By Gary Watton
May 7 2016

Having uncharacteristically taken the lead and even retaken the lead at the end of the first half, error-prone Chelsea threw struggling Sunderland a king size lifeline when they conceded twice in the second half, having failed to put their advantage to bed. I don't like losing much, especially to the north east teams, but every cloud has a silver lining, because Sunderland are now ideally placed to elbow Newcastle into the league below, so all is not doom and gloom!

We were treated to the rare collector's item of a goal from big erratic Matic, but unfortunately our defence yet again caved in, when under pressure.

Has Guus Hiddink been a big improvement upon Jose Mourinho? I haven't seen much compelling evidence. Anyhow, consider the following damning statistics about this horrible season. Our numpties have failed to keep a single clean sheet against any of the following teams, home or away, and cup matches included:
Bournemouth!
Everton (eight goals conceded in three winless matches)
Manchester Wannabes (six goals conceded in two heavy defeats)
Newcastle Disunited!
Southampton
Stoke City (three winless matches)
Sunderland!
Swansea City (two winless matches)
West Bromwich Albion
West Ham United (two winless matches)
Two winless matches against Watford (both with Hiddink in charge)
Two winless matches against ManUre (both with Hiddink in charge)
Two winless matches against Tottenham Coldspur
What are the chances that Leicester and Liverpool are added to the list above in the next week?
Let's face it. You can't blame Costa, or even Hazard or Oscar for such defensive and goalkeeping failings. Mind you, our defending should begin the moment we lose the ball in the other half of the field, so everyone has a shared responsibility for that, but our problems are clearly more defensive frailties than creating or scoring.
Worst of all, under Grandpa Hiddink, I don't think we've kept a clean sheet in a league match at home. Bloody pathetic!

Finally, I do completely concur with the sentiemnets from the following two gents from the Chelsea, the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Facepuke forum:

Richard French - I would have kept Chelsea up. John Carver could have. In fact, they'd have stayed up without a manager.

Ian Hosiene - Hiddink just a nicer version of Jose,we would never have been relegated under either of them,I personally could have kept them up,nothing really changed,formations etc,some players improved,but overall not good enough from either of them,I like both managers,but roll on next seasongood enough from either of them,I like both managers,but roll on next season

 

Sunderland 3 CHELSEA 2; half time: 1-2.

Chelsea goal scorers: Costa; Matic

CHELSEA team: Courtois; Azpilicueta; Ivanovic; Matic; Willian; Cahill; Fabregas; Mikel; Terry; Hazard; Costa. Used substitutes: Rahman; Oscar; Traore.

 

CHELSEA LEADING SCORERS:

Costa sixteen goals

Willian eleven goals

Oscar eight goals

Pedro eight goals

Fabregas five goals

Hazard five goals

Cahill four goals

Traore four goals

Ramires three goals

Remy three goals