Saturday 23 April 2016 18:18, UK
Eden Hazard scored twice for Chelsea as they eased past Bournemouth 4-1 at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday.
Pedro gave Chelsea the lead after just five minutes then Hazard, who was making his first appearance since picking up an injury during Chelsea's Champions League exit against PSG last month, netted his first Premier League goal of the season to make it 2-0 after 34 minutes.
Bournemouth captain Tommy Elphick pulled one back soon afterwards (36), but Willian put the game beyond doubt in the second half (71) before Hazard added his second and Chelsea's fourth in stoppage time.
Hazard will take the headlines but the star of the show was Cesc Fabregas, who created the first three Chelsea goals and played a big part in the fourth as he became the third-highest assister in Premier League history with 95. Only Ryan Giggs (162) and Frank Lampard (102) have more.
Bournemouth started the brighter but it was Chelsea who took the lead within five minutes as Pedro netted for the away side, tucking the ball past Artur Boruc after being slipped in behind by Fabregas.
Eddie Howe's side were not disheartened, though, and had decent chances to level the game through Josh King and Lewis Grabban, only for Hazard to add a second for Chelsea shortly after the half-hour mark.
Fabregas was the architect again as his super flick teed up the Belgian on the edge of the area, and he slammed it low inside Boruc's near post.
Bournemouth would not lie down, however, and they were back in the game less than two minutes later as a neat corner routine saw Simon Francis whip a cross in for Elphick, the skipper rising highest in the area to head into the ground and over Asmir Begovic for his first ever Premier League goal.
They had a chance to level in the 38th minute as Grabban raced in behind John Obi Mikel - who was being played out of position at centre-back - before forcing a decent stop from Begovic.
Pedro then wasted a glorious opportunity on the stroke of half-time to add his second and Chelsea's third, but somehow failed to hit the target after again being played in behind Bournemouth's defence by Fabregas.
After such a frantic first half there was far less goalmouth action in the second, at least not until Chelsea put the game beyond doubt with 19 minutes to go.
Bournemouth again left Fabregas with too much space, and the Spaniard slipped Willian in behind, before he took a touch and dinked the ball over Boruc.
The goal completely flattened Bournemouth, who had thrown on Callum Wilson and Benik Afobe in the hopes of pulling level, and Hazard netted again in the first minute of stoppage time.
Fabregas was at the heart of it once more as his superb flick allowed Nemanja Matic to break into the Bournemouth box and pull one back into the six-yard box for Hazard to tuck home.
Paul Merson's Soccer Saturday verdict
"Hazard was very good. He fancied it today and it was like the old Hazard of last season. He was lively on the ball, he was sharp. When he got it, he always wanted to have a go at players.
"And Fabregas was outstanding. His range of passing was absolutely phenomenal.
"They were never out of the game, Bournemouth. They kept going, King had the beating of the centre-halves, and Elphick scored with a header
"But, second half, Chelsea turned it up another gear and, when you watch this, their attacking stuff is different class. I think they need defenders, especially if they are not giving John Terry a new deal.
"No qualms with Bournemouth, their fans should be very proud of them. They gave as good as they got and Begovic made some good saves. Their job is done and they have to plan for next season and make sure they stay up."
Player ratings
Bournemouth: Boruc (4), Francis (4), Cook (4), Elphick (5), Daniels (4), Stanislas (5), Gosling (5), Surman (5), Pugh (6), Grabban (5), King (6)
Subs used: Ritchie (5), Wilson (5), Afobe (5)
Chelsea: Begovic (5), Azpilicueta (5), Ivanovic (5), Mikel (4), Baba (5), Matic (6), Fabregas (9), Pedro (7), Willian (7), Hazard (8), Costa (6)
Subs used: Loftus-Cheek (n/a)
Man of the match: Cesc Fabregas
