Match Report: Chelsea 5-1 SAFC - One decade in the Premier League ends in embarrassing fashion

Sunderland’s ten year stay in the Premier League ended this afternoon after a 5-1 loss to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

The Black Cats' ever growing list of absentees stretched to twelve as Jermain Defoe picked up a knock which kept him out of Sunderland's last Premier League away day. Fabio Borini instead led the line for the lads, and Joleon Lescott was handed his first start in a red-and-white shirt.

Sunderland kicked off the first-half in a way you wouldn't anticipate. Within the first few minutes David Luiz brings down Adnan Januzaj, earning the visitors a free-kick to be taken by Larsson.

The Swede's effort takes an awkward, sideways bounce off the Chelsea wall and falls into the path of an unmarked Javier Manquillo, who fires past Thiabut Courtois from point-blank range.

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However, Sunderland's lead was characteristically short-lived. A mere four minutes later Jack Rodwell fells Eden Hazard on the edge of the box and Marcos Alonso takes the resulting free-kick which bounces back off the bar and back into open play.

It was the home side, however, who would be the first to gather the rebound, and with it they strung together a seemingly endless stream of passes which Sunderland could only chase haplessly. The ball eventually worked its way to Willian who sent the ball under Jordan Pickford for Chelsea's equaliser.

The lads were lucky not to fall behind shortly after as the ball was squared to Hazard, who fumbled a chance with only a couple yards between him and an open goal.

David Luiz swung in a deceptive free-kick to Diego Costa on the fifteen-minute mark, but the Blues' frontman failed to capitalize.

It soon became clear that Chelsea would have the better of the first half's remainder; Sunderland seldom changing the pace with only a couple of chances.

The most notable of these came in the forty-third minute when John O'Shea tried to become the second Sunderland player this afternoon to profit from a Seb Larsson free-kick. The Swede swung in another ball which the Sunderland skipper managed to latch onto, but Courtois reflexes prevented the Irishman from firing home.

Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images

The lads had a brief spell of competence after the restart, with Rodwell nodding a Larsson corner into the path of Courtois. The Belgian stopper, however, could only fumble the effort into the path of Adnan Januzaj - but the 'keepers international colleague couldn't make anything of it.

It wouldn't be long before Chelsea were back on top again. The home side surged forward on the sixty-minute mark and Costa - spearheading the attack - sent the ball wide to Hazard who worked his way into the box, proving too much for Billy Jones, and fired the Blues into the lead.

But they were by no means content to stop there. Quarter of an hour later a long ball from Chelsea was headed back to Pickford by Joleon Lescott at the same time as our young 'keeper raced off his line. The advancing Pedro was left uncontested as he pursued the loose ball and stabbed it home before either defender or stopper could react.

With a comfortable lead now established, Chelsea were happy to keep possession spray the ball around and wait for an opportunity as the clock ran down to their celebration.

As you'd expect, they soon found another opening. This time, substitue Mitchy Batshuayi - played onside by Billy Jones - latched on the end of Pedro's through ball to knock it into the net for the home side's fourth.

Two minutes later, he got their fifth.

And there you have it: one final capitulation to end our Premier League era with a barely audible whimper. Cheers Moyes, cheers lads, cheers for absolutely nowt.