Chris Wilder laments a 'naive' performance from Sheffield United

An early strike from David McGoldrick put the Blades ahead, but it proved a false dawn as the Blues dominated much of the rest of the game and helped themselves to two goals in each half - aided by some poor defending from the visitors.

Tammy Abraham levelled for the Blues and a soft goal netted by Ben Chilwell put the hosts in front on 34 minutes.

Chelsea had to wait until the final quarter to add to their tally with Thiago Silva netting his first goal for the club and Timo Werner adding a fourth soon after, with the Blades again punished some charitable defending, with Max Lowe making an error on a difficult night for the former Derby County player.

Wilder's side prop up the table and have taken just one point from their opening eight league games this season.

It is the joint lowest points tally at this stage of a Premier League campaign, alongside Manchester City in 1995-96, Southampton in 1998-99, Sheffield Wednesday in 1999-00 and Sunderland in 2013-14.

Wilder, who lamented toe absence of Jack O'Connell for unbalancing the defensive balance of his side - with United's backline still coming to terms with it - said: "I think at times my teams are naive. (But) It's irrelevent. We have given away some poor goals. I think we have to look at ourselves.

"If you give handouts to world-class players, they will take their opportunities which they did. It's no good opening up then as it could be any score.

"We have to plug a few gaps at the moment and Max Lowe has to learn the hard way and I'm sure he will.

"For any promoted team to come up you have to have the balance of the ball and consistency in selection.

"We haven't had that this season through injuries and form as well. You have to have everything really to go for you.

"You have to have players who know the system to a heartbeat and have that attitude going into the games and unfortunately at the moment that's not the case.

"There is no magic wand and we have to come through this period and we have to come through this period.

"It's been a really tough run with four out of the top five. We will have to clear our heads in the international break.

"We have to fight through it. Nobody is going to give us anything. Now it's a little bit on top for us and it's the big test.

"Our season won't be decided on games against the likes of Man City, Liverpool and Chelsea. It will be against the teams around us and that's what we need to focus on.

"We aren't coming in here with a defeatist attitude but I don't like to be 'nearly' and we can't afford to be in the next 10 games."

On his side's comfortable victory, in the end, Chelsea manager Frank Lampard added: "Sheffield United are a really strong team. They are really good at putting you under pressure.

"We didn't deal with it brilliantly (early on) but the reaction from the team for the rest of the game was spot on."