MK Dons 5-1

Independent:

Oscar nets hat-trick and Eden Hazard scores first goal of the season for Blues

MK Dons 1 Chelsea 5

Kevin Garside

Milton Keynes wanted to put on a show and did, hospitable hosts to the end. A first-half hat-trick by Oscar was in fact a poor return from a player who benefited most from the leaden steps of an overawed and overrun opponent.

Chelsea arrived unbeaten in eight matches and on the back of a victory at Arsenal that suggested the woes of the late Jose Mourinho period were behind them. The paucity of the challenge provided by the Championship side warns against making too big a claim on behalf of Guus Hiddink’s team, but in this setting at least, they looked a decent approximation to the unit that won the Premier League nine months ago.

Eden Hazard put on an exhibition in the No 10 shirt, ending an absurd run of 31 games without a Chelsea goal from the penalty spot early in the second half. He won the award himself courtesy of the kind of dart into the box that had been his trademark.

The game was over by then, of course, and might have been in the first 10 minutes such was the scale of the MK Dons implosion. Wisely their manager Karl Robinson chose to highlight the strength of the opposition rather than his own team’s failings. “They were outstanding,” Robinson said. “All week we were talking about them turning a corner, and they have. They showed plenty of class today. We were on a hiding to nothing.

“You want to go toe to toe and you want to beat them, but when you reflect they were just outstanding. I will use this as a learning curve. Some of my players let themselves down a little bit. It would be unfair to name them. Some will come out of it better footballers if they want to learn and take the positives away.”

The positive for Chelsea, if that is what you can call it, is a home draw against Manchester City in the fifth round, described by Hiddink as “a final, a huge game”. At least the interim manager has the club’s headline acts putting in productive shifts.

Hazard lit up the stadium in the opening minutes with a brilliant turn and run through what should have been the heart of the Dons midfield had it not disappeared. A deft ball picked out Oscar’s run down the right and he in turn put it on a plate for Diego Costa.

It was all too easy, which must have disarmed the Spaniard, who struck his shot as if the ball were  already  in the net. David Martin had other ideas in goal, blocking superbly. Next in the  coconut shy was Oscar, who side-footed wide.

Chelsea were still scratching their heads when Rob Hall burst across the halfway line at pace, utterly squaring up John Terry, who was fortunate to escape a booking for the inevitable trip, a snapshot that in microcosm helps explain the news that broke afterwards that there will no contract renewal for the soon to be ex-captain, leader, legend.

Oscar needed three attempts to breach the shredded MK defences, finally, in the 15th minute, forcing the ball home on the stretch past Martin. The giant Ruben Loftus-Cheek, a marauding presence in the middle of the park, should have made it two within a minute, his left foot shot easily gathered by Martin.

As poor as the Dons were defensively, they did not want for ambition going forward and as if to mock the visitors for the chances missed were level within six minutes. A sharp move down the left saw the ball break to captain Dean Lewington, who shifted it square to Darren Potter. Urged on by the crowd, Potter let fly, his shot looping high off Nemanja Matic over the outstretched hand of Thibaut Courtois into the net.

You would have thought shoppers at nearby Ikea and Asda had burst through the gates such was the noise that greeted the goal, maddening for Chelsea but marvellous for the occasion.  The visitors would be ahead again 11 minutes later, blowing two excellent chances via Hazard and Costa before Oscar, picked out neatly by Loftus-Cheek, slid the ball expertly across the diving Martin.

Five minutes before the break Jake Forster-Caskey and Samir Carruthers again reminded Chelsea of the Dons’ ability to raid at pace if not hit the target. Oscar showed them how with a rasping drive to extend the lead a minute before half time.

The match proceeded with all the intensity of a training game for Chelsea in the second half, with Costa, mindful of the busy week ahead, making way for Bertrand Traoré immediately after Hazard got their fourth in the 55th minute. Traoré needed only six minutes to make his mark, smashing in right-footed after being teed up by Hazard, who was then removed with Oscar to allow Pedro and Willian to stretch their legs for 25 minutes.

“We are playing well, scoring goals and enjoying it at the moment,” said Terry. “It would be good now to go on a run. We know what the FA Cup means.”

