Having scored goals on a regular basis for the likes of Sampdoria and Juventus, Gianluca Vialli continued to find the net at a respectable rate following his move to Chelsea in 1996.
However, despite his clinical touch in front of goal, the Italian frontman, with the likes of Mark Hughes, Tore Andre Flo and Gianfranco Zola for company, found it difficult to hold down a regular place in Ruud Gullit's starting lineup.
The veteran striker would fire a message to his manager, though, when newly-promoted Barnsley were put to the sword at Oakwell 17 years ago today.
They may have lost last time out to Crystal Palace, but there was positive vibes around the Yorkshire club, particularly because on the opening day of the season they had recorded a home victory over West Ham United.
Yet, that good feeling soon evaporated as the visiting West Londoners dominated the contest from the first whistle. The deadlock was broken in the 25th minute through Chelsea's Romanian full-back Dan Petrescu, before midfielder Gus Poyet made it 2-0 13 minutes later.
From that moment onwards, it was all about Vialli. His first goal of the contest came a minute before the break when he fired the ball into the bottom corner of the net from the edge of the penalty area.
Then, in the 57th minute, he met a looped cross from Poyet and, despite the best efforts of Barnsley goalkeeper David Watson, Vialli was able to head the ball in via the underside of the crossbar.
His hat-trick was completed in the 65th minute as Dennis Wise provided a low pass into Vialli's path. He then committed Watson off of his line and was able to guide the ball into the far corner of the net, with the Barnsley stopper at full stretch.
Vialli was not done there, either, as he scored his fourth and Chelsea's sixth of the contest eight minutes from time. Watson could only punch clear Steve Clarke's header as far as the forward, who lashed an effort into the top corner from six yards out.
Despite this contribution and a hat-trick against Tromso in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup the next month, Vialli still often found himself on the sidelines. Nevertheless, he was still able to score 19 goals as the Blues won the League Cup and the Cup Winners' Cup.
Barnsley: Watson; Eaden, De Zeeuw, Moses, Barnard; Bullock, Tinkler, Hendrie [Liddell], Sheridan [Marcelle], Redfearn; Wilkinson [Hristov]
Chelsea: De Goey; Petrescu [Granville], Clarke, Myers, Sinclair, Le Saux; Poyet [Nicholls], Wise, Di Matteo; Vialli, Zola [Flo]
Liam Apicella
