Notts County keeper Steve Mildenhall was at the centre of events as Chelsea overpowered their second division opponents at Stamford Bridge to cruise into the fourth round of the Carling cup.
He pulled off several world class saves from Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Eidur Gudjohnsen before giving away a second-half penalty which all but sealed the win for the Blues in a frantic, free-scoring goal feast.
Chelsea's opener after 14 minutes was Hasselbaink's eighth of the season. Damien Duff squared and the Dutchman unleashed a right-foot rocket from 30 yards straight into the top corner.
It came against the run of play as County had just had a Paul Heffernan shot cleared off the line by Glen Johnson with Blues debut keeper Marco Ambrosio stranded.
But County's pressure told after 27 minutes when Clive Platt headed on a Darren Caskey corner for Tony Barras to volley into the roof of the net from two yards out.
County's 3000 travelling fans only had nine minutes to enjoy being level before Gudjohnsen's close-range header restored Chelsea's lead.
At the start of the second half the Blues rested Hasselbaink ahead of Saturday's journey to Goodison Park, bringing on Mario Stanic for his first appearance of the season as a makeshift forward.
In the 62nd minute referee Rob Styles waved aside County's appeals for a penalty after Celestine Babayaro collided with Simon Baldry.
A minute later however Mildenhall missed the ball and upended Jesper Gronkjaer, earning Chelsea a penalty and allowing Gudjohnsen to slot his second of the night.
An error from Ambrosio gave Notts a lifeline in the 85th minute, as he flapped at a loose ball to allow substitute Mark Stallard a simple conversion.
But two minutes later the two-goal margin was restored when Mildenhall blocked Stanic's shot, only for Joe Cole to boot home the rebound and secure the 4-2 victory.
There was time for Mildenhall to pull off one final superb save before the whistle, preventing Gudjohnsen from claiming the match ball.