Aston Villa 4-0

Independent:

Alexandre Pato stars on debut but writing is on the wall for woeful Villa
Aston Villa 0 Chelsea 4

Jon Culley Villa Park

Aston Villa looked suspiciously like a team that had given up the ghost as they surrendered meekly to a seventh consecutive defeat, allowing an experimental Chelsea team to toy with them before being booed off the field by angry supporters.

Chelsea at last gave their Brazilian striker Alexandre Pato his long-awaited debut and the former AC Milan star responded by playing a part in all four goals - including one of his own from the penalty spot -- but even interim manager Guus Hiddink admitted it was not the toughest introduction to the Premier League.

Pato came on after French striker Loic Remy suffered a first-half groin injury that may finish his season and probably ends his hopes of being part of the squad Didier Deschamps for the Euro 2016 finals.
He scored his first Chelsea goal in first-half stoppage time, converting from the spot after he had been hauled down in the box by Villa defender Aly Cissokho.

Pato's first touch had played a part in the move that led to Chelsea's opening goal, converted by Rubens Loftus-Cheek from a Cesar Azpilicueta cross after 26 minutes, and he was involved in the build-up on both occasions when Pedro scored twice early in the second half to end any hope of a Villa recovery.

Signed on loan from Corinthians in January, Pato had been forced to wait 64 days to make his first appearance but Hiddink explained that he wanted to ensure the player was fit enough to cope with the pace of the Premier League.

"The expectation was that he would have come in sooner but we had to get his physical condition right, to put him through a pre-season before he could show his quality on the field," the Dutch coach said.
"It was not the toughest game and we will see how he will cope with more resistance but it was good to see him on the field."

Villa, who ended with 10 men after Alan Hutton was sent off for a second yellow card, had to cope with increasing hostility from their fans, who held up protest placards in the 74th minute in a planned demonstration - 1874 being the year the club was founded - and then folded them into paper aeroplanes to throw on to the pitch.

It was a difficult atmosphere for Eric Black to step into as caretaker manager following Remi Garde's dismissal last week but the Scot was not especially sympathetic with his players, who are no more than two more defeats away from their relegation being confirmed.

"It was not overly enjoyable but I can fully understand the way the fans are feeling," Black said.  "But they are professional players and they are paid to take responsibility for their performances. 
"The club needs to be taken and shaken and moved on and the only way to win back support is with what happens on the field."

Chelsea's opening goal arrived as soon as they decided to step up their pace after a low-key start, with Loftus-Cheek side-footing home his first Premier League goal with the help of a deflection off Joleon Lescott.
Hiddink felt the result was assured after Pato's penalty made it two-nil but a third goal came just 51 seconds after the restart, set up for Pedro by half-time substitute Oscar with a low cross after he had combined Pato on the left.

The two Brazilians linked up again after 59 minutes before Pato tested Guzan with a shot from the left that the goalkeeper saved, but only by pushing it into the path of Pedro, who easily put away his sixth goal of the Premier League season.

Hiddink had been true to his word in giving game time to some of the younger members of the Chelsea squad, starting with three 20-year-olds on the field.  As well as Loftus-Cheek, he played the Brazilian Kenedy on the left of midfield and gave a debut in defence to the 6ft 4ins American Matt Miazga, who played alongside Branislav Ivanovic in the centre with both John Terry and Gary Cahill injured.
Towards the end, 18-year-old defender Jake Clarke-Salter made his debut, Pedro for the final 17 minutes.

Villa, who left out Gabby Agbonlahor for disciplinary reasons after he was photographed smoking a shisha pipe during the international break, showed glimpses of intent, with Jordan Ayew their biggest threat, but could hardly argue that they deserved any better.
To add a little more salt in their wounds, defender Alan Hutton was sent off with five minutes left for a second yellow card.

Teams

Aston Villa (4-2-3-1): Guzan; Hutton, Richards, Lescott, Cissokho; Sanchez (Bacuna, 67), Westwood; Gil (Grealish, 66), Gueye (Lyden, 82), Ayew; Gestede.
Substitutes not used: Okore, Sinclair, Veretout, Bunn (gk).

Chelsea (4-1-4-1): Courtois; Azpilicueta, Miazga, Ivanovic, Rahman; Mikel; Pedro (Clarke-Salter, 74), Loftus-Cheek, Fabregas, Kenedy (Oscar, 45); Remy (Pato, 23).
Substitutes not used: Begovic (gk), Falcao, Traore, Matic.

