Norwich 2-1

Independent:

Canaries rue luck as Diego Costa goal clearly offside
Norwich City 1 Chelsea 2

Steve Tongue Carrow Road

Norwich City's relegation plight deepened last night, dropping them into the bottom three as resurgent Chelsea hit them with goals in the first and last minute of the opening period en route to reaching their highest position of an underwhelming season – eighth.

The Brazilian left-back Kenedy scored the fastest Premier League goal of the season in 39 seconds and another 20 year-old, Bertrand Traore, set up Diego Costa for a second just before half-time that should have ruled offside. At that point the visitors were in control, but Norwich, buoyed by a sense of injustice, fought back with spirit to halve the deficit through Nathan Redmond. They could not find an equaliser, however, Redmond twice shooting wide in the closing stages as news came in that Sunderland had climbed above them with a late goal at the Stadium of Light.

The result continued a bad run against a team we must technically still call the champions, to whom Norwich have now lost eight out of ten meetings and not beaten them here since December 1994. More relevantly, they have now been beaten in seven of their last eight games and badly need a change of luck as well as some points.

Although playing with three at the back was not new to Norwich, the system had an obvious flaw in that Ivo Pinto, the right wing-back, was too often left with two men to mark in a revitalised Eden Hazard and Kenedy.

That was how the early goal arrived. Hazard broke swiftly after the home side lost possession and fed his full-back, who came inside then went back onto his left foot as Alex Tettey backed off, before sending a low drive through the legs of defender Ryan Bennett and into the net. So much for manager Alex Neil's exhortation to his team to “go and attack it”.

They had suffered a blow even before the game with the absence of Steven Naismith, explained only by the manager's cursory “he's not quite right”. The Scot had scored a hat-trick against Chelsea in Everton's colours earlier this season.

Meanwhile Hiddink, the latest foreign manager to complain about the demands of English clubs' fixture lists, shook up his side with four changes, although Kenedy at left-back, Nemanja Matic and Oscar had all come on from the bench in Saturday's win at Southampton. But everything he touches as interim manager at Stamford Bridge turns to goals.

The fourth alteration, bringing Bertrand Traore into midfield meant leaving out Willian, by far the best Chelsea player this season, which the Dutchman must have been reluctant to do. Yet his Midas touch continued to work when the Burkina Faso midfielder set up the second goal in added time before the interval. Hazard played a throw in to him, and a first-time pass caught Costa clearly offside but allowed to go on and chip over John Ruddy.

Hiddink had given Kenedy his chance at half-time against Southampton, taking off Baba Rahman, whom he blamed for the home team's goal. Having scored here, the Brazilian almost helped create another goal within four minutes. His pass to Hazard in Norwich's weak area on the right was cut back just behind the onrushing Traore.

Once the home side recovered some composure, Jonny Howson's respectable effort deflected wide off the backside of Cameron Jerome, who then headed Wes Hoolahan's cross over the bar.

The impression that fortune was not going to favour them was confirmed, however, when Alex Tettey hobbled off and Chelsea's goalkeeper Thibault Courtois was allow to pick up a clear backpass from Gary Cahill. The home crowd, angry with referee Lee Mason over that, redoubled their fury when Costa's goal was allowed to stand.

Resuming strongly, Norwich gave Jerome three opportunities to break a scoring duck at Carrow Road dating back to September. His two headers were respectable but when Russell Martin nodded Hoolahan's lob to him, the striker shot too high from six yards out. Neil then gave him extra support up front in the form of Dieumerci Mbokani and midway through the half there was a deserved goal. Hoolahan, easily Norwich's best player, threaded through a pass to Redmond, who thrashed a shot past Courtois from an angle.

Whether or not Kenedy was taking the rap for that one, he had long ceased to be a threat pushing forward and Rahman replaced him, as Hiddink also summoned Willian and Jon Obi Mikel.

Only then did Chelsea break out of their own half for any length of time in a series of counter-attacks, which failed to test Ruddy. The defence, with Branislav Ivanovic excellent again on his 350th appearance, nevertheless stood firm.

