Willian strikes as Chelsea maintain their top-four position

Chelsea manager, Frank Lampard says his players will have to get used to the added pressure in the nervy Premier League run-in after they thrashed Watford 3-0 at home.

Manchester United had leapfrogged Chelsea who had lost 3-2 at West Ham on Wednesday into the fourth place when they beat Bournemouth earlier on Saturday.

However, it was a happy anniversary for Lampard as Chelsea bounced back with a comfortable win over the struggling Watford to reclaim the final automatic qualification spot for next season’s Champions League.

Oliver Giroud marked his return to the starting line-up with the opener that latched on to Ross Barkley’s clever pass into the bottom right corner.

While Watford worked hard to contain the hosts, they offered little to suggest they had the capability to grab their first win at Stamford Bridge since 1986.

The visitors thereon fell further behind before the break. Etienne Capoue’s rash challenge on Christian Pulisic resulted in a Chelsea penalty that Willian netted to mark his sixth-goal in his last seven games.

Thereafter, it was relatively plain sailing for the Blues who rounded off the scoring when Barkly found the top left corner from Cesar Azpilicueta’s cross.

After a setback at the London Stadium, Chelsea provided the response Lampard was looking for. The Blues had too much quality for a Watford team that were unable to contain them.  The Blues caused Watford all sorts of problems as they fizzed the ball around on a slick surface with a swagger.

“It was a clean sheet at home. Three goals and we played some nice stuff”. Said Lampard.

“It’s difficult against a low block with a team that comes here and defend. So, I think the way we broke it down at times was good”.

Chelsea will face a short trip to Selhurst Park for a London derby with Crystal Palace on Tuesday while Watford hosts Norwich City on the same day.