Jordan Pickford - 7
Surprisingly not tested as much as in previous matches. Made a couple of decent saves off Moses and Marcos Alonso. Could do nothing about the goal.
Billy Jones - 6
Coped well with Chelsea's frequent attacks down the left hand side despite being left woefully exposed by Januzaj. Restricted Marcos Alonso to a handful of crosses. Forced off with a groin injury on the hour mark to go next to the other hundred players we have crocked.
Lamine Kone - 6
Tussled with Diego Costa throughout but a lapse in concentration could've seen the Spaniard make it 2-0, managed to recover well.
Papy Djilobodji - 7
Weirdly starting to look like our best defender. Coped with really well with Costa and was rarely troubled through the majority of the game.
John O'Shea - 5
Lost out to a header on the halfway line and failed to track back to allow Chelsea the time and space to open the scoring. Made a rash challenge on the edge of the area on the stroke of half time resulting in a booking.
Patrick van Aanholt - 6
Pushed far too high up the pitch for the goal giving Cesc Fabregas the freedom of Wearside to slot home. Generally sloppy in possession but thought he had earned us a point but for a ridiculous save from Courtois.
Jason Denayer - 6
Spent the first half cleaning up the mess left by Kirchhoff. Another player guilty of too many wayward passes. Had a good effort saved in the closing stages of the game.
Jan Kirchhoff - 4
You can tell this is a player that hasn't started for over two months. Looked sluggish and regularly needlessly conceded possession allowing Chelsea to push forward. Was lucky to escape a booking in the first half and was mercifully subbed off before the hour mark.
Fabio Borini - 6
Totally anonymous in the first half but came into the game after switching sides with Januzaj in the second period. Skied a shot from the edge of the area but ran himself into ground as per. He'll be important in the coming weeks.
Adnan Januzaj - 7
Arguably Januzaj's best performance in a Sunderland shirt. Provided an outlet going forward in the absence of Anichebe, linking well with Defoe. Spurned a good opportunity in the first half before having a good shot saved by Courtois in the second. Major question marks over his defensive duties as he constantly left Billy Jones exposed in the first half.
Jermain Defoe - 5
Cast a frustrated figure being isolated through the majority of the game. His needless booking said it all.
Subs:
Sebastian Larsson (for Kirchhoff 56') - 6
Hussled and harried as per usual but surprisingly wasteful on set pieces. Why he thought playing it short in the last knockings of the game, I'll never know.
Donald Love (for Jones 58') - 6
Hearing the phrase "Donald Love has the freedom of the Stadium of Light" is something that will stay with me for the rest of my life.
Wahbi Khazri (for Borini 81') - 5
Oh, so he does exist.