Sunday, March 19, 2017

Stoke City 2-1



Telegraph:

Stoke City 1 Chelsea 2: Gary Cahill's late winner sends resilient Blues 13 points clear

Antonio Conte was so consumed with the joy of Gary Cahill’s winner that he grasped the lip of the dugout and heaved himself up until his chin was above the roof, celebrating the kind of victory that tells a manager his team have got what it takes to win a Premier League title.

There were minutes to spare when Cahill lashed in a ball loose in the Stoke City area, and Conte’s reaction was exactly what you would expect of a highly excitable Italian who has just seen his team take a major step towards the title. They had to fight the home side every inch of the way but these are the sort of victories - unexpected, hard-won, and heart-breaking for the opposition - that make a successful season.

For a short time there was a faint ray of light briefly glimpsed by the chasing two of Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City but it was extinguished with that winning goal. Chelsea are now 13 points clear at the top of the Premier League table and all the questions will be asked of their pursuers when they come to play on Sunday.

They leaders won without Eden Hazard, left behind in London having suffered a calf injury in training, and they did so against a Stoke team who had been unbeaten in their previous eight home league games. It was a Stoke side who tried to get under the skin of Chelsea – Diego Costa in particular – and the game ended with one of those booked for kicking the striker, Phil Bardsley, dismissed in injury-time for a second yellow card.

Cahill had conceded the penalty from which Jonathan Walters scored a first-half equaliser, and there were times when it looked like Stoke might hang on. With around 20 minutes of the game left, Conte even abandoned the 3-4-3 formation which has taken English football by storm this season and switched a more conventional 4-2-3-1 with Cesc Fabregas off the bench to be the playmaker.

It was Fabregas whom Bardsley took down to earn his second booking of the game, his first having come for a foul on Costa before the break. The Brazilian had just about kept a lid on it in what proved an emotional first half for him, during which he was engaged in a running battle with a variety of Stoke defenders and midfielders.

“People are trying to say we targeted him,” Mark Hughes said later, “absolutely not. I played in that position many, many years and when I look at his qualities as a striker he is outstanding. But he has elements of his play you don’t need. It takes away from his image as a player. It’s not necessary…he went over too easily on numerous occasions and he stays down.”

Conte was more philosophical about the approach taken by Stoke. “It is not easy to answer. The rule of this kind of game is that it is normal to make a player angry and to get him to react and to commit another foul. That’s normal. The great news is that Diego is showing himself to be a great player in this way. I know in other seasons that sometimes he has been given two yellow cards. This season I have been pleased with him, and his behaviour.”

The task of going after Costa was shared out between the Stoke players with Bruno Martins Indi putting the Chelsea man on the ground first. Pieters put him into the advertising boards. Ryan Shawcross kicked him on the turn. Bardsley got that first booking for a high boot. Geoff Cameron nudged and goaded Costa whenever he got the chance.

Costa could not always prevent himself from reacting, and when he was booked for diving in the 16th minute, Stoke smelled an opportunity. Although Costa was not blameless, it was him battling alone against a number of opponents who were taking turns to try to bring him to the boil.

The first Chelsea goal was a terrible mistake by goalkeeper Lee Grant who flapped at a near post free-kick from Willian that should have been simple to deal with and pushed it into his own net. That said, it had been another foul from Stoke that had created the opportunity, a push from Marko Arnautovic on Marcos Alonso.

Chelsea had kept Stoke at arm’s length for much of the first half but let them back in for the last ten minutes. Anthony Taylor only disallowed a Martins Indi headed goal after a long consultation with his assistant who seemed to say that Saido Berahino had pushed Cesar Azpilicueta when the ball was headed back by Cameron.

Hughes did not agree with that decision and he also claimed that Cahill should have been sent off for shoving Jonathan Walters for the penalty. That was a push in the back and arguably no attempt to play the ball. Walters lifted a high shot past Thibaut Courtois and Stoke were back in it.

A deflected Willian free-kick after the hour beat Grant and struck the bar but otherwise, Chelsea were struggling to find a way through. With around 20 minutes left, Conte changed his formation. “When you want to take more risk and when you want all three points and not one, you have to try to change,” he said. “When you change there is that possibility to score a goal but also to concede. Sometimes I prefer to take a risk.”

It was another substitute, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who forced Pieters to give away a corner from which the winner came. David Luiz headed the corner goalwards and Pieters just prodded the ball weakly towards Cahill to score. There might have been more goals for Chelsea as Stoke finally collapsed but the job was already done.

“Today it is an important win against a strong team and in a great atmosphere,” Conte said. “In Italy we would call this place ‘molto caldo’”.


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Observer:

Chelsea believe Premier League title is coming after Gary Cahill sinks Stoke

Stoke 1 - 2 Chelsea

Jamie Jackson at the Bet365 Stadium

Gary Cahill’s 87th-minute winner had Antonio Conte swinging in delight on the roof of Chelsea’s bench and the captain mobbed by team-mates in front of a delirious travelling contingent.

This was particularly sweet for Cahill as his push on Jonathan Walters allowed the same player to equalise Willian’s opener as the break encroached.

Until Cahill’s intervention Chelsea Chelsea had been heading for two dropped points that would have offered a glimmer of hope to the chasing Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City. But this smash-and-grab victory will only sap spirits in north London and east Manchester.

Conte hailed the three points as significant, and with Chelsea leading by 13 after 28 matches he was looking at the mathematics, pointing out that the equivalent of seven more victories will guarantee the championship.

“Today was a great win, a good signal but it is important to continue with the same commitment and work rate as a team,” he said. “We need to take 21 points for the title win. There are 10 games to go. I am pleased because to play Stoke at this point of the season, you have to be prepared mentally and physically. For this reason, we won today. It was a tough game, we tried to play football and deserved to win. We faced a really good team.

“I am pleased for Gary Cahill because we conceded a penalty after a little push from him. To score the winning goal is great for him and our team. Diego Costa played very well and showed great discipline. It is not easy to start the game with a yellow card and then to stay calm. Diego is showing me a great will to think and fight for the team. I want to continue this way.”

Costa had a typically spiky afternoon, which did not particularly impress Mark Hughes. “Diego Costa draws fouls and tries to make most of contact – when they are not fouls,” said Stoke City’s manager. “He is adept at the dark arts and everyone in football recognises that. He has many elements and factors, you have to put up with them.”

Stoke started brightly, troubling the visitors along their flanks. This had the home crowd urging them on though N’Golo Kanté’s slick midfield act soon had Chelsea threatening via Marcos Alonso and Costa, whose first half featured a running battle with a variety of opponents.

Costa went down under a Geoff Cameron challenge perhaps too easily, which caused the midfielder to tell him to find his feet again quickly and Blues fans to reel off a few rounds of “Diego, Diego”.

An incident and noise-filled beginning next featured Alonso steaming down the left and when he drew a free-kick Chelsea made the most of the opportunity. This was as soft as goals come. From an acute angle about 30 yards out, Willian struck the ball cleanly but Lee Grant should not have allowed it to squeeze past him at his near right post. He did, though, to cue a Chelsea celebration and some despairing Stoke navel-gazing regarding how, precisely, they were 1-0 behind.

On 32 minutes Stoke started a fight-back. Marko Arnautovic collected a free-kick and his cross claimed a corner. From here the contest took a controversial turn. Bruno Martins Indi finished Cameron’s header-on but, after consultation with an assistant, Taylor ruled the strike out for Saido Berahino either pushing César Azpilicueta or for being in an offside position that interfered with play.

The next incident was the Stoke goal for which Cahill was culpable. Erik Pieters launched a diagonal free-kick from the left into the area and the defender, for some, reason shoved Walters. Taylor pointed to the spot and that was 1-1.

Meanwhile the Costa-versus-Stoke sideshow continued in venomous manner, as a free-kick won by the Brazilian from a Shawcross challenge was followed by Phil Bardsley being shown a yellow card for taking him out. In the second half Costa was relatively becalmed, though he and Martins Indi continued to suggest each might boil over at any moment.

After Alonso crashed a free-kick off the bar, Stoke’s final threat was a late Arnautovic corner that Chelsea dealt with. Now came Cahill’s winner and the feeling they will continue to handle the pressure and claim a fifth Premier League title.

When Taylor blew for full time Bardsley had just been sent off, following a second booking, and Conte and his men greeted their fans’ jubilant singing of “We’re going to win the league” as if they, too, now firmly believe it. As Conte added: “To have a 10-points gap, 13 at the moment [is good], but I like to think our opponents will win tomorrow. We have to look at ourselves. We are happy. We must be ready to fight, today we were ready.”

Hughes has no doubt. “It is Chelsea’s title now,” he said.

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Independent:

Gary Cahill atones for his earlier error by scoring late on against Stoke as Chelsea snatch all three points

Stoke City 1 Chelsea 2: Cahill gave away a penalty earlier in the match but gained redemption when he swept in a late goal after Stoke failed to clear Willian's corner

Tim Rich

There was, said Mark Hughes, no doubt in his mind that Chelsea would win the title. His only job as Stoke manager was to delay his former club’s coronation.

The roadblock held until five minutes from the end and if it is a sign of champions that they score in unexpected ways through unexpected players, then Chelsea fit the blueprint exactly. The scoreline was jammed at 1-1, time was drifting away and a point at Stoke, who had lost one league match here since September, would have been a good afternoon’s work from Antonio Conte’s men.

Then David Luiz met Willian’s corner with a soft header that Erik Pieters countered with a soft, scuffed clearance that Gary Cahill drove into the Stoke net in front of the nearly 3,000 who had travelled to the Potteries to see Chelsea close in on their sixth title. It had been Cahill’s error that had given Stoke the penalty that should have cost Chelsea two points. Here, as so often in football, was redemption.

Chelsea’s supporters would return to their homes across the South East with their team 13 points clear with 10 matches remaining. Tottenham, their nearest challengers may have a game in hand but it is a fig-leaf.

When Conte led his team past their supporters after the final whistle, he punched the air with both fists and shouted encouragement.  If the Premier League is a marathon, then Chelsea can see the stadium and there is no other athlete in sight.

When Chelsea went ahead before a quarter of an hour was up, it appeared this might be a very straightforward afternoon. The goal sprang from a free-kick from Willian and some very forgettable goalkeeping from Lee Grant.

A foul on Marcos Alonso had given Chelsea a free-kick on the left-hand edge of the area and when Willian curled it to the near post, Grant almost pushed it into his own net. Midway through the first half, Grant saved when Alonso had been put through, which was a clearer indication of his ability.

He produced another around a quarter of an hour from the finish as Pedro Rodriguez sent a shot flashing towards goal. Just before, after Erik Pieters had fouled Pedro, there was another free kick that Alonso curled on to the crossbar. This time Grant was absolutely helpless.

From the moment Willian scored, the afternoon should have been reasonably straightforward but with every minute that passed, it became uglier and scrappier. Stoke had one equaliser disallowed for a push and then were awarded a penalty for another.

Both decisions were correct. When Bruno Martins Indi’s header struck the back of the net, the referee, Anthony Taylor, appeared inclined to award the goal but he was called over by his assistant who pointed out that in the build-up to the move Cesar Azpilicueta had been bundled over by Saido Berahino.

