Chelsea vs Bournemouth. Premier League.
Stamford BridgeAttendance41,384.
Tuesday 27 December 2016 07:36, UK
Chelsea broke their club record for consecutive Premier League victories as they beat Bournemouth 3-0 on Boxing Day, winning their 12th league game in a row.
The Blues went into the game six points clear of Liverpool in second and despite a good challenge from the Cherries, were able to maintain their spot at the top of the table and make history in the process.
It was a stunning curler from Pedro in the 24th minute that sent Chelsea on their way to another victory, before Eden Hazard netted from the spot after being fouled by Simon Francis minutes into the second half.
The Spaniard rounded off a great afternoon for the Blues with a deflected third in the last minute of injury-time, with Chelsea now nine points clear ahead of Liverpool and Manchester City - who are yet to play - while Bournemouth slip into 13th place.
Antonio Conte was without the suspended Diego Costa and N'Golo Kante for the Christmas clash, with Pedro and Cesc Fabregas replacing them and they were certainly changes that proved fruitful for the Italian manager.
The first chance of the game came from the hosts in the seventh minute. Chelsea were awarded a free-kick which was taken quickly by Fabregas, picking out the run of Pedro between the two centre-backs but Francis got there ahead of the forward to see the ball wide.
Josh King almost latched onto the end of an Adam Smith cross just after the quarter hour mark, but Cesar Azpilicueta was there ahead of him to see out the fizzing effort. Seven minutes later, David Luiz released Pedro with a delightful through-ball, but after a gut-busting run from the Spaniard, the defender could not latch onto his cross at the back post and the ball dashed wide.
But within 60 seconds, Pedro produced a moment of magic to put the Blues ahead. Chelsea took a short corner and did not look to be able to find their way through another tightly-packed area, but some one touch football between Hazard and Fabregas found Pedro at the top of the box. He wriggled into space and went for goal, curling a sublime effort into the top corner.
The Cherries were not to be put off though and continued to push their hosts, with Thibaut Courtois producing a fine low save in the 27th minute to keep out a great hit from Jack Wilshere, before the Arsenal loanee also hit just wide after a poor defensive header from Nemanja Matic fell into his path.
The half ended in controversy and Wilshere was involved again, as he was fouled at the top of the box by Gary Cahill with referee Mike Jones appearing to wave play on, before Brad Smith shot way over the bar.
The referee then pulled the play back for a free-kick, much to the dismay of the Blues who questioned his earlier decision to see the play continue. However, Bournemouth did take the free-kick but it fired straight into the wall as the whistle went for the end of the first half.
It did not take look for Chelsea to double their lead in the second period, with Francis fouling Hazard three minutes after the restart to concede the penalty. It was the Belgian who stepped up and expertly dispatched past Artur Boruc to seal his 50th Premier League goal.
They could have added a third six minutes later, as the Blues once again hit their visitors on the break. Willian raced forward and picked out Hazard on the left flank who was barely closed down as he made his way into the box, but his fizzing cross just evaded the toe of Pedro.
Boruc was kept on his toes throughout the second half and produced a string of fine saves, denying Willian just before the hour mark as he tested the goalkeeper on a tight angle before Victor Moses hit wide on the volley not long after.
Courtois had little to do in the game, but was reliable when called upon and kept Bournemouth out for a second time in the 74th minute. Wilshere played a sublime ball that cut through the Blues defence to find substitute Benik Afobe in the box, but the Belgian goalkeeper was off his line quickly to deny the forward a goal.
The game was meandering towards a conclusion before Pedro grabbed his second of the game and the third for Chelsea in the 93rd minute. Another strong break from the hosts saw the Spaniard on his way, with his shot from the top of the box deflecting off Steve Cook and Harry Arter before finding its way into the back of the net to seal a historic win for the Blues.
Player ratings
Chelsea: Courtois (7), Azpilicueta (7), Luiz (7), Cahill (7), Moses (6), Fabregas (7), Matic (7), Alonso (7), Willian (8), Pedro (8), Hazard (9).
Subs used: Batshuayi (n/a), Chalobah (4), Aina (n/a).
Bournemouth: Boruc (7), Francis (6), Cook (7), B. Smith (6), Daniels (6), Arter (5), Gosling (6), A. Smith (6), Wilshere (7), Surman (6), King (6).
Subs used: Afobe (6), Stanislas (4), Ibe (4).
Man of the match: Eden Hazard
