Guus Hiddink has picked up the first win of his second spell in charge of Chelsea courtesy of a 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park this afternoon.
The Blues went into the match on a seven-game winless streak on the road, but goals from Oscar, Willian and Diego Costa ensured that they got 2016 off to an encouraging start in the first Premier League London derby of the year.
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It was the hosts who had the first sight of goal on a dreary afternoon in the capital as Wilfried Zaha drilled an effort a yard wide of the target after Eden Hazard had been dispossessed deep inside his own half.
Hazard tried a similar shot moments later, but in doing so picked up an injury that forced him to limp off the field after only 16 minutes, being replaced by Pedro.
Palace continued to be the aggressors as the half wore on and had another opening in the 25th minute when Jason Puncheon's teasing ball into the box beat two men before finding Fraizer Campbell at the back post, only for the striker to skew a difficult half-volley wide.
It was Chelsea who took the lead shortly before the half-hour mark, however, as Cesc Fabregas's pass sent Costa through down the right channel and the striker cut the ball back for Oscar to slide a simple finish into an unguarded net.
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The visitors could have doubled their lead before the interval too as Cesar Azpilicueta was released down the left flank, chesting the ball down before drawing a good low stop from Wayne Hennessey with his effort.
Hiddink's side had the first chance of the second half as well when Willian's free kick was met by Kurt Zouma at the back post, only for the French defender to steer his header off target.
Palace threatened an equaliser just before the hour mark when Costa was robbed of possession and the ball was worked out to Zaha, but the former Manchester United winger could only put a tame effort straight at Thibaut Courtois.
That miss proved costly moments later when Chelsea doubled their advantage through a strike from Willian, who hammered his first-time effort into the top corner after the ball had fallen kindly to him 25 yards from goal.
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Two quickly became three as Chelsea continued to grow in confidence, although they were given a helping hand for the killer goal when Hennessey could only weakly parry Willian's shot to Costa, leaving the striker with a simple finish from close range.
That goal killed off the challenge of Palace and Chelsea comfortably saw out the remainder of the match to spoil Alan Pardew's one-year anniversary in charge of the Eagles.
The result sees Chelsea climb up to 14th in the table, now six points off the top half, while Palace remain seventh.
Barney Corkhill
