Interim Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink has accused Diego Costa of being too relaxed in front of goal during their tie with Sunderland.
The Spain international opened the scoring at the Stadium of Light in the 14th minute before the Black Cats equalised through a stunning strike from Wahbi Khazri, but Nemanja Matic put Chelsea back in the lead on the stroke of half time.
The relegation threatened home side were buoyed by the crowd into a fantastic come back as goals from Fabio Borini and Jermain Defoe finished off the Blues.
Hiddink admits that Sunderland wanted it more and his Spanish striker was a culprit, having wasted a number of opportunities in front of goal.
“For them [Sunderland] it felt like that [they had a 12th man with crowd],” Said Hiddink. “It was not hostile, it was very enthusiastic but my players are experienced in that and they should have coped.
“Yes, I think that is maybe the difference [Costa's casual finishing]. They desperately wanted this game and maybe we are a little bit too relaxed.
“In normal very, very tight situations he is used to scoring. He took too much time and when you take too much time they start thinking [they can win] then the moment is over.”
Chelsea couldn’t be accused of lacking passion in their last match with Tottenham after they came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 and it has been nicknamed “The Battle of Stamford Bridge” - with 12 players getting booked but couldn’t replicate that spirit against the Black Cats.
Hiddink was complimentary about opposition forward Defoe, who scored the decisive goal and praised Sunderland’s ruthlessness.
“Yes, that’s the case [Sunderland wanted the win more]. When you saw us playing first half but maybe they got 3 or 4 chances, Sunderland, and they materialised.
“You could say that they wanted it desperately and we wanted to win of course but you see a little bit of a lack of sharpness in finishing it off [from Chelsea].”
Chelsea now face a record low points total for Premier League champions while Sunderland have hauled themselves out of the relegation zone.
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