Back in the security of their home surroundings, Chelsea reasserted their largely unfulfilled potential as they swept aside Ipswich 4-1 with a second-half display matching style with substance.

If only they could repeat their home form - just two points dropped under Claudio Ranieri in nine games at Stamford Bridge - on their travels, then the Champions' League would be beckoning.

As it is, the Blues have failed to win away all season but they are still a match for any side at home and so they proved again as Gustavo Poyet led the way by scoring twice and hitting the bar.

Having initially shown their Mr Hyde persona for the opening half-hour, with Marcus Stewart giving Ipswich a well-deserved 21st-minute lead, Chelsea threw off their mental shackles and emerged as Dr Jekyll.

Their fortuitous equaliser, through Poyet, on the stroke of half-time was crucial but with reformed tactics as Mario Melchiot came on and a reborn attitude after the break, they were unstoppable.

Captain Dennis Wise put them ahead, then Poyet made it 3-1 and Hasselbaink completed the scoring from the penalty spot - all within the space of 14 minutes.

Ipswich had significant cause for protest at the penalty, as Fabian Wilnis made contact with the ball while John McGreal was shown a straight red card, apparently for foul language.

However, despite their first-half promise and although they have previously won six Premiership games away from home, they were outplayed in the second period.

It had all looked so different early on as Ipswich, with far more than a gutsy backs-to-the-wall display, not only hassled Chelsea in midfield but were also far more assured in possession.

Alun Armstrong posed their first threat but it was Stewart, with his seventh consecutive scoring appearance, who put them ahead with his 17th goal of the season.

James Scowcroft was the instigator as a thundering challenge on Celestine Babayaro diverted the ball into the path of Stewart, who injured himself in chipping his shot over the advancing figure of keeper Carlo Cudicini.

Stewart was fit to continue and while Chelsea were hardly convincing they did slowly start to play their way back into the game.

There was always the threat posed by Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, who had earlier hit the side-netting on the break, but it was always Gianfranco Zola - on his 200th Chelsea appearance - who was likely to pose the main danger.

His curling cross was headed goalwards by Wise only for Wright to tip the ball around the post, while the keeper also parried an effort by Hasselbaink.

However, Wright was muscled out of the way all too easily when he flapped at a corner in first-half injury-time and while Gary Croft cleared John Terry's header off the line, Poyet was on hand to convert the rebound.

Never one to keep the same formation for an entire 90 minutes, Ranieri duly switched his line-up at half-time by switching to a back three as Melchiot replaced Eidur Gudjohnsen.

Whether it was due to the new tactics - with Melchiot in superb form - or a reborn determination, Chelsea duly asserted themselves as they finally exerted some control over midfield.

Former England Under-21 international Wright was unconvincing again at a corner only for Melchiot to head over the bar, but still Chelsea pressed.

Albert Ferrer's deep cross was meanwhile headed back by Babayaro to Poyet, who was unmarked on the edge of the area but he slammed his half-volley against the crossbar.

Ipswich could hold out no longer.

Hasselbaink twisted and turned on the right flank before swinging over a low cross that Wise - again unmarked - stooped to head past Wright on 57 minutes.

Eight minutes later, it was 3-1 as Fabian Wilnis conceded possession, allowing Hasselbaink to break clear and he fed a pass through for Poyet to slid in and guide his shot past Wright.

Chelsea's domination continued but there was controversy as the Blues scored their fourth through Hasselbaink from the penalty spot on 71 minutes.

Wilnis looked to have got the ball when he tackled Sam dalla Bona inside the area but referee Andy D'Urso strangely pointed to the spot before then sending off McGreal for his protests.

There was no chance of an Ipswich comeback and only a last-ditch intervention by substitute Wayne Brown prevented Chelsea from scoring a fifth after Hasselbaink had gone round Wright.

Chelsea remain a team of contradictions. When they are bad, they are indeed awful. When they are good, however, they are excellent.

Teams:

Chelsea: Cudicini, Babayaro, Desailly, Terry, Ferrer (Gronkjaer 78), Wise, Poyet, Dalla Bona (Jokanovic 83), Zola, Gudjohnsen (Melchiot 45), Hasselbaink.

Subs Not Used: de Goey, Harley.

Booked: Dalla Bona, Wise, Ferrer.

Goals: Poyet 45, Wise 58, Poyet 65, Hasselbaink 73 pen.

Ipswich: Richard Wright, Wilnis, Hreidarsson, McGreal, Croft (Jermaine Wright 70), Holland, Clapham, Magilton, Stewart, Scowcroft, Armstrong (Brown 74).

Subs Not Used: Branagan, Abidallah, Reuser.

Sent Off: McGreal (72).

Goals: Stewart 23.

Att: 34,948

Ref: A D'Urso (Billericay).