Watford 4-3

Telegraph:

Chelsea 4 Watford 3

John Terry scores then gives goal away in eccentric win for Chelsea Seconds over Watford

Matt Law

Watford respectfully formed a guard of honour, the flames went up, the home crowd chanted “champions” and out walked Kenedy and the rest of the Chelsea reserves.

The vast majority of the champions were sat on the substitutes’ bench or in the stands for this most surreal of coronations for the Premier League title winners.

Every good party has a buffet and Diego Costa, who was among the Chelsea substitutes, made a half-time visit to the press room and briefly considered the cheese and biscuits before opting for a satsuma.

“I’m very angry with him,” joked head coach Antonio Conte. “He must think to give me a bit to share. I was suffering during the game. To eat something, that would be good.”

Chelsea do not get the trophy until after Sunday’s final League game of the season against Sunderland and Conte already has an eye on the FA Cup final against Arsenal.

“You must have a plan in your mind, in your head,” said Conte. “I think the FA Cup final, you don’t play that on Saturday. You start to play the final 10 days before. For this reason, in my head, I have a plan to try to arrive to play the final in the best condition.”

Conte’s changes did at least allow John Terry to start his Stamford Bridge goodbye, albeit with mixed results as the Chelsea captain scored and then gave a goal away in less than a minute. Terry was not the only culprit on what turned into a chaotic night, as Chelsea also surrendered a two-goal advantage in the second half before substitute Cesc Fabregas struck a late winner to condemn Watford to a fifth successive defeat.

Terry’s first League start since Sept 11 looked to be going perfectly when he gave Chelsea a 22nd-minute lead from a Willian corner.

Kurt Zouma headed the ball against Terry and the 36-year-old reacted quickest to poke it into the net for his 67th Chelsea goal and the celebrations began.

But quicker than any Chelsea fan could mutter ‘maybe we should have given him another year’, Terry gifted Watford their first goal away from Vicarage Road since January.

Terry headed what looked like a routine clearance straight into the path of Étienne Capoue, who nodded the ball over stand-in goalkeeper Asmir Begovic for the equaliser. The mistake had come just 36 seconds after the goal.

Terry was one of nine changes from the Chelsea team who defeated West Bromwich Albion to clinch the title last Friday night.

The biggest surprise was perhaps the inclusion of Brazilian Kenedy, whose only previous League appearance was for Watford in September before his loan move was cut short. Eden Hazard was one of the few first-team regulars who started and the Belgian made and squandered a great chance after Capoue had equalised.

Chelsea did not have to wait too long to regain the lead, as César Azpilicueta scored his first League goal of the season nine minutes before half-time.

Daryl Janmaat headed Hazard’s corner out to the edge of the penalty area and Azpilicueta struck a perfectly-driven shot that gave Watford goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes no chance.

Conte buried any theories that he may have been taking things easy after the title success by celebrating Azpilicueta’s goal wildly with his staff in the home dugout.

For once, however, Conte was not the most animated coach on the touchline, as Watford’s under-pressure manager Walter Mazzarri ranted and raved his way through the game – even manhandling a member of his own staff.

Mazarri’s mood darkened considerably just four minutes after the restart, when his side conceded a third goal that should have killed the game.

Michy Batshuayi was rewarded for scoring the all-important goal at the Hawthorns with his first League start for Chelsea since signing for £33 million from Marseille and the Belgian was on target again.

Willian had seen a shot saved by Gomes and, from the resulting corner, Kenedy’s effort was deflected into the path of Nathan Aké who squared for Batshuayi to deposit the ball into the net.

That should have been the start of the procession, but Chelsea once again conceded almost immediately after they had scored. This time, a mistake from Zouma let in Janmaat, who raced into the area and danced around Aké before curling the ball into the corner of the net.

It was a sloppy goal to let in and Conte turned towards his bench in anger. The Italian’s summer shopping list may have got a little longer.

Batshuayi and Azpilicueta tested Gomes before the visitors got back on level terms with 16 minutes remaining.

Tom Cleverley’s cross was not properly dealt with by Zouma and Watford substitute Stefano Okaka, who had only been on the pitch for three minutes, took full advantage.

