Norwich 1-2 Chelsea: Kenedy and Diego Costa lift blues into the top half of table as Canaries fall into the bottom three

Chelsea were hovering a point above the relegation zone when Jose Mourinho was sacked and, although no-one expected them to go down, the recovery under Guus Hiddink is proving to be stealthily impressive.

In Norwich they won again, striking the first blow after only 39 seconds through Kenedy, and adding another in the final seconds of the first half from Diego Costa.

Costa’s goal really should not have counted. It should have been ruled out for offside but it turned out to be the difference.

Diego Costa watches the ball into the Norwich goal after chipping onrushing goalkeeper to score Chelsea's second goal

Diego Costa watches the ball into the Norwich goal after chipping onrushing goalkeeper to score Chelsea's second goal

Chelsea's Spanish striker appeared to be offside when the ball was played through by Bertrand Traore but the linesman did not agree

Chelsea's Spanish striker appeared to be offside when the ball was played through by Bertrand Traore but the linesman did not agree

Costa looks to the heavens after making it 2-0 to Chelsea as his team-mates congratulate Traore on his assist

Costa looks to the heavens after making it 2-0 to Chelsea as his team-mates congratulate Traore on his assist

Norwich captain Russell Martin argues with referee Lee Mason (right) over Costa's second goal which appeared to be offside

Norwich captain Russell Martin argues with referee Lee Mason (right) over Costa's second goal which appeared to be offside

Chelsea are unbeaten in 12 games since Mourinho’s exit and this was 11 without defeat for Hiddink in the Premier League.

This victory eased them into their highest position in the table since the opening day of the season and within five points of Manchester United in fifth. They couldn’t, could they?

Fortunes have certainly turned and the slices of luck are going their way, which is more than can be said for Alex Neil and his team, who cannot find a way out of a rut more troubling than Chelsea’s ever was.

When you’re stuck in there things conspire against you: injuries, offside flags, squandered chances. They all played a part before Nathan Redmond inspired hope but it was not to be.

Kenedy got the champions off to a flyer at Carrow Road by scoring the opener and his first Premier League goal after just 40 seconds

Kenedy got the champions off to a flyer at Carrow Road by scoring the opener and his first Premier League goal after just 40 seconds

The 20-year-old Brazilian, who filled in a left back for the Blues, drilled the ball into the bottom corner from the edge of the box

The 20-year-old Brazilian, who filled in a left back for the Blues, drilled the ball into the bottom corner from the edge of the box

Kenedy (right) is congratulated by Eden Hazard (second from right) after giving Chelsea the lead inside the first minute of the game

Kenedy (right) is congratulated by Eden Hazard (second from right) after giving Chelsea the lead inside the first minute of the game

Norwich have taken one point from eight games and slipped into the bottom three due to Sunderland rescuing a point against Crystal Palace. They could not have made a worse start. Chelsea needed less than a minute to find the net.

Eden Hazard carried the ball forward without meeting any resistance and slid a pass wide to Kenedy, a winger who was preferred to Baba Rahman at left-back.

The 20-year-old Brazilian cut inside, checked and shifted the ball back onto his left foot and fizzed a low drive across John Ruddy and into the far corner. It was a crisp finish, and it sent a familiar ripple of gloom around Carrow Road.

Facing this Chelsea is quite a different proposition to facing the pre-Christmas version. They are upwardly mobile and are pressure-free in the league.

Hiddink can offer experience to youngsters like Kenedy and Bertrand Traore and they can enjoy their football with the risk of relegation or any expectation to win the title.

Nathan Redmond pulled one back to give Norwich hope of a comeback, lifting the ball past Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Cortios

Nathan Redmond pulled one back to give Norwich hope of a comeback, lifting the ball past Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Cortios

The Norwich winger's eyes light up as the ball nestles in the Chelsea goal while Blues defender Branislav Ivanovic cringes

The Norwich winger's eyes light up as the ball nestles in the Chelsea goal while Blues defender Branislav Ivanovic cringes

NORWICH VS CHELSEA MATCH FACTS 

Norwich 3-5-2: Ruddy 5; Martin 5, Bennett 5 (Mbokani 60, 6), Klose 5; Pinto 5, Hoolahan 6, Tettey 4 (O’Neil 36, 6), Howson 6, Brady 6; Redmond 7, Jerome 4.

Subs not used: Rudd, Olsson, Dorrans, Mulumbu, Jarvis.

