|
Pool were opened up shortly afterwards when Chelsea added to their lead after 12 minutes when Kalou put Drogba clear of the Blackpool defence and he crossed superbly for the unmarked Malouda to fire home his fifth goal of the season.
Blackpool went further behind on the half-hour mark when Ashley Cole fed Drogba and the Ivory Coast striker's shot on the turn was deflected past Matthew Gilks.
The fourth came four minutes from half-time as Drogba's ball over the top to Kalou was inch-perfect and he crossed for Malouda to fire into the bottom corner.
The Seasiders had a chance to pull one back in the 49th minute when DJ Campbell rounded Petr Cech but Ivanovic cleared the ball off the goal-line. Moments later Luke Varney squandered a chance for the visitors when he volleyed over from eight yards. Chelsea had lost the initiative and a 20-yard shot from Varney was deflected just over the bar as the visitors, for once, enjoyed the upper hand.
On the hour, substitute Gary Taylor-Fletcher brought a fine save from Cech with a curling shot which was going in until the Czech international tipped it over the bar. Seconds later Holloway removed Elliott Grandin and Varney and replaced them with Brett Ormerod and Marlon Harewood.