Chelsea demolish Newcastle to enjoy home comforts

Chelsea ended their wait for a first home Premier League win under Guus Hiddink with a 5-1 demolition of struggling Newcastle on Saturday.

Hiddink’s side had drawn all four of their league fixtures at Stamford Bridge since the Dutchman replaced the sacked Jose Mourinho as interim manager in December.

But Diego Costa opened the floodgates with an early goal before Pedro’s double and further strikes from Willian and Bertrand Traore sealed Chelsea’s biggest league win of a traumatic campaign.

The only complication was Blues captain John Terry going off injured after 37 minutes, having been involved in an early collision with Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Terry could now be a doubt for Tuesday’s Champions League last 16 first leg tie against Paris Saint Germain.

This was otherwise the perfect preparation for that crucial trip to Paris as Chelsea put in a brilliant attacking display — with Pedro particularly impressive — although it was hard to know how much of that was down to Newcastle’s awful defending.

Steve McClaren’s side look in real danger of relegation after dropping back into the bottom three below Norwich on goal difference.

The game was ended as a contest almost as soon as it began, with Chelsea scoring after five minutes thanks to hapless Newcastle defending.

Willian turned Cheick Tiote near the centre circle, and proceeded to stride through the opposition half with yards of space around him.

He played a ball in for Spain striker Costa, who turned the ball past Newcastle goalkeeper Rob Elliot with a neat finish for his eighth goal in 11 games.

Newcastle, by contrast, look as bad as they did at the start of the season.

Their display just got worse, as they then contrived to give Pedro the chance to demonstrate his lethal finishing.