Chelsea 2 - 0 Newcastle United

Chelsea had enough quality to beat Newcastle
United as goals from Oscar and Diego Costa
earned them a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge.
Having failed to claim victory in their previous two
Premier League outings, Jose Mourinho's title
hopefuls were not at their best on Saturday but
coped well with Newcastle's threat.
Ultimately, they struck at key times either side of
the break to go two points clear of Manchester
City at the top of the table, following the
champions' 1-1 draw with Everton.
The hosts were on the back foot for long spells of
the first half but led at the break when Oscar
converted Branislav Ivanovic's cross from close
range.
There was very little that fit-again Newcastle
goalkeeper Tim Krul could do about that strike on
his return from an ankle injury, and the Dutchman
was similarly helpless when Costa made it two
just before the hour mark.
John Carver once again led Newcastle following
Alan Pardew's recent departure, and any long-
term replacement in the dugout will likely take
positives from their performance, even after a fifth
straight Premier League away game without a
win.
Despite having endured a difficult few weeks with
Pardew's exit and the FA Cup defeat to Leicester
City, Newcastle started well, with Moussa
Sissoko's effort on target and Remy Cabella
looking lively early on.
Cabella was part of four changes from the 3-3
draw with Burnley last time out in the Premier
League and the Frenchman went close with a
curled effort 19 minutes in that deflected wide off
John Terry.
However, Chelsea offered a reminder of their
quality on the break, with Jack Colback required
to make a timely interception.
Oscar fired wide from inside the area when he
perhaps should have done better, although it was
Newcastle who continued to threaten – Cabella
cutting in from the right and forcing a smart save
from Petr Cech, preferred to Thibaut Courtois in
the Chelsea goal.
Sissoko struck the outside of Cech's left-hand
post after the half-hour mark, with Cesar
Azpilicueta's injury-enforced withdrawal
seemingly adding to Mourinho's frustrations
before the end of the half.
However, slack defending cost Newcastle dear
just before half-time as Willian found an
unmarked Ivanovic from a quick corner and the
Serb's delivery reached Oscar, who made no
mistake with the finish.
Costa should have doubled Chelsea's lead early in
the second half but he fired over from inside the
area, with the Spain international livid soon
afterwards as referee Roger East waved away his
penalty appeals following an apparent handball
from Fabricio Coloccini.
Mourinho's men were enjoying their best spell of
the game and Costa soon doubled the advantage
after 59 minutes by firing past Krul following a
clever flick-on from Oscar inside the area.
As Newcastle laboured in an attempt to get back
into the game, Costa was then denied a second
by Coloccini's clearance, but in the end
Mourinho's side claimed their first points of 2015
with relative ease.