Bournemouth 4-1

Independent:

Bournemouth 1 Chelsea 4

Eden Hazard finally ends goal drought with brace

Ian Baker Dean Court

Eden Hazard will surrender his PFA Player of the Year trophy on Sunday but at last he produced a performance to be proud of in an abysmal season personally and for Chelsea.

The Belgian ended a run of 355 days and 29 Barclays Premier League games without a goal with a brace as the West Londoners easily won at Bournemouth.

It was a game that offered glimpses that Chelsea can return to their title-winning best even though it was a largely dead rubber fixture with neither side having much to play for, something that will have seemed inexplicable back in August.

Yet Chelsea supporters were quick to show their frustrations despite a success. The prospect of London rivals Tottenham Hotspur winning the league is unthinkable. Their next game comes against Mauricio Pochettino’s side a week on Monday. “You better beat f***ing Tottenham,” came the cry from the frustrated away fans at Dean Court.

Chelsea are a far better side than the one that were beaten at home by Bournemouth in the dying days of Jose Mourinho’s reign and always in control of this contest.

They took the lead with five minutes on the clock with a free-flowing move involving Hazard, Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas who played in Pedro to convert.

But Bournemouth were arguably the better side in the first half after that as Josh King shot over the bar from a well-worked Charlie Daniels while from another well-thought out delivery Steven Cook also missed the target from six yards.

Lewis Grabban’s shot from an angle was then pushed away by Asmir Begovic while King could only head straight at the Chelsea goalkeeper from Simon Francis’ cross and Grabban then glanced off target from a Junior Stanislas delivery.

But finally Hazard was able to celebrate scoring as he stroke home low from 20 yards after the impressive Fabregas’ flick had fallen straight to him.


John Terry was watching on from the directors box having a managerial work placement and it would be interesting to hear the Chelsea captain’s thoughts as his side conceded less than two minutes later.

Tommy Elphick’s header bounced down and beat Begovic via the post from Francis’ delivery and suddenly the hosts could have levelled before the break as Grabban was denied with a powerful shot before Stanilas’ shot just went over the crossbar after a well-worked move.

Bournemouth though could not build on their promising half and even though Callum Wilson and Benik Afobe came on as substitutes it was Chelsea who took control.

They scored a third on 70 minutes as Willian cleverly converted after Fabregas’ through ball had given the midfielder a third assist of the match.


Hazard was only expected to play a maximum of an hour on his return from a hip injury but ended up playing the whole 90 and scored a second in stoppage time from only yards out after Nemanja Matic had done the hard work to complete an emphatic win.

“We don’t want the season to fade away,” said interim manager Guus Hiddink. “We worked with Eden the last 10 days and we were looking at his movement and he enjoyed it. He was light in his movement. We talked about 45 minutes but in the end he was enjoying it so much he could enjoy the whole game.

“Cesc was enjoying it very much and he was one of the few players who have this vision. He knows he can execute what he is thinking and it was one of his best games.”

“I thought it was an even game, especially in the first half,” said Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe. “The only difference was the way they finished and we learned some harsh lessons.”


Bournemouth (4-2-3-1): Boruc; Francis, Cook, Elphick, Daniels; Gosling, Surman; Stanislas (Ritchie 78), Grabban (Afobe 63), Pugh; King (Wilson 63). Subs: Federici, MacDonald, Wiggins, O’Kane.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Begovic; Azpilicueta, Ivanovic, Mikel, Rahman; Matic, Fabregas; Pedro, Willian (Loftus-Cheek 83), Hazard; Costa. Subs: Amelia, Falcao, Pato, Traore, Kenedy, Miazga.


Referee: Roger East

Attendance: 11,365


Man of the Match: Cesc Fabregas


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Observer:

Eden Hazard ends league goal drought as Chelsea beat Bournemouth

AFC Bournemouth 1 - 4 Chelsea

James Riach at the Vitality Stadium


There was to be no Bournemouth double over Chelsea. In December Eddie Howe’s side produced one of the results of the season at Stamford Bridge during the last days of José Mourinho’s reign but this was a performance more like the champions of old, led by Cesc Fábregas and Eden Hazard.

