Oscar misses penalty as Watford hold Chelsea

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26 Dec 2015

By Chris Osborne BSports

Diego Costa scored twice as Guus Hiddink's second spell as Chelsea boss started with a draw against Watford.

It could have been more for Hiddink, in charge after Jose Mourinho's sacking, had Oscar not missed a late penalty.

Spaniard Costa hooked in the opener for the Blues before Nemanja Matic's handball allowed Troy Deeney to level from the penalty spot.

Odion Ighalo's deflected shot gave the visitors the lead, only for Costa to fire in and earn Chelsea a point.

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The Blues have won just one of their last five Premier League games and are 15th in the table, just two points above the relegation zone.

Watford's run of four successive victories came to an end, but they remain seventh.

Costa full of beans

Diego Costa received a late yellow card, his fifth of the season, and will be suspended for Monday's game against Manchester United

Hiddink, placed in interim charge at Stamford Bridge this week almost seven years after his first stint as manager, should have been celebrating a win upon his return to the champions.

But after Valon Behrami cut down Eden Hazard in the penalty area, Brazilian Oscar slipped on his run up to his 80th-minute penalty and hit the ball against his standing leg, slicing it clear of the crossbar.

But while Chelsea were not as fluid as they were in last week's 3-1 win over Sunderland, overseen by caretaker boss Steve Holland, they will have been buoyed by the return to form of Costa.

With just three Premier League goals this season before the game, he showed the predatory instincts that saw him score 21 times last term - but a late booking means he will be suspended for the trip to Manchester United on Monday.

The 27-year-old opened the scoring by turning to half-volley in from six yards after John Terry knocked down Willian's corner and then timed his run perfectly to take in Willian's superb throughball and angle his shot past Heurelho Gomes for the equaliser.

Hiddink quietening Chelsea complainers?

The average position of Chelsea's players shows right full-back Branislav Ivanovic (2) almost as far forward as Pedro (17)

Costa was one of three players, along with Cesc Fabregas and Oscar, who were berated last week by some Chelsea fans who were convinced the squad had cost Mourinho his job after losing nine of this season's first 16 league games.

But there was an air of positivity around Stamford Bridge, as Hiddink, who led the Blues to victory in the FA Cup final in 2009, was warmly greeted by home supporters.

The Dutchman told his players to look at themselves in the mirror this week, but barely changed the starting line-up, only bringing Gary Cahill in for Kurt Zouma in central defence.

But he seemed to give his full-backs - in particular Branislav Ivanovic - the licence to push forward and add width to his side, as he looks to pull Chelsea away from the drop zone and towards the top four before the end of the season.

How do Watford keep doing it?

Chelsea might have thought they were in for an easy afternoon after dominating possession for the first 15 minutes.

But Watford have won eight times this season after their promotion from the Championship, including last week's 3-0 dismantling of Liverpool, and recovered well to pose a constant threat to the home side.

A lot of their success is down to the forward partnership of Ighalo and Deeney, who held up the ball tremendously and both saw late efforts blocked, as well as a defence that had kept three clean sheets in its last three games.

Their leveller to make it 1-1 was a gift from Chelsea, as Matic got in a mess and handled Ben Watson's corner, allowing Deeney to stroke in his spot-kick for his sixth of the campaign.

And Cahill did not cover himself in glory as he backed off Ighalo, who strode into the area and hit a shot that deflected off the England defender and looped past Thibaut Courtois to give the Nigerian his 29th goal of 2015.

Lineup, Bookings (5) & Substitutions (5)

Chelsea

13 Courtois
02 Ivanovic
24 Cahill
26 Terry
28 Azpilicueta
04 Fàbregas (Mikel - 45' )
21 Matic
22 Willian
08 Oscar
17 Pedro (Hazard - 74' )
19 Diego Costa Booked

Substitutes

01 Begovic
05 Zouma
06 Baba
07 Ramires
10 Hazard
12 Mikel
18 Remy

Watford

01 Gomes
02 Nyom
15 Cathcart Booked
03 Britos Booked
25 Holebas Booked
22 Abdi (Behrami - 69' Booked )
29 Capoue
23 Watson
07 Jurado (Anya - 73' )
24 Ighalo
09 Deeney (Guédioura - 93' )

Substitutes

05 Prödl
08 Behrami
17 Guédioura
20 Berghuis
21 Anya
32 Diamanti
34 Arlauskis

Ref: Andre Marriner

Att: 41,620

Match Stats

Possession 62 38

Shots

17 12

On target

2 3

Corners

9 4

Fouls

7 15

Live Text Commentary

Full time

Full Time Match ends, Chelsea 2, Watford 2.

90:00 +4:22 Full time

Full Time Second Half ends, Chelsea 2, Watford 2.

90:00 +3:09

Attempt missed. John Obi Mikel (Chelsea) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Willian.

90:00 +2:37 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Watford. Adlène Guédioura replaces Troy Deeney.

90:00 +0:19

Attempt blocked. Nemanja Matic (Chelsea) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Branislav Ivanovic.

89:50

Gary Cahill (Chelsea) wins a free kick on the right wing.

89:50

Foul by Odion Ighalo (Watford).

87:45 Booking

Booking Diego Costa (Chelsea) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.