The game was goalless at the break but a smart finish from a tight angle by Nicolas Anelka put the Blues in front and Didier Drogba added a second from the penalty spot after he was fouled in the box.

Branislav Ivanovic added a brace for Chelsea, who need just a point to assure themselves of top spot in Group F, but Cole insists performance-wise the team can get even better.

The England international told ITV1: "We're not playing as well as we were at the start of the season but we're grinding out results and we just keep going. We're winning games which is the most important thing."

Cole sees retaining the Premier League title as the main target for the season but added: "There is a hunger and a desire that we want to win it, but there is some way to go."

He also hailed the Anelka-Drogba partnership which helped put Chelsea in control.

"When you have people like that the defenders drop off them because they have such pace and skill which creates chances for other people," the former Arsenal man said.

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti told ITV1: "It was a good evening, we played a good game. Now we have to fight for first place.

"We are playing with more confidence compared to last season, we changed a lot of things in our play last season and this year it is better.