Chelsea returned to winning ways in the Premier

Chelsea returned to winning ways in the Premier League and maintained their 100% record at Stamford Bridge with a scrappy victory against 10-man Hull. http://bazukaval.blogspot.com

Eden Hazard scored a rare header early on but the hosts only secured victory after Tom Huddlestone's 60th-minute red card for a challenge on Filipe Luis.
Diego Costa eased Chelsea nerves, sweeping home from close range.
It was a far from perfect display from Chelsea, with the sight of Willian and Gary Cahill diving sullying the game.
With momentum restored following last week's first league defeat of the season, Jose Mourinho's side remain top of the table and maintain their three-point cushion over champions Manchester City, who beat Leicester 1-0.
Hull had never won at Stamford Bridge and did not look like creating history against a team who were unshakable defensively, although they lacked their usual self-assurance going forward in the absence of suspended creator-in-chief Cesc Fabregas.
But with Nemanja Matic back in the Chelsea line-up after serving a one-match ban during the 2-1 defeat at Newcastle, the hosts had ballast in midfield once more which allowed the impressive Hazard and Oscar to cause trouble in the final third.
All three combined for Chelsea's opening goal, with Matic finding Oscar on the left and the Brazilian floating a cross towards the unmarked Belgian, scoring with a header for only the second time in his career.
The simplicity of the opening goal, plus the sight of Michael Dawson hobbling off with a hamstring injury and Chelsea's dominance of possession in the first 10 minutes suggested a torrid afternoon was ahead for the visitors.

http://bazukaval.blogspot.comFootball Focus' Garth Crooks on diving

Twice Chelsea players have dived in the first 60 minutes - first Willian and Gary Cahill. It's disgraceful. Managers can't say what I'm about to say - it questions the integrity of the refereeing. Is he intimidated by Stramford Bridge? The referee is not being fair. Cahill is on a yellow card and dived. He should have got another booking for that. The only conclusion you can come to is because it's Chelsea and now the injustice has got the Hull players' blood boiling. They're thinking they might as well take the law into their own hands."

But Hull's resistance stiffened for the remainder of the first half, and they even created a chance for Sone Aluko, though their striker ballooned his effort wide.
Such is the strength of Chelsea's squad, however, there is little for manager Jose Mourinho to put on his Christmas wish-list.
He was able to replace the injured Thibaut Courtois with last season's first-choice keeper Petr Cech, making his first Premier League start of the season, and the Czech had an easy afternoon between the sticks.
Even Costa ended his four-game scoring drought, sweeping home from close range after good work by Hazard for his 12th goal of the season.
Despite the diving by Willian and Cahill, it was Huddlestone who was guilty of the ugliest moment of the match and the midfielder was rightly shown a red card for a terrible lunge on Filipe Luis.
Any hope Hull had of creating a surprise goal evaporated with the former Tottenham player's sending-off and a team who have now won only won one of their last 15 league games consequently find themselves in a relegation scrap.

Eden Hazard gave Chelsea the lead, scoring only the second headed goal of his career 

 

Premier League leaders Chelsea maintain 100% record at Stamford Bridge with a scrappy victory against 10-man Hull.bazukaNwa.facebook.com