Krasnodar 0-4 Chelsea: Frank Lampard’s men romp to their first Champions League win of the season

You would understand if Frank Lampard was having flashbacks on Wednesday night. It was almost like old times.

Roman Abramovich was watching Chelsea storm to victory in Europe… in front of supporters.

Like it always used to be, Lampard may have been pondering. If Chelsea’s defence continues in this vein then storming to victory will not be a problem.

Callum Hudson-Odoi got the ball rolling before Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech and Christian Pulisic put the gloss on an excellent victory for the Blues.

Chelsea got their first win of the 2020-21 Champions League campaign as they romped to victory at Russian side Krasnodar

Keeper Eduoard Mendy (right) put in another solid display for the club since his arrival as he secured a clean sheet once again

Chelsea boss Frank Lampard congratulates German midfielder Kai Havertz for his performance after the full-time whistle 

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich (back row, middle) was in attendance to watch his side feature in his native Russia

But it was Chelsea’s fourth clean sheet in five games – and their third on spin – that had Lampard clenching his fists.

Even without the effervescent Thiago Silva, the Londoners didn’t concede as Lampard provided further evidence that, despite his relative inexperience, he does possess the acumen to be a success at the highest level.

As is often the case in the Champions League, patience was a virtue for Chelsea.

Chelsea’s regular penalty-taker Jorginho stepped up to slot home the spot-kick but struck the woodwork with his effort

Lampard’s side took the lead at the end of the first half as Callum Hudson-Odoi (left) struck just before end of the first half

The young England star celebrates with his Chelsea team-mates after putting them 1-0 up in their Champions League clash

There wasn’t much get-up-and-go about their opening, Lampard’s men choosing to feel their way in.

Perhaps, the head coach’s team selection contributed to that; as revealed by Sportsmail on Tuesday central defender Antonio Rudiger was back in the fold, making his first appearance of the season from the start in Russia.

There was a full debut for Ziyech while Hudson-Odoi was given a rare start.

But if the prospect of three European points wasn’t incentive enough, the sight of owner Abramovich in the stands in his homeland should have got the juices flowing for Chelsea.

Timo Werner stepped up after Chelsea were given their second penalty of the night but made no mistake as he smashed home

Edouard Mendy, who has quickly established himself as Lampard’s undisputed No 1, was forced into an early save, the Blues keeper tipping Daniil Utkin’s strike wide of the post.

Slowly, though, the visitors asserted themselves. Ziyech saw a long-range effort saved by Matvey Safonov before Cesar Azpilicueta and Timo Werner combined to earn Chelsea a 13th minute penalty when the latter was tripped by Kaio.

Jorginho strode forward – but his effort cannoned off the post to leave Lampard cursing. You’d imagine Abramovich wasn’t best impressed either.

Hakim Ziyech grabbed Chelsea’s third goal of the night in Russia as he secured his first goal since joining the club from Ajax 

The Moroccan star is embraced by his Chelsea team-mate Mason Mount after he got off the mark for the west Londoners

Having scored his first eight for the club, the Italian midfielder has now missed two of his last four Blues penalties. 

You wonder if he’ll be taking another one any time soon.

Krasnodar appeared to be inspired by their good fortune; Tonny Vilhena saw his effort loop just wide after taking a wicked deflection off Kurt Zouma in the 18th minute before Utkin was denied a penalty claim following a collision with Kai Havertz.

This certainly wasn’t the performance Lampard would have expected against the Champions League debutants – but such is modern day European football. Nothing comes for free.

Finally, in the 37th minute, Chelsea made their quality tell – though they were indebted to a horrific piece of goalkeeping from Safonov.

The build-up play from the Blues was certainly easy on the eye, eventually Kai Havertz finding Hudson-Odoi deep inside the box.

The England youngster had a clear sight of goal, his intentions were just as transparent.

His shot was low and hard, but straight at Safonov. 

But what Hudson-Odoi didn’t count on was the keeper making an hash of trying to save the effort as the ball squirmed through his grasp to hand Chelsea the lead.

American winger Christian Pulisic got in on the act as he added a fourth strike during stoppage time to cap a successful night

You could hardly say it was deserved. Not that Lampard gave two hoots.

That should have been the sign for Chelsea to breeze home. They did in the end – but not without a scare or two.

Indeed, Krasnodar deserve credit for their spirit. But, that said, Chelsea deserve platitudes for their sheer ruthlessness.

Utkin, who had been a menace all night, headed narrowly over in the 48th minute before Yuri Gazinsky provided Lampard with an almighty scare as he struck the cross bar from a corner.

You couldn’t have begrudged Krasnodar an equaliser at this point either; Chelsea were clinging on – Marcus Berg the next to be denied by Mendy, who has conceded just once for Chelsea since arriving from Rennes.

Eventually, Chelsea turned the screw, though again they were presented with a major slice of good fortune.

Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta leaps up as he attempts to dispossess Krasnodar defender Cristian Ramirez in the first half

Chelsea boss Lampard looks animated on the touchline as he gestures to his players during the first half of the game 

Substitute Pulisic’s shot ricochetted off Alexander Martynovich’s thigh before hitting the defender’s hand in the 74th minute.

Under English football’s recently altered interpretation, the incident wouldn’t have triggered a penalty kick. In Europe, though, defenders simply aren’t that fortunate – much to Martynovich’s frustration.

In Jorginho’s absence, Werner stepped up to succeed where his team-mate failed – slamming his effort straight down the middle to secure victory.

Five minutes later Chelsea were three-up, Ziyech cutely firing past the hapless Safonov following Werner’s pass for his first Chelsea goal before Pulisic added a fourth in the 90th minute, converting Tammy Abraham’s pass.

Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic (right) battles for possession with Krasnodar’s Swedish forward Marcus Berg in Russia 

A section of fans were allowed into the Krasnodar Stadium on Wednesday night with coronavirus restrictions eased in Russia

Relive all the action from the night with Sportsmail’s DAN RIPLEY.