Moments later, there was another push, this time by Cahill on Jonathan Walters. This time the result was a penalty which Walters took himself. The striker stood, hands on hips, steadied himself for a moment and then drove his shot into the roof of Thibaut Courtois’s net.

If the main event was Stoke versus Chelsea then the sideshow was Diego Costa against the world. The man who has cast himself as the Premier League’s arch villain, appeared affronted by everything he encountered in the Potteries. He flounced, he gestured wildly, he was booked for dissent after tangling with Martins Indi, he played up to every preconceived image of him. You could have had a sweepstake during the interval as to what minute Costa would be dismissed.

One side did finish with 10 men but it was Stoke as Phil Bardsley was dismissed for a second bookable offence, wildly tackling Cesc Fabregas in stoppage time.

And yet in many ways Costa was more sinned against than sinning. Ryan Shawcross and Bardsley in particular targeted him and one high tackle from the latter could have done him serious damage.

Conte might have been tempted to withdraw Costa during the interval but he reappeared and appeared much calmer. He had a better game than Berahino, a centre-forward whose protracted transfer from West Bromwich Albion was supposed to have dragged Stoke to another level. He has yet to score a goal.


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Mail:

Stoke 1-2 Chelsea: Gary Cahill's late strike snatches victory to fire Antonio Conte's men 13 points clear

By Joe Bernstein for The Mail on Sunday

None of Antonio Conte's 28 victories as Chelsea manager will have given him more pleasure than this one.

Stoke gave his team an almighty physical examination that they passed like champions, captain Gary Cahill making amends for conceding a penalty by lashing home the 87th-minute winner.

As a result, Chelsea are 13 points clear at the top of the table— unlucky for everyone else — and Conte hugged each of his players at the end while the travelling support chanted 'We're going to win the League'.

Diego Costa deserved special praise for resisting the provocation that came his way. Despite an early caution, he stayed on the field but Stoke's Phil Bardsley did not, sent off in injury-time for a kick on Pedro when already booked.

Chelsea look like one of those complete sides who can out-football teams at times but also stand up and scrap when they have to. And it was all orchestrated by their Duracell Italian manager who found a way to win without the injured Eden Hazard and celebrated Cahill's winner by swinging by his arms on the top of the dug-out. Cahill said afterwards: 'When you make a mistake, although I felt it was a soft penalty, you want to make it right somehow so I am delighted to get the goal.

'Me and the team have shown character time and time again this season. It was exactly how we expected the game, it was going to be tough. We kept trying to play, we didn't want to get sucked into a battle which would have probably favoured them. The manager kept telling us to play our football.'

Conte loosened up when asked about the title with Chelsea entering their final 10 matches.

'For sure, this was an important win because it was against a strong team in a stadium with a great atmosphere. Very hot, molto caldo, we say in Italy!'

The Londoners have won their last five in all competitions and are unbeaten in 12. Even if Spurs or Manchester City reduce the gap to 10 by winning on Sunday, it seems impossible Chelsea will be caught. The bookies don't think so, making them 25-1 ON favourites.

Despite Hazard's absence with a minor muscular complaint, it seemed business as usual after 13 minutes when Marko Arnautovic fouled overlapping wing-back Marcos Alonso. With players queuing up in the middle for a cross, Willian drilled his free-kick to the near post with such venom that goalkeeper Lee Grant fisted the ball down into the ground and it span in. What followed were physical battles all over the pitch.

David Luiz was dazed in a clash of heads with Jonathan Walters and later winded by Saido Berahino, Bardsley booked for a nasty kick on Costa's knee and the Chelsea striker also cautioned for fending off Bruno Martins Indi with his forearm.

Stoke boss Mark Hughes denied Stoke had targeted Costa. 'He probably targeted us,' he quipped.

Stoke had a goal ruled out through Indi Martins because of a Berahino push on Cesar Azpilicueta on the other side of the six-yard box, but it was only a temporary stay of execution for Chelsea.

After 38 minutes, Walters dashed goalside of the defence to try and meet an Erik Pieters free-kick and Cahill gave him a nudge in the back that invited the Irishman to fall. Walters grabbed the ball and smashed his penalty into the roof of the net.

Costa spent the rest of the half chuntering his displeasure but Conte must have had a few wise words for him at half-time because he was far more focused after that despite repeated digs from Ryan Shawcross.

'It's normal for teams to try and make a player angry so he is ready to commit another foul,' said Conte. 'But the great news is Diego is showing great discipline. Honestly, I have to be pleased with his discipline.'

Chelsea had the better second-half chances, with Conte switching to a flat back four in the final 20 minutes in a bid to secure maximum points.

Luiz nearly caught out Grant with a free-kick that bounced off the goalkeeper's chest and Alonso hit the crossbar with a curling free-kick. Even Pedro was getting stuck in physically as Chelsea thrived on the challenge. Then with three minutes left, Luiz won a header at a corner and when Pieters cleared weakly to Cahill, the defender thumped his finish into the roof of the net.

Chelsea celebrated as if they had won the League, as they surely have now. Ruben Loftus-Cheek nearly added a third, denied by Grant, before Bardsley was dismissed for his swipe at Pedro.

Naturally, Hughes was disappointed at coming so close to another creditable point, having drawn at Manchester City in their previous game.

'When you get to that stage of the game, it's hard to take,' he said. 'Chelsea would have been more than pleased with the draw. You saw by their reaction how delighted they were to win.'

He also felt a couple of decisions went Chelsea's way: 'Cahill might have been fortunate to stay on the pitch for the penalty as he was last man. For our goal that was chalked off, there was a little push from Saido but he (Azpilicueta) would never have got near the ball.'


Stoke City (4-1-3-2): Grant 6; Bardsley 5.5, Martins Indi 7, Shawcross 6, Pieters 7; Cameron 6; Arnautovic 6, Allen 6.5, Sobhi 6 (Crouch 90); Berahino 5.5,(Diouf 61 6), Walters 7.5

Subs unused: Given (Gk), Muniesa, Whelan, Afellay, Adam

Goal: Walters pen 38

Booked: Allen, Bardsley, Martins Indi, Pieters

Sent off: Bardsley

Chelsea (3-4-3): Courtois 6.5; Azpilucueta 7, Luiz 7, Cahill 6; Moses 6 (Fabregas 70 6), Kante 8, Matic 6 (Loftus-Cheek 82), Alonso 8.5; Willian 6 (Zouma 88), Costa 7.5, Pedro 7.5

Subs unused: Begovic (Gk), Ake, Batshuayi, Chalobah

Goal: Willian 13, Cahill 87

Booked: Costa, Fabregas

Referee: Anthony Taylor 6.5

Attendance: 27,724

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Sun:

CAHILL MAKES AMENDS Stoke 1 Chelsea 2: Gary Cahill fired in a late winner to sink the Potters after conceding a first-half penalty

Blues took an early lead through Willian's cheeky free-kick but Jonathan Walters scored from the spot to equalise for Stoke

By Graeme Bryce and George Boulton

CHELSEA’S rampant pursuit of the Premier League title continues after Gary Cahill scored a later winner as the Blues recorded a fifth consecutive win.

Willian gave the Blues the lead in the 13th minute after he sneaked in cheeky free-kick from a crossing position into the near post.

The Potters then hit back before half time with Jonathan Walters blasting home a penalty after he was pushed over in the box by Cahill.

Keep up to date with ALL the Stoke and Chelsea news, gossip, transfers and goals on our club page plus fixtures, results and live match commentary

But moments before their equaliser, Stoke had the ball in the back of the net through Bruno Martins Indi but the goal was disallowed after Saido Berahino pushed Cesar Azpilicueta.

Diego Costa picked up an early booking for dissent and in a bid to spark a reaction from the striker, Stoke players targeted Costa to try and get him sent off.

Marcos Alonso struck the woodwork on the hour mark with a free-kick, after guiding his effort over the wall, only for the ball to bounce off the bar.

Chelsea finally found a break through in the 87th minute as David Luiz’s header from a corner was blocked, only for Cahill to smash home the loose ball.

Bardsley also saw red in the dying seconds of the game after picking up his second booking for a bad challenge on Cesc Fabregas.


FACTS, STATS, GOALS & LOLS

Pedro drew first blood BEFORE the game started when he accidentally whacked a wayward ball into the crowd during the warm-up, smacking a woman Chelsea supporter on the nose, causing it to bleed.

The concerned Spaniard gallantly presented her with a Chelsea shirt as way of an apology – one of the rare times this season when Chelsea have suffered a bloody nose!

Mark Hughes meanwhile played the perfect host with some kind words for the visitors in his programme notes. “I’ve no doubts whatsoever that my old club Chelsea will go on to be crowned champions in May,” wrote Sparky.

His players were a lot less hospitable however and Geoff Cameron, Bruno Martins-Indi and Erik Pieters formed a tag-team to ‘rattle,’ Diego Costa with three meaty challenges inside 16 minutes – which became a bit of a theme for the day thereafter!

Surprisingly it took Costa 17 minutes to take the bait and earn the game’s first booking for dissent. The Chelsea striker threatened to boil over almost from kick-off and Antonio Conte was going to have a keep a close watch on his hot-headed hitman, with a view to getting him out of harm’s way if things got out of hand.

On the plus side for Conte, Chelsea were already a goal to the good by then! Lee Grant treated Willian’s whipped in free-kick like a greased-up-piglet – letting the forward’s speculative effort squirm off his gloves and under his body

The bet365 Stadium was no place for the faint-hearted as bodies piled up faster than an episode of Casualty. A bad clash of heads between Walters and David Luiz left the Brazilian defender flattened.

Stoke thought they had drawn level after 34 minutes when Geoff Cameron headed on Arnautovic’s corner and Martins Indi moved in to head past Courtois from six yards. However Saido Berahino had needlessly shoved Azplicueta over.

Ref Anthony Taylor appeared to award the goal at first until his eagle-eyed standside assistant Adam Nunn alerted him to Bera’s barge …. leaving Potters fans to moan at how ‘Blue’ Nunn had left a bad taste in the mouth!

However they were happier after 37 minutes when Taylor awarded them a penalty after Cahill needlessly shoved Jon Walters over following an Arnautovic free kick – and Walters smashed his spot kick high into the roof of Chelsea’s net.

Chelsea accused Manchester United of targeting Eden Hazard for rough stuff during the week – here it was Diego Costa who was singled out as Phil Bardsley became the latest Potter to target him, raking his studs down his calf.

The Scotland international was fortunate ref Anthony Taylor only deemed it a booking when Bardsley could easily have seen red for a really cynical foul.

Lee Grant in Stoke’s goal had clearly looked out the Teflon gloves for today as a 45 YARD free kick from David Luiz almost caught him unawares, bouncing off his chest.

However the ‘keeper redeemed himself with a fine one-handed save to deny Pedro after 76 minutes.


Stoke: Grant; Bardsley 4, Shawcross 6, M. Indi 6, Pieters 6; Sobhi 6 (Crouch 92, 6), Cameron 7, Allen 6, Arnautovic 6; Walters 7, Berahino 6 (Diouf 61, 6).

