Chelsea scores after 39 seconds, beats Norwich 2-1

Norwich City manager Alex Neil on his side’s poor run of results: “Are you going to roll over and give up?”

The Canaries – above the drop zone on goal difference alone – are running out of matches following a sequence of seven without a win, but manager Alex Neil saw positives in his side’s display in a 1-0 defeat by leaders Leicester City on Saturday.

With big Champions League and FA Cup ties ahead, Hiidink is considering resting Diego Costa for the trip to Carrow Road, which could open the door for Pato.

“He is offside. I’ve seen it back on the video”, Neil said.

“We’re disappointed, really frustrated, but it is what it is”. And with Sunderland’s draw against Crystal Palace sending Norwich into the bottom three, it may take some time for them to recover from this.

Half of Carrow Road hadn’t got to their seats before Guus Hiddink’s side took the lead inside the first minute.

As for Norwich City, Sebastien Bassong and Wes Hoolahan are both doubts.

But he was coy when asked if he would stick with his 3-4-3 formation for the Chelsea clash.

“I think Hiddink has just tried to adjust some small details, but he has not changed a lot”, Courtois added.

The quickest goal in the English Premier League this season set Chelsea on its way to a 2-1 win over Norwich on Tuesday. I’m looking to the young guys making progress.

Diego Costa made it 2-0 to the visitors on the stroke of halftime when he clipped the ball over Ruddy from close range after being found inside the box by Bertrand Traore, although the Spain striker appeared offside when he received the pass. “In other clubs I made a combination of handball and rugby because in rugby you are entitled to grab and make a wrestling move”.

Despite Traore seemingly leapfrogging Pato in the pecking order, Hiddink could be ready to put the Brazil global on the bench for the game at Norwich, while fellow loanee Radamel Falcao remains out with a groin problem.

“The players – all players, not just Chelsea players – need at least, when the intensity of game is as high in the Premier League as it is, two days’ recovery and the third day to start up a bit”.

Terry is yet to sign a new contract with the club, and has expressed his willingness to look elsewhere should Chelsea – his only full-time senior club – fail to come to the table with a deal.

Chelsea will be unable to call upon Pedro Rodriguez after he was forced off at Southampton, while captain John Terry is unlikely to return from a muscle injury in time to feature.