CARLO'S TOP DROGS; BARCLAYS PREM FROM STAMFORD BRIDGE.

Byline: MARTIN LIPTON 

CHELSEA 3 TOTTENHAM 0

THE FIRST real test, passed with flying Blue colours.

But while perfection must taste sweet for Carlo Ancelotti, the sourness from seeing Didier Drogba carried off may linger longer on the Italian's tongue.

Last night, as Drogba put Ancelotti's side back on the Premier League summit, a club record 11th straight league win for Chelsea was eventually as comprehensive as the scoreline suggests.

For all Tottenham's justifiable anger with referee Howard Webb, that was a fact, the measure of the gulf between potential champions and wannabe top-four contenders shown to be as wide as it seemed against Manchester United at White Hart Lane last week.

No mistake, this Chelsea look the real deal, even if they do not have the same rock-solid defence which was the hallmark of Jose Mourinho's all-conquering side.

Under Guus Hiddink and now Ancelotti, they have exceeded the 10-game winning run reeled off by Mourinho's side on the way to their second crown in 2006.

When Chelsea went through the gears, they simply blew Spurs away, Harry Redknapp's injury-stricken team having no answer to Drogba's muscular bullying or the sheer physical power the Blues have at their disposal.

And yet, it seemed somehow tainted. Yes, this was a match Chelsea would have won in any event. After all, when Drogba is on this sort of form against a good defence, there is normally only one winner. When he is unleashed against a backline as hapless as Tottenham's, success is almost a certainty.

Carlo Cudicini's display in goal suggested the silver salver given to him by Chelsea before kick-off came with prior knowledge of what would unfold rather than a reward for services rendered to his former club. While even before Spurs lost Ledley King and Sebastian Bassong, Vedran Corluka was an accident waiting to happen.

But that will cut no ice in the Spurs dressing room, where Webb's key decision, 10 minutes after the break with Spurs trying to cancel out Ashley Cole's opener, will rankle for a very long time. Spurs have not forgiven Webb for the shocker of a spot-kick he gave against them at Old Trafford last season, a mistake which turned the match and the course of the title race.

But yesterday it was Webb's failure to give Spurs a certain penalty that incensed Redknapp almost as much as the victim of Ricardo Carvalho's assault, Robbie Keane. Keane, streaking into the box, had only one thought in mind. So, too, did Carvalho, clipping the Irishman's heels and pleading with Webb not to send him off.

Yet the referee waved play on as Spurs, already on the rack after King's hamstring pinged, raged against the dying of the light. That light was effectively snuffed out within two minutes when Cudicini failed to hold Drogba's shot or turn it away properly allowed Frank Lampard to latch onto the loose ball and tee up a Michael Ballack tap-in.

Game over after being so tough for Chelsea in the opening 20 minutes, when Keane and Aaron Lennon swarming behind Jermain Defoe caused so many problems. Defoe should have scored in the 11th minute, Petr Cech saved from Tom Huddlestone and Jermaine Jenas fired wide.

Those misses were always likely to haunt Spurs, whose attacking formation allowed Jose Bosingwa freedom to attack. Early on he had thrashed a shot against the bar and Spurs always seemed troubled by deliveries from the right, so it was no surprise when Drogba provided the cross from that direction and Cole caught Corluka napping. Drogba's reward came on 63 minutes when he was too strong for Corluka and profited from Cudicini's flat-footedness to roll into an open net.

There could have been more yet Drogba's injury, sustained going for his 100th Chelsea goal, could mean more than the chances that went begging. Few scans will be as eagerly awaited.

CHELSEA: Cech 6, Bosingwa 7, Carvalho 7, Terry 8, A Cole 8, Essien 7, Ballack 7 (Mikel, 62, 5), Malouda 6, Lampard 6, Anelka 6 (Borini, 90), Drogba 8 (Kalou, 85).

TOTTENHAM: Cudicini 4, Corluka 4, King 6 (Hutton, 48, 5), Bassong 6 (Krancjar 82), Assou-Ekotto 6, Jenas 6, Huddlestone 5, Palacios 6, Lennon 6, Keane 6, Defoe 6 (Crouch 67, 6).

REFEREE: Howard Webb ATTENDANCE: 41,623

It's only a bit of cramp, son..you'll be fine

CHELSEA are promoting their youth policy, but this is taking it a bit far. Skipper John Terry puts his three-year-old twins Georgie and Summer through their paces at Stamford Bridge yesterday after their emphatic 3-0 victory over Spurs.

CAPTION(S):

ON SONG Ballack manages to score despite Bassong challenging COLE FIRE Ashley opens the scoring with King appealing in vain for offside THREE 'N' EASY Drogba is too lively for the Spurs defence as he nets the third LOW POINT Drogba is helped off with a few minutes left after an excellent display