To
their credit, Chelsea fans are nothing if not consistent. They love
Jose Mourinho and no amount of goals would deter them from their
devotion. ‘Where you when when we were s***,’ they sang at their own
players on Saturday as they went into a 3-0 lead.
They
stood up for the Special One and when Cesc Fabregas’ and Diego Costa’s
names were announced, they booed roundly. When those players were
substituted, they booed again and when Costa walked off they produced
another chorus of ‘Jose Mourinho,’ just to make the point clear.
Costa looked as though he were considering offering the entire stadium outside.
Branislav Ivanovic rises above
Sebastian Coates in the crowded penalty area to put Chelsea ahead with a
bullet header on five minutes
The powerful Serbian (centre) watches on as his header beats helpless Sunderland goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon to make it 1-0
The Chelsea right back is mobbed by
his team-mates as they celebrate the early goal against Sunderland at
Stamford Bridge on Saturday
Chelsea we two goals ahead just eight
minutes later when Pedro fired an effort past Pantilimon after finding
space in the Sunderland area
The Chelsea players swarm around Pedro (hidden) as the Blues go in search of their first win in four Premier League games
Brazilian midfielder Oscar made it 3-0 to Chelsea from the spot after Willian had been tripped by Pantilimon in the penalty area
Sunderland striker Fabio Borini roars
with celebration as after reducing deficit on 53 minutes as he heads
back to halfway with the ball
The Italian had the simplest of finishes from inside the six-yard box but it proved no more than a consolation for the visitors
MATCH FACTS, PLAYER RATING, PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE AND MATCH ZONE
Chelsea XI (4-2-3-1):
Courtois 6; Ivanovic 7, Zouma 7, Terry 6.5, Azpilicueta 7; Fabregas 7
(Mikel 71 6), Matic 7; Willian 7.5, Oscar 8.5 (Ramires 82 6), Pedro 8;
Costa 5 (Remy 75 6)
Subs not used: Begovic, Rahman, Cahill, Traore
Scorers: Ivanovic 5, Pedro 13, Oscar 50
Booked: Matic
Sunderland XI (3-4-1-2):
Pantilimon 5; Coates 4 (Johnson 23 6.5), O’Shea 5, Kaboul 5.5; Jones 5,
M’Vila 6.5, Rodwell 6, Van Aanholt 6; Toivonen 6 (Borini 46 7); Watmore
6 (Graham 79 6), Defoe 6
Subs not used: Mannone, Yedlin, Gomez, Fletcher
Scorers: Borini 53
Booked: Pantilimon, Rodwell, O'Shea
Referee: Roger East 6.5
Man of the match: Oscar
Ratings by Sami Mokbel at Stamford Bridge
Normally
a comfortable home win following the sacking of a popular manager stems
any rebellion at source. Not at Stamford Bridge.
The
debate as to just who was to blame for the most spectacular collapse of
a title winning side since Blackburn Rovers twenty-one years ago will
not be settled just yet.
What
is clear is that Chelsea fans will not lay the blame at the door of
Mourinho. And yet the players performed yesterday as though released
from a burden.
Up
in owner’s box, Roman Abramovich looked on. To be fair, he has probably
been in tighter spots than this in his life. Some mild fan disapproval
won’t cause him too many sleepless nights. Nevertheless, sat alongside
Didier Drogba, who in turn was next to interim manager Guus Hiddink, it
must have been a disconcerting experience.
Guus Hiddink watches from the stands at Stamford Bridge after he was named Chelsea's new manager until the end of the season
The Dutch manager (left) was joined in the directors' box by club legend Didier Drogba (centre) and owner Roman Abramovich
Chelsea fans showed their support for Jose Mourinho, who was sacked as the club's manager on Thursday afternoon, before kick-off
One sign the home crowd described the
Chelsea players as Judases as the supporters jeered their team and sung
Jose Mourinho songs
A banner with Mourinho's face on it reads 'One of us' as Chelsea fans make their displeasure at the Portuguese's sacking clear
‘Jose
Mourinho,’ they sang every time Chelsea scored. And the manner in which
Sunderland defended initially - their back three was quickly abandoned
and turned into an equally shaky back four - they threatened to score a
lot. ‘Jose Mourinho,’ they sang again at the end.
