Chelsea ensured they will be top of the Premier League on Christmas Day after a hard- fought victory over Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium. John Terrys header inside two minutes kick-started a spiky contest that threatened to spill over at times. Yet for all Stokes desire, Chelsea always looked in control and deservedly doubled their lead through Cesc Fabregas scuffed finish on 78 minutes. Steven Nzonzi had Stokes best chance but his deflected shot was well saved. The only blight on Chelseas night came with a late injury to Eden Hazard, who limped off after appearing to injure his ankle in a tangle with Jonathan Walters. Ahead of the kick-off, much talk centred on the hackneyed issue of whether Chelseas stars could perform on a cold December night in Stoke. Those inside the Britannia Stadium didnt have to wait long for an answer, with barely 90 seconds on the clock when the visitors went in front. After Branislav Ivanovics shot from Chelseas first attack was charged down, Terrys unchallenged header from Fabregas resulting corner powered past the exposed Asmir Begovic. Chelseas early goal lit the fire under the contest and tempers nearly boiled over when Phil Bardsley went in hard on Hazard as the Belgian advanced down the left. The tackle enraged Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho but referee Neil Swarbrick showed only a yellow card. Stoke perked up and almost levelled when Nzonzis low strike deflected off Terry and forced a wonderful save down low from Thibaut Courtois, recalled ahead of Petr Cech after a muscular injury. Diego Costa should have doubled Chelseas lead after half-an-hour when he raced clear on to Fabregas through ball but dragged his low drive just wide. Stokes only win in 12 previous Premier League meetings with Chelsea came in this fixture last season, when they won 3-2 thanks to a last-minute winner from Oussama Assaidi, but a lack of midfield quality dimmed hopes of a repeat. Instead Stoke allowed themselves to be riled by the prickly Costa, who clashed repeatedly with Ryan Shawcross in the opening half and early in the second with Erik Pieters, earning the Stoke man a yellow card. Stoke threw on Charlie Adam in an attempt to add some composure in midfield and he nearly equalised when his sliced 20-yard drive spun just wide of the left-hand post. But with 12 minutes left, Hazard found Fabregas, whose untidy finish bobbled beyond the wrong-footed Begovic to ensure Chelsea open up a three-point lead over title rivals Manchester City. What can you say about the much gain 3point match? #Emperor
Posted on: Mon, 22 Dec 2014 22:37:12 +0000
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