Conte threw on Fabregas and Pedro in search of a winner, and it was Fabregas who netted in the 88th minute to ensure the title party did not fall flat. The midfielder received the ball from Willian, struck the ball into the turf and it whistled past Gomes.

There were fireworks at the end, as Sebastian Prödl was dismissed after being shown a second yellow card, the Watford players rowed among themselves and blue streamers fell from the sky.

Conte even had a crown placed on his head by substitute Ola Aina, which Terry later wore, but the real Chelsea coronation will take place on Sunday – as long as Costa can drag himself away from the buffet.

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Guardian:

John Terry makes his mark in last-gasp Chelsea win over battling Watford

Chelsea 4 - 3 Watford

Dominic Fifield

The homecoming of champions can rarely have been this thrilling. An absurdly entertaining occasion littered with smartly taken goals, bouts of cringe-worthy defending, some late snarl that left Watford depleted and bickering among themselves and a mischievous Diego Costa leaving the bench to pilfer some citrus fruit ended with Antonio Conte wearing a plastic crown on the pitch. The Italian conducted a delighted audience as the fireworks boomed and the tickertape fluttered down all around. If only every night in this arena was this giddy.

It says much about the belief driving Chelsea on that they prevailed here with a virtual second string, decorated by a few senior regulars to ensure momentum is maintained before the FA Cup final later this month. Some in their number will feel scorched by it all. John Terry may have scored his 67th goal for the club, his first in 485 days, to register for the 17th season in succession but he was understandably ring-rusty and bypassed at times by Watford’s sprightlier performers. He ended up hinting Sunday’s visit of Sunderland could mark his retirement. Kurt Zouma, too, struggled to show his true capabilities in a makeshift back line. Expecting either to hit the ground running was unrealistic.

But plenty of others excelled to provide a gentle nudge in Conte’s ribs as he considers his selection for Wembley. Willian’s display might have been plucked from last season, so impressive was he in orchestrating much of the home side’s best moments. Cesc Fàbregas, too, looks invaluable and his late burst of form was capped by a winner two minutes from time, thudded down into the turf to scuttle beyond Heurelho Gomes and into the corner of the net just as Watford were contemplating a first point since mid-April. Costa and others could put their feet up in the dugout and his evening probably peaked at the interval when he ambled into the press room to peruse the catering facilities, pick at a sandwich and eventually make off with a satsuma. “If he’d had a piece of chocolate cake, I’d have been very angry,” said the head coach. “Next time I’ll tell him to bring me a piece as well so we can share.”

Conte described the frenetic nature of the contest as “funny” though his compatriot, Walter Mazzarri, watched much of it through his fingers almost in mock horror. His days at Vicarage Road appear numbered, with this a fifth successive defeat and an eighth in 11 games, in spite of his side’s comebacks and the reality they are safe from the drop. Chelsea, even with nine changes from their lineup at The Hawthorns, scythed through the visitors too easily before plundering from set pieces. Terry exploited the first. The captain was granted his first start here since mid-September and rose, with Zouma, to Willian’s corner only for the ball to rebound down messily into the goalmouth. While Watford dawdled, the 36-year-old spun inside the six-yard box to convert off a post.

Perhaps he was still lingering in his celebrations when, 36 seconds later, Daryl Janmaat swung over an optimistic cross that Nathan Ake headed up and Terry, his radar awry, nodded up and obligingly towards Etienne Capoue. “If in doubt, get it out,” said Terry. “That’s what I should have done.” The Frenchman looped his own header over a stranded Asmir Begovic and the visitors, with their first real involvement of any note, were level. Terry’s Chelsea career, while glittering, has never been straightforward. That madcap minute rather summed it all up.

Yet César Azpilicueta, drilling a low shot across Gomes from outside the area after Eden Hazard’s corner, would re-establish the lead before the break with Michy Batshuayi, on his first Premier League start, tapping into an unguarded net after benefiting from Ake’s smart control of Kenedy’s deflected shot. That Watford recovered from that point must have encouraged Mazzarri, who suggested afterwards that he is already planning for next season, with Janmaat’s fine run and finish – exploiting Zouma’s poor touch – and the substitute Stefano Okaka, capitalising on yet more uncertainty at the heart of the hosts’ defence to thump a shot beyond Begovic, drawing the visitors briefly level.