Hiddink was less concerned with City in the next round than the general upswing in returns. “We have to take into consideration the team we played came from a lower league but we can be happy with that performance,” he said.

“In first 20 minutes we showed ambition to finish it early. The only thing we forgot was to score. I don’t know if this was the best but I like very much the commitment of the team to make it a good  performance. The reaction after conceding was very good.”

Hiddink put loan signing Pato through a light training session on Saturday followed by a second yesterday morning but the need for fresh legs in that part of the pitch has surely receded with the performances of Hazard and Oscar.

“Hazard is coming back after a long absence,” Hiddink added. “He needs the rhythm of the game, which is important.  The players have responded well to the way we are working. There is quality in the team, but also the will to do the very disciplined, tactical work as we demand. That’s benefiting the team. I have said we cannot depend only on the production of Diego Costa, we ask others to contribute.”


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Guardian:

Oscar scores hat-trick in Chelsea rout of sorry MK Dons

MK Dons 1 - 5 Chelsea

Dominic Fifield

In the end even Chelsea’s most scintillating display of a baffling campaign was overshadowed by their captain’s post-match desire to get something off his chest. John Terry’s contribution had gone almost unnoticed here, a first-half booking and some typically robust defending aside, while others dazzled further up the field. He would have his moment afterwards with confirmation he is to leave Chelsea in the summer. Up to then it had been the creative talents who had dazzled.

This was a brutal reminder of the gulf between the top two divisions, even if Chelsea still loiter in 13th in the top flight, with MK Dons swatted aside with ease and Guus Hiddink’s team revelling in the space afforded them by cowed opponents. A proper test awaits in the last 16 when Manchester City visit Stamford Bridge. “That is already a final,” offered the interim manager on the challenge to come. What is encouraging, at least, is that his team have finally come into some form. Nine games unbeaten, they can afford to look to the immediate future with some optimism.

This was an occasion for their forwards, granted space and time to revel, to showcase their talents. Oscar found the level to his liking, the Brazil international running riot to register his first hat-trick for the league champions before the break. There was even reward for Eden Hazard, from the penalty spot, to end a personal goal drought which had extended over 2,358 minutes and 30 matches since the header nodded beyond Julián Speroni to claim the Premier League title in May: a winner from another era.

Chelsea are starting to recall what it is like to be that dominant again. It was their movement which bamboozled their opponents. A defence which has proved porous in the Championship simply could not cope as Chelsea poured through them at will. The brief period when MK Dons enjoyed parity was deceptive, given the sheer number of opportunities they were shipping even then. David Martin performed heroically for a while but it was unfair to expect that excellence to be maintained.

Eventually Chelsea would find their range and, as it was, Oscar still departed at the break having claimed the match ball with all prospect of a shock having long since dissipated. The rat-a-tat of chances had the home centre-halves wheezing. Martin saved wonderfully well from Diego Costa inside the opening four minutes, pushing away the striker’s close-range shot after Hazard and Oscar had combined to liberate the striker just outside the six-yard box. That combination play became a recurring theme, busy players galloping into space with the home ranks outnumbered, outpaced and simply dizzied by it all. “We could have been 4-0 down after five minutes,” said the Dons’ manager, Karl Robinson. “The only lesson I’ll learn from this is don’t win in the third round. We were carved up far too easily. It was scary.”

Oscar twice poked just wide when it seemed easier to score, on each occasion the Brazilian’s body shape a little awkward as he struck his attempt, though it mattered little while the opportunities kept coming. All three of his goals came gift-wrapped, the Dons’ indecision contributing to the third – the most eye-catching of his three – which was emphatically dispatched into the corner beyond a shell-shocked Martin with no hint of a defensive block after the Brazilian had skipped infield across the edge of the penalty box.

Kyle McFadzean suffered at the first two concessions. The centre-half had collected a throw-in on 15 minutes and attempted a blind pass infield, only to dribble the ball straight to a rampaging Costa. The striker charged into the area and drew the goalkeeper before squaring for Oscar to score past Joe Walsh on the line. Ruben Loftus-Cheek provided the visitors’ second, sliding a pass through the centre for Oscar to collect before McFadzean was aware of his presence, the finish crisply clipped into the far corner from an unkind angle.

