Veiga got things going early with a towering header from Mkyhailo Mudryk’s cross. Despite the chances, we had to wait until a minute into the second half to double our lead, with Pedro Neto blasting the ball home in front of the Matthew Harding Stand.

Ghent threatened on points and our Belgian visitors halved the deficit shortly afterwards through a Tsuyoshi Watanabe header, but any chance of a comeback was quickly quashed by Christopher Nkunku, who netted his seventh of the season.

Dewsbury-Hall then got the goal his diligent display in midfield deserved to make it 4-1 to Chelsea with twenty minutes remaining. There was still time for Ghent to get one back before the end, but this was really our night.

The teams

Enzo Maresca has created a completely new starting XI after the victory over Brighton. In fact, there was only one change to the side going into last week’s match against Barrow: Tosin Adarabioyo for Malo Gusto. Axel Disasi, at right back, was captain again.

Academy midfielder Kiano Dyer, 17, was named to the bench for the first time. Another youngster, Tyrique George, would be brought on with ten minutes to go.

Start quickly

The Blues were there from the start. By the time Veiga opened the scoring in the 12th minute, Joao Felix had seen a close-range effort blocked and Neto had gone close with a low drive.

It was a nice move by Chelsea through the lines that kept Ghent open. Dewsbury-Hall released Mudryk and he showed patience and then precision, waiting for Veiga to make a move at the far post before delivering a perfect cross that allowed the Portuguese to plant a header across goal and inside. It was just a reward for a penalty to start the game for Veiga.

Dewsbury-Hall came very close to doubling our lead midway through the half. He allowed Neto to break at speed and then got into position for the return ball, firing into the side netting from twelve yards out.

A slick Ghent move after the half hour allowed Archie Brown to run through on goal, but as the angle closed the England Under-20 international fired straight at Filip Jorgensen. The chance sparked a period of Gent pressure, including a dangerous shot not far from Andri Gudjohnsen, the 22-year-old son of Chelsea legend Eidur.

Determine Pedro

It may have been a quieter end to the first half for the Blues, but we started the second with a bang. Disasi slotted a ball into the right inside channel and Neto’s speed sent the visitors’ defense into panic. The winger took advantage of their hesitation and shot the ball high into the roof of Davy Roef’s goal.

Our two-goal lead was short-lived. A corner was cleared, but not completely, and the ball went wide of Gudjohnsen. His crotch was in an area full of fluorescent shirts, but not many blue ones, and Watanabe was the grateful beneficiary.

Nkunku again

The goals kept coming! We won a series of consecutive corners and from the third we kept the ball alive in the penalty area. It looked like Veiga would be the player to get a shot away, but Nkunku hurriedly arrived and fired his shot through the crowd and Roef.

The balloon emerged as the loyal Stamford Bridge fans raised their phones in an amusing response to the traveling support who did the same when Genk scored.

That was after 63 minutes and we made it 4-1 after 70. This time a tackle stopped Nkunku from getting a shot away from Joao Felix’s through ball, but Dewsbury-Hall got the goal his performance deserved after picking up the loose held the ball. His celebration was matched by a cheerful Maresca on the sidelines.

Somehow Badiashile and Disasi didn’t turn in a teasing Neto cross as we threatened to cause an uproar, but it was Ghent who had the final say, substitute Omri Gandelman converting Max Dean’s pass, meaning it was back- to-back 4-2 at home is victory for the Blues.

What’s next?

Our final match before the October international break is once again at the Bridge as we welcome Nottingham Forest to SW6 on Sunday.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Jorgensen; Disasi (c), Tosin, Badiashile, Veiga; Casadei, Dewsbury Hall; Neto (George 80), Joao Felix, Mudryk; Nkunku (Guiu 80)

Unused subs Sanchez, Bergstrom, Colwill, Cucurella, Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, Dyer, Madueke

Scorers Veiga 12, Neto 46, Nkunku 63, Dewsbury-Hall 70

Booked Disasi 72

Ghent (4-3-3): Roof; Gambor (Samoise 89), Watanabe, Mitrovic (c), Torunarigha; Ito, Delorge (Gandelman 78), Brown; Fadiga (Araujo 64), Gudjohnsen (Dean 64), Surdez (Kums 78)

Unused subs Schmidt, Vancsa, Gerkens, Sonko, Fortuna, De Vlieger, Varela

Scorers Watanabe 50, Gandelman 90

Booked Brown 90+4

Referee Daniel Schlager

Crowd 38,546