Chelsea extends unbeaten run as Pato score on debut

Alexandre Pato scored on his long-awaited Chelsea debut as Guus Hiddink’s experimental line-up piled more misery on Premier League bottom club Aston Villa with a 4-0 victory on Saturday.

Interim manager Hiddink was without Diego Costa, Eden Hazard, Willian, Gary Cahill and John Terry, but they were not missed as his side romped to an emphatic win at an angry Villa Park.

Youngster Ruben Loftus-Cheek scored his first Premier League goal for the club, while a well-taken double from Pedro Rodriguez put the seal on their triumph in the second half.

To make matters worse, Villa had defender Alan Hutton sent off in the closing stages for a second bookable offence to end a miserable week in which the Midlands club parted company with manager Remi Garde.

The victory for Chelsea kept alive their faint hopes of Europa League qualification, after a disappointing month in which they lost ground in the league and also crashed out of both the Champions League and FA Cup.

When the game eventually stirred to life after a lacklustre opening 10 minutes, Chelsea went close to gaining an early advantage as Pedro curled narrowly wide.

In response, Rudy Gestede gave Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois something to think about with an effort from distance.

Chelsea were denied the opener by an offside flag after Pedro neatly controlled a Cesc Fabregas pass before lobbing the advancing Brad Guzan.

The writing was on the wall for Villa though, and the visitors duly went in front with a well-worked move in the 26th minute.

After some neat footwork by John Mikel Obi, Fabegras picked out the overlapping Cesar Azpilicueta and his low cross was swept past Guzan by Loftus-Cheek via a crucial deflection off Joleon Lescott.