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Chelsea logo
Premier League
May 24, 2015 at 3pm UK
 
Sunderland

3-1

Costa (36' pen.), Remy (70', 88')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Fletcher (26')

Match Analysis: Chelsea 3-1 Sunderland

Sports Mole takes a closer look at Chelsea's 3-1 win at home to Sunderland on the final day of the Premier League season.

Premier League champions Chelsea finished their season with a win on Sunday as they beat Sunderland 3-1 at Stamford Bridge.

Steven Fletcher gave the visitors a surprise lead, but substitute Diego Costa scored from the penalty spot to make it all square at the break.

Chelsea went ahead on 70 minutes through Loic Remy before the striker found the net again late on to seal the win.

Here, Sports Mole takes a closer look at the action between the two teams in West London.

Match statistics

CHELSEA
Shots: 24
On target: 8
Possession: 65%
Corners: 11
Fouls: 12

SUNDERLAND
Shots: 17
On target: 9
Possession: 35%
Corners: 3
Fouls: 8

Was the result fair?

The champions were given a decent test by Sunderland, but their quality in the final third proved to be the difference in the end. It could even have been a more comfortable victory were it not for some disappointing finishing from the home side.

Chelsea's performance

The hosts were dominant throughout the encounter, limiting their opponents to the occasional counter-attack. The passing and movement was slick, while Eden Hazard ran the show with his pace and skill up front. Chelsea looked to stretch Sunderland with an expansive style, using the width of the pitch to tire the visitors out.

The most impressive aspect of Chelsea's performance was that they played with consistency and intensity, despite having nothing to play for. While there was an end-of-season feel in the stands at Stamford Bridge, this was a professional display from Jose Mourinho's men. Creating a host of chances in front of goal, they could have recorded more of an emphatic win were it not for some wayward finishing.

Sunderland's performance

Having already secured their survival for another season, the Black Cats could have been forgiven for kicking back and taking it easy against the champions. However, Dick Advocaat's side put in an organised and dogged performance for much of the afternoon and had the hosts worried when they took the lead against the run of play.

They were forced to soak up a lot of pressure and made a god job of it before eventually crumbling midway through the second half. Up to that point the away team gave a good account of themselves, working hard inside their own half and showing lots of commitment to the cause - a possible symptom of Advocaat's strict style of management. The club's board must be desperate to keep hold of the Dutchman.

Sports Mole's man of the match

Eden Hazard: The Belgian enjoyed a fitting end to the season as he gave the Sunderland defence a constant headache with his quick feet, clever brain and dynamic running. Hazard was involved in all of Chelsea's attacks while drifting across the final third.

Biggest gaffe

Fletcher missed a glorious opportunity to get Sunderland level just a minute after Chelsea had taken the lead, but the Scot somehow headed wide Patrick van Aanholt's cross when it looked easier to score.

Referee performance

Lee Mason had a solid afternoon in the middle as he allowed the game to flow and be a physical encounter at the same time. His biggest call came in the first half when Branislav Ivanovic went down under a challenge from Sebastian Larsson in the box, but the official made the right call to wave play on.

What next?

Chelsea: The Blues take to the streets of West London on Monday for their open-top bus parade with the Premier League trophy.

Sunderland: The Black Cats will regroup and plan on making the 2015-16 season less nerve-wracking than the one just gone.

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Chelsea's Ivorian striker Didier Drogba is carried off the pitch by teammates after being substituted during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Sunderland at Stamford Bridge in London on May 24, 2015
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