Chelsea proved there was life after Jose Mourinho as they tore apart lowly Sunderland 3-1 at Stamford Bridge.
Branislav Ivanovic opened the scoring after just five minutes before former Barcelona man Pedro slammed home from close range to double their lead.
And Oscar’s calmly finished second half penalty completed the route, before Fabio Borini scored a second-half consolation as the Blues cruised to victory.
But it was a match which was largely overshadowed by the club’s second sacking of club icon Mourinho, with Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas playing the pantomime villains and being booed by fans for their roles.
Stamford Bridge erupted into chants for the self-proclaimed ‘Special One’ Mourinho after seeing a much-improved opening spell from the players.
And the support for the Portuguese manager was still ringing around the ground when Serbian defender Ivanovic headed high into the roof of the net, beyond the despairing dive from Costel Pantillimon.
The Blues were clearly rejuvenated and Oscar’s energetic and classy performance seemed to signal their determination to get a result against their fellow strugglers.
The Brazilian, alongside compatriot Willian, were torturing Sunderland throughout and the latter came close to doubling Chelsea’s lead when he fired a central free-kick from 25 yards into the arms of Pantillimon.
But the hosts did not have to wait long for their second, after Ivanovic whipped in a cross from the right which deflected off Costa and was duly smashed home by Pedro.
Willian nearly added a third soonafter when Fabregas set up the winger but his shot was deflected behind, before Oscar’s cross was flicked narrowly wide by the lacklustre Costa.
The Spanish striker, who has failed to score since netting the winner against Norwich in November, then spurned another chance before the break when he headed wide at the far post from Pedro’s cross.
Chelsea thought they had sealed the tie as a contest when Willian rounded Pantillimon and was bundled over by the Romanian goalkeeper and the resulting penalty was coolly slotted home by Oscar.
The visitors were quick to respond, however, and after a free-kick was played to the far post, Younes Kaboul’s header across goal was palmed by Courtois into the path of Borini, who tapped home.
Sunderland were then sparked into life and twice came close to striking again through Borini and Defoe, although Oscar nearly put the match beyond their grasp when he whipped an effort from 20 yards marginally wide.
Substitute Loic Remy twice spurned wonderful chances to wrap the game up in the final ten minutes, before Pedro also fired over.