Fábregas was superb, elaborate flicks combined with clinical passing to cut Bournemouth open time and again. Howe’s men showed attacking intent themselves but, in doing so, ceded space in their own half, which Chelsea exploited. Pedro opened the scoring before Hazard and Willian also capitalised on Fábregas assists, rendering Tommy Elphick’s header immaterial.

Hazard added another late on and these were his first Premier League goals since May 2015. Some drought for last season’s PFA Player of the Year but, though there were still signs of rust after five games out, this was a vastly improved display compared to some this season.

Yet it was Fábregas who ran the show. Guus Hiddink, the interim Chelsea coach, said of the Spaniard: “He was enjoying it very much, he’s one of the few players who has this vision. He knows when he’s on the ball that he can execute what he is thinking and creating, we know when he’s on the ball that we need players running.

“There were some decent games but this one was one of his best. I like it when they get the camera and attention but these players can play like that when there is good balance around him. We made some little positional changes at half-time and from there on I think we controlled and were very dominant. It was good to see the players enjoying playing and looking for the attack.”

Chelsea play Tottenham next and the away fans voiced their desire to end Spurs’ tilt at the league title. Mikel John Obi started in central defence here alongside Branislav Ivanovic, with Hazard making his first appearance since the Champions League defeat at home to Paris Saint-Germain. The Belgian was welcomed into the game early on by a thudding challenge from Lewis Grabban but after wincing and clutching his leg, Hazard picked himself off the turf and went on to have a decisive impact.

First, though, Pedro did. Bournemouth had made an energetic start to the match and the left-back Charlie Daniels was advancing high. However, after Daniels’ low cross into the opposition penalty area was cleared, he was caught out. Chelsea swiftly broke and, following a precise ball from Fábregas, Pedro found space cutting inside from the right and demonstrated a fine touch and finish.

Bournemouth have conceded many early goals this season and tried to respond immediately. Josh King shot over the crossbar from Daniels’ corner before Steve Cook squandered an excellent chance. Asmir Begovic – deputising for the suspended Thibaut Courtois – could only palm a corner tamely into Cook’s path, but the defender made a hash of his effort and sliced over.

Soon, Chelsea had two. Hazard, who has endured a largely torrid, injury-beset campaign, ran inside and was laid off following a deft flick from Fábregas. Space opened up and he fired through the legs of Elphick and in from 25 yards.

At that stage it seemed Bournemouth were in for a torturous afternoon, yet they clawed their way back into the game moments later. A corner was taken short to Francis and his cross found the head of Elphick, who made just enough contact to guide the ball past Begovic.

Unfortunately for Bournemouth, that was as good as it got. With the exception of a Junior Stanislas shot that fizzed wide in the 66th minute, they could not create the same attacking verve they had previously shown.

And so Chelsea ensured victory with 20 minutes remaining, Willian found by Fábregas once more and finishing coolly past Artur Boruc, before Hazard scored his second in injury time. Nemanja Matic played a one-two with Fábregas and pulled the ball back for Hazard to finish with ease.

Howe said: “A number of their players played at a high level today, Fabregas, Hazard, Willian, Costa. You have to admire their quality. We’re learning all the time and that’s key for us. We’re still finding our feet at this level and learning some harsh lessons.”

Match rating: 8/10



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Telegraph:

Bournemouth 1 Chelsea 4: Fabregas and Hazard find their form at last

Tom Prentki, vitality stadium


Cesc Fabregas’s brilliant performance had the groundlings purring as he lifted Chelsea into the top half of the Premier League.

“He was enjoying it very much and he’s one of the few players who has this vision – he knows what he is thinking and what he is creating,” said manager Gus Hiddink of Fabregas’ contribution.

Eden Hazard was a more than able understudy to the Spanish protagonist, scoring his first goals since last March as he looked like something resembling his best, drifting into the spaces behind Diego Costa and wreaking havoc.