Their evening rather unravelled thereafter, with Sebastian Prödl dismissed for a pair of late challenges and Troy Deeney rebuking Okaka, enraged by Pedro’s foul, as players squared up around the officials in stoppage time. Not that Chelsea cared. They go into Sunday’s game with Sunderland, once the tickertape has been shovelled away, hoping to secure a 30th league win of the season and already planning for Arsenal on 27 May. “You don’t start planning for the FA Cup final on the Saturday,” added Conte. “You start to plan 10 days before.” He has choices to make but, regardless, his team look unstoppable.


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Independent:

Cesc Fabregas winner keeps Chelsea celebrations on track as Watford come close to crashing the party

Chelsea 4 Watford 3: The Premier League champions were pushed to the edge by their London opponents in a seven-goal thriller at the Bridge

Jack Austin

If there was ever a sign that John Terry had given all he had to give at Chelsea, Monday night’s victory with Watford was just that, as he went from the familiar role of hero to the equally familiar role of villain and back again.

Restored to the starting line-up, he led out his side to Stamford Bridge’s newly unfurled décor celebrating their restoration as champions and was greeted by the now customary guard of honour by their guests for the evening.

Going hard early, as the leader of the party often does, Terry gave his side the lead, only to get overexcited and straight away allow Etienne Capoue to equalise.

The Blues composed themselves to bag two more goals, though, as the soiree transcended into a full-blown house party.

Stefano Okaka threatened to be the party-pooper as Watford looked like they had earned a slice of the cake, until Cesc Fabregas turned up fashionably late to keep the celebrations going deep into the night.

In their first appearance since the confirmation of their ascension to the Premier League throne on Friday night, Antonio Conte made nine changes to his side, with the FA Cup final against Arsenal a week on Saturday now at the forefront of his thinking.

However, Conte’s relentless demand of hard work, no players were truly given the night off with David Luiz, Nemanja Matic and Thibaut Courtois all involved in the pre-match warm up – despite not actually being named in the match-day 18.

Upon his first venture out into the technical area, Conte was greeted with a standing ovation from all quarters of the Bridge but the party atmosphere wasn’t immediately transferred onto the pitch as Chelsea failed to carve out anything clear-cut.

That was until the 22nd minute when Terry turned on the spot from Willian’s corner and sliced the ball past Heurelho Gomes to give Chelsea the lead and kick off the celebrations.

However, there must have been some poison in the punch as almost instantly after giving his side the lead the man whose banner reads ‘captain, leader, legend’ had his head towards the ground after gifting Watford an equaliser.

The Chelsea captain inexplicably challenged teammate Nathan Chalobah to win a looping header on the edge of his own box, only for it to be, somewhat inevitably, effortlessly intercepted by Capoue and headed past a helpless Asmir Begovic.

That sapped the good mood from the terraces as the crowd grew frustrated, as if they had just been told to turn down the music at their own party. For 12 minutes, anyway.

If Terry deserved his goal as a reward for 22 years of service, then Cesar Azpilicueta got what he deserved for his this season.

It came from another corner as the ball fell to the Spaniard on the edge of the area giving him enough time to bring it down before rifling it into the bottom corner of the net. Time to turn that music back up.

Arsene Wenger made the claim that the sides who are in Watford’s position at this stage of the season tend to “take a breather” and allow teams to roll them over. That certainly could not be said about Walter Mazzarri, who kicked every ball and at one stage grappled with his coach at the start of the second half.

He looked slightly more forlorn moments later, though, when ‘that’s why we’re champions’ was the next song on the Stamford Bridge jukebox as Michy Batshuayi, Friday night’s hero, finished into an empty net to make it 3-1.

Yet, in mirroring their lead in the first half, Chelsea conceded immediately after – although for this one there was no blame attached to Terry as Daryl Janmaat jinked and jived his way through the Blues defence to find the bottom corner with a stunning party trick of his own.

