After a disappointing run of four draws in 5 home games in the Premier League, the Blues were seeking to start winning the games they needed to climb up in the table and even partially save their nightmare season.
Chelsea were off to a dream start as already on the fourth minute of the match, Willian’s through ball played in-behind the Newcastle back four reaches the stretched leg of Diego Costa, who clinically scores his 10th Premier League goal of the season, with the former Barcelona player Pedro making it 2-0 after Aarons’s misplaced pass on the ninth minute mark.
Chelsea were in total control of the game, and the goals really showed that. After only 16 minutes of play, the home side found the back of the net once again, when Chelsea’s best players of the season, AKA Willian and Diego Costa, broke through to complete a brilliant counter-attacking goal to make it three before the half-time whistle.
Unfortunate for the Chelsea side, captain John Terry seemed to have strained a muscle causing him to be subbed off and replaced by Baba Rahman. The injury didn’t seem too serious, and we’re likely to see the skipper back in the line-up on Tuesday in Paris.
The second half was just more salt to Newcastle’s wounds, as Chelsea kept making Steven McClaren’s night even worse and worse.
The miserable performance from the Magpies had no stop, but neither had Chelsea’s brilliance. Pedro scored his second of the game on the hour mark following a world-class through ball by Fabregas for the Spain international, who coolly puts it past Elliot.
Substitute Bertrand Traoré got his debut goal for the club in the Premier League after finishing a beautiful link-up play from Hazard and Azpilicueta on the right-hand side.
Chelsea, who were completely dominant throughout the game, were unlucky not to have kept a clean sheet, as on the last minutes of the game, Newcastle’s January signing Townsend struck a beautiful shot 18-yards out which beat the diving Courtois to make the final score 5-1 for the Blues.
Pedro grabbed the Barclays Man of the Match award with a fine performance from the Spaniard, scoring two goals and the decisive winning goal. Diego Costa also showed a brilliant appetite leading the attacking force for the team tonight. Willian’s great performance was also a key to success as the Brazilian scored one and assisted one, hailing his magnificent season for the club. Youngster Ruben Loftus-Cheek also made an appearance before the end.
Chelsea rise up the table on the 12th place, 2 points behind Liverpool, while Newcastle struggle to get out of the relegation zone. The win was Chelsea’s biggest in the Premier League this season, which Hiddink’s side should be very proud of.
The Blues will play Paris Saint-Germain away next on the Round of 16 in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