Referee: Neil Swarbrick (Lancashire)

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Observer:

Alexandre Pato scores on debut as Chelsea and Pedro punish sorry Aston Villa

Aston Villa 0 - 4 Chelsea

Alan Smith at Villa Park

This might have been construed as the first meaningless game of the season, but at least Chelsea recorded something of note to pile another layer of misery on Aston Villa. It took 63 days for Alexandre Pato to make his first Chelsea appearance, but the Brazilian needed only 22 minutes to break his duck as the visitors finished with three debutants.

Matt Miazga, a January acquisition from New York Red Bulls, also made his bow, starting at centre-half, while Jake Clarke-Salter was given 15 minutes. Ruben Loftus-Cheek impressed for 90 minutes in an attacking midfield role, providing proof that despite a season to forget, Chelsea have something to look forward to in the near future.

For Villa, the horizon is far more bleak. There was a new man in charge – albeit temporarily – in Eric Black, but it was the same pitiful story. Only Jordan Ayew showed any fight and it said much that the disgruntled home fans were barely surprised to witness another embarrassing defensive surrender. Villa have long been down, but their relegation could be confirmed as early as next week depending on the results of Norwich and Crystal Palace.

It is hard not to feel sorry for the supporters who are still turning up to witness a weekly horror show from a team containing more Villains than Villans. “Proud history. What future?” read several hundred pieces of paper displayed on the Holte End before kick-off. A scrawled bedsheet behind the opposite goal went further: “No fight, no pride, no effort, no hope”.
“It’s not pleasant,” Black said of the rancourous atmosphere. “I’m only here a couple of months but it’s not been overly enjoyable. However, I can fully understand it.”

Their quest between now and May must solely be to restore some pride but Black said: “A massive turnaround is required at the club and people need to understand it’s going to take time.”

Such has been the absence of quality here this season that when Villa strung a few passes together after 20 minutes shouts of “Olé” went up from all four stands. That was as good as things got. After the move broke down, to a predictable chorus of sarcastic boos, Cesc Fàbregas pitched forward to Pedro, who was marginally offside before lofting the ball over Brad Guzan. His tasty finish was correctly scratched out.
Chelsea did not have to wait much longer for the opener, but first came the arrival of Pato, who replaced Loïc Rémy after 23 minutes due to a groin and tendon injury.

Guus Hiddink said there was a temptation to throw Pato in a few weeks earlier “but he would have been killed”. The Brazilian’s impact when finally sprung was almost instant, starting the move for Loftus-Cheek’s first league goal. It was Mikel John Obi who displayed the samba-like dance moves, though, jigging past Carlos Sánchez and Ashley Westwood and then feeding Pedro, who found César Azpilicueta. The defender’s cross from the right was met by Loftus-Cheek, taking a deflection off Joleon Lescott en route.

Ayew did have a couple of chances to equalise denied by Thibaut Courtois but the result was, as Hiddink said, “over” when Pato was brainlessly hauled down in the penalty area by Aly Cissokho in first-half injury-time. Pato slotted the penalty to Guzan’s right.

Fifty-one seconds of the second half had elapsed when Pedro deepened Villa’s wound, finishing off a lovely move involving Pato and the half-time substitute, Oscar and Pedro scored his second when tapping in after Guzan parried an elementary save from Pato before the hour mark.

The four-goal gap allowed Hiddink to bring Clarke-Salter on for the final stages. “It’s good to see [young players] coming in,” the interim manager said. “I always like to bring in youngsters and we have the rest of the season to bring in guys more frequently.”

Guzan was greeted by ironic cheers when he managed to smother a tame Branislav Ivanovic free-kick 11 minutes from the end, while Alan Hutton was shown a second yellow by Neil Swarbrick after a late tackle on Loftus-Cheek five minutes from time.
By that point Villa’s fans had found more entertainment in a paper plane contest from the aforementioned protest material. Some of them even found their target.

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Telegraph:

Aston Villa 0 Chelsea 4: Alexandre Pato scores on debut to send listless Villa closer to drop

Jon Culley, villa park

Woeful Aston Villa played like a team who cannot wait for the season to end as they were swept aside by a Chelsea side for whom Alexandre Pato at last made his debut and scored.

