Chelsea 5 Newcastle 1 player ratings: Pedro and Diego Costa on song for brilliant Blues in Magpies rout

Man-for-man marking from Chelsea's 5-1 Premier League victory over Newcastle

(2016 Getty Images)

Chelsea put in their best performance of the season to rout Newcastle 5-1 and close in on a place in the top half of the Premier League table, with Guus Hiddink’s side just two points off 10th-placed Everton and 11th-placed Liverpool.

Pedro hit the target twice after Diego Costa opened the scoring, and when Willian struck too Chelsea found themselves 3-0 to the good before 20 minutes of the match had elapsed. Pedro picked up his second after half-time, before substitute Bertrand Traore scored his first Premier League goal for the club.

An Andros Townsend consolation in the 90th minute failed to liven up the spirits of the demoralised Newcastle players, who now drop into the relegation zone on goal difference after shipping five goals at Stamford Bridge.

The result means that Chelsea are yet to lose a match with Hiddink at the helm after the Dutchman replaced Jose Mourinho in December, with his run of 11 matches unbeaten the Blues’ best run this season.

So how did the players fare? Click on the gallery below to find out.

Who do you think should have been man-of-the-match? Leave your thoughts in the comment box below.