Pedro scores twice as Chelsea shred shambolic Newcastle

Chelsea extended their unbeaten run to 12 games Guus Hiddink as they produced their finest display of the season to sweep aside an abject Newcastle 5-1. 

Hiddink remains unbeaten in his second spell as Chelsea's interim manager and his side are now only two points behind Liverpool in mid table and a top six finish for a 20th consecutive season is not beyond them. Hiddink has managed to get the best out of Diego Costa, who was one of many players whose form dipped alarmingly in Jose Mourinho's latter days at Stamford Bridge. 

The Spain striker was a constant menace to Newcastle and got on the scoresheet inside five minutes with a deft and delicate finish after Willian had spotted his run. Pedro doubled Chelsea's lead after Rolando Aarons gifted him possession, but the Spaniard still had plenty to do and bent a low, early shot inside Robert Elliot's right-hand post. Diego Costa played a key role in the third, which came in the 17th minute, holding the ball up well and picking out the run of Willian, who had raced 50 yards and finished first time. Pedro got his second just shy of the hour mark with an assured finish after Cesc Fabregas had picked him out and substitute Bertrand Traore capped the win with a late fifth, his first in the Premier League, before Andros Townsend restored a modicum of pride with a fine late goal, albeit one which served little purpose other than to deny Thibaut Courtois a clean sheet. 

Chelsea played with tempo and precision in the final third and, despite a first time injury to captain John Terry, this result will be a timely boost ahead of Tuesday's crunch Champions League test in Paris. Newcastle, however, were shambolic all over the pitch and the abject nature of the performance will concern Newcastle fans more than the defeat itself, which keeps the Magpies third from bottom.

(eurosport.com)