Unused subs: Given, Muniesa, Whelan, Afellay, Adam.

Goals: Walters

Chelsea: Courtois 5; Azpilicueta 6, Luiz 8, Cahill 7; Moses 6 ( Loftus-Cheek 6), Kante 8, Matic 7, Alonso 7; Willian 8 (Zouma 88, 6), Costa 6, Pedro 7.

Unused subs: Begovic, Ake, Chalobah, Batshuayi.

Goals: Willian, Cahill.


WHAT THEY SAID

Stoke boss Mark Hughes: "We are desperately disappointed we did not get anything out of the game. The ball dropped kindly for them and they got the winner.

"It was an evenly matched game and they had late opportunities when we went for a goal.

"It is Chelsea's title now and you could see from their celebrations we ran them close."


Chelsea defender Gary Cahill: "The manager told us to keep playing our football and wins are all that matter at this stage.

"We only had two Premier League games in this month. We managed to get the results and now we can sit back and watch tomorrow's games. There will be pressure.

"I have played in that situation where a team has won and you have to go out and get a result."


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Express;

Stoke 1 - Chelsea 2: Antonio Conte's men move 13 points clear of Tottenham

CHELSEA’S march towards the Premier League title continued as they extended their lead to 13 points thanks to Gary Cahill’s 87th-minute winner.

By MIKE CAREY

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte said: “Today was a great win, a good signal but it is important to continue with the same commitment and work rate.

“I am pleased for Gary. To score the winning goal is great for him and our team.”

It was a tough assignment in the Potteries, made all the more difficult due to Eden Hazard’s absence through injury.

Willian had given them the lead with a free-kick only for Stoke to draw level through Jonathan Walters’ penalty in a fiery contest that featured Diego Costa as its chief antagonist, though it was Phil Bardsley who saw red in stoppage time.

Costa clashed with Ryan Shawcross, Geoff Cameron and Bruno Martins Indi but got short shrift from referee Anthony Taylor.

The man in the middle was rightly interested when Marcos Alonso was bundled over by Marko Arnautovic.

It looked like the perfect opportunity to deliver a cross, but Willian had other ideas and whipped his free-kick around the two-man wall and past Lee Grant, who should have done better than to just help the shot on its way in.

Not even that could improve Costa’s demeanour, though.

He threw himself to the ground once more and popped up to rant at Taylor when he didn’t get a free-kick, earning a caution for dissent in the process.

Grant prevented it from becoming 2-0 by parrying Alonso’s effort and Stoke thought they had levelled in the 34th minute when Joe Allen’s corner was headed on by Cameron and then into the net by Martins Indi.

But the assistant’s flag went up possibly for offside against Saido Berahino, who could also have been punished for a push on Pedro.

Whatever the reason, the goal didn’t stand. And Stoke benefited from a contentious call three minutes later when they were given a penalty as Walters went to ground having been nudged by Cahill.

The decision could have been construed as soft but the spot-kick was not as Walters lashed it home.

Pedro blazed over a good chance to restore the lead before Bardsley clattered into Costa to be booked in the final stages of a tempestuous half.

A 15-minute cooling off period eased the tension and Chelsea started the second half brighter, with Alonso only stopped by a terrific Bardsley challenge and David Luiz’s 40-yard free-kick almost catching Grant out.

The Stoke keeper looked uncomfortable at set-piece situations, although there was little he could do but be thankful Alonso’s 25-yard effort struck the crossbar.

Grant was up to the task when called on next as he made a brilliant one-handed stop to deny Pedro once he had been slipped in by Willian.

It was far from relentless from the leaders but when the opportunity to win it fell to Cahill, he took it.

Erik Pieters conceded a needless corner with a poor back-pass to Grant and the Dutchman’s clearance came to Cahill to fire home.

Costa struck a post after that yet he was a footnote in this game, even when the red card came out, with Bardsley the recipient for a second cautionable offence as he fouled Cesc Fabregas.

Stoke boss Mark Hughes said: “We are desperately disappointed we did not get anything out of the game. The ball dropped kindly for them and they got the winner.”

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Star:

Stoke 1 Chelsea 2: Antonio Conte's side march on as they go 13 points clear

ANTONIO CONTE’S Chelsea lost the inspirational Eden Hazard before kick-off – but it was the only thing they did lose.

By Paul Hetherington

Brazil’s Willian, who replaced calf-injury victim Hazard, was outstanding as the Belgian’s replacement and opened the scoring.

Stoke did equalise through a Jonathan Walters penalty but relentless Chelsea weren’t to be denied.

Three minutes from time, Stoke left-back Eric Pieters – under pressure from substitute Ruben Loftus-Cheek – conceded a corner.

Pieters then failed to clear David Luiz’s header from Willian’s delivery and captain Gary Cahill lashed home the winner.

That extended Chelsea’s lead at the top to 13 points and they have won their last five league and cup games.

Quite simply, there is no stopping them.

Stoke went into battle boosted by their 0-0 draw at Manchester City – another of the Premier League’s big boys – in their last match.

That was their second successive clean sheet, after a 2-0 win against Middlesbrough, following their 4-0 hammering at Tottenham.

But the Potters were soon back to conceding against the league leaders.

Marko Arnautovic conceded a free kick on the left when he fouled Chelsea wing-back Marcos Alonso.

Willian deliberately drove the set-piece to the gap left by Stoke keeper Lee Grant at his near post.

Grant was slow to react and when he did dive could only help the ball into the net.

The Stoke keeper, however, prevented Chelsea increasing their lead in the 29th minute.

A patiently-worked free kick move led to Pedro delicately chipping the ball into the path of Alonso, whose full-blooded drive was beaten out by Grant.

Stoke were furious when Bruno Martins Indi headed in, only for the goal to be disallowed for a push on Cesar Azpilicueta by Saido Berahino.

But another pushing offence brought Stoke a penalty – and an equaliser – in the 37th minute.

Cahill was penalised for his push on Walters, who drove home the spot-kick. And when Chelsea tried to quickly regain the lead, Pedro shot over after cleverly creating space for himself.

It was a match in which Diego Costa, booked in the 17th minute for dissent, was constantly at war with the Stoke defence.

That prompted Stoke boss Mark Hughes to say: “I played in that position and he’s an outstanding striker.

“But some of the things he does are not necessary. He went over too easily but maybe he needs that element to his play to bring out the best in him.

“I don’t think it would be right to say we targeted him, it was more a case of him targeting us.

“Overall, I thought we’d done enough to get a point and I think Chelsea would have been more than pleased with a draw, too.

“But the goals we conceded were disappointing and you could argue that Cahill should have had a red card as the last defender when he conceded the penalty.”

Potters right-back Phil Bardsley – later sent off – was eventually booked for a bad challenge on Costa.

Chelsea generally controlled the second half and were out of luck in the 65th minute, when Alonso hit struck a superb free-kick against the bar.

With N’Golo Kante again influential in midfield, Stoke had to work hard to contain the champions-elect.

Grant also had to save well to deny Pedro as he attempted to atone for his mistake when Chelsea took the lead.

But Chelsea weren’t to be denied and Cahill had the final say three minutes from time.

That, though, wasn’t the end of the action. There was still time for Costa to hit the post and Grant to save from Loftus-Cheek.

And Bardsley was sent off in added time for a foul on Cesc Fabregas - his second bookable offence.

=============================

Mirror:

Stoke City 1-2 Chelsea: Gary Cahill's late winner sends Blues 13 points clear at the top

Willian opened the scoring early on, Jonathan Walters levelled from the penalty spot and Gary Cahill won it late on

BY DAVID ANDERSON

Gary Cahill scored a late winner to edge Chelsea ever closer to the title.

Chelsea looked like they would have to be content with a point from this fiery clash at the bet365 Stadium before skipper Cahill struck five minutes from time, to leave boss Antonio Conte swinging from his dug-out in joy.

Chelsea opened the scoring when Willian deceived Lee Grant from a free-kick after 13 minutes.

Stoke levelled when Cahill pushed Jonathan Walters in the back to concede a penalty, which the Potters striker fired home on 38 minutes.

Diego Costa was at the centre of controversy and the Chelsea striker was unhappy with some of the treatment dished out by Stoke and Phil Bardsley was booked for kicking him.

Costa was also cautioned for dissent by Anthony Taylor and he went close to losing his cool repeatedly.

Our man David Anderson was at the game, here are five things he learned...

1. Diego Costa needs to calm down

Playing on the edge is all part of Costa's game, but he let himself be wound up too easily. The Stoke fans booed his every touch and he was soon throwing himself to the ground every time Bruno Martins Indi challenged him. This annoyed Stoke and their supporters even more and Phil Bardsley clobbered him to earn himself a yellow card. Costa contributed little to Chelsea with the red mist down and was booked for dissent for letting rip at referee Anthony Taylor.

2. Willian is Chelsea's unsung hero

Much is made of the likes of Diego Costa, N'Golo Kante and Eden Hazard, but Willian is also a class act. He proved it against Stoke by opening the scoring on 13 minutes with a cheeky free-kick, which totally deceived Stoke goalkeeper Lee Grant. It was Willian's sixth Premier League goal of the season to make this campaign his best-ever in front of goal.

3. Lee Grant won't want to see his effort at saving Willian's free-kick again

Grant has had a fine season for Stoke, helping to plug the gap left by Jack Butland's persistent ankle problems. But the former Derby stopper was badly at fault for Willian's opener. He was slow to react and could only push the ball into the back of the net in a comedy moment, which would have embarrassed a Sunday League goalkeeper. To his credit, he did not let his howler affect him and made a fine save from Marcos Alonso.

4. Gary Cahill had a mixed afternoon in his bid for the England captaincy

The Three Lions' skipper's armband is up for grabs after Gareth Southgate left out Wayne Rooney from his squad. Deputy Jordan Henderson, who skippered the side earlier this season, is also out crocked, leaving Southgate to pick a new captain. Cahill should be a strong contender and the Chelsea skipper has bags of experience. But he did not show it when he pushed Jonathan Walters in the back to concede the penalty for Stoke's equaliser. However he redeemed himself when he stabbed home Chelsea's late winner.

5. It's not happening for Saido Berahino

Mark Hughes took a big gamble when he paid West Brom £12million for Berahino, despite his lack of game time over the last 18 months. He has made Berahino his No 1 striker, but the former England Under-21 star has yet to repay his faith in him. He was disappointing against Chelsea and his most significant contribution before being replaced just after the hour mark, was to push Nemanja Matic to have Bruno Martins Indi's header disallowed.


PLAYER RATINGS

Stoke City

Grant 5 Howler for Willian's goal before he partially redeemed himself.

Bardsley 5 Sent off. Kicked Costa and was dismissed for two bookings.

Shawcross 6 Distribution was shaky, but was commanding in the air.

Martins Indi 7 Booked. Had a great battle with Costa and had a goal disallowed.

Pieters 5 Booked. Errant service, but delivered the ball which led to Stoke's penalty.

Arnautovic 5 Often too deep and fouled Alonso for Willian's free-kick.

Allen 6 Booked. Good on the ball and tenacious in the tackle.

