Chelsea 3 Sunderland 1 player ratings: Amazing what a bit of effort can do

Certain Chelsea players actually seemed to try, for the first time in weeks

Jose Mourinho may have gone but he was far from forgotten as Chelsea marked the end of an era with a 3-1 win over Sunderland.

Guus Hiddink was in the stands having been confirmed as new interim boss but it was Mourinho, axed 48 hours earlier, who still managed to cast his shadow over Stamford Bridge as goals from Branislav Ivanovic, Pedro and Oscar secured a routine victory for the fallen champions.

Mourinho had chosen the morning of the match to reveal he is already looking for his next job, and the home crowd sung the former manager's name before kick-off, as well as after all three goals.

Instead it was certain players who bore the brunt of the fans' anger. One held a banner accusing 'The Three Rats'; Cesc Fabregas, Diego Costa and Eden Hazard, for getting Mourinho sacked while another read 'you let Jose down'.

Skipper John Terry had claimed player power had not played a part in Thursday's decision, but Fabregas' and Costa's names were booed when they were read out prior to kick-off - Hazard only escaping the ire as he was absent through injury.

Both players also received hostile reactions when they were substituted during the second half.

Meanwhile Hiddink watched on alongside owner Roman Abramovich and former striker Didier Drogba, after his return to the club he led to FA Cup success in 2009 was rubber-stamped shortly before the game.

If Chelsea are to finally kick-start their nightmare season then they could probably not asked for more accommodating opposition than Sunderland, who were so abject they even looked surprised themselves when they pulled a goal back through sub Fabio Borini.

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