By Gary Watton
August 27 2016
Red-hot Chelsea completed a perfect August with their fourth win from four domestic fixtures, leaving them temporarily top of the Premiership and already neck and neck with the terrible twins of Manchester. The sweeping aside of Burnley was the sweetest victory of all because this time the team won with a bit to spare and even acquired that rarest of objects - a clean sheet. Furthermore, even in our recent Premiership-winning season, we were held to a home draw by Burnley eighteen months ago, so this triumph definitely represents progress.
On the other hand we won't get playing Burnley every week, and much more formidable obstacles lie ahead in this marathon course, but the team did justify their wages with an emphatic performance.
Chief architect in the conquest of Burnley was Eden Hazard who appears to be enjoying a new lease of life. His solo run and expert finish from twenty yards set the home battalion on their merry way. The early advantage was then doubled shortly before the interval when the returning Willian fired into the far corner from ten yards, after receiving a pass from Diego Costa. Finally, an excellent assist from Pedro enabled substitute Moses to sweep home a late third which probably provided a more realistic score to mirror the extent of the dominance.
All Chelsea need to do now is find another left back and centre half before the shutting of the summer transfer retail shop and then maybe this doubting Thomas might consider our chances of Premiership glory to be well within our grasp.
CHELSEA 3 Burnley 0; halftime: 2-0
CHELSEA goal scorers: Hazard; Willian; Moses
CHELSEA team: Courtois; Azpilicueta; Terry; Matic; Willian; Cahill; Kante; Ivanovic; Oscar; Hazard; Costa. Used substitutes: Moses; Batshuayi; Pedro
CHELSEA leading scorers:
Batshuayi three goals
Costa two goals
Hazard two goals (including one penalty)
Moses two goals
Willian one goal