Throw in a wonderful save from Martin to turn Hazard’s attempt on to the woodwork and Costa glancing Baba Rahman’s centre wide with Oscar perfectly positioned at his side to tap into an unguarded net and it was hard to fathom how, albeit only for a brief interlude, the Dons had once threatened a revival.

Encouraged by Rob Hall’s early dash to the edge of the Chelsea penalty area they sensed some vulnerability in the Premier League side’s ranks which Darren Potter, courtesy of a deflection from Nemanja Matic’s block, had exploited to put the home side level. Yet that was their high point, a brief riposte amid incessant pressure. Hazard’s dart into the box induced a foul from Potter early in the second period, the Belgian picking himself up to score from the penalty spot. He was soon skipping unchecked to the byline once again and pulling the ball back for the substitute, Bertrand Traoré, to sidefoot in his first Chelsea goal.

Costa, who had made way for the youngster, was busy signing autographs and taking selfies with the supporters behind the dugout by that stage. It was that kind of stroll.

Man of the match Oscar (Chelsea).


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Telegraph:

MK Dons 1 Chelsea 5

Oscar plays a starring role as revitalised Chelsea put MK to the sword
Oscar scored his first hat-trick for Chelsea and even Eden Hazard got on the scoresheet, as Chelsea cruise through

Jason Burt

Oscar was the leading man, with a first-half hat-trick, and there was a cameo from Eden Hazard whoscored his first goal since May 3 (31 games; 3,358 minutes of football in what is an incredibly statistic for such a player) as Chelsea swept MK Dons aside to reach the last 16 of the FA Cup. There was also a first goal for striker Bertrand Traore.

It was rip-roaring cup-tie – and MK Dons, were ripped apart. It was too much for the team 20th in the Championship. They were attacking but far too open. They conceded three in the first period. It could have been six, seven, eight goals and justifiably so. MK Dons were woeful down the right of their defence and Chelsea exposed it ruthlessly.

The onslaught began from the kick-off as caretaker manager Guus Hiddink selected a formidably strong team – a real show of intent, tinkering only with Baba Rahman at left-back and Ruben Loftus-Cheek in the number 10 role behind Diego Costa. And it was Costa who spurned the first opportunity. It came from a brilliant sharp turn by Hazard, on his first start for a month, who slid the ball through to Oscar. He squared it to Costa who appeared certain to side-foot into the net only for goalkeerp David Martin to parry superbly.

Then Hazard teed up Oscar who, off-balance, side-footed wide before, from a corner, the ball eventually dropped to Branislav Ivanovic. His turn was sharp but his low shot was blocked by Martin with an outstretched boot.
Chelsea broke again. Once more an opportunity fell to Oscar, again picked out by Hazard, after Costa’s shot from a chest down was blocked, but again he shot wide.

Finally Costa pounced, taking advantage of Kyle McFadzean’s woeful back-pass, following a throw-in, which left Martin stranded. The striker cut in from the corner of the penalty area to roll the low for Oscar to, on the slide, send it into the net from inside the six-yard area. Chelsea broke again with Hazard sending the ball into Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s path but his first-time shot was held by Martin.

MK Dons were being over-run but then received a slice of fortune to draw level. It came as Cesc Fabregas lost the ball under pressure from Dean Lewington and it ran to Darren Potter whose shot, from the area’s edge, took a huge deflection off Nemanja Matic and looped high into the air and over Thibaut Courtois. It was Potter’s first goal of the season. A lucky strike.

So somehow, despite the onslaught, MK Dons were level. But Chelsea were relentless. They should have restored their lead with Hazard sent clear only for Martin to block - with the ball then ricocheting off the post and into the goalkeeper’s arms. Then, incredibly, Rahman’s cross was met by Costa at full-stretch but the ball skimmed wide. If the striker had left it then Oscar would have scored his second.