The Brazilian played a part in all four Chelsea goals after replacing Loïc Rémy, who suffered a groin injury during the first-half. His goal came when he converted a penalty in first-half stoppage time after being hauled down by Villa defender Aly Cissokho.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek had given Chelsea a 26th-minute lead and there were two goals from Pedro in the second half.

Villa, who ended with 10 men after Alan Hutton was sent off for a second yellow card, were booed and jeered by their own fans as they succumbed to a seventh consecutive defeat that leaves them on the brink of relegation.

Angry supporters held up protest placards in the 74th minute in a planned demonstration – 1874 being the year the club was founded – and then folded them into paper aeroplanes to throw on to the pitch.
Pato, the former AC Milan striker who joined Chelsea on loan from Corinthians in January but had to wait 64 days for his first appearance, may have more chances soon with Rémy feared to be facing a lengthy lay-off.

Hiddink, who maintained an unbeaten record with Chelsea in the Premier League that now extends to 15 matches, said he would have introduced Pato earlier in the campaign but for concerns over his fitness.

“The expectation was that he would have come in sooner but we had to get his physical condition right, to put him through a pre-season before he could show his quality on the field,” Hiddink said. “It was not the toughest game and we will see how he will cope with more resistance but it was good to see him on the field.”

Pato’s first touch contributed to the move that ended with Loftus-Cheek side-footing home from César Azpilicueta’s cross from the right, the young attacking midfielder registering his first Premier League goal with the help of a deflection off Joleon Lescott.

Chelsea gave debuts to two young players, bringing in 20-year-old US centre back Matt Miazga to partner Branislav Ivanovic in the middle with John Terry and Gary Cahill both injured, and giving 18-year-old Jake Clarke-Salter, another defender, a late taste of the action from the substitutes’ bench.

Yet Villa, with caretaker manager Eric Black in charge for the first time after Remi Garde left last Tuesday, folded miserably in the second half as Spanish forward Pedro finished them off with two all-too-simple goals within 14 minutes of the restart.

The first was a tap-in after just 51 seconds, set up by half-time substitute Oscar after a lovely combination with Pato on the left. Pedro added his sixth goal of the Premier League season after Oscar had again linked up with Pato, whose own shot was parried by Brad Guzan only for Pedro to pounce on the rebound.

Villa had showed glimpses of intent and some creativity, particularly when Jordan Ayew was involved. But Ayew’s example was not followed by many in claret and blue shirts and Black had little sympathy for the players.

“It was not a pleasant atmosphere but I can understand how the fans feel and the players are professionals and paid to take responsibility,” he said.

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Mail:

Aston Villa 0-4 Chelsea: Alexandre Pato fires in debut goal as Pedro brace compounds misery for Eric Black's beleaguered side

By LAURIE WHITWELL FOR THE MAIL ON SUNDAY

By the time the final whistle arrived dozens of paper aeroplanes littered the touchlines at Villa Park. On them read the words: ‘Proud History, What Future?’ Fired down from the stands, they seemed symbolic of the trajectory this club in on.

The A4 sheets had been held aloft in protest by thousands in the 74th minute – Villa were formed in 1874 – and this performance was further evidence of why deep concern surrounds an upcoming Championship campaign.

Easily beaten by a Chelsea team in second gear, this Villa squad looks ill-equipped for the grind on English football’s second tier and desperately in need of manager to take a firm grip.

Nigel Pearson is the leading contender for the position and a pre-match TV interview with director Richard Bernstein appeared telling. Bernstein espoused the need to appoint an ‘English’ manager with Premier League and Championship experience, then smiled at the mention of the former Leicester boss.
Whoever takes charge has a monumental job on his hands. There is an increasing gap between Villa’s fans and the players, who in various instances were booed coming on, booed touching the ball, and booed trudging off the pitch.

Gabby Agbonlahor was dropped for this game as an investigation into his Dubai partying is conducted. But that seemed as much a blessing for him as a punishment.
‘You’re not fit to wear the shirt,’ sang the Holte End at one stage. Brad Guzan, at fault for Chelsea’s fourth, was jeered. Joleon Lescott endured more chants about his ‘accidental’ car tweet. Leandro Bacuna, who last week spoke about joining Ajax, was viciously barracked arriving as a second-half substitute.

