BankofAthletes - Investing in Talents

Chelsea's Frank Lampard (L) celebrates with teammate Yuri Zhirkov after Lampard scored a goal during their FA Cup match at home to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge football stadium. Chelsea won 5-0.

Sturridge's efforts were backed up by goals from Florent Malouda, Frank Lampard and an own goal from John Eustace as Chelsea ensured they avoided the fate of Premier League title rivals Manchester United, beaten 1-0 by Leeds earlier on Sunday, of bowing out of the FA Cup against lower league opposition.

And while Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti will be cautious not to draw too much from a routine win over a Championship club, he will be satisfied that Chelsea won in their first game since Didier Drogba, John Obi Mikel, Michael Essien and Salomon Kalou all departed for the African Cup of Nations.

In particular the Chelsea coach could be pleased with the display of 20-year-old striker Sturridge, deputising for the absent Drogba and Kalou as well as the injured Nicolas Anelka.

Right from the opening whistle it was clear this was an unfair contest with second-tier Watford immediately reduced to the role of spectators as Chelsea, in Italian manager Ancelotti's first FA Cup tie, carved them open with swift passing moves.

Chelsea raced into a three-goal lead with just 22 minutes on the clock, following a series of ricochets and deflections that only served to underline the weakness of the visitors' defence.

The opening goal came after Lampard directed a corner towards the far post where centre back Alex rose unimpeded to head the ball down.

The Brazilian actually miscued his header into the path of central defensive partner John Terry and the England skipper's snapshot was turned in by Sturridge for the youngster's first goal since his pre-season move from Manchester City.

With the home side clearly in ruthless form, the last thing Watford needed to do was gift their hosts a second goal but that was exactly what they did in the 15th minute.

It was bad enough that Joe Cole was allowed to meet Malouda's deep cross at the far post.

But when the England international's header came back off the inside of the post Watford should have done better than allow the ball to bounce off Lampard's back and into the net via a deflection off Eustace.

Worse was to come for Watford seven minutes later when Yuri Zhirkov's shot was diverted past keeper Scott Loach off Malouda's heel.

Reading had demonstrated how a Championship side can unsettle Premier League opponents by holding Liverpool to a 1-1 FA Cup draw at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday.

But where Reading managed to make life uncomfortable for Rafa Benitez's side, Watford simply couldn't get near to Ancelotti's players.

To their credit, Malky Mackay's team did manage to reach the interval without suffering any more damage and they even managed to create a half-chance themselves that was fluffed by forward Danny Graham.

Then, after the break and with Chelsea giving the impression of having completed their afternoon's work Watford skipper Jay Demerit even forced home keeper Hilario into action.

Chelsea, though, weren't finished and Lampard produced the goal of the game in the 64th minute when he sent a dipping shot from the edge of the Watford area arrowing into the top corner of Loach's goal.

And Sturridge claimed his second four minutes later with a composed close range finish from Ashley Cole's cross.