Two of the Premier League's out-of-form sides, Sunderland and Chelsea, met at the Stadium of Light this afternoon and it was the Blues who delivered a first league win for Rafael Benitez.
In an entertaining 90 minutes, Fernando Torres netted twice in the first half and set up the other for Juan Mata before Adam Johnson lashed home a consolation for the Black Cats.
Here, Sports Mole picks the bones out of an action-packed 90 minutes on Wearside.
Match statistics:
Sunderland:
Shots 14
On target 10
Possession 40%
Corners 11
Fouls 11
Chelsea:
Shots 11
On target 5
Possession 60%
Corners 1
Fouls 14
Was the result fair?
Yes. Sunderland may have had more shots than Chelsea but the Blues were simply scintillating in the opening 45. Chelsea invited pressure after opening a 3-0 lead but the sturdy visiting defence were solid enough.
Sunderland's performance
Much improved but only after going three down. Martin O'Neill's men will need to start games much more confidently if they are to get out of this current slide where they have won just a single game in 10. Adam Johnson was the hosts' brightest spark and he was the man to find the net with a crisp hit from a tight angle.
Chelsea's performance
The best under Benitez, for sure. In the first half a resurgent Torres, coupled with the imaginative, rapid playmaking trio of Eden Hazard, Juan Mata and Victor Moses tore Sunderland to shreds. The Blues had a number of chances inside the opening 10 minutes before Torres gave them the lead and they continued to threaten, especially on the counter-attack.
Sports Mole's man of the match
Fernando Torres: Who else? The Chelsea number nine may have also scored a brace in midweek but that was against Nordsjaelland and he looked back at somewhere near his brilliant best today. The volleyed finish for the first was superb and he even had the confidence to take the ball off David Luiz for the penalty right on half-time. 'El Nino' came within a few centimetres of completing his hat-trick when his first-time left-foot swipe crashed off the crossbar and into the path of Mata to tuck home the third.
Biggest gaffe
This award goes to Sunderland's Sebastian Larsson. The Swedish midfielder stupidly slid in on Ramires when the Brazilian was going away from goal in the 45th minute. Sunderland would have felt confident of pulling it back just a goal down but Larsson's carelessness meant that their task was much greater after the break.
Referee performance
Mark Halsey correctly awarded Chelsea a penalty for Larsson's reckless challenge on Ramires but he should have also given a spot kick much earlier when Hazard was tugged back en route to goal.
What next?
Sunderland: The Black Cats next welcome fellow strugglers Reading to the Stadium of Light for a pivotal clash on Tuesday.
Chelsea: Chelsea, meanwhile, now travel to the Club World Cup in Japan.
Pascal Lemesre