The Brazilian soon did, though. After the half-hour Loftus-Cheek picked out another intelligent break by Oscar down the right and he steered his powerful shot across Martin and into the net. Oscar, who had forced another save from Martin and then sent a low effort wide, ran in from the left, evading three challenges and striking another fierce, bending his shot that tore past the goalkeeper and into the corner to score his third.

In a rare break-out Sami Carruthers and Jake Forster-Caskey combined for the latter to shoot from 25 yards, the ball just clearing the bar as it was covered by Courtois but there did not seem any way back for the Championship side. Tactically they had got it wrong. Chelsea had exploited that and had they been more ruthless the score-line would have been an embarrassment.

Not that Chelsea relented. A clumsy challenge by Potter caught Hazard on the back of his leg and referee Jonathan Moss pointed to the penalty spot. After a deliberation the ball was handed to Hazard who calmly stroked the spot-kick into the net, acknowledging the Chelsea fans in relief. Hs wait was over as he collected his 50th goal for Chelsea after such a long, long wait.

There was a moment of resistance when a shot from Rob Hall was tipped over, and a penalty appeal waved away, before Chelsea broke and Hazard chasing the ball down to the byline, pulling it back for the onrushing substitute Traore who drove it home from close-range.

There were more openings for Chelsea, several of them, before Courtois denied MK Dons substitute Daniel Powell, diverting his low shot with his legs. It remained emphatically Chelsea’s tie.


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Mail:

MK Dons 1-5 Chelsea:

Oscar nets hat-trick and Eden Hazard finally breaks his duck as Blues run riot in one-sided FA Cup clash

By MATT BARLOW

And the award for leading performer in the most one-sided tie of the FA Cup fourth round weekend went to Oscar.
Well, it is the season for it. Nearly. And Milton Keynes did have the red carpet out.
Unfortunately for a record football crowd of more than 28,000 at the stadium:mk it had been rolled straight through the centre of their own defence.
Chelsea did not waste the invitation. They had 19 attempts at goal inside the first hour and finished with five.

Having produced such an abysmal title defence, Guus Hiddink has fixed the minds of his players firmly on winning the FA Cup.
They breezed into the last 16, where they have the small matter of a clash with Manchester City.
But confidence is growing and John Terry - having confirmed his Chelsea career will end later this year - would love to lift the famous trophy for a sixth time, at Wembley, in May.
Oscar scored three in 29 minutes before the interval as MK Dons were swatted aside, Eden Hazard ended a nine-month goal drought with a second-half penalty and Bertrand Traore came off the bench to score his first for Chelsea.

Darren Potter equalised at 1-1 but the final outcome was never in question.
There would be no repeat of last season's giant-killing when Manchester United lost 4-0 in Milton Keynes in the Capital One Cup.
Unlike United, Chelsea were at full-strength and bristling with purpose. Unlike the United game, MK Dons were flimsy, low on confidence and prone to over-elaborate in defensive areas.

Karl Robinson is proud of the club's footballing philosophy but this game was too open from the outset, and his team unable to resist.
The score would have been more sobering but for some wayward finishing, the splendid form of goalkeeper David Martin, especially in the first-half, and Chelsea's decision to drop a gear after the interval.

The most eye-catching of Martin's catalogue of early saves frustrated Hazard, but his first of the game was a fabulous reaction stop to deny Diego Costa from point-blank range, in the third minute.
Oscar sliced wide when a risky pass into midfield by centre-half Kyle McFadzean was cut out, and missed the target with another clear chance, before finding the net with a quarter of an hour gone.
Again, it was an error by McFadzean, a pass intended for his own goalkeeper was terribly under-hit and collected by Costa, who cut the ball past Martin to present Oscar with an open goal.
Even at this point, it felt ominous. The champions were too strong and unzipped MK Dons at will.

'It was scary,' said Robinson. 'I've not had that before. They were on it. They were quality all over the pitch. One or two of mine let themselves down but that's the reality of the industry.
'We got carved up far too easy. But there's some stuff we can take away from here and work on.'
Robinson's team were ambitious going forward. There were flickers of promise before they levelled with the help of a huge deflection. Potter took aim from 25 yards and his effort hit Nemanja Matic and spun over Thibaut Courtois.