Booked: Howson, Bennett, Klose,

Manager: Alex Neil 6 

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Courtois 6; Azpilicueta 6.5, Cahill 6, Ivanovic 6, Kenedy 6.5 (Baba 69, 5); Matic 6, Fabregas 7; Traore 6 (Willian 60, 5), Oscar 6 (Mikel 60, 5), Hazard 7.5; Costa 7

Subs not used: Begovic, Loftus-Cheek, Pato, Remy

Goals: Kenedy 1', Costa 45+1'

Manager: Guus Hiddink 7 

Booked: Oscar, Fabregas

Referee: Lee Mason 5

MOM: Hazard 

Diego Costa's goal looked to be offside

Diego Costa's goal looked to be offside

Willian took a breather and Traore was handed his first Premier League start, starting wide on the right, rather than up front where he has impressed from the bench in recent weeks.

Alexandre Pato was on the bench for the first time since signing on loan in January but did not appear.

Traore drifted inside and almost connected with a low from Hazard, who also went close before Norwich recovered from the shock of the early strike, the 23rd goal they have conceded in nine games.

Cameron Jerome was the first to threaten Thibaut Courtois. Jerome dropped deep to capitalise on Kenedy’s limited defensive instinct and met a deep cross from Robbie Brady with a firm header, but it was too high.

Neil’s plans received another blow before half-time when midfielder Alex Tettey was forced off with an injury. As the frustration built up, the home crowd turned their anger on referee Lee Mason when Courtois appeared to handle a back-pass from Gary Cahill.

Chelsea are still unbeaten in the Premier League since Guus Hiddink took over, a run stretching 11 games back to December 14

Chelsea are still unbeaten in the Premier League since Guus Hiddink took over, a run stretching 11 games back to December 14

Norwich midfielder Alexander Tettey had to be replaced by Gary O'Neil after just 35 minutes when he injured his right leg

Norwich midfielder Alexander Tettey had to be replaced by Gary O'Neil after just 35 minutes when he injured his right leg

Chelsea winger Eden Hazard holds his left leg after a tackle from Norwich midfielder Redmond at Carrow Road

Chelsea winger Eden Hazard holds his left leg after a tackle from Norwich midfielder Redmond at Carrow Road

The pass from Cahill had actually clipped Jerome on its way to the goalkeeper, which entitled him to pick it up and the officials agreed. Or they simply missed it, as they missed the offside which ought to have ruled out Costa’s goal in first-half stoppage time.

Chelsea’s second goal came from a throw-in on their right side, taken by Cesc Fabregas. It went in-field to Hazard and back out wide to Traore, who slipped a first-time pass through to Costa with his left boot.

Replays showed Chelsea’s centre-forward was a yard offside but Costa did not hesitate for a split second, dinking a shot over Ruddy and celebrating his 14th of the season, and his 10th in 14 games under Hiddink.

It is the sort of goal-rate of which club legend Peter Osgood might have been proud. It was the 10th anniversary of Osgood’s death on Tuesday and the travelling fans paid tribute with banners which read: 'Ossie The King'.

Norwich refused to fold. They came out with purpose after the break, perhaps fuelled by a sense of injustice. Jerome missed a very difficult chance on the volley at the back-post and then missed an absolute sitter.

Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas (centre) is challenged by Norwich midfielder Jonny Howson (left) and Wes Hoolahan

Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas (centre) is challenged by Norwich midfielder Jonny Howson (left) and Wes Hoolahan

Alex Neil's Norwich side face a nail-biting end to the season as the defeat saw them slip into the bottom three

Alex Neil's Norwich side face a nail-biting end to the season as the defeat saw them slip into the bottom three

Wes Hoolahan crossed deep to the back-post and Russell Martin nodded it back into the centre of goal, where Jerome stood alone on the edge of the six-yard box.

Somehow he missed the target, his side-foot volley glancing the bar on its way over. Neil threw his head into his hands.

Then he threw on Dieumerci Mbokani and reverted to a flat back-four. Chelsea were pinned back as Norwich threw men forward and they got some reward.

Twenty two minutes remained when Redmond found a way through and offered a glimmer of hope.

A clash of heads between Brady and Gary O’Neil robbed them of O’Neil for a few minutes and much of their momentum.

There was still time for Redmond to twice go close again. Timm Klose lashed one over and there was some desperate last-gasp defending from the champions, but hung on for the win.

The only think for Norwich to celebrate was the fact that Redmond’s goal was enough to keep them out of the bottom three on goal difference. For now. 

Norwich striker Cameron Jerome reacts after missing a chance during his side's 2-1 defeat by Chelsea at Carrow Road

Norwich striker Cameron Jerome reacts after missing a chance during his side's 2-1 defeat by Chelsea at Carrow Road

 

 

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