Chelsea vs Sunderland. Premier League.
Stamford BridgeAttendance41,562.
Saturday 19 December 2015 22:58, UK
New interim manager Guus Hiddink watched from the stands at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea beat Sunderland 3-1 in the Premier League.
Goals from Branislav Ivanovic, Pedro and an Oscar penalty gave the Blues their first league win in three games and only their fifth of the season, but Chelsea fans did not hold back in making their feelings heard about sacked manager Jose Mourinho and the players' performances so far.
Hiddink's appointment until the end of the season was confirmed just before kick-off and his first game in the dugout will be at home to Watford on Boxing Day as Chelsea look to rescue a miserable season.
Substitute Fabio Borini pulled one back for Sunderland (53) minutes after Oscar had made it three but Sam Allardyce's side remain in the bottom three following the defeat, their 11th in 17 games this season.
Even before kick-off at Stamford Bridge, banners surrounded the stands showing support for 'Special One' Mourinho, one fan describing Eden Hazard, Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa as the 'Three Rats'.
Skipper John Terry had claimed player power had not played a part in Thursday's decision to axe the Portugese but Fabregas and Costa's names were booed by large parts of the home support before the action started, while Chelsea fans were soon singing in support of a man who led them to three league titles over two spells.
But the hosts were ahead after just five minutes through Ivanovic, who got up tallest to meet Willian's corner, heading into the top left corner from 12 yards.
And it was soon 2-0 through Mourinho's summer signing Pedro, whose left-footed effort from 12 yards found the top right corner after Sebastian Coates' miscontrol from Ivanovic's right-wing cross.
Oscar impressed in the first half, and could have had Chelsea three up having made his way effortlessly into the penalty area, but Costel Pantimilom came out fast to block his low effort from 10 yards.
Chelsea got their third five minutes after half-time through Oscar's penalty after Willian was brought down by Pantilimon, prompting more support from the stands for Mourinho.
Sunderland struck in reply three minutes later through former Chelsea forward Borini, who rolled the ball into the empty net after Thibaut Courtois had parried Younes Kaboul's header.
Allardyce's side had several chances to halve the deficit in the final half-hour; first, Borini's right-footed effort slid just wide of Courtois' left-hand post, before Jermain Defoe's half-volley was sliced wide from 10 yards.
Chelsea fans reacted with a smattering of applause amid the jeers as both Costa and Fabregas were substituted in the second half, but despite another late chance for Defoe, who was denied by Courtois from 12 yards, the Blues held on for three points.
Andy Burton's view from Stamford Bridge
"The performance was totally different in the first-half to what we've seen from Chelsea in recent weeks, but in the second-half they wobbled and showed the defensive frailties which have blighted their season.
"The fans made their point to Roman Abramovich that they do not agree with Mourinho's departure. They also made their feelings clear to the players they perceive to have let Mourinho down, especially Costa, who was heavily booed when he was replaced in the second half.
"Hiddink watched on, and now it's his turn to try and sort this all out. A strange old day at the Bridge."
Charlie Nicholas' Soccer Saturday verdict
"There's no doubt that the majority of Chelsea fans were there to vocally support Mourinho rather than the players themselves.
"Fabregas came off today to a lot of boos, a bit of clapping, then Costa came off. Those two were mentioned in a lot of the banners. I don't know if it was done with any thought process of bringing those two off but Costa got the worst of it.
"It takes big characters to come through these certain situations and it's very rare that certain players can win over fans. I think this will be about for quite a few weeks yet, maybe even months. Somebody like Fabregas in particular, someone they associate as an Arsenal man, they never quite adapted to him.
"It may be different, Drogba may come in with Hiddink and relax them and turn it round. If they do then credit to them, but I think it will be difficult for certain characters."
Player ratings
Chelsea: Courtois (7); Ivanovic (7), Zouma (6), Terry (6), Azpilicueta (6); Matic (6), Fabregas (6); Willian (7), Oscar (8), Pedro (7); Diego Costa (6).
Subs used: Mikel (6), Ramires (6), Remy (6)
Sunderland: Pantilimon (6), Jones (6), Coates (5), Kaboul (6), O'Shea (5), Van Aanholt (6), M'Vila (5), Rodwell (6), Toivonen (5), Watmore (7), Defoe (6).
Subs used: Borini (6), Fletcher (6), Johnson (6)
Man of the match: Oscar
