Eden Hazard has been a shining light for Chelsea this season so it was of no surprise to see him kick things off against Hull City and help fire his side to the top of the Premier League table.
It was a tough fought and frustrating game for the Blues but both Hazard and Fernando Torres were on target as Chelsea claimed all three points with a 2-0 win at the KC Stadium.
Jose Mourinho’s side may not be top of the pile by the end of the weekend as Manchester City play tomorrow and Arsenal on Monday but it was a crucial win for the Blues as they want to heap all the pressure they can onto their title rivals.
There was a lot of positives for the away side aside from the win with the obvious one being Hazard’s individual brilliance. But it was good to see Torres take his chance expertly on a day that he had scraps to feed on and Petr Cech’s record breaking clean-sheet is also cause for celebration.
It wasn’t an easy game for the Blues and initially it was worrying to see the frequency in which Ahmed Elmohamady was burning Ashley Cole down Chelsea’s left whilst John Terry seemed to be taking an almost casual approach to his defending – especially during the first half. Both players improved after the break.
Willian is the perfect example of how flair and work-rate can be successfully combined and it is clear why the Brazilian is becoming a very important player for Mourinho but the same cannot be said for his countryman Oscar today. The 22-year-old was mostly anonymous today and will be kicking himself after missing a glorious opportunity in the first half. We know what Oscar is capable of and he will have better days but his habit of going missing every now and then is one he should be looking to kick as he seeks to improve his consistency.
All in all, it was great to get the three points and see the Blues rise to the top…even if it is just for today.
