Hiddink off the mark as Chelsea crush Palace

In the middle of Chelsea’s most chaotic season in decades, a semblance of normality has broken out.

Enjoy this Willian goal video v Crystal Palace?

Chung-yong Lee makes his first Premier League start since May as he takes his place in midfield, with the suspended Yohan Cabaye missing out.

“The overall performance, as well as the goals, was different class. New year, new start”.

Hazard’s departure did not disrupt the visitors and fine passing by Cesc Fabregas and Costa left Oscar with a comfortable opening to side foot home after 29 minutes.

Chelsea remain in the bottom half of the table.

“Palace are still without their influential winger Yannick Bolasie and the 26-year-old is not expected to back in the first-team frame for another couple of weeks”.

“Since he came in we have worked very hard in training”.

As the game edged towards its conclusion Oscar came close to adding a fourth, evading two challenges before his low drive was blocked, while Costa met a Willian cross at the far post and volleyed marginally over the bar. They’re not just doing it on willpower, but on quality. It is attractive to see.

Mikel repaid the compliment, saying the return of Hiddink to the club he helped on an interim basis in 2009 after a previous managerial crisis had lifted the tension at Chelsea.

While Hiddink was cautious on Hazard’s situation and said an MRI scan would be needed on Monday to assess the extent of the damage, Chelsea’s caretaker boss was happy to lavish praise on the resurgent Mikel.

Allan Pardew’s side failed to put Thibaut Curtois under any real pressure in the Chelsea goal, and The Eagles fell to their sixth defeat of the season while dropping to seventh place on the log.

Chelsea are now unbeaten in four league games since Mourinho’s sacking – their longest run since last season – and captain John Terry credited Hiddink for lifting the mood at the club.

“I’m not saying it will be impossible but I think it will be tough for them”, he told reporters.