So the only blemish on Hiddink's record remains the narrow and retrievable 2-1 defeat by Paris St-Germain, who visit Stamford Bridge for the second leg of their Champions League tie next Wednesday. Meanwhile supporters must look at the league table and think about what might have been...


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Guardian:

Diego Costa’s offside winner for Chelsea puts Norwich deeper in the mire

Norwich 1 - 2 Chelsea
Dominic Fifield at Carrow Road

Norwich City must wince at how cruel life in the Premier League can be at times. This was a brutal defeat, a match lost to a Chelsea goal that should have been ruled out for offside and despite a second-half revival that constantly threatened but failed to produce an equaliser. And with Sunderland’s draw against Crystal Palace sending Norwich into the bottom three, it may take some time for them to recover from this.

They had retained hope right up until the final exchanges against the revived champions, stoppage time at the end producing a frantic Norwich onslaught with the home supporters wailing in dismay as efforts flew against the advertising hoardings and into the side-netting.

The sight of Gary O’Neil wild-eyed beneath a bloodied bandage after a collision of heads with his team-mate Robbie Brady, who was left spitting out two teeth and the tip of another, not to mention Alex Tettey going to hospital for a precautionary X-ray on a leg, rather summed up Norwich’s evening. For all their spirited endeavour, they must feel battered and bruised inside.

Gary Cahill described that furious finale as “horrible” to endure even if the Norwich manager, Alex Neil, is growing sick of the sob stories. “We had the better opportunities at Leicester but lost, were 2-0 up to West Ham and drew, and were 3-1 up against Liverpool and lost,” he said. “When that’s a continuous thing, it doesn’t boil down to luck. Quality shows. We missed opportunities today that we should have taken. Their second goal is offside but when you’re at the bottom …”

He seemed too deflated even to direct much ire at the assistant referee, Mike McDonough, for failing to raise his flag at the end of the first half when Bertrand Traoré, on his first start for Chelsea, guided a pass through for Diego Costa to collect. The Spain forward had been standing alone and clearly ahead of the Norwich backline when the ball was played, his finish clipped expertly over John Ruddy for his 10th goal in 14 games under Guus Hiddink.

“I made them aware that he’d got it wrong at half-time and you’d expect him to get that right,” Neil said, “but I’m not going to sit here saying: ‘Poor us, luck’s not on our side.’”

At least it did not floor Norwich. They deserved credit for the second-half revival during which the playmaker Wes Hoolahan slipped a pass between Kenedy and Branislav Ivanovic for the eager Nathan Redmond to thump first time beyond Thibaut Courtois.

But despite that finish from the winger, who was a nuisance throughout, Neil acknowledged profligacy had played a key part in this team’s defeat. Cameron Jerome twice looped headers wide, though it was his close-range volley from Russell Martin’s nod back that should have provided him with his second goal since Halloween. Courtois was helpless, as were Oscar and Ivanovic on the line, but Jerome’s attempt clipped the bar.

Chelsea breathed again. They are now eighth, back in the top half of the table for the first time since the summer transfer window was ticking towards deadline, and only five points off Manchester United in fifth place.

There was promise in the displays of Traoré and Eden Hazard, and Kenedy’s bright opening from left-back. Norwich’s three-man defensive barrier had been breached in the opening 39 seconds, the Brazilian collecting from Hazard to scurry at Ivo Pinto, swerve away from a tentative Tettey, and find room against the hesitant Ryan Bennett before firing across the diving Ruddy for the quickest Premier League goal of the season.

Hiddink was left to bemoan his side’s inability to kill off the contest in the exchanges before Costa’s controversial second goal, though, by the end, the targets for Chelsea had switched.

“Are United catchable? Well, first of all, it’s not Chelsea standard to be happy just to be well away of the relegation zone and then to sit back and relax a bit, so we set new targets now in the direction of Europe,” Chelsea’s interim manager said. “If we keep everyone available, we’d like to go as high as possible towards the European spots.”


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Telegraph:

Norwich City 1 Chelsea 2: No luck for struggling Canaries as Chelsea continue run

Referee infuriates Carrow Road as Norwich lose again

Jason Burt By Jason Burt, Chief Football Correspondent, at Carrow Road


This one was a kick in the teeth for Norwich City – with a loss of two teeth also for Robbie Brady after a horrible clash of heads with team-mate Gary O’Neil who was left with a two-inch gash on his forehead.
Injury was added to insult. It was that kind of night.