But, unlike the first half, the crowd weren’t deflated by the goal as Batshuayi’s cushion allowed them to encourage Terry to shoot whenever he gathered the ball in his own half.

It was then time for karaoke as the Shed End demanded a new song from each section of the stadium, and even invited the travelling Watford fans to get involved at one point.

Not satisfied with his first Premier League goal since January 2016, Azpilicueta twice tried to add to his tally and came close to doing so, if not for a stunning save from Gomes.

But, as Chelsea’s greatest hits kept playing on the surround sound, suddenly the plug on the stereo was pulled as Okaka, in one of his first touches since coming on as a substitute, silenced the Bridge.

It was then left to Fabregas to give the festivities a late encore with a first-time shot from 18 yards with only three minutes remaining.

There was still time for Sebastian Prodl to be ejected early with a red card by referee, and bouncer for the night, Lee Mason, with Chelsea now left needing only one more victory to set a new record for Premier League wins.


Chelsea: Begovic, Zouma, Terry, Ake, Azpilicueta, Kante, Chalobah, Kenedy, Willian, , Hazard, Batshuayi.

Substitutes: Eduardo, Aina, Alonso, Cahill, Fabregas, Pedro, Diego Costa.


Watford: Mariappa, Prodl, Holebas, Amrabat, Cleverley, Behrami, Doucoure, Janmaat, Capoue, Niang.

Substitutes: Pantilimon, Mason, Eleftheriou, Zuniga, Pereira, Okaka, Deeney.

Referee: Lee Mason

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Mail:

Chelsea 4-3 Watford: Cesc Fabregas' late winner ensures Premier League champions' evening of celebration ends in victory at Stamford Bridge

At Chelsea, they know what they are. Champions of England, of course.

The first clue came from the slogan emblazoned in letters 20-feet high across the back of the West Stand above the Peter Osgood statue.

Then there were the tee-shirts worn by the band playing Life on Mars near Britannia Gate.

And the scarves and flags punted by the street traders in the Fulham Road. And the banners around the stands inside the ground.

Home of the Champions, they all declared.

Chelsea are back where they feel they belong, at the pinnacle of English football and crowing about it.

For much of this game they didn't look like the champions.

At least, not the ones we have become accustomed to. Not the super-tight and beautifully balanced unit which has steamrollered all before it since the end of September.

That team would never have let Watford back into the game having led 3-1.

But this was Chelsea in celebration mode, looking more like Kevin Keegan's Newcastle than Antonio Conte's Chelsea as Stefano Okaka made it 3-3 with a quarter of an hour to go.

Still, they found a way to win and smashed the 90-point barrier when Cesc Fabregas swept in the decisive goal, two minutes from time.

It was the seventh goal of a chaotic game which threatened to spill out of control in stoppage time.

Sebastian Prodl, booked earlier for a heavy challenge on Michy Batshuayi, was sent off for a late challenge on Pedro Rodriguez.

Watford substitutes Okaka and Troy Deeney were booked for their parts in a mass scuffle.

The final whistle was accompanied by fireworks launched into the sky from the stand roofs as ticker tape streamed down onto the pitch.

And off Chelsea went on another jubilant lap of honour.

Conte had rested most of his first team and gave some his fringe players the chance to impress.

Among them John Terry, the captain making his 716th appearance for a club he joined from school and will leave next week.

'It's going to be emotional,' promised John Terry in his programme notes and he had touched both ends of the emotional spectrum before even half an hour had passed.

For starters, there was the euphoria of his goal; the opener, his 67th goal for the club and Chelsea's 100th for the season in all competitions.

Kurt Zouma climbed to reach a corner and planted a header into the back of Terry's head.

Terry was the first to react as the ball bounced, spinning and smashing it with his left foot past Heurelho Gomes.

As it flew in off a post, Terry dashed away, patting the Chelsea crest on his chest with his right hand and basking in the ovation in front of the Shed.

Within 35 seconds of the restart, his glow was muted by a defensive lapse which presented Watford with the equaliser.