There were ironic cheers when Aly Cissokho managed to clear the ball late on as a banner reading ‘No fight. No pride. No effort. No hope’ fluttered in the background.
Five minutes from the end Alan Hutton was sent off for a second bookable offence for lunging in on Rubens Loftus-Cheek, having earlier cynically clipped Alexandre Pato. Hutton, curiously, was applauded off.

Misguided perhaps, what had preceded gave cause to explain. Despite Villa supposedly scrapping for their lives, they played the game as if it was a pre-season friendly.
Chelsea were understrength, but still too powerful. Missing John Terry, Gary Cahill, Diego Costa, Eden Hazard and Willian already, Loic Remy was forced off injured in the 23rd minute.
Hiddink chose to give Pato his first Chelsea appearance, 64 days after his arrival. ‘We forgot that you were here,’ chanted the demob-happy travelling fans.

Two minutes later, Chelsea took the lead. Cesar Azpilicueta, granted yards of space by Cissokho’s meandering, crossed low and Loftus-Cheek steered in at the near post via a deflection off Lescott.
It was a first Premier League goal for the 20-year-old midfielder, who impressed throughout this game and must surely be given a substantial role next season by Antonio Conte.
Jordan Ayew did well, troubling Chelsea on a couple of occasions, but it always felt futile with Villa so porous at the back.

In first-half added time Cesc Fabregas crossed from the left and Cissokho felt the need to haul down Pato in the area. Referee Neil Swarbrick pointed to the spot and Pato stepped up to take and convert. He wheeled away in spread-eagle celebration as if it was a goal in a Champions League final. You could hardly blame him.

At half-time Hiddink replaced Kenedy with Oscar and within 50 seconds of the restart he contributed to Chelsea taking a 3-0 lead. Pato exchanged a delightful one-two to free his countryman, who cut back for Pedro to slot in unmarked.
Eight minutes later, the Spaniard had his second. Oscar played in Pato on the left and he hit a shot from 18 yards that Guzan allowed to squirm from his grasp. Pedro converted the rebound from an acute angle. Errors from Guzan are now a customary feature of matches.

Interim manager Eric Black said his players would simply have to deal with the deepening, dark atmosphere.
‘The reaction in the dressing room is irrelevant, it's out on the pitch where you change people's minds,’ he said. ‘We have to try to get the supporters back onside and the only way we can do that is on the pitch.
‘Body language is important and the punters now need to get something back. This club now needs to be taken, shaken and move on and get back to the level where it should be.’

MATCH FACTS, PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE AND MATCH ZONE FROM THE MATCH AT VILLA PARK

Aston Villa (4-3-3): Guzan 4; Hutton 4, Richards 5, Lescott 5, Cissokho 4; Gana 5.5 (Lyden 83’), Sanchez 5.5 (Bacuna 66), Westwood 6; Gil 4 (Grealish 66’ 6), Gestede 5, Ayew 6.5

Subs not used: Bunn, Okore, Sinclair, Veretout
Booked: Gana, Sanchez, Westwood
Sent off: Hutton
Manager: Eric Black 5

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Courtois 6; Azpilicueta 6.5, Miazga 6.5, Ivanovic 6.5, Rahman 7; Mikel 7, Fabregas 7; Pedro 7.5 (Clarke-Salter 74’ 6), Loftus-Cheek 7.5, Kenedy 6.5 (Oscar 46’ 7); Remy 5 (Pato 23’ 8)

Subs not used: Begovic, Falcao, Traore, Matic
Scorers: Loftus-Cheek 26, Pato 45+3, Pedro 46, 59
Booked: Fabregas
Manager: Guus Hiddink 8

Ref: Neil Swarbrick
Att: 31,120

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Mirror:

Aston Villa 0-4 Chelsea: Alexandre Pato scores on debut as Blues run riot - 5 things we learned

BY JAMES NURSEY

Alexandre Pato made his belated Chelsea debut and scored in this romp as doomed Aston Villa 's new board grasped the size of the job ahead.
Last term's champions thrashed sorry Villa with goals from Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Pato and a second half brace from Pedro.
Homegrown youngster Loftus-Cheek opened the scoring with a low finish from Cesar Azpilicueta's low cross in the 26th minute.

Sub Pato, introduced early on for the crocked Loic Remy, scored from the spot just before the break after Aly Cissokho bundled him over.
Moments into the second half it was 3-0 to the visitors and game over when Pedro converted Oscar's pass following a slick move.

