Bluebirds’ manager Neil Warnock said his players did not deserve their four-goal Premier League defeat at Stamford Bridge.
Warnock remained upbeat after Cardiff City were beaten 4-1 with Eden Hazard scoring a hat-trick.
Sol Bamba fired Cardiff in front after 16 minutes and going into the last 10 minutes Warnock’s warriors were only 2-1 down.
“For 80 minutes were in the game and the players kept going,” said Warnock. “The last two Chelsea goals were disappointing and we should have had a penalty.
“Okay, the best team won by a mile, but we did well and gave them a good game.
“We did not deserve to lose like that.”
Warnock enduring his worst run as Cardiff manager – seven games without a win – while Chelsea’s Maurizio Sarri is only the fourth manager to win his first five Premier League fixtures.
Bluebirds goalkeeper Neil Etheridge was back at Stamford Bridge where he started his playing days in the London club’s Academy and was a ball boy for first team matches under Jose Mourinho.
It wasn’t a happy return for Etheridge, who had some excellent saves but was beaten four times.
Eden Hazard, one of the World’s best players, was the man who broke Bluebirds’ hearts.
Sol Bamba’s early goal stunned home fans and sparked wild celebrations among the 3,000 spectators from South Wales, but the pure genius of Belgian international Hazard proved decisive.
Sarri: 'I thought Hazard was one of the best players in Europe. But now I change my mind, maybe he's the best. But he can improve.' #CHECAR pic.twitter.com/P8Im4cOqyt
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) September 15, 2018
He scored two breathtaking goals in six for Chelsea and completed his hat-trick from a second half penalty conceded by Bamba.
Former Manchester United and Aston Villa striker Dion Dublin, a television pundit, described Hazard as a ballroom dancer in football boots.
“He’s like a ballroom dancer,” said Dublin. “Quick quick slow. Hazard slows you down, then he’s gone past his defender. On his day he’s a genius.”
It was that ability to keep the ball, slow things down and suddenly burst into life with pace and purpose that left Cardiff, over the 90 minutes, gasping.
The Bluebirds fought hard from the start and silenced home fans when Bamba fired them ahead, after 16 minutes. At that stage there was anxiety around the stadium, but Chelsea showed their quality.
Hazard equalised after 38 minutes, netted his second just before half-time and completed his hat-trick from a penalty 10 minutes from time, taking his personal tally to six in his last four appearances for club and country.
How good was that!? 🔥
Three for @HazardEden10 and a @willianborges88 rocket! #CHECAR pic.twitter.com/xXd4hkONb3
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) September 15, 2018
Willian completed the scoring on 83 minutes and Chelsea’s job was done.
Bamba’s memorable goal came after a Joe Ralls penalty was headed back across the penalty area and beat Marcos Alonso in the air to volley home.
The problem with that, said BBC pundit and former Cardiff player Danny Gabbidon, was that the Bluebirds ‘Woke the Chelsea beast’ with that goal.
The final score suggests Chelsea were rampant and they did have 76 per cent possession, but Cardiff played their part in a match which was hard fought before the Londoners scored twice late in the game.
The Bluebirds went close from a header by Callum Paterson and manager Neil Warnock threw on Gary Madine, but this was a day when Chelsea earned their fifth successive Premier win to extend their 100 per cent record.
Next up for Cardiff is a home clash with Manchester City, but the fate of Warnock’s men this season won’t be decided in games against the leading clubs.
Huddersfield, Newcastle, Burnley and West Ham are still below Cardiff and they have to shine against those fellow strugglers.
Chelsea simply had far too much quality for a Cardiff team who will give everything they’ve got this season, but will suffer days like this.
They have to take care of the ball better and find a creative, attacking edge by the time they play those clubs around them in the lower reaches of the table.
Cardiff are decent when it comes to set pieces and that’s where their main threats tend to come from. Chelsea away was a massive test and the Bluebirds were never going to be able to close the gap against a home team whose players cost around £250m.
Chelsea: Arrizabalaga, Azpilicueta, Rudiger, David Luiz, Alonso, Kanté, Jorginho, Kovacic (Barkley 49), Pedro (Willian 68), Giroud, E Hazard (Zappacosta 84). Subs not used: Drinkwater, Caballero, Christensen, Morata.
Cardiff City 4-4-2: Etheridge, Gaga, Morrison (capt), Bamba, Bennett, Camarasa, Arter (Richards 46), Ralls, Hoilett, Decordova-Reid (Paterson 71), Ward (Madine 77). Subs not used: Peltier, Zohore, Cunningham, Murphy.
Referee: Jonathan Moss
Attendance: 40,499.