IPSWICH Town’s new manager will now know the task that confronts him after the Blues were thrashed 7-0 in Sunday’s FA Cup third round clash against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

The first game played after the departure of Roy Keane saw Town make a bright start cheered on by 3,000 enthusiastic fans.

But once the Premier League side went in front there was only going to be one winner with Ipswich’s defence torn apart time and time again.

Salomon Kalou opened the scoring in the 32nd minute and by the 52nd it was 5-0 with Daniel Sturridge netting twice, Nicolas Anelka and an own goal by Carlos Edwards.

Frank Lampard scored in the 78th and 79th minutes to complete the misery for Ipswich.

Town made five changes from the side that lost 1-0 at home to Nottingham Forest in the Championship.

Grant Leadbitter, Rory Fallon, Jack Colback, Jake Livermore and Damien Delaney dropped out for one reason or another with Jaime Peters, Carlos Edwards, Colin Healy, Jason Scotland and Darren O’Dea coming in.

Chelsea named a strong side that included John Terry and Frank Lampard with Didier Drogba on the bench alongside Michael Essien.

Town start off brightly with plenty of support, but when Lampard put Sturridge racing through, Fulop had to race from goal and make a block in the seventh minute.

Scotland ran at Chelsea in the 22nd minute and tried his luck left-footed from 20 yards. Cech had to dive smartly to his right to punch clear a fierce shot aimed at the far corner.

A minute later Town had a great escape thanks to Brown. Lampard fed Anelka and after a neat dummy the striker went free in the box to beat Fulop with a low shot. Somehow Brown popped up on the line to sweep the ball back into play at the last moment.

Chelsea stepped up the tempo and took the lead in the 32nd minute.

Anelka made superb progress through the heart of the visiting defence and an exposed Fulop got some contact on to his low shot. The ball rolled slowly towards the line with Kalou arriving on cue to ensure that it went into the net.

A minute later, Bosingwa crossed from the right and Sturridge showed his class by nipping ahead of defenders to slide the ball neatly into the net for number two.

Chelsea make it three in the 41st minute when Lampard’s free-kick went off the head of a leaping Edwards and looped into the far corner of the goal.

It was four in the 48th minute when Town’s defence was opened up again and from Kalou’s pass Anelka went clear at an angle down the right to whip a low shot just inside the far post.

Four minutes later, Sturridge found himself in acres of space on the left to curl a right foot shot into the far corner to make it five.

In the 78th minute the rout continued. Before a corner was cleared, Lampard thumped the ball into the net from the edge of the penalty area to make it six.

A minute later, Lampard netted again with Town’s defence all at sea once more. Central defender Ivanovic pulled the ball back from the near the byline and Lampard slid it over the line from close range.

Fulop made three great late saves to keep the scored in single figures.

Teams

Chelsea: Cech; Bosingwa, Terry, Ivanovic, van Aanholt (Bruma 69); Ramires, Lampard, McEachran; Sturridge, Anelka, Kalou (Kakuta 53). Substitutes: Hilario, Essien, Drogba, Malouda, Ferreira.

Ipswich Town: Fulop; Brown, McAuley, O’Dea, Kennedy; Edwards, Norris, Healy, Peters; Scotland (Murray 48), Wickham (Priskin 63). Substitutes: Lee-Barrett, Smith, Delaney, Civelli, Eastman.

Referee: Mr A D’Urso (Essex)

Attendance: 41,654.

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CHELSEA V IPSWICH TOWN MATCH RATINGS

Chelsea: Cech 7; Bosingwa 7, Terry 8, Ivanovic 7, van Aanholt 7; Ramires 7, Lampard 7, McEachran 7; Sturridge 8, Anelka 8, Kalou 8.

Ipswich Town: Fulop 6; Brown 5, McAuley 7, O’Dea 6, Kennedy 5; Edwards 5, Norris 7, Healy 6, Peters 6; Scotland 5, Wickham 5.

MATCH STATS

Chelsea 7

Goals: Kalou 32, Sturridge 33, 52 Edwards og 41, Anelka 48, Lampard 78, 79.

Bookings: -

Sent off: -

Shots on target: 14

Shots off target: 12

Woodwork: -

Corners: 12

Free-kicks conceded (including off sides): 7

Ipswich Town 0

Goal: -

Bookings: Norris 40

Sent off: -

Shots on target: 2

Shots off target: 2

Woodwork: -

Corners: 1

Free-kicks conceded (including off sides): 8