Four-midable Blues inspired by Deco

Luiz Felipe Scolari’s first game in charge of Chelsea was a stroll in the sunshine, with a first-half treble sending The Blues on their way to a 4-0 win over Portsmouth at Stamford Bridge.

Strikes from Joe Cole, Nicolas Anelka and Frank Lampard – the latter a penalty – ensured the most comfortable of Premier League baptisms but it was the performance of Deco that would have most pleased the Brazilian.

Scolari handed Deco and fellow summer signing Jose Bosingwa their debuts and the former Barcelona midfielder capped a wonderful performance with a 30-yarder a minute from full time.

Chelsea's first goal in the 12th minute was of fine construction. Michael Ballack, who was later forced off through injury, delivered an exquisite pass with the outside of the right foot to pick out the scampering Cole and the England international beat David James assuredly with a shot into the bottom corner of the goal.

Anelka found himself in a similar position to Cole and should have doubled Chelsea’s lead shortly afterwards, but the outstretched right leg of James denied the Frenchman.

Chelsea’s furthermost forward did not have long to wait to get his name on the scoresheet. Bosingwa’s cross from the right eliminated the wandering James and, when Deco returned the ball into the centre, albeit inadvertently, Anelka rose above Glen Johnson to head into an empty net.

The Blues really did not need a helping hand but got one, quite literally from Sylvain Distin. Referee Mike Dean pointed generously to the spot after Joe Cole’s cross from the right struck the defender’s arm on the stroke of half time. Frank Lampard sent James the wrong way from the penalty spot to make it 3-0.

The second half was the formality many expected it to be, but Chelsea’s movement remained, with The Blues' players desperate to impress their new manager.

Cole skidded a low shot just wide of James’s right-hand post but Portsmouth rallied briefly in the second half. Debutant Peter Crouch’s partnership with Jermain Defoe failed to trouble Chelsea but, from the lanky striker’s knockdown, Niko Kranjcar saw a shot blocked by Ricardo Carvalho.

While title rivals Arsenal and Liverpool ground out 1-0 wins on Saturday, Chelsea's comprehensive rout suggests they will be the principle challengers to champions Manchester United this season.

As if Chelsea’s warning to their title rivals needed any more emphasis, Deco lashed in a shot from 30 yards that left James flailing

MAN OF THE MATCH: DECO-An outstanding debut but we shouldn’t be surprised. The Portuguese has class in spades and ran Pompey ragged. Setting up his team's second goal, his last-minute strike set the seal on the win