biggest ever Prem win by hitting seven for the only time since 1960.

And all without Africans Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou, John Obi Mikel and Michael Essien.

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce was looking at his watch in despair after the Blues' early blitz.

Anelka opened the romp by rounding keeper Marton Fulop with real swagger to finish off Ballack's eighth-minute pass.

Then Malouda streaked clear 14 minutes later to complete a brilliant team goal.

Ashley Cole, by now playing virtually as a left-winger rather than a full-back, lashed home a glorious third with the outside of his foot.

And Anelka's left-wing break soon set up the same overlapping Cole for a cross volleyed home by Lampard.

Joe Cole's classy pass teed up Ballack to make it 5-0 on 57 minutes.

But Zenden instantly cracked home a left-footer in one of Sunderland's few raids.

Anelka, though, tapped the Blues 6-1 up when Fulop flapped at Yuri Zhirkov's cross.

Lampard nodded in Anelka's 90th minute centre to confirm Chelsea's ruthless finishing.

But, surprisingly, the final word went to Bent on a day the Black Cats scored twice at miserly Stamford Bridge but were second best by a huge margin to Ancelotti's awesome title favourites.

Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Carvalho, Terry (Alex 46), Ashley Cole (Zhirkov 46), Ballack, Belletti, Lampard, Joe Cole, Anelka, Malouda. Subs Not Used: Hilario, Paulo Ferreira, Sturridge, Matic, Borini.

Goals: Anelka 8, Malouda 17, Ashley Cole 22, Lampard 34, Ballack 52, Anelka 65, Lampard 90.

Sunderland: Fulop, Bardsley, Cana, Da Silva, McCartney, Malbranque (Zenden 46), Henderson, Meyler, Murphy (Campbell 72), Bent, Jones. Subs Not Used: Carson, Liam Noble, Healy, Ryan Noble, Liddle. Booked: Bardsley.

Goals: Zenden 56, Bent 90.

............................................................................................................