TWO goals in the last few minutes at Stamford Bridge made the final margin of defeat 4-0 - but the Canaries were rightly applauded off the pitch by their fantastic travelling support after a gutsy display against the reigning Premiership champions.

Dickson Etuhu rattled the woodwork and the millionaires of Chelsea with a drilled shot against the post in the first half, but Shaun Wright-Phillips struck to make it 1-0 at the break. Despite conceding a goal early in the second half as Drogba netted the Canaries continued to battle hard and hit the woodwork again through Croft - and only two late goals from substitutes Essien and Shevchenko ensured a comfortable-looking scoreline for the Blues.

A slight reshuffle for City saw Andy Hughes drop into the right-back slot where he finished the game against Blackpool on Tuesday - with Simon Lappin handed only his second start for the Canaries on the left of midfield. Jurgen Colin started on the bench where he was joined by Mark Fotheringham, Gary Doherty and Tuesday's match-winner Chris Martin.

Speculation as to the side Chelsea would put out was answered as their first eleven included superstars like Cech, Lampard, Drogba, Robben, Wright-Phillips and skipper John Terry. Essien, Bridge, Kalou and Shevshenko on the bench underlined the strength and class of Jose Mourinho's squad.

City's 6,000-strong travelling army of supporters filled both tiers of Stamford Bridge's famous Shed and were in great voice as the game kicked off in front of a capacity crowd.

The opening exchanges saw both sides content to feel their way into the game though Chelsea enjoyed the better possession and were the first to get a shot in on goal, a speculative low shot from Wright-Phillips comfortably collected by Marshall in the third minute.

In the 8th minute a foul by Etuhu on Lampard gave the England international a chance to have a go from a free-kick some 30 yards out from the City goal in a central position. His curled effort bounced awkwardly in front of Marshall but the Celtic loan star did well to parry it to safety.

A couple of minute's later a teasing cross from the left by Robben was scrambled behind by the City defence but Marshall went down heavily in the melee and after lengthy treatment was deemed unfit to continue. He was stretchered off to sympathetic applause and was replaced by Paul Gallacher.

City bounced back with good work from Croft and Hughes earning them two corners in quick succession, both of which were comfortably cleared by the home side.

On the quarter-hour Lappin combined to give Huckerby the chance to swing in a deep cross from the left which just drifted past the out-stretched leg of Croft at the far post.

But on 18 minutes City nearly stunned their hosts only to be denied by the woodwork. A good spell of midfield passing saw Etuhu line up an ambitious effort from 25 yards but his skidding drive seemed to deceive Cech and cannoned back off the inside of his right-hand post. The ball came back out to Croft but as he drove the rebound goalwards Boulahrouz got back superbly to intercept and clear the danger.

The Canaries had certainly given a good account of themselves so far and on 26 minutes they carved out another half chance when a deep free-kick into the Chelsea box was flicked on by Diblin but Huckerby only half connected with his acrobatic follow-up and Cech saved easily.

Play switched to the other end and Robben was given enough time to fire in a fierce effort which was superbly saved by Gallacher down low to his right then hacked away by Hughes. As the game approached the half-hour mark the Premiership's top scorer Drogba attempted to add to his tally with neatly carved out half volley but if flew well wide of Gallacher's right-hand post.

Chelsea were upping the tempo now and when Wright-Phillips robbed his former Man City team-mate on the edge of the City box in the 31st minute and fed Lampard the Blues fans were out of their seats. Lampard took one look and blasted a dipping effort goalwards which Gallacher reacted well to parry away.

The game's first booking arrived in the 35th minute when a trademark Huckerby break down City's left was brought to an abrupt halt by a late challenge from Diarra.

But in the 39th Chelsea took the lead with a goal the Canaries could do little about. The ball broke to Lampard and his fierce strike was charged down only for the rebound to fall kindly for Shaun Wright-Phillips on the edge of the box - and his first-time strike flew past Gallacher with the aid of a slight deflection off the shin of Hughes.

It was a cruel blow for the visitors who until that point had stood toe to toe with their megabucks rivals.

