Chelsea got back to winning ways as they cruised past ten-man Leeds 3-0 at Elland Road.
Thomas Tuchel’s side had won just two of their last seven Premier League matches going into the match, and were in desperate need of a positive performance and result ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup final clash against Liverpool.
Mason Mount sent the visitors on their way early on, before Leeds were reduced to ten men for the second match in a row as Dan James was shown a straight red for a terrible challenge.
A goal after the break from Christian Pulisic ensured there would be no late nerves for Chelsea, with Leeds never looking like they would get anything from the match as they fight for their Premier League survival, and Romelu Lukaku capped off another improved performance with a late goal.
The Blues made a perfect start to the match, as Mount fired them in front with less than four minutes on the clock. It was sent wide to Reece James, who played the ball back for the midfielder and he whipped an effort into the top corner from the edge of the box.
Chelsea threatened to run away with it in the early stages, as Mount had a shot cleared off the line and Lukaku then had a shot blocked.
Just as Leeds were starting to enjoy a more positive spell, pushing Chelsea back and threatening going forward, there was a painful sense of deja vu. James flew into a challenge on Mateo Kovacic, catching the midfielder really high and the referee had no choice but to brandish the red card.
Lukaku twice went close to getting on the scoresheet, first having a goal ruled out for offside after a lovely lobbed finish before he then flicked a header just wide of the far post, as Chelsea upped their domination with the man advantage.
The Belgian could well have got himself on the scoresheet shortly after the break when he got on the end of a Mount cross, though the header was sent well over the bar.
Chelsea’s second goal did come, ten minutes into the second-half, and it was another lovely move. Reece James and Jorginho were involved, Mount then flicked the ball off to Pulisic and he curled an effort into the bottom corner.
With the result in very little doubt, the Blues became increasingly selfish. Lukaku ignored Pulisic and tried his luck from range, dragging a shot wide, before Mount also opted not to use his teammates when sending an effort off target as he lost his balance.
Chelsea won the ball back high up the pitch and Lukaku finally got the goal his performance deserved in the final ten minutes of the match. Hakim Ziyech, just off the bench, squared it to the Belgian and although he took an absolute age to get the shot away, when it eventually came in it found the back of the net.
It was as comfortable a 90 minutes as Tuchel could have wished for, ensuring confidence is high heading to Wembley this weekend.