Cameron 7 Booked. Fared well in the midfield battle with Kane and Matic.

Ramadan 6 One or two threatening moments down the left.

Walters 7 Won the penalty which he drilled home for Stoke's equaliser.

Berahino 4 Poor and pushed Matic to have Martins Indi's goal disallowed.

Subs: Diouf (Berahino 61mins) 6, Crouch (Ramadan 90+1mins).

Subs not used: Given, Muniesa, Whelan, Afellay, Adam.


Chelsea

Courtois 6 Kicked well and could do nothing about Walters' penalty.

Azpilicueta 6 Helped see off Berahino and was solid in defence.

Luiz 6 Nearly caught Grant out with a free-kick and was accomplished.

Cahill 7 Conceded a penalty before atoning with the winner.

Moses 6 Was a good outlet for Chelsea on the right wing.

Kante 6 Tidy in possession and protected his defence well.

Matic 6 Was quietly effective in midfield before being replaced.

Alonso 8 MOTM. Won the free-kick for Chelsea's goal and hit the bar.

Willian 8 Clever piece of thinking for his free-kick deceived Grant.

Costa 6 Let himself be wound up far too easily.

Pedro 7 Was a real threat for Chelsea and went close to scoring.

Subs: Fabregas (Moses 70mins) 6, Loftus-Cheek (Matic 82mins), Zouma
(Willian 87mins).


Subs not used: Begovic, Zouma, Ake, Batshuayi, Chalobah.

Referee: Anthony Taylor

Att: 27,724

Tuesday, March 14, 2017

Manchester Utd 1-0



Telegraph:

Chelsea 1 Manchester United 0: N'Golo Kante keeps Double dream alive after Ander Herrera red card

Jason Burt

This one came with a Hazard warning. A rip-roaring, raw FA Cup tie with a jagged competitive edge and soaked in bile with Chelsea earning their place in a semi-final tie against Tottenham and Manchester United departing with a burning sense of grievance over the first-half dismissal of Ander Herrera.

The midfielder went for one of umpteen United fouls on Eden Hazard, who was outstanding, with Mourinho also reacting to the chants of the Chelsea fans who once so adored him but turned here. “You’re not special anymore,” and “Judas” they sang and he responded by holding up three fingers and pointing at the pitch for the three Premier League titles he brought to Stamford Bridge.

There will not be an FA Cup this season for United. The holders are out with Chelsea earning a 14th successive home win, through a rare goal from the brilliant N’Golo Kante, who eclipsed Paul Pogba in that keenly fought midfield.

On the touchline Mourinho got under Antonio Conte’s skin, as he endeavoured to do, as he used every weapon at his disposal, but it backfired with Herrera’s red card. Mourinho mixed it up, he unsettled Chelsea, but they did enough to go through.Mourinho did not explain his formation but the set-up was clear: Phil Jones had one job – stop Hazard. It was soon evident why. It meant the United defence morphed between three, four and five at the back depending on where Hazard was. It is unusual in modern football to see a player given such a specific brief but such was the danger that Hazard held.

United’s other brief was clear: press high up the pitch and press aggressively. They aimed to hit Chelsea hard and try and knock them out of their stride. Errors were forced on N’Golo Kanté and Gary Cahill.

So much for Mourinho’s pre-match protestations of fatigue while it was no surprise to see Marcus Rashford recovered from illness (ahem) to lead the line with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Wayne Rooney and Anthony Martial all absent. And it was Rashford, latching onto a long punt forward by Paul Pogba, who fashioned the first chance as he set up Henrikh Mkhitaryan who dragged a low shot narrowly wide.

Conte was unusually pensive and quickly in conversation with his assistant Steve Holland – Mourinho was pumped – and United’s start had taken them aback. Chelsea had also gone for a strong line-up. In previous rounds Conte had made nine changes, then nine changes again and then seven for the fifth round. But this was different.

As was the skill demonstrated by Hazard as he wonderfully tricked Chris Smalling, leaving him grasping, and sprinted into the penalty area only for his driven shot to be brilliantly flicked around the post by David De Gea. The goalkeeper excelled again from the corner as he dived to his right to push away Cahill’s shot after the Chelsea defender had held off Marcos Rojo. Suddenly Chelsea were on top.

The only way to stop Hazard was to foul him and Herrera cynically shouldered him to the ground before Jones also forced him over and Holland decided to speak to fourth official Mike Jones. Soon after and Mourinho demanded a yellow card for Hazard, claiming he dived under Paul Pogba’s challenge. The Chelsea fans did not like that and their choice response confirmed one love affair was definitely over.

Despite the attention Hazard was still finding space and drove at the United defence before slicing a shot high over the cross-bar and, by now, it was the home side who were dominating possession as well as chances and Mourinho’s team were dropping deeper while Rashford struggled to impose himself against Cahill and David Luiz.

They sorely missed the suspended Ibrahimovic and they were soon missing Herrera also as the midfielder, already cautioned, rashly brought down Hazard. Clearly referee Michael Oliver had just warned United against persistently fouling him, he had called over captain Chris Smalling and spoken to Jones, and it was Herrera who paid the price. United were down to 10-men and they were incensed and then so was Conte, after another challenge, this time on Marcos Alonso, and he confronted Mourinho with Oliver eventually called over.

Would the half-time break calm things? United were a man down but Chelsea were ruffled, lacking in rhythm and despite Hazard’s brilliance not the dominant, irrepressible force they have been. They were labouring but managed to find the breakthrough from the most unlikely source. Kante scored.

The ball had been worked across the front of the United penalty area with Willian turning it infield to Kante. For some reason Pogba stood off his fellow French international and Kante took the invitation to shoot, with Rojo also failing to react, by steering a low shot that sped away from De Gea’s grasp and into the net. It was only his second Chelsea goal. The other had also come against United.

Would there be a response? It appeared so when Rashford seized on Luiz’s error, cut across Cahill and - through on goal - drove a fierce shot that was superbly blocked by Thibaut Courtois. At the other end Diego Costa met a corner but powered his unchallenged header past the post. He also should have scored before Willian side-footed just over from the area’s edge.

Meanwhile a running battle between Costa and Rojo simmered away, boiled over at times, before the football broke out again with De Gea beating away Moses's rising shot and Costa just failing to connect with Willian’s cross. That would have ended it but it spilled over again as Ashley Young hacked down Moses. Once more the managers clashed and the tension rose. While there was only one goal in this United tried to hit back. But it was Chelsea’s quarter-final.

===========================

Guardian:

N’Golo Kanté sends Chelsea past 10-man Manchester United in FA Cup

Chelsea 1 - 0 Man Utd

Daniel Taylor at Stamford Bridge

Perhaps there will be a day in the future when José Mourinho can return to Stamford Bridge without the rancour and acrimony that accompanied this tie. It might, however, be a long time away judging by the sourness that infiltrated another triumphant night for Chelsea and left Mourinho trying desperately to get in the last word. “Judas is No1,” was a nice soundbite from the former Chelsea manager, reflecting on his trophy count in these parts, but only a small victory considering the joys for Antonio Conte.

By the time it was all done Conte’s team were into a semi-final against Tottenham and their supporters were left wondering whether he might emulate Carlo Ancelotti by finishing his first season at the club with the double. N’Golo Kanté had scored in the game’s decisive moment five minutes into the second half and, after that, it was always going to be difficult for Manchester United bearing in mind Ander Herrera had been sent off during what looked suspiciously like a premeditated campaign to target Eden Hazard. Conte was convinced, accusing United of “trying to intimidate” and describing their tactics in this part of the match as “only kicking”.

It was probably no surprise, therefore, there were times when Conte and Mourinho clashed on the touchline like two warring stags. A feud is taking shape and it cannot help Mourinho’s mood that the new guy in town keeps getting the better of them. This was the second time Mourinho has been back to Chelsea and he has lost both times, conceding five goals and not scoring once.

The repercussions for United could involve disciplinary action for the team because of their protests after Herrera’s second yellow card. Marcos Rojo could also be in trouble after a stamp on Hazard and, along the way, there was the hard evidence of how Mourinho’s relationship with the Chelsea supporters has changed. A manager with his trophy collection might have thought he was immune to the kind of vitriolic chants and abuse that could be heard behind his dugout. Mourinho responded by holding up three fingers – one for each league championship – and it is safe to assume this is how it is going to be from now onwards. Diplomatic relations are off.

Did United really target Hazard? It was nothing like as brutal as the time, infamously, when a succession of Sir Alex Ferguson’s players ganged up on José Antonio Reyes during the height of the United-Arsenal rivalry. Yet the referee, Michael Oliver, was sufficiently concerned to hold up play after 35 minutes and bring over United’s captain, Chris Smalling, to make it clear that he would not tolerate any more. Play restarted and Herrera, already booked for a bodycheck on Hazard, evidently did not believe the warning applied to him. Two touches later and the Belgian was on the floor again. Herrera let down his team. He was foolish in the extreme and later on Antonio Valencia was fortunate not to go the same way after diving in, two-footed, on Kanté, the game’s outstanding performer.

By that stage Mourinho and Conte were doing their best to ignore one another in the manner of two fourth-formers who had fallen out over a game of marbles. It was gloriously childish but also great fun. For long spells both managers stubbornly went through the pretence that the other did not exist. At other times they could be seen screaming into each other’s face, separated only by the fourth official. One argument was sufficient for Oliver to hold up play again and the body language as they received their telling-off was a picture: two grown men with their backs slightly turned so they did not have to make eye contact. It was a lesson in juvenile point-scoring.

As for the actual football – oh yes, the football – the game was always likely to swing in Chelsea’s favour once they had the extra man and it was almost a surprise they restricted themselves to only one goal during a challenging second half for their opponents.

A man down, Mourinho brought on Marouane Fellaini in place of Henrikh Mkhitaryan to give his team a more robust edge. Phil Jones was operating as a deep-lying midfielder and Ashley Young was also under instructions to drop back from the left wing. United, in other words, spent parts of the night operating with a 6-2-1 system, the paradox being that Kanté’s goal came from a gaping hole 25 yards out. David de Gea had been superb in the first half but Paul Pogba, who had a poor night, was slow to close down the shot and Rojo simply watched it go by without attempting to get his body in the way. Marcus Rashford did have a chance to catch Chelsea on the break but Thibaut Courtois kept out the shot and a grumpy night had a happy ending for Conte and his players.

================================

Independent:

N'Golo Kante strike enough as Chelsea fend off 10-man Manchester United in feisty FA Cup clash

Chelsea 1 Manchester United 0: Holders crashed out after an early Herrera red

Miguel Delaney at Stamford Bridge

So, rather than trebles it’s doubles, as a single N’Golo Kante goal was enough to subject Jose Mourinho for a second successive defeat at his old club and keep Chelsea en route for both the Premier League and FA Cup.

Antonio Conte’s side go into the semi-finals, powered by some of the notable anger of this match in its early stages, and having completely commanded the majority of this FA Cup sixth-round 1-0 win over Manchester United. Mourinho will have the excuse of Ander Herrera’s red card from those rancorous opening exchanges and the absence of Zlatan Ibrahimovic but, at this point, it seems there’s always an excuse when there’s yet another setback.