Defeat sent Norwich into the bottom three; victory lifted Chelsea up to eighth and, remarkably, into the top half of the Premier League table for the first time since August 29.
It meant caretaker manager Guus Hiddink could talk about going “as high as possible towards the ­European spots” with fifth-placed Manchester United now just five points ahead of the champions, ­albeit with a game in hand.

Are they catchable? “We have to set new targets now,” Hiddink said. “It’s not Chelsea standard to be ­happy to be out of the relegation zone.” Norwich would take that. Carrow Road burned with a sense of injustice and frustration. It boiled over, also, with a home fan ­apparently remonstrating angrily at the Chelsea bench with Loïc Rémy appearing to be involved. “I didn’t see it, so I cannot give a good ­comment on that,” Hiddink said.
“There was Remy involved. I asked him what happened and he said he didn’t touch anyone. But we have to see it.”

There was Norwich’s sense of ­injustice at the winning goal by ­Diego Costa – a 10th in 14 matches under Hiddink – when he was ­clearly in an offside position. They also felt hard done-by that an ­indirect free-kick was not awarded when Thibaut Courtois picked up a Gary Cahill back-pass, but replays showed the ball brushed against the legs of striker Cameron Jerome so referee Lee Mason got it right.
And frustration that Norwich could not turn their endeavour into goals as they desperately tried to claw their way back into this ­contest. Instead they slipped to a seventh defeat – plus a draw – in their last eight matches.
That endeavour was summed up by Cameron Jerome who was ­faultless in his effort, work-rate, commitment but simply could not score as he headed over, shot into the side-netting and – most ­glaringly of all – lifted the ball up, onto and over the bar from close-range. Jerome held his head.

Norwich manager Alex Neil was invited to rue his bad luck but, ­admirably, brushed that aside. ­Missing chances, he said, was the “story of our last few games … when that’s a continuous thing, it doesn’t boil down to luck.
“Quality shows and, at times, we missed opportunities we should have taken. Defensively, for the first goal, a left-back scoring when I have a back five and a sitting midfield … that’s frustrating.” It was.
It was even more frustrating – and deflating for Norwich – that Kenedy’s first league goal for Chelsea was also the fastest league goal of the season: officially timed at just 39 seconds. It came as Eden Hazard ran forward, unchallenged, and slipped the ball wide to the ­Brazilian who easily cut inside Ryan Bennett. Alex Tettey stood off him, wafting a leg half-heartedly, and the 20-year-old struck a fierce low cross-shot to beat goalkeeper John Ruddy. “A beautiful goal,” Hiddink said. And it was. But it was also an ugly concession for Norwich. The frustration among the home fans grew and appeared to affect the players.

Chelsea missed chances – with Hazard’s cut-back falling behind Bertrand Traoré, making his first league start, and then Traoré wastefully over-running the ball after he was put clear.
There was then the controversial back-pass, which raised the anger levels, before they spiked even further with Chelsea’s second goal. It came from a throw-in with ­Hazard then finding Traoré who slipped the ball through to Costa who was clearly too far forward. Assistant referee Michael McDonough, on that side of pitch, did not flag and Costa flicked the ball past Ruddy.

“The second goal is offside,” Neil said. “They [the officials] will be ­disappointed they’ve not got it right. You’d expect them to get it right. It’s a yard, half a yard, but it’s his side. Not the other side. You’d like to think he’d get that correct, but when you’re down the bottom end, these bits go against you.”

Hiddink was honest, as ever, and while saying he “didn’t see it” he added that he understood the ­frustration “in the other dressing room”.
Norwich needed something but Jerome missed his chances with that shot, hooking the ball over from Russell Martin’s header across goal, by far the worst. He really had to score. “They’re the chances that can win you game,” Neil said while Hiddink claimed his team got ­“sloppy”.

By now Norwich were in the ­ascendancy and the breakthrough came with the ball moved quickly by Jonny Howson to Wes Hoolihan who threaded a clever pass through to Nathan Redmond. Branislav Ivanovic was slow to react and slid in but Redmond struck a powerful rising shot that beat Courtois at his near post.
Game on.

