- Pato scores on Chelsea debut
- Villa lose seventh-straight PL game
- Loftus-Cheek nets first PL goal
- USMNT’s Miazga makes Chelsea debut
Chelsea beat 10-man Aston Villa 4-0 on Saturday at a sunny Villa Park with Pedro scoring twice in the second half to add to first half goals from Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Pato.
[ MORE: Miazga Watch - How’d he do? ]
U.S. international Matt Miazga made his Chelsea and Premier League debut and didn’t put a foot wrong, albeit it against a very poor Villa outfit who went closest to scoring through Jordan Ayew. Alan Hutton was sent off for a second yellow late on as Villa’s miserable season continues but Chelsea is now unbeaten in 15 Premier League games.
The Blues move up to ninth place on 44 points, while Villa remain bottom with a seventh-straight defeat and they look destined for relegation as they sit 12 points off safety with six games to go.
[ MORE: Watch full match replays ]
Chelsea started brightly with Pedro shifting the ball onto his right foot and curling just over Brad Guzan’s bar.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek looked lively and was full of running to support Loic Remy, while Pedro had a goal disallowed for offside after 20 minutes.
[ VIDEO: Premier League highlights ]
Pato came on to replace the injured Loic Remy after 20 minutes and moments later Chelsea were ahead.
John Obi Mikel kept possession and played it to Pedro who found Cesar Azpilicueta out wide. His cross was swept home by academy product Loftus-Cheek via a deflection off Villa’s Joleon Lescott. 1-0 to Chelsea.
[ MORE: Latest Premier League standings ]
Loftus-Cheek impressed throughout the first half and his first PL goal was the icing on the cake. Villa almost got level as Baba Rahman’s clearance cannoned off Ayew but Thibaut Courtois saved from close range.
Ayew slide another effort just wide and Loftus-Cheek intercepted Carlos Sanchez’s pass but curled his low effort just wide. Right on half time Pato won a penalty kick as Aly Cissokho hauled him down in the box and the Brazilian slotted home the penalty kick to score on his debut. 2-0.
15 - Chelsea have now set the longest unbeaten run of any Premier League team this season, going 15 games without a loss (W7 D8). Recovery.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 2, 2016
Just 49 seconds into the second half Chelsea went 3-0 up as half time sub Oscar played a one-two with Pato and played in Pedro to slot home. Game over.
USMNT man Miazga looked composed on the ball and at ease in defense throughout and the 20-year-old certainly had a debut to remember.
[ MORE: Full lineups, stats, box score ]
Pedro made it 4-0 on the hour mark as Pato’s shot was parried out by Guzan and straight to the Spaniard who tucked home his second of the game.
Villa’s fans booed their team for the remainder of the game -- as Hutton received two yellow cards to get sent off -- in a volatile atmosphere as Chelsea eased to victory and hardly got out of second gear for the final 30 minutes.