The game really highlighted a fair few disparities between the squads and why Chelsea are top and United sixth, as the home side could have ended up winning by a lot more against a generally unambitious side, Victor Moses was doing so much more than a relative United counterpart like Matteo Darmian and - most of all - match-winner N’Golo Kante showed Paul Pogba what a real value-for-money performance was. There was also the fact that Herrera’s red was probably a consequence of United’s primary gameplan in shackling Chelsea’s main playmaker, even if they can debate the nature of the second yellow card.

Either way, Chelsea were much the better team by the end.

If the build-up to this fixture was dominated by subtle mind games about who exactly plays counter-attacking football and what exactly constitutes that type of approach, the match started with two robust sides that created a lot of properly physical confrontations - and that occasionally threatened to spread the benches. This had spark.

Mourinho has often been accused of lacking the required innovation in recent years, but his starting line-up was something rarely seen in the game: four centre-halves at the back, two effective wing-backs and an entire gameplan that seemed to be just about stopping Hazard.

With the spike of the occasion, it was perhaps inevitable that two players like Herrera and Diego Costa would come together early on, although they helped each other up in an endearing moment that was quite different from what was to come.

These early clashes still created enough space for some football, although mostly from Chelsea. United’s best opportunity came from a punt up that looked to release Marcus Rashford - back in the team after Mourinho so conspicuously and pointedly saying he was ill - with Henrikh Mkhitaryan then driving just wide. It wasn’t long until Hazard eventually got free, though. His supreme run and shot on 16 minutes almost opened the scoring, and temporarily saw Chelsea open up.

They laid siege for the next few minutes, with David De Gea pulling off the save of the game from an improvised Gary Cahill shot in the box.

It wasn’t going to be long, either, until it properly kicked off. With United players appearing to be on some kind of rota to tackle Hazard, the Belgian was caught by Herrera on 20 minutes. A yellow card came out and another warning had been offered. It was not heeded. With referee Michael Oliver now repeatedly telling players that he would get more cards, Herrera went in on Hazard with a more routine challenge on 35 minutes, the playmaker again going down. It saw the Spaniard go off. Oliver got a second card out, leading to Conte aggressively celebrating as if it was a last-minute equaliser.

It was far from the only flashpoint on the sideline. Chelsea fans near the press box had been showing how much their attitude to Mourinho had changed by telling him where to go in obviously vulgar terms, leading to him holding up three fingers and pointing to the pitch to obviously highlight how many titles he’d won more, and the home fans to sing “it’s all your fault”, “you ruined it” among other such offerings.

Moments later, after Marcos Alonso and Antonio Valencia had been involved in another head-to-head, Mourinho was straight over to the fourth official to complain… only for Conte to charge over and get screaming in his face. It was as if the Italian had been waiting for the opportunity. There were no subtle mind games here.

Oliver was unwilling to let it continue, however, and called both managers over for a talking-to.

Mourinho had probably made his own biggest statement by hauling off Mkhitaryan for Marouane Fellaini the second Herrera was sent off, making his gameplan now abundantly clear. The necessity with this kind of approach and a mere 10 men on the pitch, though, is that you need everyone doing their job to the maximum.

The again-subdued Paul Pogba was not doing that, got caught just after 50 minutes, and Kante caught the ball well to make it 1-0 from the edge of the box. In truth, the shot seemed to surprise both Pogba and De Gea - probably because this was just Kante’s second goal for Chelsea and third in English football - but it was no surprise Conte’s side were in the lead. The pattern had been set since the red card. Mourinho looked as livid after the goal as he’d done at any other point in the game.

Chelsea were by then in total command with a series of efforts - from Victor Moses to Costa - that went narrowly wide, although there was one big warning with the game still at 1-0 when Rashford too easily got free from Gary Cahill on the break… but then finished imprecisely for Thibaut Courtois to save well.

Possibly alerted into action, though, there was an impressive mental sharpness about what Chelsea did thereafter. They supremely manipulated the space - and the extra man - to herd United into their own area like cattle. It’s difficult to say whether frustration got the better of Mourinho’s side once that started to happen, but a few challenges and fouls bore that hallmark.

Valencia went in with conspicuous aggression on Alonso, and at one point Pogba was resorted to just bundling Kante to the ground. It was the only time he could get near him, the only time he could get something on target. The world-record signing tried a shot close to the end of the game that could still have rescued United, only for it to go pitifully wide.

Mourinho won’t win three trophies, but Conte can still win two, after beating United again.



=========================================

Mail:

Chelsea 1-0 Manchester United: N'Golo Kante fires Antonio Conte's side into the FA Cup semi-finals after Ander Herrera sees red at Stamford Bridge

By Martin Samuel for the Daily Mail

So, if Paul Pogba is £89million of midfield player what, right now, would N'Golo Kante be worth? More, in real terms, obviously. Whether a club would pay it is another matter; equally, whether Kante has a price.

This was another performance that makes him as good as invaluable to Chelsea. Ominous, for those still to face them, too.

If Kante can add scoring goals from outside the area to his repertoire of hard running, hard tackling and largely being in two places at once for 90 minutes, then he might just turn out to be the most complete player in English football.

His accomplishments on Monday night included the winning goal and putting the world's most expensive player, Pogba, in the shade. Yet to say he is Chelsea's engine is to damn with faint praise, as vital as that role appears. Kante is more than just a midfield grafter, a destroyer, a guy who gives it to those who can play. He plays, too.

His goal after 51 minutes wasn't just some pot-luck shot from outside the area, but a ball swept low into the corner of David de Gea's goal from range, deciding the game when Chelsea's more familiar avenues had proved dead ends.

Antonio Conte's side had a man over for the best part of an hour thanks to Ander Herrera's second sending-off of the season, but while they had chances to finish the game off late there was no other way through.

Jose Mourinho had set United up to resist and they did that well. Enter Kante. Already winning his head-to-head with Pogba at a canter — not that he ever canters — he settled the match with his first goal since October 23.

That, the visiting fans will ruefully testify, was against Manchester United, too, but it was the cherry on the top of a 4-0 win, not the main meal.

Kante got a straightforward square ball from Willian and, from a position that suggested little threat, noted that Pogba had not closed him down with sufficient urgency and clipped it quite superbly out of the reach of De Gea.

Two points made for the price of one, to leave Chelsea edging ever closer to the Double in Conte's first season. The sending-off was the turning point obviously, but that does not mean Chelsea would not have found a way against 11. They usually have this season.

If nothing else, the way Mourinho approached this game made plain he is not the sort to make the same mistake twice. Having been well beaten here earlier in the season and with striking options limited to a peaky Marcus Rashford, he made plans for Chelsea, some of them quite extreme.

Phil Jones was detailed to keep watch over Eden Hazard, his team-mates eagerly filling in when he could not get close enough. It was brutal at times.

After 35 minutes, Manchester United were down to 10 and the persistent fouls on Hazard were responsible. It could be argued that Herrera was unfortunate, that his offences were not the worst and perhaps did not amount to a red card.

Yet, undeniably, he was also foolish, and his timing could barely have been worse. No matter United's protests, in the end, a referee has to make a stand to exert his authority and protect the most gifted players. In that context, Herrera got what was coming to him.

He had already been booked after 20 minutes, bringing to an end another surging Hazard run. The Belgian was haring towards goal and had laid the ball off when Herrera blocked his path.

Did he know what he was doing? Probably. Does it say anywhere in the rulebook that a player must move out of the way to let another pass? No. Herrera seemed to be standing his ground more than intentionally moving into Hazard. Referee Michael Oliver saw it differently and booked him — to his, and Mourinho's, disgust.

The fouls continued. Hazard bundled over by Jones. Hazard sent tumbling by Jones again. Not violent, but persistent. Oliver called the player over with Smalling, his captain, and delivered a lecture. The theme, one imagines, was: 'Cut it out, leave him alone, or I'll have to take action.'

From the restart, Hazard got the ball and Herrera tripped him. Well, in Oliver's position, what would you have done? Yes, Hazard made a meal of it and fell quite dramatically, but, yes, it was a trip. If nothing else it was a challenge to Oliver's authority — an act that as good as flicked a V-sign in his direction after the summit that had preceded it.

He was reaching for his cards almost before Hazard hit the floor. Herrera was incensed, again, so too Mourinho. For much of the game he had been at war with fourth official Mike Jones, Antonio Conte and the fans who once professed their love for him.

Jones had kept the managers apart on more than one occasion. When those in the stands barracked him, Mourinho responded with three fingers — whether to signify the number of times he thought Hazard had fallen cheaply, or the number of titles they owed him, who can say?

By now, we were at boiling point. After another confrontation, Jones called for back-up. Over came Oliver to warn the managers that Herrera might not be the only one leaving early if this continued. An uneasy truce resulted.

The game? Well, it was intriguing while 11 against 11. Manchester United clearly came with a very precise game plan which seemed to frustrate Chelsea rather well. Yet Hazard was never less than terrifying on the counter-attack and, through him, Chelsea forged the better of the play.

It was his run after 16 minutes, taking out Smalling with a single touch and sailing past Marcos Rojo that ended with De Gea's first good save of the night. From the corner he made his second, a brilliant low stop to claw away an effort from Gary Cahill.

Chelsea could have scored on several occasions as the effects of playing them with 10 men took a toll.

Diego Costa should have converted a free header, Willian had a very useful shot curl just wide, De Gea saved from Cesc Fabregas in injury time — but the best chance of the second half fell to Rashford, capitalising on a mistake by David Luiz to skin Cahill and force a brilliant save from Thibaut Courtois.

It wasn't much to show for a night that stretches Manchester United's winless run against Chelsea to 12 games, though.

United had just 28 per cent possession and may hear more about what looked to be a Rojo stamp on Hazard late in the game. And if the Football Association are not showing much interest, a caller from Bournemouth may wish to engage them.



MATCH FACTS

CHELSEA (3-4-3): Courtois 6.5; Azpilicueta 7, Luiz 6.5, Cahill 6.5, Moses 7 (Zouma, 89), Kante 9, Matic 7, Alonso 6.5, Willian 7.5 (Fabregas, 80), Costa 6 (Batshuayi, 90+2), Hazard 8.5

Subs not used: Begovic, Terry, Chalobah, Pedro

Goal: Kante (51)

Booked: Costa

MANCHESTER UNITED (3-4-3): De Gea 8; Jones 7.5, Smalling 7.5, Rojo 7; Valencia 6.5, Darmian 7, Herrera 5, Pogba 6; Young 6 (Lingard, 80), Mkhitaryan 5.5 (Fellaini, 37), Rashford 6

Subs not used: Romero, Bailly, Blind, Carrick, Mata

Sent off: Herrera 35

Booked: Herrera (2), Young

Referee: Michael Oliver 6.5

Man of the Match: N'Golo Kante

Attendance: 40,801

Player ratings by Sami Mokbel


=======================================

Express:

Chelsea 1 - Man United 0: Blues heading to Wembley after controversial red card aids win

THE fireworks were on the touchline – but the only strike that counted came from the man who hardly ever shoots.