Unfortunately for Norwich that momentum was stopped. It came as O’Neil and Brady went for a high ball, with Willian also, and Brady’s teeth struck the top of O’Neil’s ­forehead which gushed with blood as he eventually ran off to be stitched – and bandaged – up.
“Gary has a two-inch gash in his head, Robbie Brady has lost two teeth and chipped another,” Neil said. “But I’m not going to sit here and say ‘poor us, luck’s not on our side’.” Instead he lamented the fact that his team had lost the ball leading to the incident.

The break in play worked for Chelsea. They steadied themselves and tried to counter as Norwich became increasingly desperate. Nemanja Matic volleyed over. Costa side-footed wide while, for Norwich, Redmond went close as he cut inside and drove a low shot into the side-netting. It was agonising and, for two of their players, very, very painful.


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Mail:

Norwich 1-2 Chelsea: Kenedy and Diego Costa lift blues into the top half of table as Canaries fall into the bottom three

By MATT BARLOW FOR THE DAILY MAIL

Chelsea were a point above the relegation zone when Jose Mourinho was sacked, and although no-one expected them to go down, the recovery under Guus Hiddink is proving stealthily impressive.
They won again here, converting the first goal after 39 seconds through Kenedy and adding another through Diego Costa in first-half stoppage time.
Costa’s goal should have been ruled out for offside but it stood and it turned out to be the difference after Nathan Redmond’s goal sparked a frantic finish at Carrow Road.

Chelsea have only lost once in 15 games since Mourinho’s exit and for Hiddink this was 11 without defeat in the Premier League. The win eased them to eighth, their highest position since the opening day and within five points of Manchester United in fifth.

‘Are they catchable?’ Hiddink said. ‘Well, it is not Chelsea’s standard to be happy to be out of the relegation zone, and sit back and relax. We have to set new targets with the ambition of Chelsea in the direction of Europe. We’d like to go as high as possible, towards the European spots.’
Fortune has certainly turned their way, which is more than can be said for Alex Neil, who cannot find a way out of a rut more troubling than Chelsea’s ever was.

Stuck down there, things conspire against you: injuries, offside flags and squandered chances all played a part.
Norwich have one point from eight games and have plunged into the bottom three. ‘We need to win to stay in this league,’ said Neil. ‘I don’t think it boils down to luck. Quality shows.
‘We missed chances and the first goal was a real source of frustration for us when we’ve got a back five and their left back scores. We need to close it down quicker. The second goal is offside, and you’d like to think they would have got that right. But the guy’s made an honest call and got it wrong. I’m not going to lambast him. I’m not going to sit here and say, “Poor us”.’

No team in the top flight have conceded more than Norwich and Chelsea needed less than a minute to find the net through Kenedy, who started at left back but was forced off with a groin injury in the second half.
The 20-year-old Brazilian collected a pass from Eden Hazard and cut inside, shifted the ball back on to his left foot and fizzed a low drive across John Ruddy and into the far corner.
The crisp finish sent a shiver of dread around Carrow Road: facing this Chelsea is a different proposition to the pre-Christmas version, even if they failed to complete the kill cleanly.

As frustration built, the home crowd turned on referee Lee Mason when Thibaut Courtois handled a back-pass from Gary Cahill. The pass clipped Cameron Jerome on its way to the keeper, which entitled him to pick it up, and the officials agreed. Or they simply missed it, as they missed Costa a yard offside on the second goal.
It came from a throw-in on their right, taken by Cesc Fabregas. It went in-field to Hazard and back out wide to Bertrand Traore, who threaded it first time to Costa. Replays showed he was a yard offside but there was no flag from assistant referee Michael McDonough.
Costa did not hesitate, accelerating away to dink a shot over Ruddy and celebrate his 14th of the season, and his 10th in 14 games under Hiddink.

