For those inside Stamford Bridge it seemed reminiscent of many a home game under Luiz Felipe Scolari last season. The Blues were dominating possession and creating plenty of chances, but they just couldn’t put the ball into the net.

Nicolas Anelka wasted a golden opportunity for the home side after just six minutes when he was clean through on goal after dispossessing Andre Bikey. The Frenchman tried to go around Jensen but the Burnley keeper was able to grab the ball.

But Burnley were far from overawed, and should have taken a shock lead three minutes later. Frank Lampard was careless in possession, presenting the ball to Tyrone Mears, who fed the ball to Martin Paterson in acres of space. But the midfielder only managed to screw his shot wide of Petr Cech’s right hand post.

With the amount of chances Chelsea were creating, it seemed a question of when they would score, not if. Jensen however, had other ideas, keeping out shots from Michael Ballack, John Terry and Lampard.

The crowd began to voice their frustration, but a trio of goals seven minutes either side of half time had them grinning from ear to ear. Anelka gave Carlo Ancelotti’s side the lead, sliding in to convert a Didier Drogba cross.

Lampard stood the ball up for Ballack to nod home the second, and the England midfielder was involved in Chelsea’s third, playing a one two with left back Ashley Cole, who volleyed a fantastic finish past Jensen for only his third goal in Chelsea colours.

A goal fest seemed on the cards. Anelka almost added a fourth but he hit the bar from Ballack’s pass.

The tempo dropped noticeably after that flurry of goal mouth action, with Burnley seemingly resigned to their fate and Chelsea relaxed, safe in the knowledge that three points had been secured.

Michael Essien did his best to add his name to the scoresheet, first calling Jensen into action in the 66th minute and then again with 14 minutes left on the clock.

Substitute Salomon Kalou was inches away from scoring his first goal of the season as the game edged towards stoppage time, but his poked shot was cleared off the line by Mears with Jensen stranded.

The 100% start to the season continues for Ancelotti’s men and they go top of the Premier League on goal difference. Burnley, meanwhile, have been brought back down to Earth after shock wins over Manchester United and Everton.

The Blues continued where they left off against Sunderland in midweek, spraying the ball across the pitch and dominating possession. Fulham’s players found themselves chasing shadows for much of this contest. But despite Chelsea’s seemingly iron grip on possession, Mark Schwarzer was an untroubled spectator for the majority of the first half.

It was Fulham that had the first notable effort of the match – Clint Dempsey turning and hitting a shot over Petr Cech’s crossbar.

A foul by Aaron Hughes presented Chelsea with their first opportunity. Drogba – who scored from a set piece in the Blues’ opening day win over Hull – lurked with intent but it was Michael Ballack who struck. The German’s shot was always rising and didn’t trouble Schwarzer.

The away side’s next two efforts came from unlikely sources – John Obi Mikel and John Terry both trying their luck from range.

Ancelotti would have no doubt been pleased that his side was exerting such a stranglehold on the game, but they had nothing tangible to show for their efforts.

Drogba changed that seven minutes before the break. The Ivorian, judged to be onside, latched on to Anelka’s through ball and dispatched his shot past Schwarzer for his third goal in as many league games.

For the first time this season Chelsea had opened the scoring in a Premier League encounter, and Ancelotti could breathe a sigh of relief as he made his way back to the dressing room.

The second half was a near mirror image of the first, but there was a spell when Fulham put some pressure on Chelsea and the home crowd found their voice. At 1-0 there was still danger for the Blues.

Chelsea weathered the storm and continued their search for the goal that would kill the game. Lampard and Malouda both screwed efforts wide, and Drogba forced Schwarzer into action from a tight angle.

When the second goal arrived, it was a role reversal of the first. This time Drogba turned provider for Anelka, who took the ball past Schwarzer and then tapped it into the net.

Erik Nevland, on as a substitute for Bobby Zamora, hit a shot over the bar as Ancelotti’s side ran down time on a comfortable victory.

Sterner tests are sure to come, but the early signs look promising for Carlo Ancelotti.

Picture courtsey of the Daily Telegraph

As far as new dawns go, the early days of life under Carlo Ancelotti have gone swimmingly for Chelsea.

A trophy in the cabinet at the first opportunity with a first penalty shootout victory in over 10 years and six points from six in the Premier League. You could hardly ask for more.

Didier Drogba appears revitalised, Frank Lampard his usual self.

Even the much-maligned Deco is playing well. He was in scintillating form in the Blues’ 3-1 win over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, so much so that the Portuguese midfielder got a standing ovation from the home fans when he was substituted.

With both Liverpool and Manchester United slipping to early season defeats – to Tottenham and Burnley respectively – many are tipping Ancelotti’s men to take the title back to West London for the first time in three years.

But history makes me cautious. I can’t help but feel a sense of deja vu.

Last season also began well for Chelsea, hammering Portsmouth 4-0 at Stamford Bridge. Deco followed up his well-taken finish in that game to give his side a 1-0 victory over Wigan with a brilliant free kick.

Us Chelsea fans thought we had a real star on our hands, and pundits couldn’t see any other outcome than Luiz Felipe Scolari winning the league in his maiden season at the club. I’ll admit to getting slightly carried away during the early part of last season. I was practically purring at the football we were playing. The match reports I filed for games against the likes of Aston Villa (2-0) and Middlesbrough (5-0) reflect this.

Then things began to unravel. Teams began to fathom the secret to Scolari’s briefly dazzling Brazilian blend.

