Rani loves the Hassel

From Rob Beasley at Stamford Bridge

JIMMY FLOYD Hasselbaink had a birthday to remember by hitting a super 13-minute treble to rescue Chelsea.

The bungling Blues were trailing to plucky Wolves when the Dutch international was thrown into the fray on the hour.

And he celebrated his 32nd birthday with a devastating match-winning performance that also brought a personal scoring milestone.

His first strike in the 77th minute was his 100th Premiership goal — and two more in the last four minutes sunk Wolves.

Hasselbaink deservedly strolled away from Stamford Bridge with the match ball under his arm — a fitting memento to add to his pile of presents.

Boss Claudio Ranieri must have been delighted — but he was more concerned in putting the record straight.

He said: "I am most definitely not talking to any other football club. We're six points behind Arsenal and are very much in the Champions League still.

"All I'm doing at the moment is focusing on trying to do my best for Chelsea this year."

Hasselbaink beamed: "I'm just happy to have done it and got the three points.

"Now we can relax and sit and watch Arsenal play Manchester United. If we keep on winning, hopefully Arsenal will slip up."

Chelsea made a storming start and were ahead with just four minutes on the clock.

Mario Melchiot started the move with a break down the right and then a neat ball inside to the advancing Frank Lampard.

The England midfielder helped it on to Joe Cole, who threaded a superb pass into the path of Melchiot.

And the Dutchman did not break stride as he drilled the ball home to celebrated only his fifth goal for Chelsea — but it could be his last.

He is out of contract in the summer and almost certain to move on.

Rousing

The Chelsea faithful were quick to show their support for outgoing manager Ranieri, marking the early breakthrough with a rousing chorus of ‘We don't want Eriksson'.

But when Wolves got their chance, they took it.

And it was courtesy of some woeful defending on 23 minutes from second-placed Chelsea.

Stand-in keeper Marco Ambrosio threw the ball out to full-back Celestine Babayaro, who was closed down immediate by Wolves striker Henri Camara.

Babayaro played a first-time ball back to defender John Terry but it was too short. And again Camara was quick to close Terry down.

The Chelsea man tried to slip the ball inside to Claude Makelele but Camara caught him out, blocking the pass and bursting forward.

He was in on goal and did not waste the opportunity. His low shot flew in off keeper Ambrosio's leg and Wolves were level.

And they could have been in front moments later when they opened up Chelsea once again.

Paul Ince released Camara — and he whipped over a great cross only to see Mark Kennedy miss a sitter.

Chelsea tried to respond. Lampard's long ball picked out Eidur Gudjohnsen and his glorious touch set him up for a terrific shot that was only kept out by the boot of keeper Paul Jones.

But it was Wolves who finished the first half on top with Alex Rae driving over and then Kenny Miller slicing badly wide after a mistake from Cole, who was making a rare start for the Blues.

Chelsea did not sort themselves out despite the second half introduction of Damien Duff, strangely replacing Gudjohnsen who had looked bright in the first 45 minutes.

The homeside were still badly out of form and Wolves were in the mood to take full advantage.

And they did.

Kennedy's corner was perfect for Jody Craddock to produce a towering header to hammer the ball home.

Flying

That prompted Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri to send on Hasselbaink for Geremi.

But it was Wolves who almost went further in front with a rasping drive from Ince that demanded a flying one-handed save from Ambrosio.

Chelsea took the hint and realised they were in grave danger of suffering an embarrassing and damaging home defeat.

They upped their efforts and, in the 70th minute, it was Lampard who came riding to Chelsea's rescue. He played a one-two with Duff before celebrating his 100th consecutive Premiership appearance for the Blues with a stunning strike from 25 yards out.

But even better was to follow for Chelsea — with that stunning hat-trick from Hasselbaink.

The Dutchman unleashed an unstoppable rocket of a shot that Jones did brilliantly just to get a fingertip to 13 minutes from time.

Hasselbaink added his second 10 minutes later when he raced onto a tremendous pass from Duff to fire home.

The Chelsea striker was doing cartwheels and had owner Roman Abramovich on his feet celebrating in the posh seats.

The Chelsea man rounded off his treble in injury time, stroking the ball home.

Wolves boss Dave Jones was not a happy man.

He said: "We played really well to come back from going a goal down so quickly.

"We got back in the match and once we were in front we were in control — they were going nowhere.

"So I don't think we have lost a point today I think we have lost three. We should have won. That's how well we played.

"The score-line doesn't reflect what we have done today.

"I just wish for the last 20 minutes we had been boring and shut up shop. I wish we had just done our jobs."

Hasselbaink certainly did his in style.