Norwich refused to fold. They came out with purpose after the break, perhaps fuelled by a sense of injustice. Unfortunately, the best chances were following Jerome around, and he struggled in front of goal.
He headed one over in the first half, hooked a tricky chance wide soon after the restart, and then missed an absolute sitter.
Wes Hoolahan crossed deep and Russell Martin nodded it back into the centre of goal, where Jerome stood alone on the edge of the six-yard box. He looked certain to score, but somehow missed the target, his side-foot volley glancing the bar on its way over.
Neil threw his head in his hands. Then he sent on Dieumerci Mbokani, reverted to a flat back four and Chelsea were pinned back.

Twenty-two minutes remained when Redmond found a way through, assisted by Hoolahan, and Norwich seemed capable of salvaging a point until a clash of heads between Robbie Brady and Gary O’Neil robbed them of their momentum.
O’Neil was covered in blood and forced off to repair a two-inch gash in his head and Chelsea had stabilised by the time he returned, heavily bandaged. Brady lost two teeth. Alex Tettey was forced off in the first half with an ankle injury and went to hospital for an X-ray.
There was still time for Redmond to twice go close. Timm Klose lashed one over and there was some desperate last-gasp defending from the champions, who hung on for the win.
A late goal for Sunderland sent Norwich into the drop zone.

NORWICH VS CHELSEA MATCH FACTS

Norwich 3-5-2: Ruddy 5; Martin 5, Bennett 5 (Mbokani 60, 6), Klose 5; Pinto 5, Hoolahan 6, Tettey 4 (O’Neil 36, 6), Howson 6, Brady 6; Redmond 7, Jerome 4.
Subs not used: Rudd, Olsson, Dorrans, Mulumbu, Jarvis.
Booked: Howson, Bennett, Klose,
Manager: Alex Neil 6

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Courtois 6; Azpilicueta 6.5, Cahill 6, Ivanovic 6, Kenedy 6.5 (Baba 69, 5); Matic 6, Fabregas 7; Traore 6 (Willian 60, 5), Oscar 6 (Mikel 60, 5), Hazard 7.5; Costa 7
Subs not used: Begovic, Loftus-Cheek, Pato, Remy
Goals: Kenedy 1', Costa 45+1'
Manager: Guus Hiddink 7
Booked: Oscar, Fabregas

Referee: Lee Mason 5
MOM: Hazard

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Mirror:

Norwich 1-2 Chelsea: Kenedy and Costa strikes send Blues EIGHTH - 5 things we learned

BY ANTHONY CLAVANE

Nathan Redmond scored in the second half to give the Canaries hope, but victory leaves the Blues just five points off Manchester United


Kenedy and Diego Costa struck to put Chelsea eighth in the league - despite an unconvincing win at Norwich.

Guus Hiddink's side were in front after just 39 seconds - the quickest goal of the season - and added a second just before half-time.

Nathan Redmond's second-half strike gave the Canaries hope, but the Blues held on for the win.

They're now only five points off Manchester United, and keep their hopes of European football next season alive.

Here are five things we learned.


1) Norwich are in trouble
The trap door is opening for Alex Neil’s side after another defeat.

City have now taken just one point from their last eight league matches and, although they can moan about poor refereeing decisions, they looked second best on the night.

2) The crowd had a point about the ref
The home fans cried: You're not fit to referee” at Lee Mason and they weren’t wrong after a performance which left even Neil – who likes to keep schtum on officials – banging his bald bonce in frustration.

The worst decision was not ruling Diego Costa off side for Chelsea’s winning goal.


3) Cameron Jerome’s misses could prove costly
The former Palace striker could have had a hat-trick.

Although at least he was having a go on goal. Before Tuesday night, City had touched the ball 426 times in the opposition area this season – which is an all-time low for the Premier League.

Nathan Redmond showed Jerome how to do it.

4. Chelsea scored the fastest goal of the season
It took just 39 seconds for left-back Kennedy to open the scoring for Chelsea.

This is symptomatic of the way Hiddink has turned the Blues around since replacing Jose Mourinho. His team look like they've been reborn.

5. Alex Neil needs to change his team's style
Neil has to sacrifice his principles and get to his team to play a more direct style.

They're on a very poor run and there has to be a change in tactics if the Canaries are to avoid going straight back down into the Championship.

