LONDON: Chelsea leftback Ashley Cole praised goalscorers Eden Hazard and Fernando Torres after the Blues registered a 2-0 victory over Newcastle at Stamford Bridge this morning.

With this win, Chelsea are on top of the Premier League standings with nine points from three games.

Hazard put the Blues ahead from the penalty spot after Torres was fouled, before the pair combined to allow the Spaniard to double the lead.

Cole believes the two attackers have shone as a result of the team's new emphasis on possession and slick passing football, with Chelsea having earned a reputation as a direct, powerful team in previous seasons.

"We lost Didier Drogba, he was a big powerhouse up front so sometimes we would knock the ball up to him, but now we've got some smaller players in and are playing the ball down and the second goal was fantastic," Cole told ESPN.

"It was hard for Torres to get many games last season but when he did play he worked really hard for the team and now he is the main man and is full of confidence after Euro 2012 and scored a great goal.

"Hazard deserves a lot of credit for the start to the season we've had. He's won penalties, got assists and now a goal which is phenomenal. We are proud to have this guy in our team and hopefully he keeps it going right through the season."

Cole is delighted to see the club put maximum points on the board ahead of an extended break from top-flight action early in the season.

Chelsea take on Atletico Madrid in the Uefa Super Cup next and are not in Premier League action again until Sept 15, when they play Queens Park Rangers due to the upcoming international break.

"Before the game we were aware that we hadn't beaten Newcastle since 2007 at home, so that was something we wanted to rectify," said Cole.

"I think it was a great team performance - Eden, Juan Mata and Torres were excellent.

"It is three weeks until our next league game now and going into the season we wanted to get as many points as we could early on.

"I'm glad we've been able to do that now with nine and now we just have to wait and hope when we do get back to the Premier League we can pick up where we have left off."

Meanwhile, Hazard described himself as "very happy" to score his first goal for the club on home turf as he continues to enjoy an impressive start to life in London.

The former Lille man can now boast a record of six assists, three man-of-the-match displays and one goal in his short-lived Chelsea career already.

"I am very happy to get my first goal at Stamford Bridge and this was a great result for all the team," he said.

- mD