Most of the traffic, however, was heading in the other direction.
Oscar was soon celebrating his second, a flashing drive, struck first-time, fizzed across the 'keeper and inside the far post following a run and pass from Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who was deployed in the No.10 role.

His hat-trick was completed just before the break. This time, it was all his own work. Oscar picked up possession on the Chelsea left, dribbled inside, across the edge of the penalty area and curled a right-footer into the top corner.
Costa scooped the ball from the net and handed it to him. It was Oscar's first hat-trick for the club. The contest was over, and the scene was set for Hazard to end his long wait for a Chelsea goal.

The Belgian winger, last season's Footballer of the Year, ought to have found the net in the first-half. He was clean through, but Martin made a brilliant save, pushing his shot onto the post and reacting quickly to smother the rebound.
Ten minutes into the second-half, Hazard was tripped into the penalty area by Potter. As Potter disputed the decision, Chelsea skipper Terry strode forth and convinced Oscar, the nominated taker, to let Hazard have a go.

He had not scored since April, the goal against Crystal Palace which clinched the title, which also came via the penalty spot, although he missed that one and headed in the rebound.
This time, Hazard fooled the goalkeeper. Martin dropped to one side and the ball went the other way. Chelsea fans sang Hazard's name and he turned to salute them and gave his badge a kiss, by way of thanks for their support and patience. He had played more than 39 hours of football without a goal.

'It's good for him to score,' said Hiddink. 'He's coming back after a long absence and he needs the rhythm of these games. He played more than an hour and that's a help for the upcoming games.'
Hazard set up Traore for the fifth with a low cross from the left, and it was neatly finished by the 20-year-old.
Chelsea are nine unbeaten since Jose Mourinho's exit in December.
'The players have responded very well,' said Hiddink. 'It was important to get some results. They were draws in the beginning and the standard of this club means we need more than draws.
'But we had to find security first, and now we are moving into the areas of victories. There is quality in this team.'

PLAYER RATINGS by Kieran Gill

MK DONS (4-2-3-1): Martin 5.5; Spence 5, McFadzean 4.5, Walsh 5, Lewington 5; Potter 5.5, Forster-Caskey 5; Carruthers 6 (Powell 82mins), Hall 6, Murphy 5 (Williams 6, 67); Bowditch 5.5 (Maynard 76)
Subs not used: Cropper, Hodson, Kay, Church
Scorers: Potter (21)
Booked: Walsh, Spence
Manager: Karl Robinson 5.5

CHELSEA (4-2-3-1): Courtois 6.5; Ivanovic 6.5, Cahill 7, Terry 7, Rahman 6; Matic 7, Fabregas 6.5; Oscar 9 (Pedro 6, 63), Loftus-Cheek 7.5, Hazard 8 (Willian 6, 63); Costa 7 (Traore 7, 63)
Subs not used: Begovic, Azpilicueta, Zouma, Mikel
Scorers: Oscar (15, 32, 44), Hazard (55), Traore (62)
Booked: Terry
Manager: Guus Hiddink 8
Referee: Jonathan Moss 6
Attendance: 28,127
MOTM: Oscar


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Mirror:

MK Dons 1-5 Chelsea: Oscar hat-trick sends the Blues into FA Cup fifth round - 5 things we learned

BY ADRIAN KAJUMBA

Brazilian playmaker Oscar netted a first half hat-trick as the Premier League champions dominated the FA Cup clash

Chelsea cruised into the FA Cup fifth round with an easy win at MK Dons.

Oscar scored a hat-trick and Eden Hazard and Bertrand Traore were also on target as the Blues stormed through against their Championship hosts.

Chelsea missed a host of chances before Oscar finally converted Diego Costa's pass to make it 1-0 in the 15th minute.

Darren Potter responded with a deflected strike to bring MK Dons level but Oscar scored twice more before the break to complete his treble.

Hazard finally scored his first goal of the season from the spot in the 55th minute before the Belgian teed up Traore to open his account for Chelsea.


1. Chelsea not taking any chances

Chelsea's senior stars hoping for the odd rest here and there between now and the end of the season might have to wait. Their poor league form has placed even more importance on the remaining competitions and they can't afford to take any risks.