Terry tried to nod a high ball back to his own goalkeeper but left it short and Etienne Capoue darted in to beat Asmir Begovic.

Again, his name was sung, this time an offering of moral support from those who adore him. It was surely appreciated.

This was never likely to be a normal game. Not from the moment Chelsea clinched the title at West Bromwich Albion on Friday night.

Conte made nine changes and was stood on the touchline clapping along to his theme-tune with less than two minutes on the clock.

It seemed most out of character but this was a delirious home-coming night; one to complete the set in an I-Spy book of Chelsea footballers with rare outings for Nathaniel Chalobah, Nathan Ake and Kenedy.

Batshuayi, goal hero of Friday at The Hawthorns, was rewarded with his Premier League start and grabbed another goal, Chelsea's third, smartly set up by Ake, early in the second half.

Cesar Azpilicueta had scored the second, his first in the league since January 2016, and it proved almost as popular as Terry's.

Another corner was partially cleared to Azpilicueta and from the edge of the penalty he fizzed a drive across the turf and into the net.

Stars on the Chelsea bench received rapturous ovations whenever they went for a jog. Diego Costa, an unused substitute, even managed to pop into the press room at half-time to nibble on some cheese and pose for photos.

Daryl Janmaat sparked the Watford fight-back, dancing all too easily through the Chelsea defence almost immediately after Batshuayi's goal.

Okaka seized on a mistake by Zouma to level with 15 minutes remaining but Watford points were not in this script.

This was Chelsea's party in front of more than 40,000 at the home of the champions.

All that was missing was the trophy. That will be presented on Sunday when they will gather to do it all again.


Chelsea (4-3-2-1): Begovic 6; Zouma 6, Terry 6.5, Ake 6; Azpilicueta 7, Kante 6.5, Chalobah 6.5 (Fabregas 78), Kenedy 5 (Aina 75, 6); Willian 7, Hazard 7.5; Batshuayi 6.5 (Pedro 84)

Subs not used: Eduardo, Cahill, Alonso, Costa

Booked: Ake, Chalobah

Goals: Terry (22), Azpilicueta (36), Batshuayi (49), Fabregas (88)

Manager: Antonio Conte 6


Watford (3-5-1-1): Gomes 6; Mariappa 6, Prodl 6, Holebas 5; Amrabat 5, Behrami 5, Doucoure 6, Cleverley 6, Janmaat 6.5; Capoue 6 (Deeney 90); Niang 5 (Okaka 71, 6)

Subs not used: Pantilimon, Zuniga, Mason, Eleftheriou, Pereira

Booked: Holebas, Amrabat, Prodl, Deeney, Okaka

Red Card: Prodl

Goals: Capoue (24), Janmaat (51), Okaka (74)

Manager: Walter Mazzarri 5

Man of the Match: Eden Hazard

Referee: Lee Mason 6

Attendance: 41,473


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Express:

Chelsea 4 - Watford 3: Fabregas saves Blues after captain Terry endures mixed night

THERE’S ALWAYS ONE bloke who is the life and soul of the party. Dominates the dance floor, tells the loudest jokes, belts it out at the karaoke.

By TONY BANKS

That is John Terry at Chelsea. This was their Stamford Bridge celebration party for winning the title last week, and the 36 year old, on his way out at the end of the season, was playing his first game since September.

Of course it all turned out to be about him. He scores one goal and 35 seconds later hands Watford’s Etienne Capoue an equaliser. Throughout his career stuff has happened around Terry, good and bad. It still does.

The fans duly celebrated as Chelsea just about won, the other goals coming from Cesar Azpilicuieta, Michy Batshuayi and Cesc Fabregas, two minutes from the end, the Hornets netting again via Darryl Janmaat and Stefano Okaka.

At the final whistle the fireworks went off, the tickertape streamers poured down from the stands, and the old anthem “Blue is the colour” rang out as Terry and the players did a lap of honour, manager Antonio Conte wearing a comedy crown.

The ‘Home of the Champions’ signs with letters 20 foot high had been draped over the outside of Stamford Bridge as the fans arrived.