City kept going and forced a corner with four minutes of the half remaining, but when Dublin nodded back the corner from Safri, Croft skied his first-time effort from 20 yards well over.

Chelsea suffered an injury blow of their own as Boulahrouz suffered what appeared to be an arm injury and was replaced by Essien.

As the first half entered injury time Robben roared forward virtually the length of the pitch into the City box only to be denied by a superb saving tackle from Hughes. To add insult to injury Safri's follow-up clearance struck the Chelsea star and bounced behind for a goal-kick.

Half-time: Chelsea 1, Norwich City 0

City emerged after the break with no changes and early signs of the same competitive spirit. Robben powered into the City box in the 49th minute only to be denied by the out-stretched leg of Dublin as he wound up to shoot.

But there was a hammer blow for the Canaries in the 51st minute as they conceded a scrappy goal from a corner. Lampard's kick evaded all the Chelsea heads but the ball bounced horribly off Brown's chest and back towards goal. A despairing lunge from Drury was not enough to stop Drogba taking one touch before swivelling and firing home from close range.

Within five minutes Drogba was replaced, leaving to a warm ovation to be replaced by Kalou. In the 59th minute the Canaries made their second change, Etuhu leaving to be replaced by January signing Mark Fotheringham in midfield.

There were nervous moments on the hour-mark as Safri up-ended Kalou right on the edge of the City box. Up stepped Lampard but after what seemed an interminable delay he eventually curled his effort just over the bar.

City were still sticking to their guns in the face of some classy and sustained pressure from Chelsea, but were just struggling to penetrate the imposing home rearguard as Huckerby looked to break whenever the opportunity arose.

In the 69th minute one superstar made way for another as Lampard left to a standing ovation to be replaced by Andriy Shevchenko.

The Canaries continued to work hard and in the 75th minute carved out a reasonable chance as Hughes crossed from the right and Brown's glancing downwards header flashed a yard wide of Cech's right-hand post.

Andy Hughes talked himself into the referee's notebook in the 77th minute, the passionate City man reacting furiously when adjudged to have put the ball out for a throw and cautioned for whatever he said to the assistant ref.

A minute later City made their final substitution of the match, youngster Chris Martin coming Lappin. And he was almost involved in City opening their account immediately as he flicked on Huckerby's chip into the path of Croft - but the winger's volleyed effort was tipped on to the cross bar by Cech.

With ten minutes to go City had found new life and Drury's cross from the left found Shackell but his low drive was saved low down to his right by Cech. At the other end Shevchenko ended a promising Chelsea attack with a swift turn and shot which blazed just over the bar.

In the 84th minute Fotheringham was cautioned by Rob Styles for a heavy challenge on Kalou as the Chelsea sub threatened to break clear.

As the game entered the last five minutes a looping Huckerby cross from City's left was met by the towering figure of Dublin, but his placed glancing header was easily collected by Cech.

A foul by John Terry on Dublin earned City a free-kick 30 yards out in the 87th minute but Fotheringham's well-directed effort was plucked from under the bar by Cech.

As the minutes ticked away Grant threw Dion Dublin forward to boost number up front - but Chelsea ended a great spell of green and yellow pressure with a third goal on the break in the last minute.

Shevchenko twisted and wriggled his way to the byeline on City's right before drilling a low cross which Essien bundled home from close range.

And cruelly Chelsea grabbed a fourth with virtually the last kick of the match, Kalou's cross headed home past Gallacher by Shevchenko.

Final score: Chelsea 4, Norwich City 0

NORWICH: Marshall (Gallacher 10), Drury (C), Shackell, Huckerby, Croft, Dublin, Brown, Safri, Hughes, Lappin (Martin 78), Etuhu (Fotheringham 59). SUBS NOT USED: Colin, Doherty.

CHELSEA: Cech, Lampard (Shevchenko 69), Boulahrouz (Essien 45), Drogba (Kalou 57), Mikel, Geremi, Robben, Diarra, Ferreira, Wright-Phillips, Terry (C) SUBS NOT USED: Hilario (GK), Bridge.