Brighton 0 - Chelsea 4: Eden Hazard runs riot as Blues striker search continues
CHELSEA ended a five-game drawing streak as Eden Hazard shone in their 4-0 win at Brighton - but there was no goal for stand-in striker Michy Batshuayi.
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Hazard opened the scoring after just three minutes when sliding home.
Willian then doubled the Blues’ lead with a superb strike on six minutes.
Brighton missed a hat-full of chances to claw back into the match and were twice denied penalty shouts.
But Hazard made sure there would be no comeback from the hosts when nailing his finish from the edge of the box 13 minutes from time.
And Victor Moses also got in on the act with a minute remaining.
Hazard said: "We started the game very well.
"The combination between Michy, Willian and me, was brilliant.
"We need to do more like this. But then at the end of the half we had a little bit problem. Willy made some saves today.
"When you score early then you think the game is really over, but it is not."
Chelsea were without star striker Alvaro Morata for the clash, with Michy Batshuayi standing in place of the Spaniard.
But without Hazard this could he been a far different game and Chelsea boss Antonio Conte will hope to complete a striker signing before the close of the transfer window.
Brighton manager Chris Hughton said: "We didn't do ourselves any favours by going 2-0 down so early, but the result is not a full reflection of the game, we had some really good periods, and probably the difference between the two teams are the two appeals - which you need because of Chelsea's quality and the difficulty we have had in scoring.
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"For me, we should have had two penalties. The first one I thought at the time, the second I wasn't sure. But when the keeper comes out there is every chance there is going to be a decision to be made, so you have to get yourself into a position to see it. If he says he hasn't seen it, it's not one I don't believe, but there was always going to be a decision to be made.
"On three of their goals we could have done better - on areas that we knew about. It's unlike us. We've been good at not conceding but we found it hard, we were up against a different level. In the second half we gave them a game, but we needed to be better in what we did - and we needed things to go our way."