Once Jose Bosingwa and Ashley Cole were neutralised, Chelsea began to run into problems. They had no width. Faced with a defensively resolute side Scolari’s team appeared lacking in ideas and points were soon dropped. Deco’s form took a remarkable nosedive and he bore no resemblance to the midfielder that won the player of the month award for August.

The squad that Ancelotti has at his disposal is basically the same, and watching the Hull City game I couldn’t get over how much it reminded me of so many games under the Brazilian last season.

Bosingwa and Cole were relied upon for the width, and frustration soon ensued when Hull looked like they would hold firm for a draw. A fortunate Drogba goal – his second of the match – ensured Ancelotti began with three points, but the Italian was minutes away from making a very inauspicious start to life in England.

Manchester United – Chelsea’s main title rivals over the past four years – have been written off by many due to the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid. It appeared as if these claims have been given further weight by last night’s shock 1-0 loss to Burnley. But Sir Alex Ferguson’s men are notoriously slow starters domestically.

The league is contested over 38 games. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.

Of course there are differences between Scolari and Ancelotti and their teams.

Ancelotti has top level European experience with AC Milan, winning a league title and two Champions League trophies. Scolari had a World Cup on his CV but no experience in Europe.

One crucial difference in terms of personnel is Ancelotti has a fully fit and motivated Drogba to call upon right from the off, and is willing to pair him up front with Nicolas Anelka, which is something that Scolari seemed reluctant to do.

The brooding striker has been talismanic for Chelsea since his arrival from Marseille in 2004 and it is hard to see him being anything but during the season ahead. He could prove the key difference between the reigns of the two. If Ancelotti can call on a fit Drogba for most of the season then he may well succeed where Scolari failed.

Without the benefit of a crystal ball it is hard to predict how the rest of the season will pan out. Things look good for the Blues at the moment, but I think it is worth bearing in mind that Blues fans felt exactly the same a year ago.

As the old saying goes, “once bitten, twice shy”. Only time will tell if my caution is warranted.

Frank Lampard celebrates scoring Chelsea's winning goal

As Guus Hiddink stood clasping the FA Cup on a sweltering May afternoon at Wembley he could reflect on a job very well done. When he took charge of Chelsea in February the club was in danger of going into free fall. But the Dutchman has ended his short tenure at the club in the best possible fashion, winning the club’s fifth FA Cup and their first trophy for two years.

Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard were the heroes on the day as the Blues recovered from an absolutely disastrous start.

Most inside Wembley had hardly got to their seats when – from Marouane Fellaini’s header – Louis Saha lashed the ball past Petr Cech after just 25 seconds to send the Everton fans into ecstasy. It is the fastest goal in FA Cup Final history.

Chelsea seemed unable to settle, with Alex in particular looking nervy. But as time wore on they composed themselves, and began to gain possession and exert some control over proceedings.

Tony Hibbert picked up the game’s first yellow card for taking down Florent Malouda. Lampard rather carelessly blasted the resulting free kick high over the bar.

Michael Essien followed suit a couple of minutes later, but then parity was restored and inevitably it was Drogba who got the goal. The Ivorian lost Joleon Lescott and headed the ball past Tim Howard from Malouda’s left wing cross. It kept up his extraordinary record of scoring in every domestic cup final he has appeared in.

The Dutchman has ended his short tenure at the club in the best possible fashion, winning the club’s fifth FA Cup and their first trophy for two years.

The momentum had swung in Chelsea’s favour, and Ashley Cole could have added a second when he broke into the box, but wildly shot wide.

Hibbert was hauled of by David Moyes at half time and replaced by Lars Jacobsen after a less than sparkling first half performance. Malouda was a constant threat and the Scot seemed unable to stop the winger.

But the change had little effect – Hiddink’s side still looked in the ascendency. Malouda volleyed over and Saha had a rare chance for Everton, but he couldn’t find the target.

John Terry and Frank Lampard lift the trophy - Chelsea's first in two years

After an hour Nicolas Anelka attempted to lob Howard, but put too much into his effort and it went over the bar.

Shortly afterwards Hiddink made his first substitution, sending Michael Ballack on in place of the subdued Essien.

Having had little to do in the second half, Cech had to be alert to keep out a fizzing shot from Tim Cahill.

Saha then had a glorious chance to put his side back into the lead. Leighton Baines whipped a free kick into the box and Saha rose to head over the top, Chelsea breathed a sigh of relief.

That relief then turned to sheer joy as Lampard struck what turned out to be the winning goal.

Collecting Ballack’s pass, the England international turned Neville and hit a strike that found its way past Howard, despite the American stopper getting a hand to it.

One corner of Wembley erupted and Lampard ran to the corner flag and around it, a copy of his father’s celebration when he scored against Everton for West Ham in the semi final stage of this competition in 1980.

An Everton response never seemed likely after that hammer blow. Indeed, the deficit could and should have been greater when Malouda let fly from 35 yards out and struck the crossbar. The ball bounced down and over the line, but Howard Webb didn’t give it.

Not that it mattered. Chelsea played out time and secured a fully deserved cup triumph. Guus Hiddink will return to Russia with the warm words of both supporters and players ringing in his ears.

Many Chelsea fans would have been happy with a top four finish when he took the reigns in West London. He leaves having left an indelible mark on a football club that faces another period of change and upheaval. But for now they can savour the return of the winning feeling they had grown so accustomed to experiencing under Jose Mourinho.