PLAYER RATINGS

Norwich

Ruddy 7 Powerless to stop goals. Good save from Fabregas free-kick

Bennett 6 Penalised when Costa score from an offside position. Booked

Martin 6 Solid defensively. Set up golden Jerome chance.

Klose 5 Poor distribution from the third centre-back in Canaries’ backline

Pinto 5 Little impact. Never ran at Kenedy down the right flank

Redmond 7 The winger finally got into the game with super goal

Howson 6 Neat touches – and early shot on target blocked by Jerome. Booked

Tettey 5 Lasted 35 minutes before suffering injury fouling Hazard

Brady 5 The left wing-back pushed forward but failed to hurt Chelsea

Hoolahan 6 Out-numbered and out-muscled playing behind Jerome

Jerome 5 Worked hard but missed easy volley in second half

Subs: O'Neil (for Tettey, 35) 6; Mbokani (Bennett, 60) 5.


Chelsea

Courtois 7 Beaten at his near post by first-time Redmond shot

Azpilicueta 6 Solid defensive display snuffed out Norwich down their left

Cahill 7 Dealt with the physical threat of Jerome – and then sub Mbokani

Ivanovic 6 Allowed Redmond too much space for Norwich's goal

Kenedy 8 Left-back needed only 39 seconds to drill home his first league goal

Fabregas 7 Has his spark and energy from last season back

Matic 7 Most physically imposing player in the midfield. Won the battle

Traore 6 Guilty of Van Gaal-style tumble to win free kick in first Prem start

Oscar 7 Subbed off after an impressive hour’s work

Hazard 8 In the game right from the first minute. Buzzed about. Man of the Match

Costa 7 Poacher’s goal playing over the edge of the offside line

Subs: Mikel (for Oscar, 60) 5; Willian (Traore 60) 6; Rahman (Kenedy 68) 5.



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Express:

Chelsea move into top half of table as Hiddink maintains unbeaten run thanks to Costa goal

CHELSEA moved into the top half of the table for the first time since August while Norwich, in contrast, fell into the relegation places.

By IAN BAKER


A first-minute strike by Kenedy and a controversial second from Diego Costa proved to be just enough to lift Guus Hiddink’s side into eighth place, their loftiest position since the summer transfer window was poised to shut.

But struggling Norwich dropped into the bottom three even though Nathan Redmond pulled a goal back in their 2-1 defeat. Sunderland, with their 2-2 draw at home against Palace, went above them on goal difference.

Chelsea made four changes from the side that came from behind to win 2-1 at Southampton on Saturday with Kenedy, Nemanja Matic, Bertrand Traore and Oscar replacing Baba Rahman, John Obi Mikel, Willian and Pedro.

Norwich’s task was to bounce back from defeat at Leicester, when they conceded the only goal of the game a minute from time.

It took Chelsea all of 39 seconds to take the lead through Kenedy, who took advantage of some dismal defending to fire a low drive beyond John Ruddy.

Norwich backed off as Eden Hazard sprinted at them and when the ball was switched left to the 20-year-old Ivo Pinto, Alex Tettey and Ryan Bennett all made challenges that were tentative at best.

That opened the game up and, after both sides put in crosses that only just eluded attackers, Norwich’s Jonny Howson had a fierce drive deflected behind.

Howson then clattered Oscar to pick up the night’s first booking before Cameron Jerome planted a header over Thibaut Courtois – and the crossbar too.

The game was being played at a frantic pace and Traore saw a shot blocked before Oscar almost nipped in behind the home defence. Norwich, despite working hard, were finding opportunities almost impossible to create.

Norwich plans needed a further reboot when Tettey was forced off injured, with Gary O’Neil replacing him after Cesc Fabregas had headed wide. There was a let-off for the Canaries when Traore strode clear of the home defence only to over-run the ball and allow Ruddy to collect.


Referee Lee Mason, who had allowed Courtois to pick up a back-pass to the home fans’ fury, booked Bennett for upending Hazard. Fabregas’s free-kick was batted away by Ruddy.

Oscar was booked for hacking Wes Hoolahan down from behind before Costa made it 2-0 in first-half stoppage time with a smart finish.

