United Hit By Electric Hazard.

For those of you lucky enough not to have watched or heard the game live, here's a run down on events courtesy of NUFC.com

United hit by electric Hazard.

Chelsea 2 Newcastle 0

While the thunder and electrical storms crashed and flashed overhead, it was the lightning quick feet of Eden Hazard that caused Newcastle most problems at Stamford Bridge on Saturday as they suffered defeat there for the first time in almost five years.

Hazard netted from the penalty spot midway through the first half after Vurnon Anita had felled Fernando Torres and Hazard and Torres linked up in injury time to double the home side's advantage.

There were chances for Alan Pardew's lacklustre side to get back into the game - Papiss Cisse heading wide when well-placed and Demba Ba failing to find the net from ten yards after his first attempt had been charged down.

Had one of those efforts found the back of the Chelsea net then perhaps an unlikely comeback could have been on the cards but that would have been rough justice on Roberto Di Matteo's side who always looked in control.

There weren't many of United's side that were at the top of their game and although most of them hadn't featured in Athens two days earlier, a lot had made the journey and as a group they looked jaded and weary.

Fabricio Coloccini and Demba Ba recovered from injury to make the starting line-up but they were still missing Cheick Tiote in midfield and his absence was possibly the most notable.

Vurnon Anita started his first Premier League game and it was a tough baptism for the 23 year-old whose rash challenge on Torres allowed Hazard to tuck the ball past Tim Krul from the spot in the 22nd minute.

But just when it looked like Pardew would get the chance to re-group his troops at the break Torres and Hazard exchanged passes on the edge of the box and the Spaniard's instant toe-poke found the top corner.

Hatem Ben Arfa had shown some glimpses of class in the first period and he whizzed a left-footed effort narrowly wide as United started to get back into the match and then Cisse's snaphot almost beat Petr Cech but the 'keeper held onto his powerful effort.

Ryan Taylor replaced Danny Simpson whose crossing had been abysmal and it was a Taylor delivery from the left that found Cisse at the far post but the out-of-sorts Senegal striker mis-timed his jump and glanced a header harmlessly wide.

But United's best chance fell to Ba with six minutes remaining when his first scuffed effort fell to him with the goal at his mercy but Petr Cech was able to smother Ba's low shot and defeat then seemed inevitable.

Ryan Bertrand had almost extended Chelsea's lead at the other end but Krul had largely enjoyed a quieter second half as the balance of play favoured the visitors.

The defeat leaves the Magpies ninth after just two games, while Chelsea went three points clear having taken advantage of their extra game to maintain their 100% record.

Full match report to follow.

Team: Krul, Simpson (R.Taylor 64), Coloccini, S.Taylor, Santon (Marveaux 74), Cabaye (Perch 77), Anita, Gutierrez, Ben Arfa, Cisse, Ba.
Subs n/u: Harper, Williamson, Obertan, Amalfitano.

Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Cahill, Luiz, Cole, Mata (Ramires 67), Mikel, Hazard, Meireles (Lampard 87), Bertrand, Torres.
Subs n/u: Turnbull, Essien, Romeu, Oscar, Sturridge.

Booked: Torres.

Goals: Hazard 22pen, Torres 45+3

Crowd: 41,718

 

Just wanna say well played today, your support was class and I hope you have another brilliant season

 

Thanks Drogs, very kind of you to say so.

 

I think Hazard is going to take the Premiership by storm. Looks real class and he'll prove to handfull to every side.

 

We were in fine voice and some of the Chelsea fans to our right gave us a clap of respect towards the end of the match. Was a great day out despite the loss.

 

Very sporting of them, shows a bit of class.

 

I was in the Shed End (Chelsea bit - never again, so painful!) to the left of the Toon supporters, and I had to do everything I could to not watch the brainless Chelsea fans gesticulating at our fans. One particular (skinny little chav scumbag) spent the whole game doing this - I'm not the type, but I would have done anything to slap him down. Why go to a game to goad rival fans the entire 90 minutes? I swear he hardly ever looked at the pitch.

Had a good day out with my mate (Chelsea supporter - obviously he was much happier afterwards), but it was so painful to watch that dross and be surrounded by such idiots.

Best bit of the match, was probably the Chelsea fans singing at half time "...he scores when he wants! Fernando Torres, he scores when he wants!" Even my Chelsea mate found this laughable.

 

Seem to have heard something similar before, just can't think where.