Pedro netted his second in the 59th minute from a tight angle after Brad Guzan failed to hold Pato's shot from the edge of the area.
It went from bad to worse for the hosts when Hutton being shown a straight red for a foul on Loftus-Cheek late on.
It made grim viewing for Villa's new footballing board sat in the stands of Brian Little, Adrian Bevington and David Bernstein.


Here's five things we learned:

1. Pato finally plays and scores

His introduction sparked ironic cheers from the away fans who chanted: “We forgot that you were here” 64 days and seven minutes since he joined in January.
But he made his mark from the spot after stepping up ahead of Pedro following his first half introduction as a substitute for the injured Loic Remy.

2. Mikel has got skills

Chelsea's holding midfielder John Obi Mikel rarely gets credited with possessing sublime skills but the grafter showed his subtle side too with silky tricks to bamboozle his way past Idrissa Gana and Micah Richards in the move which led to the visitors' opener.

3. Jordan Ayew nearly breaks the goal

Not with a shot obviously, as the Ghana international has not scored for bottom club Villa in 2016 but after being denied by Thibaut Courtois he angrily kicked out at the goalframe and made it rattle.

4. Leandro Bacuna is a joke figure

You know you are not popular with home fans when you are booed on to the pitch like Dutch utility player Bacuna in the second half when he came on as sub.
He recently said he hoped to play in the Champions League within two years' time as he contemplates a move back to Holland.
But Villa fans made their feelings known chanting: “Champions League, you are having a laugh.”

5. Proud history, what future?

The club's slogan of 'Proud History, Bright Future' was re-written and displayed on placards by angry home fans who asked: 'Proud History, What Future'?
Some also held up a banner saying: 'No fight, no pride, no effort , no hope'.
While fans chanted: “You are not fit to the wear” and many left early in the 74 minute in a coordinated protest at owner Randy Lerner's reign.

Aston Villa

Guzan 4: Ironic cheers from home fans when he held on to tame shot
Hutton 5: Shown a straight red card late on for a foul on Loftus-Cheek
Richards 5: Hoodwinked out of position by John Obi Mikel for opener
Lescott 5: The defender was a passenger as game passed him by
Cissokho 5: Gave away penalty with crude foul on Pato
Gil 5: The Spaniard will be too lightweight for the Championship
Gana 5: As usual went missing and failed to make his mark
Sanchez 5: Makes too many loose passes to play holding midfield
Westwood 6: At least tries hard but his set-piece delivery was disappointing
Ayew 5: Lashed out at the post in frustration after failing to score
Gestede 5: Continues to miss chances and look out of his depth in the Prem
Subs: Grealish (Gil 66) 7, Lyden (Gana 82) 6, Bacuna (Sanchez 67) 6

Chelsea

Courtois 8: Good handling for a deserved clean sheet
Azpilicueta 7: Nice ball from the right flank for the opener
Miazga 7: Quiet afternoon for the debutant at Villa Park
Ivanovic 7: Chelsea captain was rarely troubled by the hosts
Rahman 7: The defender had a quiet afternoon in the Midlands
Mikel 8: Good skills which helped create space for Chelsea's opener
Fabregas 8: Bossed the midfield and seemed up for it now Mourinho gone
Pedro 8: Two clinical finishes to take his tally this term to seven
Loftus-Cheek 8: Looks like a first teamer in the making with a polished display
Kenedy 5: Replaced at the break by Oscar who was a threat
Remy 5: Hobbled off early in the first half as missed out on chance to score
Subs: Pato (Remy 23) 7, Oscar (Kenedy 46) 7, Clarke-Salter (Pedro 74) 6

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Express:

Aston Villa 0 - Chelsea 4: Pedro and Pato shine as relegation looms for Eric Black's men

CHELSEA consigned Aston Villa to their 22nd Premier League defeat this season with a 4-0 thrashing at Villa Park.

By JAMES CAMBRIDGE

The Blues opened the scoring through Loftus Cheek on 26 minutes and were two up just before the break courtesy of an Alexandre Pato penalty.
Pedro then turned on the magic in the second half scoring soon after the restart and then again on 59 minutes to double the lead to 4-0.
The result sees Chelsea move up to 9th in the table, leap-frogging Liverpool, while Villa cling to the bottom of the table destined for relegation.