By TONY BANKS

N’Golo Kante fired Chelsea into an FA Cup semi-final against Tottenham last night with the only goal of a tempestuous quarter-final tie, which finally ended the resistance of Manchester United’s 10 men.

Chelsea legend Frank Lampard, watching as a television pundit, afterwards called Kante the best central midfielder in the world right now. And he knows a thing or two about that.

But the Frenchman, known more for his astonishing ability to cover ground and snuff out the opposition, almost found his performance overshadowed by two men who know all about fireworks.

Rival managers Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho clashed face to face furiously three times on the touchline, having to be separated by their staff each time, and fourth official Mike Jones. Both were warned by referee Michael Oliver about their conduct.

At the end, as both dashed onto the field to congratulate their players, there was no handshake. They never even came close to each other until the press conference where a handshake was finally exchanged.

When Chelsea beat United 4-0 in the league in October, Mourinho, back on the stomping ground where he won three league titles, accused Conte of trying to humiliate him as he whipped up the crowd. The enmity is still there, still simmering.

Last night, Mourinho was left fuming at Anders Herrera’s dismissal by Oliver for two yellow cards, the second a debatable challenge on Eden Hazard. It was the moment that fundamentally ended this match as a real contest, however hard United fought.

And as the fans taunted him, yelling “**ck off Mourinho,” he held up three fingers to them and pointed to the floor.

Three titles here. But when all the fuss had died down, Chelsea’s dreams of the Double are still alive - and Conte’s men right now seem able to pass any test they are faced with.

The scare stories before the match about United having no fit forwards available, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic banned and Wayne Rooney and Antony Martial injured, turned to be just that. Scare stories.

Marcus Rashford had recovered from his ‘illness’ and took his place. Typical Mourinho mind games? Maybe. United had made massive strides since being hammered 4-0 in October, not losing in their following 17 league matches.

But Chelsea, ten points clear at the top of the Premier League table and with only one loss in their last 21 games, were in formidable form. No one though, as Chelsea knew only too well, is better at organising a rearguard action and nicking a result than the guy in the other dug-out.

United though could actually have been in front after just a minute last night, when the unmarked Marcos Rojo headed over.

Mourinho’s team were at Chelsea ferociously from the start - pressing high, snapping into tackles, they went close again when Henrikh Mkhitaryan shot just wide. Conte’s team were simply given no room to play in.

But this Chelsea can create danger in an instant. Eden Hazard brilliantly turned Chris Smalling, danced round Rojo, and David De Gea brilliantly tipped his deflected shot round the post. From the corner Gary Cahill found a yard, but De Gea reacted superbly again.

Hazard again dribbled through and shot over. The pace was relentless, and unforgiving. Conte and Mourinho clashed on the touchline as Hazard went down again.

Then Herrera - already booked for a foul on Hazard - clattered again into the Belgian, who fell threatrically. Another yellow and the Spaniard was off and United down to ten men. Mourinho smiled ironically.

Now, United had no choice but to hold on and hope. But they cracked just five minutes into the second half, as Willian fed Kante, and he fired low into the corner from 20 yards. The brilliant Frenchman’s only other goal this season had also come against Mourinho’s team.

Rashford, alone up front, was still dangerous. As David Luiz missed the ball, he bamboozled Cahill, but Thibaut Courtois pulled off a brilliant save. It was United’s moment, and it had gone.

The chances though were coming regularly at the other end, as Diego Costa somehow headed wide, Willian curled one just over, and then saw De Gea save his rising shot. Costa tumbled, but the penalty appeals were waved away.

Paul Pogba wasted another opportunity as he drove wide, and United’s chance dribbled away into the West London night. The nights Mourinho so used to love.

But they forget you see, Jose. They forget.

==========================================

Sun:

SINGING THE BLUES Chelsea 1 Manchester United 0: N’Golo Kante fires Blues to Wembley as they overcome Red Devils in hot-tempered FA Cup clash

Midfielder pops up with rare goal to down Jose Mourinho's side after Ander Herrera saw red for the visitors

By Gary Stonehouse and Andrew Dillon

CHELSEA are into the FA Cup semi-finals and will face Tottenham after a rare N’Golo Kante goal fired them to a 1-0 victory over ten-man Manchester United.

The Frenchman’s strike proved the difference as the Blues continued their quest for a league and cup double following this hot-tempered affair at Stamford Bridge – which saw Ander Herrera sent off for the visitors.

After a cagey opening, with a Henrikh Mkitaryan effort going wide for the visitors, the Premier League leaders finally burst into life on 16 minutes.

Keep up to date with ALL the CHELSEA and MANCHESTER UNITED, gossip, transfers and goals on our club page plus fixtures, results and live match commentary

Eden Hazard span away from Chris Smalling on halfway, skipping past three men before firing a low drive that David de Gea managed to push clear.

The Spanish stopper produced an ever better save seconds later, somehow managing to claw Gary Cahill’s effort out when it looked a certain goal.

It was getting feisty with a number of niggling fouls, and Herrera’s received his first card after a body check on Hazard.

And before the half was out he received his marching orders for another foul on the Blues talisman.

Despite his heroics in the first 45 minutes, de Gea was nowhere near the opener when it arrived shortly after the restart, as Paul Pogba's slow closing down allowed Kante to break the deadlock with low shot into the bottom corner.

Marcus Rashford then skinned Cahill as he sent him one then the other as the Red Devils looked for an immediate response, but Thibaut Courtois stood up well to deny the youngster.

It was all-action now, and Diego Costa powered a free header wide of the post to double Chelsea's advantage.

De Gea was at it again to deny Willian at the near post with just under twenty minutes left, and despite a late rally by United, the Blues were not punished for their missed chances as they sealed their spot at Wembley.


FACTS, STATS, GOALS AND LOLS

Chelsea dropped Cesc Fabregas in a tough call for boss Antonio Conte after the Spaniard’s sound performances in the last two games.

Stamford Bridge became a smoking zone as clouds of dry ice were pumped onto the pitch in a move to pump up the atmosphere - or choke it.

Long serving club captain John Terry also dropped suggesting the veteran defender could well have played his last game at Stamford Bridge.

The Manchester United players were furious with the decision to send off Ander Herrera

Jose Mourinho opted for a casual outfit of gilet and sneakers - he steadfastly wore overcoat and smart shoes when Chelsea boss.

Football went out of the window as the teams and coaches went to war on 35 minutes. Herrera sent off for a foul on Hazard having been booked and Mourinho and Conte square up - ref Michael Oliver having to halt play to speak to both men.

Chelsea fans then finally turn on one time hero Mourinho after he complains about a foul. Chants of ‘f*** off Mourinho’ and ‘It’s All Your Fault’ in relation to Chelsea’s appalling form last season.

Mourinho responds with a three fingered gesture to them - in recognition of the three Premier League titles he won as Chelsea boss.N’Golo Kante put Chelsea ahead in the 55th minute with his first goal since October 23 - against the same opposition.

Marcus Rashford skins Gary Cahill but then wastes superb chance to equalise with a poor shot straight at keeper Thibaut Courtois.

Antonio Valencia was lucky to escape a red card for a two footed lunge over the ball at goalscorer Kante.


======================================

Mirror:

Chelsea 1-0 Manchester United: Kante stunner sends Blues into FA Cup semi-finals - 5 things we learned

The Frenchman continued his incredible season by scoring the winner at Stamford Bridge

BY LIAM PRENDERVILLE

Chelsea progressed to the semi-finals of the FA Cup by beating Manchester United in a fiery clash at Stamford Bridge.

The excellent N'Golo Kante scored the only goal of the game as Antonio Conte's men remain on course for the double.

The Frenchman, who dominated Paul Pogba throughout, fired home from the edge of the box to beat David De Gea.

Ander Herrera had seen red during the first-half for United, before Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte clashed.



Here are five things we learned.


1. Kante edges out Pogba

They were the two big midfield buys last summer after a fine Euro 2016 with France.

But it was N'Golo Kante who dominated his countryman at Stamford Bridge.

Kante was destructive in front of the Chelsea back four and even popped up with the winner.

Surely the Footballer of the Year.


2. Herrera red changes the game

It was a big call and it certainly affected this one.

Jose Mourinho had his side set up to defend and when Ander Herrera was dismissed, his plans went out of the window.

It was harsh on the Spaniard but you can see why Michael Oliver dismissed him.


3. No love lost between the bosses

Ahead of the encounter, Antonio Conte spoke of the respect between he and Jose Mourinho.

They clashed earlier in the season and it didn't take long for history to repeat itself.

The Ander Herrera red card didn't help matters before a late challenge on Marcos Alonso from Antonio Valencia.

Fourth official Mike Jones had a busy evening as he came between the duo.

Safe to say, they won't be receiving Christmas cards from one another.


4. De Gea remains the best

The Manchester United stopper is having another fine season.

De Gea was well-beaten by Kante but he made a number of fine saves, none better than the stop to deny Cahill.

He is the best in England...and arguably the world.

You have to think United would be a lot worse off without him.


5. The double is on

Chelsea are romping to the Premier League title and they must now be favourites to add the FA Cup to their trophy cabinet this season.

Despite the slender margin of victory they were rarely troubled by United at the Bridge and take on a Spurs side in the last four at Wembley who look likely to be without talisman Harry Kane.

It could turn out to be an even more incredible first season in English football for Antonio Conte than we thought.


Andy Dunn's player ratings

Courtois 7 - Largely redundant but made one crucial save from Rashford

Moses 6 - Mourinho tactics negated his impact, pressed back more than usual

Azpilicueta 7 - A very calm contribution but hardly stretched by a one-man attack

Luiz 7 - Another Chelsea defender with a cigar on the go for most of the time

Cahill 6 - Seemed to be targeted by Rashford and exposed occasionally

Alonso 6 - Like his fellow wing-back, found himself pinned at times

Matic 7 - Enjoyed the physcial confrontations and grew into the game

Kante 7 - Not at his most eye-catching but stepped up with the breakthrough

Willian 6 - Put in a serious shift but nothing much came off for him

Hazard 8 - MOTM. Flashes of brilliance and his victimisation ended up changing the game

Costa 6 - Put himself around as usual but not to great effect

Subs

Fabregas (for Willian, 81)

Zouma (for Moses, 89)

Batshuayi (for Costa, 90)


Manchester United

De Gea 6 - Two great first half save but wrong-footed for the Kante goal

Jones 7 - It is not always pretty but certainly left his mark on the game

Smalling 6 - Standard stuff, some crucial blocks but some rushes of blood

Rojo 7 - The marshalling figure in a packed United defence. Pretty solid

Darmian 6 - Conceded a welter of free-kicks but never less than tenacious

Valencia 6 - Wary about over-committing and not a major factor

Herrera 4 - Sent off. Two yellows a little harsh but a dismissal that has been coming for a while.

Pogba 6 - Relished the physical battle and made his mark on the contest

Mkhitaryan 6 - Had one decent effort before tactical withdrawal after Herrera red

Young 6 - Mainly restricted to defensive duties which he carried out diligently

Rashford 7 - Often a thankless task but selflessly ran himself into the ground

Subs

Fellaini (Mkhitaryan, 37) 6

Lingard (for Young, 81)


=======================================

Star:

Chelsea 1 Man United 0: N'Golo Kante keeps double alive as ten-men United crash out of cup

N’GOLO KANTE kept his head while everyone else was losing theirs at Stamford Bridge last night.