“He enjoyed it too, he was light in his movement,” said Hiddink. “We talked about him maybe playing 45 minutes but he was enjoying it so much that he could play the whole match.”


The lack of pressure on either side made for an open and entertaining game, though Bournemouth’s fans have now seen their team humbled by Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea in successive home matches.

Cherries’ chairman Jeff Mostyn described the visits of those Premier League giants as “like having three buses all arrive at the same time, having waited 120 years for the first one”.

“Our run in is so tough and we’re learning all the time,” said Eddie Howe. “That’s key for us. Their attitude and approach to the game was spot on, that’s why it ended up being a really good game.”


Hiddink, too, was delighted with his team’s mentality, given how little there is left riding on results in the final games of a forgettable season at Stamford Bridge. “They responded very well. It was not a summer evening game, it was a very intense game.”

Pedro opened the scoring for the Blues, latching on to a perfectly-judged pass from his ex-Barcelona team-mate Fabregas, to lift the ball over the stricken Artur Boruc.  It was 2-0 when Willian and Fabregas exchanged passes to free up Hazard 20 yards from goal and the Belgian fired low into the bottom-left corner.

Bournemouth were creating chances of their own and they scored through their captain, Tommy Elphick, as he beat make-shift cente-back John Obi Mikel to Simon Francis’ deep cross to head in.


Fabregas, who appeared to have the ball attached to him by a string, weighted a perfect ball down the right channel to Willian, who again lifted the ball over Boruc, in a carbon copy of the first goal.

Chelsea scored with all four of their shots on target as Hazard added his second, tapping in from Nemanja Matic’s low cross after yet more good work from Fabregas.



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Mail:


Bournemouth 1-4 Chelsea:

Eden Hazard scores his first Premier League goals of the season as Blues break losing streak

By Riath Al-samarrai for The Mail on Sunday


Eden Hazard did what he used to do so often and Cesc Fabregas was exquisite, a master craftsman of vision and touch. At times it was possible to remember when Chelsea didn’t play dead rubbers in April.
This was frequently brilliant and occasionally compelling, with no two men more impressive than Hazard, who scored twice, and Fabregas, the puppet master with three extremely good assists.

And yet they are also the two men who, arguably, have been the most underwhelming in this weakest of title defences. With the trophy long gone, why has it taken so long to see their tremendous talents?

That might well be the frustration for those who care about such things. In Hazard’s case, the slump is best illustrated by the fact he had not scored a Premier League goal since last May.
With the count reaching 355 days, last year’s PFA Player of the Year got not one but two goals in his first game for six weeks following a hip injury.
As for Fabregas, a player of such gifts has been damned and slammed in this strange season for the number of games in which he coasted. Here, he surged. It was a stunning performance.

He made each of the first three goals for Pedro, Hazard and Willian before playing a part in Hazard’s second at the death. As they went in, Chelsea’s supporters sang: ‘You better beat Tottenham.’ Those London rivals are next up for Guus Hiddink’s side, who find themselves on the outside looking in as the trophies are decided.
Hiddink said: ‘Of course we want to win that game. We have nothing at stake but we as Chelsea don’t want the season to fade away.’

If Hazard and Fabregas retain this form, Chelsea might yet be relevant to the table, considering they not only face Spurs but Leicester as well in their final four games. Hiddink said: ‘Cesc was enjoying it very much. He is very fast (mentally), one of the few who knows he can execute what he is thinking. Not many can.
‘He has had some decent games (since Hiddink came in) but this one was one of his best.’

The Dutchman added: ‘Hazard was light in his movement again. We had talked about playing 45 minutes or more but he was enjoying it so much that he played the whole game. That is a sign of the good spirit of his.’

As far as signs go, this scoreline may be a trifle misleading. Having lost their previous two, Chelsea again looked shaky at times, especially in the first half when every cross they faced looked like yielding a goal. Had Bournemouth taken more of their many chances, it might have been level at the break and with it a different conclusion.