That much was clear again in the strong line-up Guus Hiddink picked to face the Championship strugglers. Chelsea have a host of hugely promising youngsters hoping for appearances in games like this but it simply doesn't look like that is going to happen this season with Hiddink's tasked with saving their season.


2. What's happened to Nemanja Matic?

What has happened to Nemanja Matic? He was once a powerhouse midfielder who could destroy everything in his path, was the Premier League's best holding midfielder and announced himself by outshining Yaya Toure on his Chelsea league debut in a titanic battle at the Etihad.

At MK Dons, he made a half-hearted attempt to block Darren Potter's speculative effort and only ended up deflecting the ball into his own net. It was another sign of his fall.


3. David Martin impressed, despite conceding five

MK Dons keeper David Martin was a big reason Chelsea were limited to three first-half goals. The FA Cup can be an opportunity for players from sides lower down the leagues and football pyramid to put themselves in the shop window. Martin grabbed that opportunity with a number of top saves before even he could no longer keep them at bay.

One to deny Diego Costa inside the first five minutes from point blank range was exceptional.


4. Eden Hazard's drought is finally over

At last, the drought is over. And how badly Eden Hazard needed that goal. It may have just been a penalty and the fourth goal in an easy cup win against Championship opposition but you could see how much Hazard's first goal of the season meant to him and his teammates.

Having missed a couple of spot-kicks this season, and a first-half one-on-one, he seemed to need convincing to take this one. Once he did and dispatched it – to finally claim his 50th Chelsea goal – all 10 outfield players rushed to congratulate him while Hazard turned to blow kisses towards and salute the Blues fans. It seemed like a release of emotion and huge weight off his shoulders.


5. Bertrand Traore lives up to hype

There has been a lot of fuss over Bertrand Traore, with the Burkino Faso youngster at the centre of a FIFA probe that could land Chelsea with a transfer ban. His name has also been on Guus Hiddink's lips.

The Chelsea interim boss reckons the versatile forward is a genuine option up front for Chelsea if they find themselves short up top.

He showed the sort of finishing ability that has caught Hiddink's eye with a clinical strike when he scored his first Chelsea goal from Eden Hazard's cutback to make it 5-1.


MK Dons
MARTIN 8

With defence AWOL Martin produced heroics to keep score down.

SPENCE 5

Had a torrid time chasing Hazard. Never got near him.

MCFADZEAN 4

Error led to opener and continued to look nervous.

WALSH 5

Another who had a tough day as Chelsea swarmed over the hosts.

LEWINGTON 7

Dons' best defender and his experience showed at times.

POTTER 6

Gave hosts hope with deflected goal but also conceded penalty.

FORSTER-CASKEY 5

Had couple of goal attempts but repeatedly failed to track back.

MURPHY 5

Got no change out of an improved Branislav Ivanovic.

CARRUTHERS 5

Some promising moments but too often made wrong final choice.

HALL 7

MK Dons' brightest spark. Caused Chelsea problems with his pace.

BOWDITCH 4

Hardly got a kick up front against Terry or Cahill.

SUBS:

Williams (for Murphy 67) 5

Maynard (for Bowditch 76) 5

Powell (for Carruthers 82) 6

Chelsea
COURTOIS 7

Unlucky for goal but number of decent saves too.

IVANOVIC 7

Solid, reliable and no nonsense. Like the old Ivanovic.

CAHILL 7

Returned to side with trademark display of key tackles and blocks.

TERRY 7

Troubled by pace a couple of times but otherwise a cruise.

BABA 6

Got forward but didn't make most of his crossing chances.

MATIC 6

Didn't cover himself in glory with his attempt to block equaliser.

FABREGAS 7

Sat deep and dictated play. A stroll for the Spaniard.

OSCAR MOTM 9

Two bad misses but responded with a brilliant hat-trick.

LOFTUS-CHEEK 7

Confident, energetic display. Set up second with run and pass from midfield.

HAZARD 7

Full of running on first start for a month and finally scored.

COSTA 6

Missed two sitters but still made an impact, setting up opener.