By Paul Brown

With Ander Herrera sent off for two stupid fouls on Eden Hazard and both managers at one point looking ready to trade blows, Kante kept his cool to score a belter.

How Manchester United must hate him. He’s only scored twice this season and both have come against them. Comparisons were made between him and Paul Pogba before kick-off.

But Kante won this battle hands down, with Pogba failing to close him down for his goal and being subjected to chants of “What a waste of money” from home fans.

It all meant another miserable return to the Bridge for Jose Mourinho, whose side were walloped 4-0 here in October.

At one point he even had a spat with the Chelsea fans, responding to their taunts by sticking three fingers up as if to remind them how many titles he won here.

But the Special One isn’t so special in these parts any more. Antonio Conte is the new hero to Blues fans and his side are still on course for a Premier League and FA Cup Double.

Mourinho got his excuses in early by claiming his side were tired and missing key men like the suspended Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

But he resisted the urge to throw this one away like Manchester City did here last February. With bigger fish to fry, City played a shadow team and got smashed 5-1.

Instead, Mourinho named the strongest team he could, and it was no real surprise to see Marcus Rashford in the starting line-up despite talk of a pre-match illness.

In fairness Chelsea took it seriously too. Unlike in previous rounds there was little rotation and no room for any of the fringe players in Conte’s squad.

Mourinho has been taking digs at his old club ever since they dished out his worst defeat in English football back in October.

But while he shook hands with Conte before kick-off and got a warm welcome from John Terry and his former assistant Steve Holland, there was no handshake after this one.

After Mourinho went with three at the back against Rostov in the Europa League, there was speculation he’d match up with Chelsea. But it was more of a five, or even six, at times.

Sometimes it feels like you need five or six just to stop Eden Hazard, and it was the Belgian who almost drew first blood.

He turned Chris Smalling and then left him for dead before beating Marcos Rojo and forcing De Gea into a fine fingertip save with a deflected shot.

If that was good from De Gea, better was to come from the resulting corner when he somehow turned away Gary Cahill’s effort from point-blank range.

Conte had promised not to tone down his touchline antics despite Mourinho’s complaints, and he exploded in fury when Herrera decked Hazard for his first booking.

Mourinho then went potty when Herrera got his second yellow for a stupid trip on the Belgian. But he laughed ruefully when the red card came out.

Herrera initially refused to walk and United players mobbed referee Michael Oliver before he finally accepted his fate.

Then, with Mourinho screaming that Marcos Alonso had dived after another crunching tackle, Conte lost it and the pair had to be kept apart by fourth official Mike Jones.

Down to ten, United were dogged and determined. But they were undone by Kante’s 52nd-minute bolt from the blue, which surprised De Gea and skidded past him into the far corner.

Rashford should have punished a defensive slip by David Luiz soon afterwards but after turning Cahill inside out he fired his shot against the legs of Thibaut Courtois.

From the corner, Chelsea almost scored again on a breakaway led by Kante only for Matteo Darmian to clear the danger, before Diego Costa sent a free header wide.

But in the end Kante’s strike proved the difference. A trophy gone for United. A club record 13th home win in a row for Chelsea. Can anyone stop them?

Sunday, March 12, 2017

West Ham United 2-1



Telegraph:

West Ham 1-2 Chelsea:

Hazard and Costa on target as scoreline conceals dominance of champions-elect

Jason Burt

At one stage Gary Cahill had the shirt ripped from his back but West Ham United never really got close to Chelsea last night as the Premier League leaders re-established their formidable 10-point lead in impre­ssive, champions-elect fashion.

The Chelsea captain lost his jersey, accidentally shredded by the studs of Sofiane Feghouli as he lay on the turf, but the club’s suppor­ters will soon believe they can put their shirts on their team winning this league. There is a relentless determination summed up by the intense demands of their manager Antonio Conte.

Even in the vast technical areas of this stadium Conte encroached – and had to be beckoned back by fourth official Mike Dean – as he insisted on more and more from his players.

At the end, he strode over towards the Chelsea fans, as they sang his name, and pumped both fists in concentrated celebration. He gave the air of a man who simply will not relent until the league is won.

Conte will not let up and neither will his players and, in particular, his on-field general N’Golo Kanté who produced another astonishing, high-powered performance. Des-pite playing on such a big pitch, the midfielder yet again matched the old football cliché of covering every blade of grass.

“He made 50 passes and five mistakes. He has to improve,” Conte said when invited to praise Kante. He could sense the surprise to his answer before adding: “I’m joking.”

Only half-joking, maybe, such are the standards he exacts – and it was telling that he rued the fact that his team did not manage a clean sheet. “We need to be more clinical,” he added. “And don’t concede a goal.”

No one could doubt West Ham’s effort in this London derby, either. But they simply could not lay a glove on Chelsea. The only bloody nose was, in fact, delivered to Andy Carroll who received a bash – and stitches – as he was beaten to the ball by Victor Moses and never managed to truly ruffle Chelsea’s defence where Cahill and David Luiz were again in firm control.

The attention now turns back to Manchester City who have the opportunity to reduce Chelsea’s lead to eight points when they play their game in hand against Stoke City tomorrow, but the challengers are beginning to run out of matches with the vain hope that West Ham might create a twist in this title race quickly fading here.

It is 10 unbeaten now for Chelsea as they embark on another impre­ssive run and no team in the Premier League who have reached 66 points, as they have, after 27 games have not gone on to win the title. It has happened six times previously, twice by Chelsea. A third time seems highly likely.

And yet they started slowly. They tried to play themselves into this one, tried to weigh up West Ham who were determined to mix it with Carroll back in the team, after a month out with a groin injury, and Feghouli and Robert Snodgrass under orders to get the ball quickly into the Chelsea penalty area.

The problem for West Ham was that they could not get enough players forward and then, of course, when they did they were undone. Space and pace, West Ham manager Slaven Bilic later lamented, were always a danger against a team whose most potent weapon is their ability to counter-attack.

It was more maddening for Bilic, however, that the opening goal followed a mistake, a sloppy pass from Snodgrass that was snapped up by Kanté with an electric intervention and suddenly Chelsea were up and running with Eden Hazard and Pedro charging forward.

They combined with Pedro sliding a superb pass into the space that Hazard gobbled up and, as the West Ham defenders tried to smother him, he skipped infield, rounded goalkeeper Darren Randolph and slid his shot into the net.

It was a devastating strike and a devastating counter-attack which prompted an isolated, ugly reaction as one West Ham fan ventured over the hoardings to confront the celebrating players.

Unfazed, Chelsea broke again with Hazard sprinting clear down the left, crossing low with the ball skimming just behind Diego Costa and running through to Moses, whose shot was blocked by Aaron Cresswell and then rebounded to Pedro who drew a fine save from Randolph with a half-volley.

So it continued – and continued with another goal. It followed another rapid break by Hazard and a corner earned which was swung in by Cesc Fabregas, inadvertently glancing off the head of Pedro Obiang and falling for Costa to knee into the net from close range, while, soon after, Marcos Alonso prodded a shot narrowly wide.

Still Conte demanded more. Barked more. He knew that despite the dominance this could swing, still, and West Ham should have done that when Jose Fonte met

Snodgrass’s cross, only to miskick, with Feghouli’s follow-up slamming off Moses on the goal line.

Chelsea hit back with another counter that forced another smart save from Randolph, turning away Costa’s shot after a sharp turn but it was West Ham who claimed the goal, in injury time, as André Ayew charged forward, seizing on a rare César Azpilicueta mistake, with the ball breaking to Manuel Lanzini who hammered his half-volley beyond Thibaut Courtois.

But time ran out for West Ham. And it is running out for Chelsea’s title rivals.




=========================


Guardian:

Chelsea restore 10-point lead at top of Premier League after win at West Ham

West Ham 1 - 2

Daniel Taylor


In theory, there is still time for Chelsea’s rivals to catch and overhaul them at the top of the Premier League. In reality, though, it is beginning to feel almost inconceivable. Chelsea just look too strong, too experienced and too streetwise. They passed their latest test with distinction and it would have to be something dramatic now to imagine any other scenario than another open-top bus parade along the King’s Road.

Another team in Chelsea’s position might have wobbled in the circumstances – a London derby under the floodlights against an improving side – bearing in mind their two nearest challengers, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City, both won over the weekend. Nobody, however, should doubt the durability of the side Antonio Conte has put together. Their lead is back to 10 points and who can foresee a collapse when Eden Hazard is shimmering with this kind of menace and everyone around him is going about their business with such supreme confidence?

Chelsea now have 30 more points than at the corresponding stage last season and the only minor irritation for Conte was the stoppage-time goal from Manuel Lanzini that briefly gave West Ham hope of an improbable feat of escapology. For Chelsea, however, that was only a minor irritation. Hazard had opened the scoring with a classy breakaway strike and Diego Costa’s 18th goal of the season, early in the second half, left an air of inevitability over the rest of the evening. Chelsea threatened all night with their quick, high-quality counterattacking. They do it better than any other team in England and in those moments, with Hazard driving forward and Pedro adding his own stylish touches, it was thrilling to see.

José Mourinho likes to say his old team operate with defensive tactics but, in reality, there is much more to Chelsea than that. They sit back and then they spring forward. Costa’s goal came from a corner but Chelsea were at their most dangerous when they broke from their own half and it was risky of West Ham to leave themselves so vulnerable this way. Slaven Bilic’s side had nine men forward when Chelsea streaked clear to score the opening goal and that is bordering on reckless when their opponents are so devastating on the break.

Chelsea demonstrated in those moments that counterattacking football can be exhilarating. N’Golo Kanté, the master of the dirty work, had cut out Robert Snodgrass’s pass and in the following eight seconds the ball moved 75 yards, finishing in West Ham’s net. Hazard’s one-two with Pedro was weighted perfectly and in the course of three passes the home side had been split down the middle. It was a blur of speed and movement and, at the end of it, there was a wonderful touch of composure from Hazard to swerve round the goalkeeper, Darren Randolph, and slide his shot into the exposed goal.

That was far from the only occasion when the speed and directness of Hazard and Pedro threatened on the break. West Ham lost their shape too easily and there was a lesson here for every team that faces Chelsea. It is that when Conte’s side are defending, sometimes they are at their most dangerous.

On that front, West Ham could probably be forgiven for feeling emboldened about the way they began the match. Andy Carroll was left with a bloodied face, having clashed heads with Victor Moses, on the first occasion when one of his team-mates tried to pick him out in the penalty area. With the game goalless, a succession of crosses was aimed Carroll’s way, causing anxiety in the visitors’ penalty area.

Chelsea took their time to start playing like champions-in-waiting but they were always the more rounded side once they had the lead, scoring with their first attempt at goal, and might have doubled their lead before half-time after another breakaway finished with Costa narrowly missing Hazard’s cross, Moses firing in a shot that ricocheted off Aaron Cresswell and Pedro’s follow-up effort being turned away by Randolph.