There was a slight hitch as a fire alarm went off at 5.30pm and the whole ground had to be evacuated before the teams arrived, but there wasn’t much that was going to spoil the party.

Chelsea’s players had not left the Hawthorns until 12.30am on Friday night, after celebrating with beer and champagne in the dressing rooms, so maybe that explained the nine changes Conte made.

Diego Costa was waving fire extinguishers around at one point that night. Maybe it explained this defensive performance as well. One of those changes saw Terry make his first start in the Premier League since September 11.

The Chelsea captain, who will depart in the summer after 22 years at the club, said in the programme before his 716th game: “I can’t tell you how important it is to me to have the chance to celebrate my fifth title at the end of my last season as a Chelsea player.

“It’s a dream ending for me. If I could written my story as a 14 year old when I signed on the pitch this would have been it.”

“It has been a brilliant experience for me to work with such a great coach as Antonio in my final year. These will be my last two home games and it’s going to be emotional for me.”

Sunderland on Sunday will be the Terry swansong.

So relaxed was it all that Terry even interrupted his warm up to hug former manager Gianluca Vialli on the touchline. And at half time Costa nipped into the press room to sample the cheese board. Dull it wasn’t.

The Hornets gave Chelsea a guard of honour as they came out, led by Terry. You know who kicked it all off, of course. Watford failed to clear a corner and Terry reacted first to stab the ball in off the post for his 67th goal for the club.

His joy though lasted only 35 seconds. Watford went straight back up the other end and as Terry tried to nod the ball back to Asmir Begovic, he only succeeded in heading it to Capoue, who nodded in. Oops.

But no matter. Watford failed to clear another corner, the ball flew to Azpilicueta, and the Spaniard buried his drive.

Chelsea went further ahead when Nathan Ake neatly set up Batshuayi for his second goal in four days. With West Ham interested in signing him on loan, it was a moment that might well have saved the young Belgian’s Chelsea career.

Within two minutes Watford were back in it again, as Daryl Janmaat cracked a glorious shot into the top corner. And out of nowhere the Hornets were level, when Kurt Zouma failed to clear, and substitute Stefano Okaka rifled home.

There was still time for one last dancefloor pleaser though, as Willian set up Fabregas, and he rattled home Chelsea’s winner, two minutes from the end. That bloke was still standing at the end, by the way.


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Mirror:

Chelsea captain, leader, legend John Terry took centre stage for his glorious farewell - but it didn't ALL go to plan

You could almost guarantee the Blues' iconic skipper would be the story and sure enough he hit the headlines at the Bridge

BY JOHN CROSS

The homecoming party for the newly crowned champions turned into a bizarre night of glorious farewells, goals, ticker tape and cheese.

You could almost guarantee that John Terry would be the story and sure enough Chelsea’s captain, leader, legend took centre stage in what could turn out to be his last appearance at Stamford Bridge.

Terry scored the opener, his mistake gifted Watford an equaliser and yet fittingly ended up on the winning side of a seven goal thriller.

Chelsea substitute Cesc Fabregas got the 88th minute winner to make sure the party went with a bang but Antonio Conte would have been mightily relieved the title was already in the bag.

It was a crazy, almost comical end-of-season game which Chelsea took so lightly that Diego Costa - one of Chelsea’s unused substitutes - snuck into the press room at half time to have a snack because he was complaining he was so hungry.

Costa looked at the luxurious cheeseboard, picked at a sandwich and eventually made off with a satsuma with bemused onlookers remembering that he was actually on the subs’ bench.

Thankfully, Chelsea did not need him but even when Costa does not play he does something utterly bizarre.

Watford ended up rowing amongst themselves after Sebastian Prodl was sent off for a second yellow card in the dying stages.

Troy Deeney was shouting at Stefano Okaka and Watford do look an utter shambles under Walter Mazzarri.

They nearly snatched a draw as twice they equalised but Chelsea were able to make nine changes, field a largely second string, gift three goals and still end up winning.

When the final whistle eventually blew, fireworks and blue and silver ticker tape was exploded all over the pitch before the Chelsea players milked all the celebrations.

No-one would have enjoyed it more than Terry who is leaving the club at the end of the season and went out on a high.