The home fans must have sensed they would be in for one of those afternoons when Chelsea's first went in.
A ball played into the 18-yard box was met unconvincingly by Loftus-Cheek only to rebound off the hapless Joleon Lescott and into the Villa net.
And things would get worse for Eric Black's men just before half time as Aly Cissokho brought Pato down in the box, and the Brazilian gratefully stepped up to fire in his debut goal for the club.

At half time, Black's message to the Villa boys must have been to keep it tight, but it seems no-one in a Claret and Blue shirt was listening.
Just seconds after the whistle for the restart Brad Guzan found himself picking the ball out of his own net for the third time after some quality build up for the Blues.
Chelsea broke down the left flank and after some deft one-touch passes, picked out Pedro in the six-yard box who fired past Guzan.

And just 13 minutes later the fourth went in, Guzan parrying a fairly specualtive shot from Pato into the path of the on-rushing Pedro who finished well from a tight angle.
But it was to get worse for the Villa faithful, as Alan Hutton was shown a second yellow card for a challenge on Pedro and was given his marching orders on 85 minutes.
The boos rang out around Villa Park as the final whistle approached, and the defeat means Villa could be tasting Championship football as early as next week if other results don't go in their favour.

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Star:

Aston Villa 0 Chelsea 4: Goals from Loftus-Cheek, Pato and Pedro help sink sorry Villans

ANGRY Aston Villa fans once again turned on their hopeless, doomed flops.

By Harry Pratt

And who could blame them after they saw fallen champions Chelsea tear the basement boys to shreds?
A fine double from Spanish star Pedro, along with strikes by Ruben Loftus-Cheek and forgotten Brazil striker Alexandre Pato, stretched the Blues’ unbeaten league run to 14 games under Guus Hiddink.
But while the visiting supporters were celebrating a decent display – and joking about being there when Pato finally played and scored – the mood of their Villa counterparts was the opposite.
The Claret and Blue masses were fuming at the way their team crumbled – and did not hold back in venting their frustration.
“You’re not fit to wear the shirt” and “Championship? You’re having a laugh” were just two of the chants as messages on paper planes flew down from the half-empty stands.

No wonder the club suspended hitman Gabby Agbonlahor after he was snapped puffing on a shisha pipe in Dubai last week. He would not have got out of here alive had he shown his face.
One banner read: ‘No fight. No pride. No effort. No hope’ which perfectly summed up everything wrong at the club this season.
Yes, French coach Remi Garde was finally removed last week and replaced by assistant Eric Black.
But on this evidence the belated change will do nothing to stem Villa’s slide into the second tier after a seventh straight reverse.
Black has sympathy with the hate mob. The Scot said: “It’s not down to the punters to come back on board – it’s down to the team to win them round.
“I understand their frustration – a massive turnaround is needed.

“I will do by best but I don’t cross the white line. The players are paid to do that and we can’t protect them from the fans.”
Chelsea continue to splutter their way to the end of a campaign that in many ways has been every bit as shocking as Villa’s.
But at least the Stamford Bridge supremos can recognise a situation spiralling out of control – and take swift action.
That is why they sacked Jose Mourinho in December and drafted in Hiddink for a second spell.
It has not all been plain sailing since but results and the players’ effort have improved.
Three points at Villa was always a formality – but the real talking point was Pato.

He had not kicked a ball for 64 days but, after replacing the crocked Loic Remy in the first half, the on-loan samba striker showed he does possess genuine talent.
Pato came on in the 23rd minute and Chelsea went ahead soon after through Loftus-Cheek’s 26th-minute deflected effort.
And any hope of a Villa recovery disappeared when Pato was fouled by Aly Cissokho on the stroke of half-time and fired in the resulting spot-kick.
Chelsea’s third – 50 seconds into the second period – killed off all resistance as sub Oscar played a fine one-two with Pato and picked out Pedro for a simple finish.
And he was soon celebrating his second and Chelsea’s fourth as he chipped inside the far post.

Villa’s misery was complete when Scotland right-back Alan Hutton was sent off in the 85th minute for a heavy challenge on Loftus-Cheek – his second bookable offence.
Hiddink said: “It was a strange atmosphere but we did well.
“My personal unbeaten run is not so important but if it continues to the end of the season at least I will have something to be happy about.”

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