West Ham had lost their early momentum and, five minutes into the second half, they conceded a second goal. This one came from Cesc Fàbregas’s corner and the inability of anyone in claret and blue to clear the danger inside the six-yard area. Pedro Obiang went up for the ball, in close proximity to Carroll, but succeeded only in flicking the ball behind him and Costa charged in to score off his thigh.

Maybe the complexion of the night would have changed had Moses not been handily positioned to turn away a goal-bound shot from Sofiane Feghouli just after the hour. Yet West Ham now had the dilemma of needing a way back into the contest while also knowing that if they pushed too many men forward it would be playing into Chelsea’s hands. Unfortunately for them, by the time Lanzini fired a low shot past Thibaut Courtois it was the second minute of stoppage time and the final whistle sounded before Bilic’s side could muster another chance.


=================================


Mail:

West Ham 1-2 Chelsea: Eden Hazard and Diego Costa keep Premier League chasing pack at arm's length as they dampen Irons' derby desires

By Martin Samuel

There was something horribly prophetic about this victory. Tottenham and Manchester City had scrapped and sweated on Sunday to reel in the league leaders, then Chelsea went out and calmly restored the gap at the top to 10 points.

The scoreline gives this match a sense of tension that is not truly merited. It was not that West Ham were bad, more that Chelsea were comfortable and comfortably better. West Ham's goal after Andre Ayew fed Manuel Lanzini was scored in stoppage time and might have produced a grandstand finish, had most in the grandstand not already departed for the station.

They knew the game was won, probably from the 25th minute when Chelsea went ahead from the type of counter-attack that has become their calling card. It helps that they have N'Golo Kante, surely as much the Footballer of the Year in waiting as Chelsea are Champions-elect.


There is no complacency here, no hint of losing sight of basic strengths as they enter the home straight. Chelsea batted West Ham aside with clinical counter-attacking football, killed the game off at the start of the second half and could have added a third on 67 minutes had Darren Randolph not produced the save of the night from a Costa shot on the turn.

For West Ham, it was another dispiriting evening in their new home. They worked hard, but were picked off, suffered an injury to captain Winston Reid which curtailed his game midway through the second half, and may hear more of an attempted pitch invasion by an oaf, who took exception to the Chelsea players' harmless celebration of their first goal.


Had stewards not acted considerably faster than West Ham's defence in closing him out, it could have been far worse.

Not that Chelsea were fazed. They kept West Ham at arm's length for much of the night once in front, although Moses was called upon to block a Sofiane Feghouli shot after 61 minutes, before Jose Fonte headed over.

Ultimately, whatever possession West Ham had did not amount to much in the way of chances, and while Slaven Bilic's team were skilfully handled, Chelsea's breakaways proved lethal. Every misplaced pass, every foiled attack was in danger of being severely punished. All good teams have potency on the counter but, under Antonio Conte, Chelsea have turned it into an art form.

Chelsea's manager arrived here knowing that, deployed carefully, he had a weapon that West Ham could not repel.


The last time Conte visited the London Stadium, he stayed no longer than 45 minutes. He had seen enough by half-time of a heavy defeat by Manchester City, suggesting he had no great fear of what he might face in future.

A below-strength Chelsea may have lost here in the EFL Cup this season, but here were the league leaders, the Premier League version — and a very different proposition. So it proved.

Conte showed his disdain by starting Cesc Fabregas ahead of Nemanja Matic in midfield — a tactic he rarely uses against a team he considers a threat — yet West Ham started brightly.

Chelsea at least knew they were in a match, not least when a tussle between Feghouli and Cahill left Chelsea's captain with a shirt torn up the back to the collar, like a hospital gown. For some reason, Cahill was made to leave the pitch to change attire. It is amazing what football has rules for these days, when a player can get his head stamped on, or smacked with an elbow, unnoticed.


Yet the problem, not just for West Ham but all of Chelsea's opponents for the remainder of this season, is that no amount of pressure can ward off the threat of the counter-attack. One mistake is all it takes and in the 25th minute one mistake arrived.

Robert Snodgrass, West Ham's best player up to that point, made a sloppy pass to Feghouli. It was cut out by — who else? — Kante, who fed Eden Hazard, swiftly and efficiently. He broke down the left, before slipping the ball inside to Pedro, who returned it with a lovely eye-of-the-needle pass.

Hazard collected it just outside the area, took Randolph out of the picture with a touch and passed the ball into an empty net. It was devastating to watch. Devastating to those Tottenham and Manchester City fans observing from sofas, fingers crossed for an upset, too.


After that, Chelsea assumed control with Cheikhou Kouyate lucky not to be booked for taking out Hazard from behind but, again, possession did not convert to chances. It was West Ham, in fact, who had the next decent strike — a one-two between Lanzini and Mark Noble that ended with the Argentine firing over.

A minute later, Chelsea should have made it 2-0, Hazard down the left again and crossing, only for Costa to miss his kick.

The ball fell to Moses at the far post and his shot was blocked by Aaron Cresswell, before Pedro forced an excellent save from Randolph.

Any optimism about a comeback was quickly erased after half-time. Not for the first time this season, a sluggish opening five minutes proved costly for West Ham.

Snodgrass gave the ball away again, resulting in another Chelsea counter-attack that led to a corner. Fabregas curled it in from the left, Pedro Obiang got his head to it, but only to flick the ball across goal, and Costa bundled it over the line with his knee.

It was not pretty, but Chelsea do not have to be. They just have to keep playing like this and, sometime in the spring, the title will be theirs.


West Ham (4-1-4-1): Randolph 6; Kouyate 5, Reid 6 (Byram 64, 5), Fonte 6, Cresswell 5.5: Obiang 5, Noble 5; Feghouli 5 (Ayew 64, 5), Lanzini 5, Snodgrass 5.5; Carroll 5

Unused subs: Adrian, Collins, Fernandes, Masuaku, Calleri

Goals: Lanzini 90+2

Manager: Slaven Bilic 6


Chelsea (3-4-3): Courtois 6; Azpilicueta 6, Luiz 6.5, Cahill 6; Moses 6 (Zouma 76), Kante 7, Fabregas 7, Alonso 6.5; Pedro 7 (Matic 65), Costa 6, Hazard 8 (Willian 75)

Unused subs: Begovic, Terry, Loftus-Cheek, Batshuayi

Bookings: Fabregas

Goals: Hazard 25, Costa 50

Manager: Antonio Conte 7

MOM: Eden Hazard

REF: Andre Marriner 6

Player ratings by Matt Barlow




===================================================


Independent:

Chelsea restore 10 point Premier League lead as Eden Hazard and Diego Costa see off West Ham

West Ham United 1 Chelsea 2: Manuel Lanzini got a late reply for the Hammers

Jack Pitt-Brooke

It does not matter how well Manchester City and Tottenham are playing, if Chelsea keep on like this there will be no title race. Antonio Conte’s side cruised to another win tonight, a 2-1 dispatching of West Ham United which showcased everything that is going to make them the Premier League champions of 2016-17.

This was not quite a complete performance, it was tainted by conceding a consolation goal to Manuel Lanzini with the last action of the match. That made the score 2-1 but that is no reflection on the balance of play in a game that Chelsea dominated and controlled. Much like most of their away wins this year, Chelsea always had this game exactly where they wanted it.

Before conceding to Lanzini in stoppage time, Chelsea had disdainfully held off West Ham’s powerful but predictable attacking pressure. With Andy Carroll up front, West Ham just slung crosses into the box at him all evening. Against other opponents it might have worked and there was a theory going into this game that if Chelsea had a weakness, it was in the air. But Gary Cahill and David Luiz won every header and at no point did West Ham look like they were going to break through.

Back in October West Ham overpowered Chelsea here in the League Cup, producing one of the few memorable nights this new stadium has seen so far. That was a different Chelsea team, one still finding its feet, and here the difference in class between the two sides meant that this never got off the ground as a contest.

West Ham often had more possession and territory than Chelsea but since when did that ever bother Antonio Conte? This was a perfect display of counter-attacking efficiency and cutting edge. Chelsea scored their first with a brilliant one-touch break half-way through the first half. They added their second from a set-piece five minutes after half-time and that was the end of the game.

Even though Lanzini scored in added time, that does not detract from the fact that the second half was an exercise in control. Chelsea and Conte both know about seeing out titles even if this is the first time they have done it in each other’s company. There was never any doubt about the destination of the three points.

Those points move Chelsea 10 points clear of Spurs and 11 points ahead of City, who do have an extra game to play. But City and Spurs could win every remaining match this season and still not bother the engravers. This Chelsea team is a machine and looks very capable of hitting the 92-point target Conte has set for them. That would make them the second-best team in Premier League history, behind Jose Mourinho’s first Chelsea side, and that does not feel like excessive praise.

Chelsea spent the first 20 minutes defending crosses but once it was clear they could do that they were under no real pressure. They did not get into the game but that did not matter. This is a deadly counter-attacking team and it only took one break for them to take the lead. West Ham sent too many men forward for a free-kick and when it came back to Mark Noble he lazily passed straight to N’Golo Kante instead of Robert Snodgrass.

Chelsea exploded up the pitch: Kante  found Hazard, breaking through the middle. He passed to Pedro, who first-timed the ball back into Hazard’s path. His first touch wrong-footed Darren Randolph, then he slotted the ball into the net. London Stadium stewards were then called into action as a home supporter jumped the advertising hoarding to confront Hazard, but he was stopped before he could make his way to the Chelsea players and later arrested.

They nearly scored with their second attack too, another Hazard break. His pass was just behind Diego Costa, and it took Aaron Cresswell to block from Moses and Randolph to save from Pedro before the danger was cleared.

West Ham needed to improve after the break but in reality they gifted Chelsea a second goal, with a sloppiness that characterised the difference between the two teams. West Ham have a habit of making unforced errors that would make a serious team blush and it cost them again here.

First they gave away a corner which Cesc Fabregas clipped into the box. Pedro Obiang touched the ball on at the near post and it flew across goal to Costa, inexplicably unmarked, drifting away from Winston Reid.. He just had to cushion the ball into the goal off his thigh before Reid and Robert Snodgrass, on the line, realised what was happening.

That lead was enough for Conte and he went into lock-down mode, switching to a 5-3-2 system and bringing on Nemanja Matic, Kurt Zouma and Willian. They nearly closed out the win in classic Mourinho-era fashion until, in the 92nd minute, Lanzini skipped into the box and beat Thibaut Courtois with a low shot. His goal desperately flattered West Ham and while it may have spoiled Courtois’ night, it will not spoil Chelsea’s season.


West Ham (4-2-3-1) Randolph; Kouyate, Fonte, Reid (Byram, 64), Cresswell; Noble (Fernandes, 77), Obiang; Feghouli (Ayew, 64), Lanzini, Snodgrass; Carroll

Chelsea (3-4-3) Courtois; Azpilicueta, Luiz, Cahill; Moses (Zouma, 76), Kante, Fabregas, Alonso; Pedro (Matic, 64), Diego Costa, Hazard (Willian, 85)