Chelsea forward Pedro celebrates scoring his second goal against Newcastle in Saturday’s emphatic win at Stamford Bridge
The masks that a number of Chelsea players have worn during the past few uncertain months started to feel some time ago like symbols of the fact that they have performed like champions in disguise for much of this strangely beautiful Premier League season.
Diego Costa was the latest to sport one of the masks on Saturday after what was called, euphemistically, a ‘duel’ with a teammate in training. Gradually, though, the need for disguise is diminishing and against Newcastle, Chelsea unveiled themselves in much of last season’s glory.
They have not lost now since Jose Mourinho left the club a week or so before Christmas and Guus Hiddink took over. Their progress, pockmarked with draws, has hardly been spectacular but the recovery has been steady and against Newcastle, it accelerated fast.
Spain international Pedro finishes coolly past Newcastle goalkeeper Rob Elliott during the Premier League clash in west London
Blues attacking midfielder Willian (left) is congratulated by team-mate Diego Costa after netting in the thrashing of Newcastle
Willian caps off a fine Chelsea breakaway move with a clean strike past Elliott to give them a 3-0 lead inside 20 minutes on Saturday
Pedro scores on the break for Chelsea as they rout Premier League strugglers Newcastle at Stamford Bridge on Saturday
Chelsea striker Costa celebrates giving his side an early lead against relegation battlers Newcastle in Saturday’s league clash
Costa rounds the last defender to finish calmly inside five minutes against Newcastle in Saturday’s dominant win at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea forward Eden Hazard (left) dribbles with the ball and takes on Newcastle midfielder Cheick Tiote during Saturday’s game
Newcastle, it must be pointed out, are a desperately poor side. If this was the best they could muster after watching their relegation rivals, Sunderland, close the gap on them at the bottom with a morale-boosting win over Manchester United, then one fears for their ability to beat the drop.
The scale of this defeat pushed Newcastle down into the relegation zone on goal difference below Norwich City. They will have to improve dramatically if they are going to escape. Jonjo Shelvey and Andros Townsend, their new signings, already look like men adrift. Adrift and bereft, wondering what the hell they have got themselves into. s
Chelsea had taken the lead within the opening five minutes after Willian, their player of this unusual season, had wriggled away from his marker in midfield and slipped a pass through to Costa, who had made a strong run into the area. Costa slid to meet the ball and hooked it expertly past Rob Elliot. It was his seventh goal in his last eight league appearances.
They went further ahead three minutes later as Newcastle pressed down hard on the self-destruct button. First of all, Shelvey under hit his corner woefully and it was cleared upfield.
Rolando Aarons brought it under control but passed it square towards Daryl Janmaat. That was under hit, too, and Pedro intercepted it and ran 30 yards before sliding it past Elliot.
It was the kind of half where every Chelsea attack seemed to lead to a goal or a gilt-edged chance. They were 3-0 up after 17 minutes and this one was the best so far.
Costa broke from midfield and beat Fabricio Coloccini to a through ball. Costa saw Willian bursting into the box and threaded a perfectly weighted pass into his path and the Brazilian slammed it past Elliot.
MATCH FACTS, TEAM NEWS, PLAYER RATINGS, PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE AND MATCH ZONE
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Courtois 6; Ivanovic 7, Cahill 7, Terry (c) 7 (Baba 37, 7), Azpilicueta 7; Fabregas 8, Matic 7; Pedro 9, Willian 7.5 (Loftus-Cheek 80, 6.5), Hazard 7; Costa 8 (Traore 60, 7)
Subs not used: Begovic, Mikel, Kenedy, Remy
Scorers: Costa 5, Pedro 9, 59, Willian 17, Traore 83
Manager: Guus Hiddink, 7
Newcastle (4-2-3-1): Elliot 4; Janmaat 4, Taylor 3, Coloccini (c) 3, Aarons 3; Shelvey 5, Tiote 5 (Lascelles 66, 5); Sissoko 5, Wijnaldum 5 (Colback 46, 5), Townsend 5; Mitrovic 4 (Doumbia 70, 5)
Subs not used: Perez, Saivet, Darlow, Riviere
Booked: Taylor, Shelvey
Scorers: Townsend 90
Manager: Steve McClaren 3
Referee: Roger East, 7
Attendance: 41,622
Man of the Match: Pedro
Pedro goal 9th minute – Click HERE for full MATCH ZONE
Even aside from their laughable defending, Newcastle were appalling. They were disjointed and disinterested. Aleksandar Mitrovic seemed to think going nose to nose with John Terry counted for something.
