Leeds United v Chelsea: hosts suffer the Blues with bitter rivalry renewed as ... - Telegraph.co.uk

Lampard began patrolling in front of the Chelsea back four. Michael Brown in particular seemed keen to welcome him to more prosaic surroundings, but Lampard rose above the prodding and pushing of his hosts, refusing to be deflected from his 20-yard path between the centre circle and the edge of Petr Cech's area.

And how he was needed there. If ever there was a game in which John Terry's reputation rose in absence it was this. David Luiz gave one of his most dreamy, distracted performances. He had twice given away possession before his lazy chip forward in the middle of the first half was snapped up by the busy Leeds midfield. The ball was pushed out to Jerome Thomas, who galloped down the left before crossing perfectly for Luciano Becchio to exploit the space where Luiz might have been and open the scoring for Leeds.

At that, the visiting manager braved the downpour for the first time and picked his pigeon-toed way to the edge of the technical area, where he gave one of his masterclasses in semaphore. The subject of Rafa Benítez is the one area where the two sets of supporters find common ground. And it was not entirely clear from where the chant of "you're just a fat Spanish waiter" emanated from.

But whatever the reputational void in which he currently resides, Benítez had considerable influence over this performance. His instructions at half-time clearly sparked his players to demonstrate that there really is a huge gap in attainment between the two sides these days.

In just over half an hour, Chelsea scored five times, through Juan Mata, Branislav Ivanovic, Victor Moses, Fernando Torres and the substitute Eden Hazard, sending the locals rapidly to the exits. And no amount of yelling and pointing by Warnock in the Leeds technical area was going to plug that gap.

For the Chelsea fans, it left plenty of time to gloat, to relish their hosts' discomfort, to remind them that it is the team in blue who are the champions of Europe. And to ask Warnock what the score was. He did not need reminding.

Indeed, the evidence of this display would suggest the fractious north south divide is unlikely to be crossed at any time soon. When the home side's entire creative effort came from El Hadji Diouf, it was clear Chelsea, with Lampard, Mata and Oscar in complete control of midfield, occupied a different footballing plane altogether.

Of one thing we can be sure: the next time Leeds and Chelsea meet here, Lampard will not be involved. Unless of course it is his turn for the rotating management seat at the Bridge.

How Wednesday night's Elland Road clash ranked in the hate stakes

The players
Frank Lampard tried to make it an old school game at the start, cleaning out El Hadji Diouf. Michael Brown was, well, Michael Brown, victim and perpetrator in turns, Mata catching him off the ball once, but mostly well behaved.
Hate rate: 5/10

The managers
Neil Warnock offered a hand of, if not friendship, then civility to Rafael Benitez before kick off and, but for a bit of finger pointing from the Leeds manager after one Lampard tackle, that was that. Too wet to prowl the technical area looking for trouble.
Hate rate: 2/10

The fans
Plenty of off-colour chants, obviously, including Jimmy Savile's name getting an airing more than once, but ferocity mirrored the game with Leeds the more vocal before the break and forced in to timidity by the flurry of goals.
Hate rate: 6/10