LONDON: Chelsea held on to their place in the Premier League’s top four by bouncing back to beat Watford 3-0 on Saturday after Manchester United briefly powered past with a 5-2 rout of struggling Bournemouth.
Goals from Olivier Giroud, Willian and Ross Barkley earned the Blues a fourth consecutive Premier League home win, and in the process moved us back into fourth place.
The result never in doubt from the moment Giroud cutely put ahead shortly before the half-hour with his fifth goal of the season, and fourth in seven league games.
With the interval approaching, Willian doubled the lead from the spot after Christian Pulisic was scythed down.
The Brazilian is the first Chelsea player to convert from 12 yards in three consecutive Premier League matches.
In the second half Giroud, Pulisic and Willian might all have added to tally before Barkley did in stoppage time, collecting Cesar Azpilicueta’s pass and firing into the top corner.
It rounded off a very satisfying evening’s work for Frank Lampard’s side, who next head to Selhurst Park on Tuesday.
Chelsea started authoritatively, pressing and probing the swarms of Hornets stationed behind the ball.
The first shot in anger came from a free-kick and the left boot of Giroud, smashed into the wall. Then Pulisic released Giroud whose cross was cleared.
