Chelsea easily rode past Crystal Palace with a resounding 3-0 win. But Mikel Obi proved another reliable old-horse in the midfield for the blues, with Coach Hiddink heaping praises on the Nigerian and the fans chanting his name in adulation.
Crystal Palace never seemed like taking anything from this game once they went behind to the opener from Oscar before half-time.
Willian and Diego Costa extended the lead after the break and spoiled any thoughts of an anniversary party for Alan Pardew, a year to the day after his triumphant arrival at Selhurst Park.
With the win, Chelsea climbed to 23 points. The idea of defending the Barclays Premier League title is long-gone. The top four, too, no much more than a distant dream.
Bookmakers scrambled to slash the odds, but they are still 10 points adrift of Manchester United in fifth.
Even so, Guus Hiddink is doing what he was asked to do: stabilise the dressing room, massage a few egos and energise those players who had grown tired of Mourinho.
It is four games without defeat since he was dismissed and the Exiled One will have watched this performance with a knowing smile.
The creative axis of Costa and Cesc Fabregas was quite clearly back in business. The pair combined well for the first goal. Fabregas got himself on the ball and played with invention. Costa has found his way to goal, once again, with three in two games under Hiddink.
Work-rate was high. Oscar proved more influential than he has been for some time, and Willian’s brilliant form has not faded.
The transformation least predicted, however, must be the resurgence of John Obi Mikel, preferred to Nemanja Matic in central midfield by Hiddink, and the interim manager declared him the ‘ideal’ player to bring balance to his team.
Mikel responded with a display of power authority, especially during the first-half when a fierce battle for midfield control was being waged in the midst of a Biblical deluge.
Rain had poured down for hours before kick-off and a slippery opening phase was awash with mistakes, chance collisions and extended sliding tackles until everyone got the measure of the conditions.
Flowing football was somewhat harder to find at this point. Wilfried Zaha’s 200th appearance for Palace was frustrated by the proximity of Branislav Ivanovic, who won the duel in muscular style and somehow avoided a yellow card.
Cesar Azpilicueta and Joel Ward needed treatment early on, and Hazard was forced off with what appeared to be a groin problem.