Brazilian striker, Alexandre Pato, scored in his first game as a Chelsea player to help the club thrash manager-less Aston Villa 4-0 on Saturday.
Having parted company with manager, Remi Garde, on Tuesday, and then seen Gabriel Agbonlahor suspended amid an investigation into his conduct, interim boss, Eric Black, presided over a limp performance at a frustrated Villa Park, where supporters voiced their anger and despair and displayed banners venting their feelings.
Pato, 26, joined the Blues on loan from Corinthians in January but had to wait for about three months to kick a ball in a competitive fixture.
The former AC Milan star came on in the 22nd minute after Loic Remy was forced off through an injury and went on to win a penalty in first-half injury time, before dispatching the resulting spot-kick to double his side’s lead.
Apart from his goal, Pato had a hand in three other goals scored by Guus Hiddink’s team – a double from Pedro and first league goal from youngster Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
Chelsea were in front early in the game after Cesar Azpilicueta’s low cross was side- footed into the net by Loftus-Cheek via a slight deflection off Joleon Lescott.
The introduction of Oscar further galvanised the visitors after the break, and he combined brilliantly with Pato to set up Pedro, who slammed home from close range a minute after the restart.
As Villa fans held up a banner that read “No fight, no pride, no effort, no hope”, their players offered little to challenge the accuracy of those statements, and Chelsea soon made it 4-0 when Guzan could only palm Pato’s shot into the path of Pedro , who gladly netted his second of the game.
Thereafter, Alan Hutton was sent off for a second booking in the closing stages as Villa were left reflecting on another torrid afternoon.
The Blues moved above Liverpool to 9th on the log with 41 points while Villa are rock bottom with 16 points.