SUBS:

Traore (for Costa 57) 7

Willian (for Oscar 64) 5

Pedro (for Hazard 64) 5


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Express:

MK Dons 1 - Chelsea 5: Oscar stars for rampant Blues in easy FA Cup win

IT TAKES some ceremony to outshine the Oscars but Eden Hazard’s first goal of the season and his celebration in front of Chelsea’s fans managed it in Milton Keynes.

By TONY BANKS


So too though did John Terry’s announcement after the game that his contract is not being renewed and he would be leaving the club at the end of the season.

Oscar might have grabbed a hat-trick inside 44 minutes in the land of the concrete cows, but it was Hazard’s penalty which made it a perfect day for Guus Hiddink, who seems to love the FA Cup.

This was as straightforward as it could have been for Chelsea, as they registered their eighth game unbeaten under interim manager Hiddink.

Chelsea won the cup under the Dutchman the last time he took the reigns in 2009 but now of course they will face a much tougher task against Manchester City in the fifth round.

Hiddink said: “It was a good night for Eden. He has had a difficult time with injuries. We have a hierarchy for penalties and Oscar is at the top, but the players gave Eden this penalty kick.

“It’s good for him to score. He’s coming back now after a long absence and he needs the rhythm of these games. We have told the players that it is important that we do not just depend upon Diego Costa. The other players have to produce as well, which they can. We have been emphasising this in training. We don’t want to be dependent just on Diego.”

Milton Keynes Dons, struggling in the Championship, could have been an awkward problem for a Chelsea side still vulnerable at times this season. But Karl Robinson’s team were way too open right from the start to provide any meaningful challenge.

In fact, Oscar could have had five goals in the first half alone as Chelsea carved great holes in the Dons’ defence. As Costa missed a second-minute sitter and then took an open goal off Oscar’s toe, it almost became comical.

But Oscar has been a revelation since the departure of Jose Mourinho, the 24 year old playing as though a great weight has been lifted off his shoulders.

Hazard was back for his first game in almost a month, warned by Hiddink that he wants some of the form that helped Chelsea win the title last year – and right away the Belgian set up a move that saw Costa foiled by goalkeeper David Martin from eight yards.

Oscar missed two more chances but then Kyle McFadzean’s terrible back pass finally opened the gates, as Costa pounced on to it and squared it for Oscar to tap home.

There was only one real glimpse of hope for Milton Keynes and it came after 20 minutes, when Cesc Fabregas lost the ball to Deam Lewington and he fed Darren Potter, whose 30-yard shot took a wicked deflection off Nemanja Matic and looped into the top corner for a shock equaliser.

There were always likely to be goals at the other end though, Martin forcing Hazard’s shot on to a post but then Ruben Loftus-Cheek put Oscar clear again and this time the Brazilian turned to hook the ball into the far corner.

Oscar now really had the bit between his teeth and seemed out to win the game on his own. He cut in from the right, weaved across the box and rifled a great shot past Martin for a glorious strike. It was Chelsea’s first-half hat-trick since September 2014.

When Potter brought down Hazard 10 minutes after the break, the Belgian’s penalty was as cool as you like for a player who had not found the net once in club colours this season – rolling the ball low to Martin’s right.

By his point, Chelsea were strolling. And when Hazard galloped on to a long ball over the top from from Fabregas, he simply rolled the ball back and substitute Bertrand Traore rolled his shot home for the fifth.

Dons Manager Karl Robinson said: “It was scary. They were on it. They were quality all over the pitch. I think one or two of mine let themselves down today but that’s the reality of the industry.”

MK Dons (4-2-3-1): Martin; Spence, McFadzean, Walsh, Lewington; Potter, Forster-Caskey; Carruthers (Powell 81), Hall, Murphy (Williams 67); Bowditch (Maynard 76). Booked: Walsh, Spence. Goal: Potter 20.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1) Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Baba; Matic, Fabregas; Oscar (Pedro 63), Loftus-Cheek, Hazard (Willian 63); Diego Costa (Traore 57). Booked: Terry. Goals: Oscar 16, 31, 44. Hazard 55pen, Traore 62.

Referee: J Moss (West Yorkshire).