PREM: Chelsea 4-1 Cardiff

Eden Hazard has scored five goals in his past three Premier League games

Chelsea made it five wins from five as Eden Hazard's hat-trick saw them sweep Cardiff aside 4-1 at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues fell behind for the first time this season when Sol Bamba turned in from close range following Sean Morrison's flick-on from a free-kick (17).

But Chelsea began to turn on the style before half-time with a number of one-touch moves, and they levelled when Olivier Giroud flicked the ball into Hazard, who took a touch before firing beyond Neil Etheridge from the edge of the box (37).

The Belgian had them in front before the break from another Giroud assist, this time from the edge of the six-yard box (44), and added a third from the spot late on when Bamba bundled into Willian (81).

The Brazilian, a second-half substitute, got in on the act himself with a curling finish from outside the box (83), to give table-topping Chelsea their best start in eight years, and leave Cardiff still looking for their first win.

Cardiff had begun with the same level of intent they had shown from the off against Arsenal before the international break, and Bamba gave them a warning of their potency from set-pieces when he headed a Joe Ralls corner wide of the far post.

It wasn't heeded, and Morrison was given a simple task of providing an assist from a free-kick - as he had against Arsenal - and find a sliding Bamba to score the opener soon after.

Chelsea then began to turn on the style at last, and Mateo Kovacic should have levelled when played through by a delightful backheel from Giroud, but Etheridge smothered his shot.

More 'Sarri-ball' showed in flashes, and it was an excellent move which did eventually break Cardiff's resistance. Antonio Rudiger stepped out of defence, he looked into Giroud and his first-time ball found Hazard, who took a touch before drilling into the far corner from outside the box.

And the game was turned on its head before the break, when Pedro's drilled cross from the left was kept alive by Giroud and turned into the path of Hazard, who slotted in from close range.

After half-time Cardiff looked content to wait for their moment, while Chelsea's intensity dropped, without being caused too much trouble.

But a moment of madness would cement their victory, when Bamba clattered into Willian with the Brazilian going away from goal, and Hazard fired in from the spot.

Willian then got one of his own when he found a yard of space and left Etheridge helpless with a fine finish from 20 yards.