Chelsea vs. Bournemouth: Score and Reaction from 2016 Premier League Match

Chelsea delivered a Boxing Day knockout of Bournemouth on Monday, as Pedro scored two goals and Eden Hazard knocked through a penalty in a 3-0 victory. 

The win is Chelsea's ninth straight since their Oct. 26 EFL Cup defeat to West Ham United. They have reeled off 12 straight victories in the Premier League and have not lost a league match in more than three months.

Spencer Owen offered his thoughts:

The 12 straight league wins are a club record and put Chelsea on a potentially historic pace in the table. Their 46 points are nine better than Liverpool and Arsenal, and the club is on track for its second Premier League championship in the last three years just halfway through the campaign.

Chelsea are two wins short of matching the all-time Premier League winning streak. Arsenal won 14 straight during the 2001-02 and 2002-03 seasons.

The run has Chelsea manager Antonio Conte reaching meme status:

While still dominant, this was not Chelsea's cleanest offensive effort. Only five of their 14 shots went on goal, and Bournemouth held possession for nearly 56 percent of the match. Bournemouth attempted to keep the ball away from the Chelsea attack and take advantage of their few opportunities, but Thibaut Courtois was there every step of the way.

Chelsea have not allowed a goal in their last four matches. Ten of their last 12 league matches have featured clean sheets.

Pedro made things easy by creating separation midway through the first half, knocking through a goal from just inside the box at the 24th minute. Chelsea carried the 1-0 lead into the half-time break, before Hazard scored on a penalty early in the second half, with 49 minutes on the clock. It was Hazard's 50th Premier League goal with Chelsea.

Squawka Football commemorated the occasion:

Pedro deflected his second goal of the game into the net during injury time. It was Pedro's first multi-goal game of the season. He came into the Boxing Day matchup with only three goals in the Premier League overall.

Chelsea will look to carry over their winning ways to their New Year's Eve matchup with Stoke City. They'll then play Tottenham Hotspur on Jan. 4, potentially with a chance to match the Premier League win-streak mark.

Bournemouth now sit in 13th place in the Premier League table.  

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Post-Match Reaction

Conte said his team's winning streak is sending a message, according to The Independent:

"

I think today we sent a good message. In general, because I think that a lot of people waited to see if, without two really important players, Costa and Kante, we could lose points in this game. It didn’t happen, I am pleased for this, because I can count on all my players in the squad. I try in every game to make the best decision for the team without looking at the faces.

"

The Blues manager continued:

"

If you ask me I hope to continue this run until the end of the season but, for sure, it is not easy. For me, it’s important only for the table. With these 12 wins in a row we took 36 points and our table is fantastic now. It’s important only for this.

I always thought that the record is not important if at the end you don’t reach something important in your championship. But to be with my players to have this record we are proud. We want to continue but, for sure, it won’t be easy.

"