Not even Terry at his very best could have marshalled a much-changed Chelsea defence who looked as if they had just been introduced to each other ten minutes before kick-off.

But Terry, even at 36, is still a competitor despite not being the defender he once was. You just knew that Terry would score and he got the game underway after 22 minutes.

Willian’s corner was headed by Kurt Zouma, the ball fell to Terry and the former England captain hooked the ball into the net off the post. It was Terry’s first goal in 485 days.

What a start. But Terry’s wild celebrations lasted all of 36 seconds. Watford went up the other end, Terry got into a muddle with Nathan Ake and Etienne Capoue’s looping header beat Chelsea stand-in keeper Asmir Begovic.

Normal service looked to be resumed when Cesar Azpilicueta rifled in a low shot from the edge of the box after Watford failed to clear Eden Hazard’s 36th minute corner.

Then Chelsea looked to be in cruise control four minutes after the restart. Hazard found Kennedy, his shot was charged down and Ake set up Michy Batshuayi who fired home.

It was Batshuayi’s winner at West Brom on Friday night which clinched the title. This was nowhere near as important but it does prove he can score goals for Chelsea and may yet have a future despite his disappointing season.

But Watford got themselves back into the game two minutes later. It was sixes and sevens again in Chelsea’s defence, Zouma’s slip let in Daryl Janmaat who went on a mazy run, Ake stood off and the Dutchman curled a shot into the far corner.

Bearing in mind Watford had not scored an away goal since January before last night, their luck was surely used up.

But Okaka equalised again after Zouma failed to deal with Tom Cleverley’s cross and the Watford substitute fired home.

But just when it looked as if Chelsea’s homecoming would end in a disappointing draw, up popped Fabregas.

It was fitting for him to be the hero as he has played such a key role in the past few weeks, this time sweeping home Willian’s pass.

Chelsea deserved it and they put on a show to really mark their glorious title triumph.



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Sun:

HAD TO BE HIM Chelsea 4 Watford 3

Skipper John Terry scores and then produces defensive howler as Cesc Fabregas scores late winner

Cesar Azpilicueta, Michy Batshuayi, Etienne Capoue and Daryl Janmaat were all on the score-sheet

By Andrew Dillon and Richard Forrester

CHELSEA skipper John Terry scored in his 17th consecutive season before producing a defensive error just 35 seconds later to hand Watford an equaliser.

Cesar Azpilicueta and Michy Batshuayi then gave the champions a two-goal advantage before Daryl Janmaat brought the Hornets back into the game.

Italian super-sub striker Stefano Okaka then threatened to spoil the title-winning party when he lashed home from close range with 15 minutes remaining to level the match.

Keep up to date with ALL the football news, gossip, transfers and goals on our page plus fixtures, results and live match commentary.

But Cesc Fabregas had the final say late on to lash home Chelsea's fourth of the night.

In Terry's first league start since September, the veteran bagged his 67th Chelsea goal and most likely his last when he latched onto a loose ball following a corner.

But less than a minute after kick-off, Terry's header back to Asmir Begovic fell short to Etienne Capoue who was left with a simple finish to draw the visitors level.

Watford were level for just 12 minutes when Azpilicueta grabbed his first of the season with a powerful effort from the edge of the box.

And moments after the half-time whistle Batshuayi grabbed his second in two matches after Nathan Ake teed him up for the easiest of finishes.

But the drama didn't end there as two minutes later Janmaat coasted into the Chelsea box before skipping past Ake and sliding the ball into the far corner.

Chelsea piled on the pressure searching for a fourth but Heurelho Gomes produced a number of wonderful saves to keep Watford in the contest.

And out of the blue Okaka pounced three minutes after coming on to silence the Bridge before Fabregas found space late on to drill the ball home.

Watford's misery was compounded in stoppage time as Sebastian Prodl was sent off for two yellow cards.