Steve Cook was guilty of one particularly bad miss and Lewis Grabban a couple more against a makeshift and wobbly defence.
‘We were terrific in the first half,’ said Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe. ‘But they took their chances and we didn’t.’

Crucially, Chelsea also had Fabregas. He made the opener by leading a counter-attack after five minutes, taking possession near halfway and surging through the middle before passing out to the right in the space between left-back Charlie Daniels and Cook at centre-half.
Pedro took a touch and waited for goalkeeper Artur Boruc to go to ground before chipping his finish. An excellent goal.

Fabregas’s contribution to Chelsea’s second, half an hour later, was even better. Willian, so reliable in an unreliable side this season, played in the Spaniard whose little flick with his heel took Dan Gosling out of play and set up Hazard. The Belgian playmaker finished well from outside the area. Chelsea’s defence, with John Mikel Obi deployed at centre-half, was not nearly so effective as their attack. That was demonstrated with Bournemouth’s goal, scored by Tommy Elphick two minutes later.
A Marc Pugh cross caused trouble for Chelsea keeper Asmir Begovic, who nudged the delivery over the bar. Andrew Surman played the corner short to Simon Francis and Elphick was free to head past Begovic.
Fabregas got his third assist after the break with another lovely pass between Cook and Daniels. This time Willian was waiting and again Boruc was chipped.


The fourth, in stoppage time, was no less aesthetic. Hazard started the move on the left and Fabregas laid off to Nemanja Matic, who pulled back for Hazard to finish. Blink and you would have missed it.
Brilliant football from a team and individuals who used to do it so often. If they play like this against Tottenham on Monday week, Chelsea might yet have a say in the title race.


Bournemouth (4-4-2): Boruc 6; Francis 7, Elphick 7, Cook 5, Daniels 5.5; Stanislas 6.5 (Ritchie 78), Surman 6.5, Gosling 6, Pugh 6.5; Grabban 5.5 (Afobe 63, 6), King 6.5 (Wilson 63, 6)

Subs not used: Federici, Wiggins, MacDonald, O'Kane
Goals: Elphick 37

Booked: Ritchie

Manager: Eddie Howe

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Begovic 5; Azpilicueta 5.5, Mikel 6, Ivanovic 6, Baba 5; Matic 7, Fabregas 9; Pedro 7, Willian 7.5 (Loftus-Cheek 83), Hazard 8; Costa 6

Subs not used: Amelia, Miazga, Kenedy, Traore, Pato, Falcao

Goals: Pedro 5, Hazard 35, Willian 71, Hazard 90+1

Manager: Guus Hiddink

Referee: Roger East 6.5

MOM: Cesc Fabregas

Att: 11,365



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Mirror:

Bournemouth 1-4 Chelsea: Cesc Fabregas stars as Eden Hazard returns with a brace

BY ADRIAN KAJUMBA


The Belgian scored his first goals from open play in over a year but it was his Spanish teammate who stole the show with a virtuoso midfield display

Cesc Fabregas and Eden Hazard inspired Chelsea to a comfortable victory at Bournemouth.

Fabregas set Chelsea's first three goals and Hazard scored twice as the Blues cruised to a 4-1 win at the Vitality Stadium.


Bournemouth, who stunned Chelsea 1-0 at Stamford Bridge in December, started well.

But they fell behind after five minutes when Pedro finished off swift Chelsea counter-attack involving Eden Hazard, Diego Costa and Fabregas.

Fabregas then teed up Hazard to fire in Chelsea's second from 20 yards on 34 minutes with a clever back-heel.

Bournemouth hit back with an instant reply two minutes later when Tommy Elphick headed in Simon Francis's cross to make it 2-1.

But Willian, from another Fabregas pass, and Hazard, from Nemanja Matic's cross, wrapped up Chelsea's win with second half goals..


Fabulous Fabregas

Cesc Fabregas has remembered how to play football again after admitting this week that he forgot in the final months of Jose Mourinho's reign.

