Norwich 1-3 Chelsea: Hazard and Willian hand Blues victory

Jose Mourinho has super subs Eden Hazard and Willian to thank after Chelsea beat Norwich City 3-1 at Carrow Road.

The west London side were far from their best in Norfolk and can consider themselves lucky to be returning to the Big Smoke with three points under their belts.

Chris Hughton’s Canaries looked they might have been about to earn a point on home soil, but a late double salvo left them empty handed.

Chelsea had started the match with fire in their belly and took the lead after only four minutes. Demba Ba took down Frank Lampard’s punt and a neat touch allowed Oscar to fire into the bottom corner with the outside of his right boot.

Sengalese striker Ba faces a fight for a starting place under Jose Mourinho, but a bright, if slighty wasteful, display in Norfolk will have done his chances the world of good and he followed up his assist with a shot, which John Ruddy pawed around the post.

Norwich did have handful of good opportunities but Alexander Tettey and Robert Snodgrass could not get their shots on target.

David Luiz tried to capitalise on Ruddy’s impaired vision, due to the sun’s appearance over the stands, and his wild strike from just inside the home side’s half landed on the roof of the net.

The Canaries stepped up a gear in the second half as Chelsea appear to take their foot off the pedal with Ricky van Wolfswinkel looking dangerous.

And after 68 minutes they drew level. The Dutch striker beat John Terry in the air and Pilkington was able to bundle the ball home ahead of his marker, Luiz.

A rally from Chelsea saw Branislav Ivanovic, Samuel Eto’o and Eden Hazard all go close. A swerving Nathan Redmond drive, though, nearly punished their profligacy.

With so much focus on Joe Hart's mistakes this week and whether he should retain his England spot, Canaries keeper, Ruddy, was hoping for a strong performance.

But Hazard’s shot five minutes from time squirmed under his body to put him firmly in the spotlight and hand the Blues the lead again. And, just moments later, Wilian’s sublime curled strike from the edge of the area made it 3-1 to hand Mourinho’s men the victory.

Source: talksport