Chelsea 3 Bournemouth 0: WATCH HIGHLIGHTS – Goals from Pedro and Eden Hazard earn 12th straight win as the Blues extend lead at the top
Antonio Conte's men now sit nine points above second placed Liverpool, and keep their fourth clean sheet in a row in the process
CHELSEA clinched a club-record 12 consecutive victories as they beat Bournemouth 3-0 at Stamford Bridge.
A Pedro brace and an Eden Hazard penalty proved to be the difference for Antonio Conte's men, as they extend their lead at the top of the table.
After a spell of Bournemouth dominance in the first half, Pedro fired the Blues into the lead in the 24th minute when he expertly curled home from inside the penalty box.
The Spaniard turned expertly with his back to goal, and nestled his left footed shot in the top left-hand corner, leaving Artur Boruc no chance.
However, the Cherries almost got back on level had it not been for Thibaut Courtois, the towering goalkeeper palmed away Jack Wilshere's low attempt after he powered his way into the box.
The midfielder on-loan from Arsenal almost got on the score-sheet again, but his goalbound volley deflected off a Chelsea player, and rolled just wide of the post.
Immediately after the break Eden Hazard doubled the London club's lead, converting a penalty for his ninth Premier League goal of the season, coolly slotting the ball in the bottom right-hand corner in the 49th minute.
Simon Francis was the man guilty of giving away the spot-kick, fouling Hazard as the Belgian ran down the line.
Willian then should have made it 3-0 after being found by Hazard after a quick Chelsea counter-attack, but Boruc stood his ground and parried away the fiercely struck shot.
Courtois again thwarted the Cherries with a great save, Wilshere finding the run of Benik Afobe, and one-one-one with the 'Keeper, the striker's shot was saved by the Belgian's long legs.
Deep in stoppage time Pedro got his second of the game, his shot getting a massive deflection off Steve Cook, leaving Boruc no chance as the ball spun past him.
Eddie Howe's team can count themselves unlucky that they never found the back of the net, as they matched the West Londoners in the middle of the park, but the quality of the home side showed evident.
Chelsea now sit nine points clear of Liverpool in second place, and have picked up their fourth clean sheet in a row.
Stats, facts, goals & lols
- MICHY BATSHUAYI still couldn't make his first league start of the season despite Diego Costa being suspended.
- It was Antonio Conte's first ever match on Boxing Day as a player or manager.
- Hazard thrived playing as a centre forward in the absence of the banned Costa.
Big picture
Next five fixtures
CHELSEA
Dec 31 - Stoke City (H) - PL
Jan 4 - Tottenham Hotspur (A) - PL
Jan 8 - Peterborough (H) - FA
Jan 14 - Leicester City (A) - PL
Jan 22 - Hull City (H) - PL
BOURNEMOUTH
Dec 31 - Swansea City (A) - PL
Jan 3 - Arsenal (H) - PL
Jan 7 - Millwall (A) - FA
Jan 14 - Hull City (A) - PL
Jan 21 - Watford (H) - PL
Dream team ratings
CHELSEA: Courtois 7, Azpilicueta 7, Luiz 7, Cahill 7, Moses 7 (Batshuayi 90, 6) , Alonso 7, Matic 6, Fabregas 7, Willian 7 (Chalobah 83, 6), Pedro 9, Hazard 10 (Aina 94, 6)
Unused subs: Begovic, Zouma, Ivanovic, Loftus-Cheek
Bookings: Pedro
Goals: Pedro (2), Hazard
BOURNEMOUTH: Boruc 5, Daniels 6, Cook 6, Francis 6, Smith 5 (Ibe 77, 5), Arter 6, Gosling 5, Surman 6 (Stanislas 66, 5), Smith 5, King 6 (Afobe 66, 5), Wilshere 7
Unused subs: Federici, Mings, Fraser, Wilson
Bookings: Wilshere
STAR MAN: Eden Hazard