If
it weren’t for that significant fan discord, it was almost as if we’d
never been away, that the start of 2015-16 had been erased and the
2014-15 title winners were back in town. The opening quarter of the game
was what we once expected from Chelsea and what we have failed to see
almost all of this season.
From
the moment Willian’s corner was met by the forceful header of Branislav
Ivanovic in the fifth minute, everything else began to slip into gear;
on the pitch at least. In the stands goals juts provoked more support
for MourinhoWillian, excellent again, was the player most exonerated by
the Chelsea fans.
Chelsea were in front after just five
minutes when Serbi international Ivanovic (far left) rose highest to
head home a Willian corner
The right back,
who has been heavily criticised this season, points to the heavens as he
wheels away to celebrate his early effort
Pedro gets his shot away from inside the Sunderland penalty area as the Blues doubled their advantage after just 13 minutes
The Spain international watches on eagerly as his effort beats Pantilimon for the second time during the early exchanges
Former Barcelona forward Pedro (right) celebrates with Oscar (centre) and Cesc Fabregas after firing Chelsea further ahead
He
received the loudest cheer of the day when announced though Oscar was
applauded off warmly. Pedro, too. shone in a way in which he hasn’t
sicne his move from Barcelona.
It
was his sweeping ball to Ivanovic which opened up the play on 13
minutes and allowed the Serbian to cross. Sunderland couldn’t clear, the
ball fell to Pedro, who had raced into the box, and he finished
decisively. Cue more cheers for Mourinho.
For
Sunderland, the fall guy was Sebastien Coates, taken off after 23
minutes as the back three was abandoned. Much good it did them.
Sunderland were particularly abject in that opening half. Costel
Pantilimon had to be at his best to deny Oscar on 26 minutes while
Willian and Oscar contrived to set up Costa on 36 minutes, who shot
over.
Abramovich (far right) and former Chelsea striker Drogba are on their feet to celebrates as the Blues raced into a two-goal lead
Chelsea coach Steve Holland (far left), taking charge of Saturday's game before Hiddink takes the reigns, patrols the touchline
Oscar gave Chelsea a three-goal advantage from the penalty spot just five minutes into the second half at Stamford Bridge
Oscar is congratulated by team-mate
Nemanja Matic (centre) and Cesar Azpilicueta (right) as Willian tosses
away what looks like a hat
The
second half continued in the same fashion. Four minutes in Willian ran
on to an excellent Pedro ball yet over hit his touch. As such there was
no need for Pantilimon to upend him as he did. Nevertheless the penalty
was conceded and up stepped Oscar to dispatch it.
As
though the game were running a little too smoothly. Chelsea contrived
to make it a little more nervy. An Adam Johnson free kick was headed
across goal on 54 minutes by Younes Kaboul, Thibaut Courtois fumbled and
in shot substitute Fabio Borini to score. When Jerrmain Defoe sliced
wide on 65 minutes, a better finish might have tested the all-new
Chelsea to see juts how brittle they were.
As
it was they ended in control and comfortbale with enough time for Pedro
to miss a near open goal on 82 minutes. ‘Don’t Worry/About a Thing,’
they played on the P.A. as the crowd streamed out. It wasn’t the most
subtle of messages. But, given a few more performances like this, it
might eventually get through.
Sunderland were handed a lifeline when
Thibaut Courtois could only parry into the path of Borini (left) who
tapped home from close range
There were boos sections of Stamford Bridge as Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas was withdrawn in the second half
There were also jeers for under fire striker Diego Costa as he was replaced by Loic Remy as the fans made their feelings known
Abramovich (right) looks a relieved man after the final whistle as he leaves the box with Drogba (centre) and new boss Hiddink
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