Claudio eyes a date by chilly seaside

Chelsea 4 Watford 0

Claudio Ranieri continues to play a straight bat on just who may be imminently arriving at Chelsea but does admit that even his mum doesn't believe him anymore.

Ranieri was non-committal about likely signings and said: "My mother believes the TV and the newspapers but she doesn't believe her son."

Chelsea have given up on Christian Vieri and may still sign Louis Saha and Scott Parker before the end of this month's transfer deadline. Normal rules do not apply in the case of Roman Abramovich and, if the mood takes him, he could no doubt authorise these and more besides.

At the moment however, things are going well enough for Ranieri following an uncomfortable start to the new year.

The 1-0 defeat at home to Liverpool was an awkward time for the Chelsea coach but since then his team have responded positively, scoring eight goals without reply at Leicester and the FA Cup replay against Watford.

Romanian striker Adrian Mutu, having gone 13 games without a goal, has now scored three in two, while Damien Duff demonstrated his return to fitness following his dislocated shoulder by coming on for the final 11 minutes.

On the evidence of the last two matches, you would question whether Chelsea need another striker but Ranieri is pragmatic enough to know there are even tougher challenges than a fourth round visit to Scarborough, especially now that Hernan Crespo is out for six weeks with a damaged calf. Quite what Chelsea will make of Scarborough on Saturday week is anyone's guess.

Ranieri said: "I have never been there but it has a good beach although not at this time of year. I am sure it will be a good party in the town but on the pitch it will be a real battle."

It is certain that the Yorkshire seaside town will be at fever pitch by the time the Blues arrive but Watford manager Ray Lewington, who had seen his gallant team systematically taken apart by Chelsea, had a word of advice for the next Cup opponents.

"If I was Scarborough, I would try to sneak a couple of extra

players on the pitch, or maybe hijack their coach," he smiled.

Without the injured Heidar Helguson, their hero of the first match, Watford were always going to be stretched to the limit and when Mutu took full advantage of a piece of luck to score after just six minutes, Lewington must have feared for his team.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink scored the second in the 34th minute, killing William Gallas's long pass and shooting home, Mutu scored his second after 75 minutes with a curling shot inside the far post and substitute Eidur Gudjohnsen's finish, six minutes from time, was even better.

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