He put on a midfield masterclass against Bournemouth. His passing was excellent and he set up three of Chelsea's four goals.

His return to form has come too late for Chelsea as their season is over but is good news for Spain ahead of the Euros.


Begovic audition

If Asmir Begovic has two games to prove he could replace Thibaut Courtois if the Belgian leaves, as has been suggested, this was not a good start.

The Bosnian – in for the banned Courtois - looked shaky all afternoon, especially with his kicking, and having made a meal of dealing with Marc Pugh's cross was then too slow to react and deal with Tommy Elphick's header which crept in off the post.


Drought over for Hazard

Eden Hazard marked his return from injury with a goal. Incredibly it was his first in the league all season, a stat that sums up the 2014/15 double player of the year's rapid decline.

Not only that, it was his first in open play for Chelsea for over a year.

His only other two Chelsea goals this season were a penalty at MK Dons and free-kick against Manchester City, both in the FA Cup.


Flexible Mikel

Jon Obi Mikel was an attacking midfielder in his early years before developing into a defensive midfielder in his senior career.

And he showed his versatility again by filling in as a centre-back against Bournemouth, filling in for the ill Gary Cahill.

He had a few awkward moments against tricky customers Joshua King and Lewis Grabban but some good ones too.


Bournemouth's survival

They are almost safe but Eddie Howe won't be satisfied a job very well done is done until it is mathematically confirmed.

After this defeat they are 11 points clear of the drop zone with three games to play.

They could still be caught by Sunderland who have five games to play.

It is unlikely but Howe won't be happy until survival is clinched and nor will he be by his side's form. This was a fourth defeat in five matches.



Player ratings


Bournemouth : Boruc 6; Francis 6, Elphick 7, Cook 7, Daniels 6; Surman 6, Gosling 6; Stanislas 6 (Ritchie 78, 6), Grabban 5 (Afobe 63, 6), Pugh 6; King 7 (Wilson 63, 5).

Unused : Federici, MacDonald, Wiggins, O'Kane.


Chelsea : Begovic 5; Azpilicueta 6, Ivanovic 6, Mikel 6, Rahman 5; Fabregas MOTM 9, Matic 6; Pedro 7, Willian 7 (Loftus-Cheek 83, 5), Hazard 7; Costa 6.

Unused : Amelia, Miazga, Kenedy, Traore, Pato, Falcao.



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Express:


CESC FABREGAS turned in a mercurial midfield display to mastermind Chelsea’s victory over Bournemouth.

By PETER WHITE


Fabregas laid on three assists as Chelsea bounced back from two successive Premier League defeats

Even though Guus Hiddink’s side were far from their best at the back, Fabregas made up for the defensive shortcomings by producing a string of punishing passes and setting up three of his side’s goals.

Hiddink said: “Cesc was enjoying it very much. It was one of his best games. He is one of the few players who has such vision and can execute what he is thinking.”

Chelsea, with two-goal Eden Hazard back in their starting line-up after a five-match injury absence, soon showed their quality with a magnificent counter-attack that brought the opening goal.


Diego Costa played a precision pass upfield to Fabregas, whose crossfield ball found the unmarked Pedro and the little Spaniard raced in to clip his shot over the advancing Artur Boruc.

Chelsea struggled to reproduce that precision until the 34th minute, when they doubled their advantage.

The influential Fabregas picked out Hazard, who was allowed to cut in from the left and let fly with a low, 25-yard effort.

But Chelsea’s frailties at the back soon allowed Howe’s team to temporarily claw their way back into the game. Andrew Surman played a short corner to Simon Francis, whose hanging cross was met by Tommy Elphick’s header that bounced back off the pitch and in.


However, the quality of Chelsea, and inevitably Fabregas, shone through again on 71 minutes as they extended their lead.

Fabregas’ through ball was inch perfect for Willian to run on to and sublimely beat the onrushing Boruc.

And, in stoppage time. Fabregas fed Nemanja Matic to set up Hazard for a close-range fourth.

Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe said “We did not have that clinical edge.”


BOURNEMOUTH: Boruc, Francis, Elphick, Cook, Daniels, Stanislas (Ritchie 78), Gosling, Surman, Pugh, King (Wilson 63), Grabban (Afobe 63).

CHELSEA: Begovic, Azpilicueta, Mikel, Ivanovic, Baba, Fabregas, Matic, Willian (Loftus-Cheek 83), Pedro, Hazard, Costa.

Referee: R East Attendance: 11,365


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Star:

Bournemouth 1 Chelsea 4: Blues cruise to victory on the south coast


CESC FABREGAS turned in a mercurial midfield display to mastermind Chelsea’s victory over Bournemouth as Eden Hazard scored his first Premier League goals of the season.

By Peter White


Even though Guus Hiddink’s side were far from their best at the back, with both John Terry and Gary Cahill absent, Fabregas made up for the defensive frailties by producing a string of punishing passes and setting up three of his side’s goals.

Chelsea boss Hiddink said: “Cesc was enjoying it very much. It was one of his best games. He is one of the few players who has such vision and can execute what he is thinking. When he is on the ball we need running players to make his fast vision play effective.

“I was very pleased with the performance, especially the second half. Bournemouth are very good at building up and creating from there.

“We wanted to win this game because we don’t want to let the season just fade away.”


But John Obi Mikel turned in a performance in defence that he will quickly want to forget, although he was no worse than striker Diego Costa who was totally anonymous throughout.

Chelsea’s travelling fans took time out to remind their team they ‘had better beat’ Tottenham in the upcoming Premier League clash, also making their feelings known they want Leicester to succeed them as champions.

Chelsea, with two-goal Hazard back in their starting line-up after a five-match absence through injury, looked surprised by Bournemouth’s high tempo start but soon showed their quality with a magnificent counter-attack that brought them the opening goal.

Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth side were firmly on the offensive for the first five minutes, with Junior

Stanislas and Simon Francis both making dangerous breaks down the right.

But then as another Cherries attack was broken up, the speed of Chelsea’s threat was breathtaking.


Costa played a precision pass upfield to Fabregas, whose crossfield ball found the unmarked Pedro and the little Spaniard raced in to clip his shot over the advancing Artur Boruc for his eighth Chelsea goal of the season.

Despite the early setback, Bournemouth stuck to their task with the pace of Joshua King and Lewis Grabban giving Chelsea plenty to think about.

And after King flashed a shot over from the edge of the area, the Cherries wasted a golden chance on 20 minutes.


Chelsea keeper Asmir Begovic, replacing the suspended Thibaut Courtois, flapped at a corner from Andrew Surman and the ball fell invitingly for Steve Cook, who hit a fierce volley just too high.

Chelsea continued to show neat build-up play through midfield but struggled to reproduce the precision that brought their early goal until the 34th minute when they doubled their advantage.

Fabregas picked out Hazard, who was allowed to cut in from the left and let fly with a low 25-yard effort that sneaked just inside Boruc’s post.


Chelsea’s frailties at the back soon allowed Howe’s team to temporarily claw their way back into the game.

Surman played a short corner to Francis whose hanging cross was met by Tommy Elphick’s header that bounced just inside the top corner, with Begovic and his defenders wondering how they had allowed it to happen.

However, the quality of Chelsea and Fabregas shone through again on 71 minutes as they extended their lead. Fabregas’ through-ball was inch-perfect for Willian to run on to and sublimely beat the onrushing Boruc.

And in stoppage time Fabregas fed Nemanja Matic to set up Hazard for a close-range fourth.


Cherries boss Howe said: “I thought the first half was even and we were terrific. The difference was how they took their goals; we did not have that clinical edge. In the second half they did very well and we struggled to get into our rhythm.

“Their attitude was spot on and you have to admire the quality they have. The last period of the game was difficult because of the way they counter-attacked. A number of their players played at a high level, they have some outstanding players.”