Chelsea got their Premiership campaign back on track with a comprehensive victory over Charlton on a shockingly poor Stamford Bridge pitch.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, William Gallas and Eidur Gudjohnsen, rattled in first-half goals for Chelsea.

Jason Euell's penalty gave the visitors hope just before half-time and as the pitch cut up further, Charlton began to press ominously.

Key moments

3 mins: Hasselbaink puts Chelsea ahead with a penalty 11 mins: Gallas' right-footed volley puts Chelsea two up 34 mins: Chelsea score on the counter-attack through Gudjohnsen 42 mins: Jason Euell gives Charlton hope with a penalty 54 mins: Dean Kiely fumbles Graeme Le Saux's shot

But a second-half goalkeeping howler from Dean Kiely allowed Graeme Le Saux, replacing the injured Mario Melchiot, to score and the match was as good as over.

Alan Curbishley's side had high hopes of extending their unbeaten league run to nine consecutive games.

But with less than three minutes on the clock, Gudjohnsen and Le Saux combined well to put in Hasselbaink.

We started well and I was very pleased with our performance Claudio Ranieri

When the Dutchman went down under Chris Powell's challenge, the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

Hasselbaink converted the penalty and Chelsea were soon celebrating again when Powell's miskick was seized upon by Gallas, who thumped home.

And when Gudjohnsen scored from a Chelsea counter-attack just after the half-hour, it looked as if a rout was on the cards.

But Claudio Ranieri's team, whose football had been flowing despite the bare and bobbly pitch, were temporarily unbalanced when John Terry had to go off injured.

And Charlton took advantage.

Desailly fouled Kevin Lisbie in the box and Euell slotted home the subsequent penalty.

The Stamford Bridge pitch was in shocking condition

But it was a false dawn.

Minutes after Kiely had had to rush awkwardly back to tip over Le Saux's lob, the Charlton keeper allowed the Chelsea defender's speculative long-range effort to slip through his grasp to make it 4-1.

Chelsea's earlier confidence immediately returned.

I'm very disappointed and we've let down our fans Alan Curbishley

Hasselbaink hit the post, while substitute Gianfranco Zola gave Chelsea further attacking options, and they would not have been flattered by a fifth goal.

The Stamford Bridge pitch will be ripped up before Chelsea's next Premiership game.

But Ranieri may want to review that decision having seen how well his team coped in registering yet another win on the brown, brown grass of home.

Chelsea: Cudicini, Terry (Morris 22), Desailly, Gallas, Babayaro, Gronkjaer (Zenden 81), Lampard, Petit, Le Saux (Zola 78), Hasselbaink, Gudjohnsen.
Subs Not Used: de Goey, Cole.
Booked: Le Saux, Desailly, Gudjohnsen, Petit.

Charlton: Kiely, Young, Rufus, Fish, Powell (Johansson 45), Kishishev (Bartlett 45), Parker, Jensen, Konchesky, Lisbie (Fortune 65), Euell.
Subs Not Used: Rachubka, Bart-Williams.
Booked: Powell, Konchesky, Parker.

Att: 37,284

Ref: M Dean (Wirral).