Chelsea marked the first match of the second post-Jose Mourinho era with a comfortable 3-1 win over Sunderland on the weekend.
Steve Holland oversaw a commanding Blues performance which had the Blues two goals in front inside 13 minutes after Branislav Ivanovic headed home Willian's fifth-minute corner and Pedro sweet home after Sebastian Coates failed to deal with Ivanovic's cross from the right.
Oscar converted from the penalty spot five minutes into the second half after Costel Pantilimon had felled Willian in the area before Fabio Borini pulled one back for the Black Cats with a glancing finish soon after Chelsea's third goal.
The victory was the reigning champions' first in four league games and saw them move up to 15th position as Sam Allardyce's Sunderland remained second bottom following a third successive loss.
MATCH OVERVIEW
Chelsea: 3 (Branislav Ivanovic 5', Pedro Rodriguez 13', Oscar (PEN) 50')
Sunderland: 1 (Fabio Borini 52')
Stamford Bridge, London - 41,562
TALKING POINTS
- That's more like the Chelsea we know. Will the players now respond to the Mourinho sacking and start to put together a run under interim boss Guus Hiddink?
- Sunderland desperately need points if they are to avoid a relegation battle. They have conceded the most goals after 17 games and require some reinforcements in January.
WHAT'S NEXT?
Chelsea will look to back up their victory when they host Watford on Boxing Day as Sunderland travel to Manchester City in search of an evasive win.
TWITTER INSIGHT
We both team and fans played a great game this afternoon. Come on Chelsea! @ChelseaFC#CFC#CHESUNpic.twitter.com/1OY4Igiw5W
— Pedro Rodríguez (@_Pedro17_) December 19, 20153-1 victory yesterday! Only one way, all together! #CFChttps://t.co/CvVhmvN0OX
— Thibaut Courtois (@thibautcourtois) December 20, 2015Disappointed not to get any points but pleased to get on the scoresheet! #CHESUNpic.twitter.com/woxaVTVamH
— Fabio Borini (@borinifabio29) December 19, 2015
QUOTES CORNER
Chelseacoach Holland on the importance of the win:
"It was a very important three points for the club today. Our position is very poor, had we lost today we would have gone into the bottom three, so it's a very important win."
Sunderland's Allardyce on what he can do to get a positive result:
"I've got to find a solution, and if I can't find a solution in the squad I have to find a solution in January, and see where we go from there. I'm disappointed in the lack of consistency, we've seen some good things, in back-to-back wins but now we've dropped right back in the mire again because of a lack of results."
STATS SPECIALS
*Thanks to Opta
2 - Chelsea have scored the same number of goals in the opening 13 mins today as they had in their final 5 PL games under Mourinho. Release.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 19, 2015