Mitrovic’s foul on Terry midway through the half forced the Chelsea skipper off before half time but the Newcastle supporters might have preferred it if Mitrovic had looked at any point before then as if he was going to climb out of Terry’s pocket.
Chelsea should have been six up by half time. Branislav Ivanovic scuffed a fine opportunity after a pull-back from Eden Hazard and Pedro shot tamely at Elliot when Costa played him clean through. It didn’t matter. Newcastle were so poor Chelsea simply toyed with them.
They improved a little after half time, which may have been partly due to Terry’s absence. With Kurt Zouma out for six months, Chelsea now face central defensive worries as they approach this week’s Champions League tie with PSG in Paris. Ivanovic deputised alongside Gary Cahill in the second half.
Newcastle actually managed a couple of shots in the minutes after the interval but then they allowed Cesc Fabregas the freedom of midfield and his lofted ball over the top of the visiting defence embarrassed Steven Taylor as he tried and failed to head it clear. Pedro too the ball on his chest and slid it past Elliot.
Chelsea captain John Terry was substituted in the first-half after suffering an injury during the game against Newcastle at Stamford Bridge
England international Townsend holds off pressure from Blues defender Branislav Ivanovic during Newcastle’s 5-1 defeat
Magpies captain Fabricio Coloccini struggles to cope with Costa’s presence in the box as his side fall to a humiliating loss
Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas (left) controls the ball ahead of Newcastle’s Tiote during the 5-1 win at Stamford Bridge
Newcastle midfielder and Holland international Georginio Wijnaldum (right) dribbles ahead of Fabregas during his side’s 5-1 defeat
The game lost momentum after that. Thinking of the match in France on Tuesday night, Hiddink took Costa off and replaced him with Bertrand Traore and Chelsea began to stroke passes around as if they were playing a lazy game of keep-ball on the training ground at Cobham.
Newcastle made a half-hearted effort to respond but Shelvey spent most of the second half gesturing at his teammates in apparent dismay. He knows now there aren’t any other leaders in this Newcastle team. If anyone is going to rally them, he is going to have to do it himself.
As for Chelsea, their flirtation with relegation appears to be over. They ended this game nine points clear of the bottom three and just two points behind Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool. They are surely too far back to mount a challenge for the top four but they may at least be coming into the kind of form that will give PSG coach Laurent Blanc cause for concern.
Newcastle midfielder Jonjo Shelvey (right) heads the ball clear as Willian closes him down during the 5-1 defeat by Chelsea on Saturday
Pedro, who netted twice in the 5-1 win over Newcastle on Saturday, dribbles past makeshift left back Rolando Aarons
Eight minutes from the end, the second of Chelsea’s masked men on the pitch on Saturday night, Cesar Azpilicueta, dashed to the byline and cut a low cross back for Traore, who steered it past Elliot at his near post. It was 5-0 and Newcastle’s embarrassment was complete.
They should be embarrassed anyway. This was a performance that was lacking in accomplishment and in spirit. It was one of the worst mismatches you are ever likely to see. Chelsea even appeared to take pity on them in the dying minutes. Clean through, Hazard tried a trick to score and poked the ball wide.
Townsend scored in the last minute. But don’t call it a consolation. The England winger did not celebrate his goal. He shook his head as he walked back to the centre circle. He looked as if he was still in shock.
Newcastle were flying to Spain for a warm weather training camp after this match. In the radio commentary box, one of their former defenders, John Anderson, made a weary joke of it. ‘I think a few of them are already there,’ he said.
Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink shouts instructions to his players as they complete a 5-1 rout of Newcastle at Stamford Bridge
The Mail
