THRILL OF Oscar and Costa are way too hot for Swans as

marker to their title rivals. The Blues were machine-like here in South Wales, powerful and efficient, but a joy to watch as well, particularly when they pushed four passes together at pinball speed to carve open the Swansea defence.

Costa finished that move for the second goal and from the moment the ball cruised past Swansea keeper Lukasz Fabianski, adding to Oscar’s opener after just 49 seconds, it was all about damage limitation for Monk’s side.

Had it not been for Fabianski keeping out Eden Hazard and the woodwork twice denying Willian – as well as wayward efforts from Willian and Nemanja Matic – they would have been even further behind by the break.

As it was, Chelsea had to settle for four at the midway point and they had hardly broken sweat.

They got their opener when Gylfi Sigurdsson played a pass at Tom Carroll’s midriff and the on- loan Tottenham midfielder let it pass him. Oscar pounced on the loose ball before drilling his low effort beyond Fabianski.

Sigurdsson almost made amends with an effort Petr Cech, preferred to Thibaut Courtois who has a finger injury, was getting nowhere near.

Rattled

Thankfully for the Chelsea keeper it rattled the angle of post and bar and in that moment, perhaps, Swansea’s hopes of getting back into this game disappeared as the visitors turned it on.

Fabianski could only parry Costa’s shot and when Ashley Williams headed the loose ball straight to Willian, he should have at least hit the target.

The Brazilian blazed a very good chance over, however, and Oscar then dragged a low drive wide after some neat footwork in the box. A neat pass from