Chelsea laboured to a 2-0 win over Newcastle United yesterday.

The Blues recorded a win to move two points clear at the top of the Barclays Premier League with Oscar and Diego Costa striking either side of half-time.

"We didn't have enough players playing quite at the level we are used to seeing in the first half," Blues No2 Steve Holland conceded.

"The manager reminded one or two of them at half-time what was required and there was a good response from the players.

"It is very difficult to hit the level that people expect week in week out, particularly in this country. The players have had a real battering over Christmas so to reach that level that everyone wants to see week in, week out is impossible."