Norwich began the second half brightly and Redmond fired over before Jerome squandered a great chance to put the Canaries back into the game. Hoolahan’s cross found Russell Martin at the back post and the Scotland international’s header was perfect for the striker but somehow his volley hit the top of the bar rather than the net.

Chelsea felt they could afford a double substitution, with Mikel and Willian replacing Oscar and Traore on the hour. Norwich threw on an extra attacker in Dieumerci Mbokani, with centre-back Bennett the man sacrificed.

It was not Jerome’s night and the striker sent a header well over. Redmond showed him how it was done when he reduced the deficit after Hoolahan put him through in the 68th minute.

Norwich (3-4-2-1): Ruddy; Bennett (Mbokani 60), Martin, Klose; Pinto, Tettey (O’Neil 36), Howson, Brady; Redmond, Hoolahan; Jerome. Booked: Bennett, Howson, Klose. Goal: Redmond 68. NEXT UP: Swansea (a), Sat PL.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Azpilicueta, Ivanovic, Cahill, Kenedy (Baba 69); Fabregas, Matic; Traore (Willian 60), Oscar (Mikel 60), Hazard; Costa. Booked: Oscar, Fabregas. Goals: Kenedy 1, Costa 45. NEXT UP: Stoke (h), Sat PL.

Referee: L?Mason (Lancashire).


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Star:

Norwich 1 Chelsea 2: Blues on the up with Costa and Kenedy on target

GUUS HIDDINK last night showed he’s not kidding when he says he wants to give Chelsea’s youth a chance.

By David Woods

Kenedy, with the fastest goal of the Premier League season, and Bertrand Traore, who set up the second for Diego Costa, stepped up for Hiddink.

But the canny Dutch manager also showed all his experience in the second half.

He replaced the two rookies, Traore in the 60th minute and Kenedy 10 minutes later, to ensure his senior stars held on to make it eight wins, six draws and no defeats in domestic games since his arrival.

This victory saw the reborn Blues leap three places into eighth, while Norwich, now with just one point out of their last 24, dropped into the bottom three.

Brazil star Kenedy, playing at left-back as Baba Rahman was dropped after gifting Southampton their goal on Saturday, only turned 20 last month and Burkina Faso attacking midfielder Traore’s 19.

Kenedy struck with just 39 seconds on the clock. Taking a pass from Eden Hazard on the left, he skipped past Ivo Pinto and Alex Tettey then drilled across John Ruddy.

He beat Matt Ritchie’s previous best for the season of 49 seconds for Bournemouth against Tottenham in October. It was his first goal in the top-flight on only his second start.

Traore was handed a first start in the Premier League as Hiddink opted to leave Willian, the Blues’ best player in a troubled season on the bench, with Wednesday’s visit of PSG in the Champions League in mind.

The exciting talent did not disappoint, taking a pass from Hazard just before the break and playing an immediate ball to Costa.

The Spain international looked marginally offside, but he finished with a clever dink with his right foot over the advancing Ruddy.

Traore, though, did earlier fluff a golden opportunity to claim his first Premier League goal. The revitalised Hazard sent him clean through in the 38th minute.

But the youngster, in his excitement, mis-controlled and Ruddy was able to collect.

Striker Cameron Jerome should have pulled a goal back in the 53rd minute, but unmarked eight yards out he lofted a half-volley well over the bar after being teed up by Russell Martin.

Nathan Redmond, though, lifted hopes in the 68th minute when he smashed past Thibaut Courtois after a smart pass by Wes Hoolahan to him in the box.

But it was not to be and with Sunderland drawing at home to Crystal Palace, the Canaries are now third from bottom.


NORWICH (3-4-2-1): Ruddy; Bennett (Mbokani 60), Martin, Klose; Pinto, Tettey (O’Neil 36), Howson, Brady; Hoolahan, Redmond; Jerome.
Subs: Rudd, Jarvis, Dorrans, Mulumbu, Olsson.

CHELSEA (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Azpilicueta, Cahill, Ivanovic, Kenedy (Rahman 69); Fabregas, Matic; Traore (Willian 60), Oscar (Mikel 60), Hazard; Costa. Subs: Begovic, Pato, Remy, Loftus-Cheek.

REFEREE: Lee Mason.