Chelsea 2 Wolves 0

Battling Wolves produced one of their best performances of the season – but it was all in vain as they became Chelsea's 10th successive victims.

Stephen Hunt, who replaced Jelle van Damme at half-time, finally made his Wolves debut and almost equalised within two minutes of coming on, his diving header blocked on the line by Michael Essien with Petr Cech beaten.

But Chelsea's better quality in the attacking third paid off as goals from Florent Malouda and substitute Salomon Kalou proved the difference.

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy made three changes to the side that drew 1-1 against West Ham last week.

As expected, Richard Stearman and Nenad Milijas replaced the unavailable Jody Craddock and Michael Mancienne.

Jelle van Damme was the surprise inclusion, making a return to the starting line-up in place of Steven Fletcher, who dropped to the bench.

McCarthy also selected three players making their first appearances in the 18 for the first time – summer signings from Hull in Hunt and Steven Mouyokolo along with David Davis, who was recalled from his loan at Walsall on Thursday.

And it was Wolves, who forced three early corners, who created the first chance when captain for the day Christophe Berra powered in a goalbound header that hit John Terry's foot before being cleared.

But Berra was the culprit when Chelsea launched their first attack, failing to react to a one-two between Nicolas Anelka and Jose Bosingwa and the latter's angled drive was palmed wide by goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann.

However, Wolves returned to the attack and Dave Edwards forced goalkeeper Petr Cech into his first action with a falling save from a header to meet the excellent Kevin Foley's cross to cap an excellent passing move involving David Jones and Kevin Doyle.

Van Damme also went close to scoring in the 23rd minute when he came storming in to meet Matt Jarvis' cross, his chested effort under pressure from Bosingwa seeing Cech smother.

Within seconds, Wolves were made to pay as Chelsea broke the deadlock, Malouda sidefooting into the centre of the goal after Anelka's great pass inside released Yuri Zhirkov, inviting the pull-back for the forward to apply the final touch.

But Wolves continued to do an excellent containing job on the champions, as well as playing some neat passing football, Foley in particular a productive outlet with Jarvis down the right.

The visitors remained firmly in the game and Milijas tested Cech with two low drives from distance.

However, Chelsea were predictably the dominant force and stepped it up again briefly after the half hour.

The recalled Didier Drogba then Branislav Ivanovic saw shots blocked in a packed goalmouth following Malouda's free kick awarded for a lunge by Stearman on Drogba in the corner that earned the defender a 33rd minute booking.

Wolves returned to the attack again though and Doyle had their best chance of the first half two minutes before the break.

But the £6.5million striker, still searching for his first Premier League goal of the season, failed to get enough of a head on Jones' high cross after arriving unmarked on the edge of the six-yard box.

Chelsea tried to make Wolves pay again as they piled forward for a second goal, but Bosingwa's toe-poked effort was blocked by Hahnemann's legs after the full-back beat van Damme.

Sparked by Hunt's arrival, Wolves started the second half well and, after the winger's headed effort, Doyle forced Cech into a full length save to his left to palm away a left foot drive from the edge of the area.

But Chelsea were always threatening and Wolves had a let-off when Malouda's shot hit Essien.

The home side's next attack owed everything to the ice-cool reactions of Hahnemann after the American raced from his area and stood his ground superbly to block as Droga bore down on him after racing clear onto Ivanovic's clearance.

Milijas curled a long range effort straight at Cech but Wolves conceded a crucial second goal.

Substitute Kalou was the scorer, slotting in at Hahnemann's near post after a one-two with Drogba, Essien supplying the final pass which proved beyond the stretching Stephen Ward.