Chelsea 1 Sunderland 3

THERE will have been envious eyes from Dick Advocaat as he shook hands with Jose Mourinho after the final whistle had blown at Stamford Bridge to bring the curtain down on, what could yet be, his final game in charge of Sunderland.

Advocaat’s aim during his nine matches in charge was to ensure that the Black Cats rub shoulders with champions Chelsea’s like again next season. He delivered that with a game to spare in another corner of London in the middle of last week.

But the Dutchman’s CV has not been about successful relegation fights until this year. He has been a manager focused on winning titles, or at least challenging for them, so to be at Stamford Bridge for the champions’ coronation could well have frustrated him, ever so slightly.

What, though, would have annoyed him a little more was the way Sunderland ended the season in defeat; even if Mourinho appeared to say to Advocaat after their touchline exchange at the end: ‘I hope you stay’.

Will he or won’t he? That will be decided over the next few days with the 67-year-old – whose wife would prefer him not to – set to inform Sunderland owner Ellis Short this Thursday whether he has had a change of heart and is willing to stay on.

Sunderland’s fans and players all hope he does. With his experience he could well be the boss required after years of trying to improve things on Wearside. The results and calmness he has brought during a relegation fight suggests he could work his magic unlike those before him next season.

He will not have a chance of winning the Premier League, but if he could get Sunderland up towards the top ten then that would be a significant sign of progress – and it had looked like he might even stun the champions at Stamford Bridge.

When Steven Fletcher headed in Adam Johnson’s corner in the 26th minute Sunderland threatened to spoil the title party. However it didn’t last and it was Mourinho able to enjoy victory on the final day.

Diego Costa powered in the equaliser from the penalty spot seven minutes before half-time and then Loic Remy, who spent last season on loan at Newcastle, scored twice in the final 20 minutes to wrap up the points.

Cue the celebrations and party, while Sunderland’s players headed for the showers and the team coach. None of what was occurring on the pitch mattered to the team hailing from the North-East.

What does matter is that they know top-flight football will be played at the Stadium of Light next season – and they have Advocaat to help for leading the revival despite losing only for the second game of the last eight.

This trip to Chelsea was always likely to feel more of a Blue day than a red and white one, although the sold-out travelling section of Sunderland followers still tried to be heard amongst the cries of ‘we’ve won the league’ from the overwhelming numbers of celebrating the home team.

After the class of the 2005 title winners had left the pitch, the party never really stopped from that moment on. The thousands of champions’ flags that had been dished out beforehand were regularly waved and Chelsea were intent on finishing in style when things got going.

And it was one of those winners of ten years ago that came within inches of scoring early. Didier Drogba ran to the near post with John O’Shea to try to get on the end of Juan Cuadrado’s cross and it was the defender who turned the delivery just wide.

Advocaat was hardly in the party spirit. That chance got him out of his dug-out and he was far from happy with the way his players had started, particularly suggestive that Jack Rodwell and Connor Wickham did not stick to the original system plans he had in place.

As soon as he had got the message across Sunderland soon got to grips with things and, with the exception of Branislav Ivanovic’s long drive that had to be well saved by Vito Mannone, it was the visitors who had the better chances.

The alarm bells still did not spark Chelsea back in to life at that point and Sunderland took a surprise lead 18 minutes before half-time. Adam Johnson, given plenty of stick as he took his corner, floated over a back post delivery and Fletcher arrived unmarked to head down one of the easiest he will score.

John Terry seemed to have lost Fletcher – who was recalled at the expense of Danny Graham in attack - as the ball arrived in to the area, but the Chelsea skipper soon demanded improvements across the pitch. Those arrived before the break; shortly after Drogba, playing his last game for the club, was fittingly carried off by his team-mates to a standing ovation.

It was very much a case of out with the old and in with the new when Drogba’s replacement, Costa, made his mark on the game within nine minutes. The Brazilian striker drilled an equaliser hard and low beyond Mannone after O’Shea had tripped Cuadrado in (or maybe slightly outside) the box.

Without Lee Cattermole, who was only named as a substitute because of a threat of a three game ban for a record-busting 15 yellow cards, Sunderland could have been an easier touch. They still defended strongly, except for a moment when Eden Hazard waltzed his way through red and white shirts to tee up Remy. The Frenchman could not find the space to shoot though.

As the Chelsea fans cried out for the extra goal to cap a memorable season on the final day, Mourinho looked on from his technical area urging every cross in to Mannone’s box towards the net. It was not as easy as that, with Sunderland defending strongly – again.

Had it not been for Cesar Azpilicueta’s presence at the back post then Defoe would have put Sunderland ahead again at the other, but the Spanish full-back was on hand to clear off the line with Cech beaten. Fletcher also should have hit the target with a free header.

Those proved decisive too. Chelsea’s next attack, with 20 minutes remaining, found its way beyond Mannone. The Italian keeper should have done better with Remy’s shot from 22 yards, but instead it hit the net.

After that there were a few pot shots at Cech, but Chelsea never looked like conceding an equaliser before Remy wrapped up things with two minutes to go.

Nemanja Matic was allowed space down the left to turn and centre. Remy darted ahead of O’Shea before flicking a lovely finish beyond Mannone to leave the Chelsea fans chanting ‘Champions of England, we know what we are’.