EMBARRASSED Chelsea had to form a guard of honour for champions Leicester last season. They were on the receiving end as Watford paid tribute to them as new champions before kick off.
Weird atmosphere though as with nine changes to the line up from Friday’s title-winning side it was only Eden Hazard and Cesar Azpilicueta on parade.
BOSS Antonio Conte had a new suit on after his was wrecked by a dousing of champagne and water in the celebrations after the decisive win at West Brom.
WATFORD boss Walter Mazzarri also made changes - leaving team captain Troy Deeney on the bench.
Captain John Terry was restored to the first team and put a scratch Chelsea side ahead in the 24th minute from a Willian corner.
But the lead lasted just two minutes as he then headed the ball straight into the path of Etienne Capoue to equalise.
Mazzarri was clearly trying to outdo Conte’s trademark gesturing and flapping in the dugout as it became a dad dance off between the two animated Italians.
Cesar Azpilicueta puts Chelsea back in front with a clinical finish from the edge of the box through a crowd of players.
Capoue’s equaliser was Watford’s first goal in more than ten hours of football.
Daryl Janmaat, Stefano Okaka and Cesc Fabregas were still to find the back of the net
Terry, who leaves on Monday, told Chelsea fans that he is ‘the lucky one’ having spent his entire career at the club and with five Premier League titles.

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Star:

Chelsea 4 Watford 3: John Terry hero and villain in Stamford Bridge thriller

JOHN TERRY has had an amazing career of highs and lows - last night he experienced both in less than two minutes.

By David Woods

John Terry scored the first goal but was at fault for Watford's equaliser immediately after

On his 716th appearance for Chelsea - and probably his second to last - skipper Terry scored in the 22nd minute then gifted Watford an equaliser in the 24th.

“If I could have written my story as a 14-year-old, when I signed on the pitch, this would have been it,” he wrote in his programme notes.

You suspect he might have edited out what happened in the 24th minute.

After their title win at West Brom on Friday, this largely meaningless game was always going to be the start of the farewell party for Terry as well as a celebration of their success.

At 36, he has been a bit-part player for boss Antonio Conte this season but with little on this match he was restored to the starting line-up for only his fifth league start of the season.

It was no less than he deserved, having bagged a fifth league title with Chelsea only four days earlier.

The good part for JT came following a Willian corner, which was swung over from the right.

Kurt Zouma won it in the air and headed it straight into the back of Terry’s head.

As it rolled down and dropped, the Chelsea No. 26 found the ball at that trusty left foot of his and he sent the ball into the net via a post.

Conte, who had done a mime of a header as the corner came over, was thrilled, but not as much as Terry.

But just two minutes later that joy turned to despair for former England skipper Terry.

As he went to try to clear with a header, Terry appeared to be distracted by Nathan Chalobah near to him and looped his effort up into the air and back towards his own goal.

It fell to the running-in Etienne Capoue, who was left with a simple header over Asmir Begovic.

Terry looked distraught as such a howler, probably one of the worse of his long and success-laden career.

The scenes before kick-off must have sparked a few memories for Terry and Co of about a year ago as Watford gave the Blues a Guard of Honour as they came out onto the pitch.

Because that is what Chelsea had to do for Leicester at The Bridge last season, after the underdogs took their crown from them.

But the game was about the present and not the past and the Blues were back in front in the 36th minute from another corner, this time from Eden Hazard.

It was deflected to him on the edge of the box and Cesar Azpicueta - one of only three to start last night who were also in the XI at West Brom - drilled in superbly with his right foot for his first league goal since January 2016.

Willian almost extended the lead with a shot from a tight angle in the 48th minute, Heurehlo Gomes tipped round superbly for a corner.

A minute later they did when Kenedy’s deflected shot found David Luiz springing the offside attempt by the Hornets and he squared for Michy Batshuayi to tap in.

Scoring the goal to land the Blues the title obviously has been good for the young Belgium striker.

But in the 50th minute Watford were back in it, with a superb individual goal.

Daryl Janmaat cut in toward the Chelsea goal from the right and totally deceived Nathan Ake before bending in at the far post with a left-foot curler which had a touch of the Lionel Messi about it.

The goal must have pleased boss Walter Mazzarri, whose job looks in threat following a run of five defeats in six games up until last night, with just one goal scored, and persistent rumours of his players turning against him.



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