DIDIER DROGBA smashed West Ham to send Chelsea back to the top of the league.

Drogba put the Hammers to the sword with two goals as the Blues ran riot.

Alex and Florent Malouda also got in on the act and their goals were enough to send Chelsea to the summit.

Defender Alex had got the show on the road by converting Malouda's cross.

Scott Parker gave Chelsea a fright with a breathtaking volley but Drogba cancelled it out.

Malouda then grabbed one himself before Drogba's late goal wrapped it up.

Chelsea bossed the early exchanges and Drogba came close with a thunderbolt 20-yard volley.

In the 10th minute Drogba wriggled clear of the Hammers back-line only to shoot into the side netting.

Ilan then wasted a golden chance to snatch the lead.

The Brazilian was just eight yards out when he met Mido's cross but was left red-faced when he blazed over.

And Chelsea cashed in on his howler just two minutes later.

West Ham failed to clear Malouda's first cross and gave the winger a second crack of the whip.

Malouda's repeat attempt was spot on and Alex was on hand to convert.

In the 27th minute Chelsea blazed through the Hammers only for Drogba to miss Frank Lampard's cross.

But two minutes later Parker sent down his lightening bolt to stun Chelsea.

The former Stamford Bridge man chested down and fired over Ross Turnbull from 25 yards.

At the other end, Robert Green was at full stretch to keep out a long drive from Lampard.

And Green was lucky to have the ball in his arms just before the break when Paulo Ferreira nodded straight at the stopper.

Chelsea almost grabbed back the lead when Malouda's cross just eluded Michael Ballack.

But they only had to wait two more minutes to get their noses in front.

John Terry marauded down the pitch and allowed Drogba to lay the ball wide to Malouda.

The France star sent in another pin-point cross for pal Drogba to nod home.

Malouda made it 3-1 to Chelsea in the 76th minute with a 20-yard shot into the bottom corner.

It was a fitting reward for the ace who had set up both Chelsea's earlier goals.

Drogba completed the scoring in the 89th minute with his 27th goal of the season finishing off from close range after Green had palmed a Lampard shot into his path.

Chelsea: Turnbull, Ivanovic (Zhirkov 80), Alex, Terry, Paulo Ferreira, Ballack, Mikel, Lampard, Anelka (Joe Cole 66), Drogba, Malouda (Kalou 87).

Subs Not Used: Taylor, Deco, Sturridge, Bruma.

Goals: Alex 16, Drogba 56, Malouda 77, Drogba 90.

West Ham: Green, Spector, Upson, Gabbidon, Daprela, Ilan (Diamanti 83), Parker, Kovac, Behrami, Dyer (Stanislas 68), Mido (Cole 67).

Subs Not Used: Stech, McCarthy, Tomkins, Collison.

Booked: Mido.

Goals: Parker 30.

Att: 41,755

Ref: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear).