AFC Bournemouth 3-0

Independent:

Chelsea 3 Bournemouth 0

Pedro and Eden Hazard help set new win record as Blues stretch their lead
Antonio Conte's side record their 12th consecutive victory to stretch their lead at the top of the Premier League table

Ian Winrow Stamford Bridge Tuesday 27 December

Another game, another victory. Antonio Conte’s side maintained their relentless progress with two goals from Pedro and an Eden Hazard penalty securing a club record 12th successive league win that strengthened Chelsea’s position at the head of the Premier League table. The prospect of breaking the Premier League record of 13 wins against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane moved one step closer.

Forced to reshuffle his line-up in the absence of the suspended Diego Costa and N’Golo Kante, Conte could be satisfied the loss of two players who have stood out during the recent winning run was dealt with seamlessly. Bournemouth rarely looked capable of repeating their victory here of last December that hastened the departure of Jose Mourinho from Stamford Bridge while any prospect of Chelsea falling short in their bid to once again collect three points effectively disappeared when Pedro put them ahead in the 24th minute.

Conte’s decision not to replace Costa with Michy Batshuayi prompted some raised eyebrows. Batshuayi has yet to make his first Premier League start following his £33m summer move from Marseille and Conte’s comments last week suggested he believes the Belgium international still has some work to do before he can challenge for a starting place. To compound Batshuayi’s frustration, he was finally introduced in added time immediately after Pedro’s second, only for the referee to blow for time before play could resume.

However, the head coach’s decision to ask Eden Hazard to operate in a more central role, flanked by Pedro and Willian was quickly vindicated with the speed and movement of the Chelsea front three quickly proving too much for the Bournemouth defence, particularly with Cesc Fabregas clearly keen to show he is a more than capable deputy for Kante.

Fabregas’ long ball towards Pedro almost undid the visitors’ backline in the fifth minute and while Eddie Howe’s side carved out an early opportunity that was snuffed out by an excellent challenge by Cesar Azpilicueta, Chelsea remained dominant before Pedro’s outstanding strike that came after good work by Hazard and Fabregas.

The pair combined to work the ball through the middle of the Bournemouth defence before Pedro created space on the edge of the box and sent a fine chip over keeper Artur Boruc. The Spain winger later collected his fifth booking of the season and will now miss the home meeting with Stoke but his performance reinforced his value to Conte’s side.

Bournemouth responded well with Jack Wilshere testing Thibaut Courtois before seeing a volley deflected wide but there was little chance of Chelsea allowing the lead to slip.

Then four minutes after the restart, Hazard ensured the game was effectively over, producing another direct run that was halted by Simon Francis’s mistimed challenge inside his own box. The Belgian took the penalty himself, side-footing the ball inside Boruc’s left hand post with the keeper diving to his right.

Courtois was forced into another save to deny Benik Afobe, but Howe’s side were already hoping the final whistle would sound when Pedro’s positive run took him past two challenges before the Spaniard saw his shot deflected past Boruc off Steve Cook.

Chelsea (3-4-3): Courtois; Azpilicueta, Luiz, Cahill; Moses (Aina, 89), Fabregas, Matic, Alonso; Willian (Chalobah 82), Hazard (Batshuayi 93), Pedro. Subs not used: Begovic, Ivanovic, Zouma, Loftus-Cheek,

Bournemouth (3-5-1-1): Boruc; Francis, Cook, Daniels; A.Smith, Gosling, Surman (Stanislas 66), Arter, B.Smith (Ibe 77); Wilshere; King (Afobe 66). Subs not used: Federici, Mings, Fraser, Wilson.
Referee: Mike Jones.

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Telegraph:

Chelsea 3 Bournemouth 0

Pedro brace inspires Premier League leaders to club record 12th successive victory

Jeremy Wilson, deputy football correspondent, at Stamford Bridge

Antonio Conte might only have been Chelsea manager for six months but, in the club’s entire 111-year history, he now stands alone in overseeing the longest winning sequence of league matches. A 12th straight victory also puts Chelsea within 180 minutes of Arsenal’s all-time Premier League record, even if Conte quickly followed this emphatic 3-0 win against Bournemouth with the warning that such feats would be rendered meaningless if they do not remain at the top of the table.

His team’s advantage now stands at seven points and, with “Antonio” booming out around Stamford Bridge, the Shed End’s latest hero did feel sufficiently emboldened to declare that “a good message” had been sent to the chasing pack.

Suspensions meant that Chelsea were without both Diego Costa and N’Golo Kanté for the first time this season but, with Eden Hazard delivering a magnificent individual performance as the main striker, victory was rarely in doubt.

“I think a lot of people waited, that without two really important players, we could lose points in this game,” said Conte. “It didn’t happen. I can count on all my players in the squad. I try in every game to make the best decision for the team without looking at the faces.”

The contrast between Conte and Jose Mourinho with largely the same group of players last season is stark and has now been well rehearsed, but perhaps of greater relevance is another comparison. Not since Mourinho himself arrived in the Premier League with such swagger in 2004 has a manager made such an immediately impressive impact on English football.

Conte’s tactical switch to a three-man defence has prompted most comment but underpinning Chelsea’s success is something more subtle: the Italian’s charismatic man-management. His touchline energy has created an obvious connection with the Chelsea fans but, in his deft handling of the players, there was another example deep inside the second half here that was also instructive.

With the match won, Victor Moses had an excellent chance but, having sprinted 50 yards to get into position to score, he blazed his attempted finish horribly wide. Conte, though, simply stood applauding on the edge of his technical area and also made a point of offering similarly visual appreciation for Moses and his work-rate when he was later substituted.

These Chelsea players now look utterly devoted to their new manager and it is seeping through in how they are performing. Hazard was superb and, crucially, is back playing both with a smile and his old flamboyance. Having controversially opted against starting Michy Batshuayi, it was also striking how Conte made a point both of bringing on the club’s £33 million summer signing and then stressing that he would not be loaned out next month. “In the future I trust in him,” said Conte. “He is a new player for Chelsea; to go on loan now is a defeat for the club and for me.”

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe also made changes but was even more adventurous in mirroring Chelsea’s three at the back. That gave Jack Wilshere added freedom to push forward from midfield and his intelligent passing and increasing match sharpness helped Bournemouth match Chelsea early in the game. Hazard, though, made the greatest individual difference and, having orchestrated several rapid counter-attacks, he created the first clear chance by passing to Pedro, who shot just wide.

Hazard followed that with a quite sublime moment of skill to first turn several Bournemouth players and then slalom through much of the visitors’ defence to help force a corner.

The ball fell to Cesc Fabregas and was then fed to Pedro, who quickly turned and shot brilliantly over Artur Boruc and into the top corner.

Bournemouth were initially undeterred and still tried to take the game to Chelsea. Wilshere remained their main threat and himself weaved past Gary Cahill before forcing an excellent low save by Thibaut Courtois. He also had a goal-bound volley deflected wide.

Hazard then delivered further evidence of his rare crowd-pleasing gifts. It was unclear if he knew whether Fabregas had conceded a free-kick but he produced a spectacularly improvised “rabona” attempt from the edge of Bournemouth’s penalty area that still prompted a full-length diving save by Boruc.

Hazard also then drew a foul from Simon Francis, with Fabregas curling the subsequent free-kick only inches over. The Belgian was drifting constantly towards Francis on the right edge of Howe’s back three and, almost immediately after the second half had started, drew another clumsy tackle from the Bournemouth captain. Hazard calmly sent Boruc the wrong way from the penalty spot. The second goal noticeably relaxed Chelsea and both Willian and Moses then went close to adding a third.

Bournemouth also did not stop driving forward and substitute Benik Afobe did powerfully hold off David Luiz before being denied only by Courtois’s outstretched leg. Chelsea, though, were now coasting and, with Batshuayi waiting to come on, Pedro added a final shine to the scoreline in added time when his shot cannoned fortuitously off Steve Cook and past Boruc.

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Guardian:

Chelsea’s Pedro torments Bournemouth to stretch league winning run to 12
Chelsea 3 - 0 AFC Bournemouth

Paul MacInnes at Stamford Bridge

Bournemouth became the latest side to try to find a way through Antonio Conte’s relentless Chelsea side at Stamford Bridge on Boxing Day. They also became the latest side to fall short.

Chelsea were missing both Diego Costa and N’Golo Kanté, ever present in the club’s march to the top of the Premier League. Bournemouth, meanwhile, switched their formation to a back three in an attempt to mirror and counter Conte’s successful shape.

Eddie Howe’s men were brave, determined and gave their all, but so did Chelsea and a difference in quality asserted to leave the home side just two games short of equalling Arsenal’s record of 14 consecutive victories in the Premier League.

All the talk before the match had been about Michy Batshuayi, Chelsea’s £33m striker who had yet to start for the club since joining in the summer but now had an opportunity in Costa’s absence. Conte however, considers the 23-year-old to be a work in progress. Instead, he opted to go without a No9 and with experience, as he pushed Eden Hazard through the middle with Willian and Pedro Rodríguez alongside him. Pedro scored twice while Hazard was successful from the penalty spot.

“Eden has a real talent,” Conte said, “but the most important thing is that he is putting his talent into the team. It’s so important he is doing such great things with the ball and without it. It is fantastic, I hope he continues to improve in this way. I am pleased for him and I am pleased for all my players because they did so well.”

Chelsea’s altered lineup felt their way into the match and it was not until the 15th minute that Hazard managed to create space for himself around the box, a low shot coming to nothing after an exchange of passes with Willian. From that point, however, the Belgian just got stronger. His blind pass sent Pedro clear for an opportunity in the 21st minute and it was a brilliant dribble from the Belgian that led to the corner from which Chelsea scored the opening goal.

Cesc Fàbregas took the corner, but played it short before heading for the penalty area. The ball found its way to Hazard who once again span his marker and found his Spanish team-mate on the edge of the box. Fàbregas found the delicate through-ball and the onrushing Pedro who took one touch wide and then another to chip the ball back, over Artur Boruc and into the far side of the net.

It was a goal of real class, and an opening that came from nowhere. That is the quality Conte’s team have in their locker and for a minute Bournemouth looked shocked; they had matched the hosts for effort but could nothing to stop their quality.

“I don’t think the first goal turned the game but it certainly didn’t help,” said a typically honest Howe. “We started well, looked solid and compact as a unit. I was pleased with how they were playing and then Chelsea produce a bit of magic. After that you’re looking at how you respond. We did well, had opportunities and it was the second goal that was a key moment in the game.”

Howe’s appraisal of the game was correct; Bournemouth could have drawn level after falling behind and perhaps should have had a penalty when Adam Smith was brought to the ground. But come the second half Chelsea emerged with a determination to settle the encounter.

Now noticeably sharper to the ball than Bournemouth, César Azpilicueta robbed them of the ball after Jack Wilshere played a pass marginally behind Harry Arter. Chelsea broke like a wild fire and advanced into the box with the defence on the turn. Simon Francis, who had struggled to get near Hazard in the previous 49 minutes, stuck out a leg and tripped the playmaker for a definite penalty. Hazard himself stepped up and send Boruc the wrong way to score.

Two-nil may be a dangerous scoreline but it carries less risk for this Chelsea team, so effective are they in defence and so deadly on the counter. Five minutes after the penalty Hazard nearly scored again as Chelsea broke from one end to the other in seconds. Willian led and finished the next break, with Boruc doing well to hold the Brazilian’s shot. Moses drove just wide in the 58th minute, Pedro curled beyond the far post in the 64th. In between times there was an impudent vignette as Hazard worked his way around a prone Fàbregas by deftly lifting the ball over his body.

Chelsea were oozing confidence and Conte was also at his most animated, slapping his thighs in frustration at imperfections that were imperceptible to most spectators. His side gave up just one chance for the remainder of the game, Thibaut Courtois doing enough to stop a shot from the substitute Benik Afobe.

Conte’s final gesture was to instruct that the ball be cleared into touch so that Batshuayi could come into the play for the final seconds of added time. Instead Chelsea went on another counterattack, Pedro shimmied into space and hit a fearsome shot that deflected off Steve Cook and into the net. Batshuayi made it on to the pitch just in time to hear the final whistle.

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Mail:

Chelsea 3-0 Bournemouth

Eden Hazard scores his 50th Premier League goal and Pedro nets a sublime chip as Blues bag 12th top-flight win in a row

By Matt Barlow for the Daily Mail

For 11 games, this Chelsea charge was personified by the snarling aggression of Diego Costa and the tireless legs of N’Golo Kante.

For their 12th win, it was about the supreme skill and ball trickery of Eden Hazard, with a dash of brilliance from Pedro and another clean sheet.

No Costa, no Kante, no problem. Twelve league wins in a row is a new club record and concern will ripple down the table as rivals wonder how on earth they might be stopped. 

Chelsea are on top going into 2017 and perhaps the most ominous aspect of this sequence of victories is that Antonio Conte’s team seem capable of clearing hurdles of different shapes and sizes.

Defend like West Bromwich Albion and they batter away until they find a late winner. Attack like Manchester City and they pick you off with lethal counter-attacks.

Take out the 13-goal leading scorer and the midfield dynamo and Hazard responds with a delightful display of old-school dribbling, like the kid who found a new ball under the tree.

His display was a joy to behold for all but Eddie Howe and the Bournemouth defenders charged with keeping him quiet, and was capped by a penalty, won by himself and coolly converted for his 50th Premier League goal.

Pedro opened the scoring in the first half with a wonderful curling shot and grabbed a third in the final seconds of stoppage time with a deflected finish, though it was later credited as a Steve Cook own goal.

During the moments when they came under threat, Thibaut Courtois stood firm. The keeper has conceded only twice during the 12-match run and one of them was an own goal. Against Bournemouth, he made fine saves to deny Jack Wilshere and Benik Afobe at key moments in the game.

The only snag for Conte was a yellow card for Pedro, which means he will be suspended from Saturday’s game at home against Stoke. But with confidence soaring at Stamford Bridge and both Costa and Kante back in the fray after serving their one-match bans it will not trouble the Chelsea boss.

The new year games mark the halfway stage in the campaign and there is a long way to go, of course, but Chelsea are purring. 

Bournemouth arrived with their own plan to stop the win machine.
With Nathan Ake ineligible against his parent club, Howe opted for a system with three central defenders and a packed midfield.

Wilshere tried to break in support of lone striker Josh King with some success in the first half but despite a bright opening and occasional chances, Howe’s team were no match for the Premier League leaders.

Chelsea dominated and Hazard flourished in his central role, which was enough to justify Conte’s decision to leave Michy Batshuayi watching from the bench until five seconds from the end.

Confidence is rushing through Chelsea to the extent that Gary Cahill halted one dangerous break by Bournemouth with a Cruyff-turn tackle, before launching another foray forward.

Chelsea went ahead midway through the first half. Hazard dropped deep, spun and found Cesc Fabregas, who threaded a short pass in to the feet of Pedro on the fringes of the penalty box.

There was still plenty to do as Pedro accepted the ball under pressure, and he shifted it from under his feet before clipping the sweetest left-footer over Artur Boruc and into the top corner.

Four minutes into the second half and Hazard was running at Bournemouth again. When he was tripped by Simon Francis, referee Mike Jones pointed to the spot. The visitors had been aggrieved by a series of decisions going against them in the first half but this was difficult to dispute. 

Hazard continued to mesmerise with his slalom runs. Boruc saved from Willian, and both Victor Moses and Hazard fired wide when they ought to have hit the target.

Howe sent on Junior Stanislas and Afobe in an attempt to salvage something but his team were increasingly vulnerable on the break and Wilshere hobbled through the closing minutes while suffering badly from cramp.

Pedro completed the scoring with a lung-bursting run and a shot which was helped into the net by a heavy deflection off Cook.

The Spain striker is another comeback star of Chelsea’s return to form and another reason for Conte to feel rather pleased with the season so far.

CHELSEA (3-4-3): Courtois 7; Azpilicueta 6.5, Luiz 6, Cahill 6; Moses 6.5 (Aina 89), Fabregas 7, Matic 6.5, Alonso 6; Willian 7 (Chalobah 83), Hazard 8 (Batshuayi 90), Pedro 7.5.
Subs not used: Begovic, Ivanovic, Zouma, Loftus-Cheek.
Scorers: Pedro 23, Hazard 49 pen
Booked: Pedro
Manager: Antonio Conte 7.

BOURNEMOUTH (3-5-1-1): Boruc 6; Francis 5, Cook 5, Daniels 5; A Smith 6, Gosling 6.5, Surman 6.5 (Stanislas 66), Arter 6, B Smith 6 (Ibe 77); Wilshere 6; King 5 (Afobe 66).
Subs not used: Wilson, Federici, Fraser, Mings.
Booked: Wilshere
Manager: Eddie Howe 6.

Man of the Match: Eden Hazard
Referee: Mike Jones (Cheshire) 6
Attendance: 41,384


THE 12-GAME RUN

Oct 1: Hull (A) 2-0
Oct 15: Leicester (H) 3-0
Oct 23: Manchester United (H) 4-0
Oct 30: Southampton (A) 2-0
Nov 5: Everton (H) 5-0
Nov 23: Middlesbrough (A) 1-0
Nov 26: Tottenham (H) 2-1
Dec 3: Manchester City (A) 3-1
Dec 11: West Brom (H) 1-0
Dec 14: Sunderland (A) 1-0
Dec 17: Crystal Palace (A) 1-0
Dec 26: Bournemouth (H) 3-0

Crystal Palace 1-0

Independent:

Crystal Palace 0 Chelsea 1

Diego Costa strikes to send Antonio Conte's side nine points clear

A strike shortly before half-time by the Premier League's top goalscorer was enough for the league leaders to pick up their eleventh straight win

Glenn Moore at Selhurst Park


The white shirts of Chelsea were like ghosts in the south London fog but there was nothing ethereal about their football. A third one-nil on the bounce secured a club record 11th successive win to further cement their place at the Premier League summit.

Crystal Palace gave a spirited performance but once Chelsea struck through Diego Costa shortly before half-time victory always seemed inevitable. The football was for the most part prosaic rather than poetic but the leaders could have scored more goals and never looked like conceding one.

While Chelsea have secured 33 points from 33 Palace have gleaned just five. A year ago Palace were seventh and Chelsea 16th. Twelve months on Chelsea, with a new manager, are top; Palace, with the same one, on the brink of the relegation zone, which is also where they finished in May. Poor results and new owners is a worrying combination for any manager and Alan Pardew is now in grave danger. He will have been gratified to see his team show noticeably more vim and ambition than in the midweek defeat to Manchester United, certainly enough to mute any crowd discontent, but in the end they were clearly second best.


Pardew recalled Jason Puncheon and Joe Ledley. The changes sharpened Palace and the pair were involved in the 21st-minute move which should have ended with the home side taking the lead.

Puncheon, wide left, aid the ball back infield to Ledley who found Johan Cabaye. The Frenchman, vastly improved from his midweek display, rolled a perfectly weighted pass inside Marcos Alonso for the overlapping Martin Kelly to run on to. His cross picked out Puncheon arriving at speed only for the forward to skew his shot weakly wide.


Chelsea at that point had offered only a David Luiz free-kick into the wall. Antonio Conte recalled Nemanja Matic after suspension for Cesc Fabregas while Eden Hazard returned after injury. Not that Hazard was involved in a first half when Palace targeted his reluctance to tack back. Kelly, given the freedom of the right flank, set up another fine chance which James McArthur headed wide.


A breakthrough seemed imminent. The Palace Ultras banged their drums and chanted away, the Sainsbury’s End opposite them raised the volume in reply. Then Chelsea struck. Wilfried Zaha was dispossessed on one flank and the ball switched to Cesar Azpilicueta on the other. His sent a high hanging cross into the fog, and when it came down Costa rose above Kelly and Scott Dann to loop a header over a fatally uncertain Wayne Hennessey. It was his 13th league goal of the campaign, already exceeding last season’s tally.


At the break Pardew reminded his men they had more than matched the leaders and Palace reappeared bristling with intent rather than accepting their fate. Cabaye stretched Courtois from 20 yards and they pressed on both flanks, seeing to get behind Chelsea’s wing-backs. Given the contrasting skills of Zaha and Puncheon this was as good a test as Chelsea’s remodelled defence has received in the winning run, but it withstood the examination.

At the other end Kante had already worried Hennessey with a fizzing shot. As they stepped a gear Alonso hit the side netting and substitute Fabregas hit a scuttling shot Hennessey saved nervously. Suddenly the Welsh No.1 was busy, saving much more smartly from Kante and Fabregas as Chelsea sought to kill the game. Only the crossbar prevented then doing so with seven minutes left, Alonso whipping a free-kick against it.

Five minutes’ injury time gave Palace hope. They roused themselves for one last effort. They won a free-kick in a dangerous position. But Townsend launched it into the stratosphere as if he were Andy Farrell at Twickenham and the game was done.


In times past this would have been the perfect day for Costa as he also picked up a booking, triggering a suspension that will rule him out of the Boxing Day fixture with Bournemouth. Modern players, however, are less inclined to over-indulge on the sherry and mince pies, and with their team playing as well as this both he and N’Golo Kante - who suffered the same fate - are more likely regret the enforced break.


Crystal Palace (4-2-3-1): Hennessey; Kelly Fryers, 83), Dann, Delaney, Ward; Cabaye (Campbell, 79), Ledley; Zaha,  McArthur, Puncheon (Townsend, 76); Benteke.


Chelsea (3-4-3): Courtois; Azpilicueta, Luiz, Cahill; Moses (Ivanovic, 79), Kante, Matic, Alonso; Willian (Fabregas, 65), Costa (Batshuayi, 89), Hazard.

Referee: J Moss


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


Observer:

Diego Costa sends Chelsea soaring at Palace with 11th straight league win

C Palace 0 - 1 Chelsea

Dominic Fifield at Selhurst Park

There is simply no stopping Chelsea. Antonio Conte’s side equalled a club record here, muscling their way to an 11th win in succession to establish a nine-point advantage to hold overnight and leave the chasing pack struggling to spy them at the summit. They had already proved they can dazzle on this run. This derby demanded more brawn, but the outcome was still the same. They are steeled by an air of invincibility at present.

Alan Pardew, head bowed almost in resignation as he trudged down the touchline at the final whistle, will have taken no pleasure in being proved right with his pre-match assessment that these opponents can appear unbeatable. Here they proved impenetrable. What was impressive was the visitors’ ability to scrap for the points, beating the hosts at their own game while forever retaining that lively threat on the counterattack and feverishly suffocating Palace’s attempts at revival. The home side have been prolific this season, with only four teams having scored more, but they were blunted virtually throughout.


That included the final exchanges, when Palace might normally have expected to whip up frenzied late pressure in pursuit of parity only for the leaders to hold them at arm’s length. That sequence of victories has included nine clean sheets. The rest of the division may have forgotten how to defend, but Chelsea under Conte continue to prove it is an art form.

“Starting this season, I said the manager must be a tailor and try and find the right fit for the team,” he said, resisting the temptation to name the club’s “fashion partners” in his metaphor. “For sure, it wasn’t easy for me to arrive here and understand very quickly the characteristics of my players. I needed a bit of time.

“I tried a different solution before changing the formation, but the most important thing is the mentality, our strong mentality. That and hard work during the week: tactical work, physical work, analysis work, diet ... we touched different aspects to try and improve.

“You can bring your idea of football with you, but if you don’t have players who follow you it doesn’t matter.”

His players needed some convincing at first but have now bought into his methods, convinced as soon as the defence was tightened up and the results began to flow. There are no doubters in the ranks these days.

Bournemouth on Boxing Day will provide their own test now that Diego Costa and N’Golo Kanté have succumbed to their fifth cautions of term to grant them Christmas off. They have been integral to this team’s sprint clear of the pack and will be missed. Kanté was as busy as ever in central midfield, denying Palace time to settle, and it was Costa who secured the points.

There was a simplicity to his 50th goal for Chelsea that rather damned the home side’s attempt at defence. Eden Hazard had retreated into midfield in possession before urging the outstanding César Azpilicueta up from centre-half duties on the opposite flank. The Spaniard ambled forward untracked and lofted a centre towards the far post where Costa, finding space away from Scott Dann and Martin Kelly, was permitted a free header that he eased over Wayne Hennessey. The goalkeeper was poorly positioned, caught between a desire to intercept the cross or defend his line. The concession felt soft.

“We didn’t get enough pressure on the centre-half, but then again you don’t expect him to the centre-forward with a pass of that quality” said Pardew. “Azpilicueta’s was the perfect pass. But my team tried everything. We threw everything we could at them, but they were just too good defensively for us.”

Jason Puncheon and James McArthur missed the home side’s best opportunities, but the more presentable opportunities were passed up by the visitors on the break. Hennessey did well to deny Kanté and Marcos Alonso, with the Spaniard curling a late free-kick on to the underside of the crossbar. The margin of their victory probably should have been greater.


That left Palace deflated as they contemplated an eighth defeat in 10 league games and a 22nd of the calendar year. Pardew knows his position is under scrutiny, but if the board are unlikely to act after successive narrow home defeats to Manchester United and Chelsea this team cannot contemplate succumbing at Vicarage Road on Boxing Day. Or, even more critically, at home to Swansea City in the new year.

“The positives are there for everyone to see,” said Dann. “We came up against a top team, a side who are top of the league, and we deserved to get something out of the game. We showed togetherness and commitment and if we continue that we will start picking up points.”

That needs to happen sooner rather than later or Pardew, with Sam Allardyce waiting in the wings, will find his time is up. Palace have had a wretched 12 months. Chelsea’s, in contrast, has been an untouchable 11 matches. The Premier League record of 14 is looming ever larger and could be equalled at White Hart Lane next month. At present, nothing seems beyond this side.



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Telegraph:

Crystal Palace 0 Chelsea 1

Diego Costa header makes it 11 wins in a row for Antonio Conte's title chasers

Sam Wallace

Antonio Conte was punching the air by the time he got within distance of the Chelsea fans on the far side of the Selhurst Park pitch, a brief glimpse of what the Italian looks like when he is extremely pleased with his team’s performance and there was, indeed, much to be pleased about.

The 11th straight victory of Chelsea’s winning run was one of those games in which the opposition’s hope was crushed in stages and by the time the substitute Andros Townsend’s cross was skied high into the Holmesdale Stand, Crystal Palace knew they were not getting close. This is how Chelsea are doing it now, with the minimum of fuss to take them to 11 straight wins and within sight of Arsenal’s 2002 record of 14.

They will have to beat Bournemouth on Boxing Day without the benefit of their match-winner against Palace, Diego Costa, who picked up his fifth booking of the season and a one-match suspension. So too, N’Golo Kanté, who will be missing during that game as well which prompted the usual questions about whether both had selected a convenient time to clean up their cards.


Conte protested that was not the case and given that Costa was last booked on Sept 23, you had to give him the benefit of the doubt. Two more games and both of them would have been given a clean slate anyway and certainly Chelsea will be a very different proposition without the pair of them.

Together they have been a key part of a winning run that equals Chelsea’s best sequence of Premier League victories back in late 2009.

Costa took his 13th league goal of the season with the usual efficiency while Palace’s chances, just the two of them, were both wasted. Alan Pardew pointed out that one would not expect such a perfect cross from a centre-half to create the chance for the Chelsea striker, but it was duly delivered by Cesar Azpilicueta and Costa’s finish made Palace’s retreating defence look very ordinary.

This was not Chelsea’s most awe-inspiring victory since they went down 3-0 to Arsenal in September, rather it was the manner in which they restricted and controlled Palace whose opportunities seemed to dwindle as they chased the game. Pardew spoke about Chelsea’s defensive organisation with reverence and was careful not to be too hard on his team.


Eden Hazard and Nemanja Matic came back into the Chelsea side that won at Sunderland on Wednesday night and helped them exert the usual control.

Conte has a decision to make as to whether or not he places his confidence in Michy Batshuayi for Monday’s game against Bournemouth but it was easy to tell afterwards that he is enjoying his first season in English football.

Describing himself once again as a tailor who tried to find “the right fit” for Chelsea, Conte was duly asked whether 11 wins in a row entitled him to call himself the Giorgio Armani of English football. Taking note of the club’s lucrative commercial partnership in that regard, he simply replied “Dolce and Gabbana”.

Palace have lost eight of their past 10 games although this was just their second home league game of the season in which they had failed to score.

The two chances they did create came from the right wing and the crosses of Martin Kelly in the first half but Jason Puncheon and then James McArthur both failed to hit the target with their attempts.


The issue at Palace seems to be whether they can trade their way out of trouble in January and Boxing Day’s away game at Watford feels pretty integral to how the club will feel about their embattled manager come the end of the year. After Arsenal on New Year’s Day they play Swansea City at home and if Pardew’s side cannot win that game then serious questions will have to be asked.

“We’ve got to get some points on the board and start winning some games,” Pardew said. “This was always going to be difficult. Chelsea are very sound defensively and didn’t really give us any chance to get at them as much as we’d have liked. They were confident in their defending, good shape and discipline to their actions, and did enough offensively to edge it.” Palace had been doing a decent job of it until one minute before the end of the regulation 45, when they permitted Hazard to raise his head and stroke a pass into the stride of Azpilicueta on the right side and suddenly the home team were in trouble.

Palace were retreating quickly, but nowhere near quick enough for Scott Dann to be able to get into position to challenge Costa who was waiting for the ball in front of him from Azpilicueta. When it came, Dann could barely turn himself round in time to see Costa flight his header over Wayne Hennessey and into the far corner of the Palace goal.

“The disappointment with the goal is we didn’t get enough pressure on the centre-half,” Pardew said, “but then again you don’t expect him to the centre-forward with a pass of that quality. It was the perfect pass. But look, my team tried everything. We threw everything we could at them, but they were just too good defensively for us.”

He had resisted the temptation to switch formation as David Moyes had done with Sunderland in the mid-week and in the first half Palace had done enough to stifle Chelsea in midfield while creating those two good chances of their own. In the second half it was Chelsea who created the better chances and Marcos Alonso struck the bar with a free-kick when he finally persuaded David Luiz to let him take one.

In this 11-match run, Chelsea have conceded just two goals, to Tottenham and Manchester City, the former of which they will play on Jan 4 in what could potentially be their 14th win and the equalling of Arsenal’s 14-year-old record. One imagines White Hart Lane would be the ideal place for Conte’s players to do it, the scene of their New Year’s Day 5-3 demolition two years ago.

“I’m not a person who loves statistics,” Conte said afterwards when the discussion turned to records, but he did admit that 11 wins in a row was a start in English football that he could barely have dreamed of when he took over this struggling side six months ago.



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

Mail:

Crystal Palace 0-1 Chelsea: Diego Costa's 50th Blues goal seals 11th straight win for Antonio Conte's men and moves them nine points clear at the top

By Oliver Holt


The drum at the Holmesdale Road End of Selhurst Park beat faster and faster as the match entered its final stages but it was not Crystal Palace who played to its rhythm. It was Chelsea.

They are getting better and better, more and more assured, more and more impenetrable with every game. They are nine points clear at the top of the Premier League now and they are enjoying the dance.

Antonio Conte said after this comfortable 1-0 victory over Alan Pardew's struggling side that a manager must be a tailor who finds the right fit for his team and he has dressed these players in fine clothes indeed. They may not have been in rags when he arrived but they were a little moth-eaten.

Now, after his team equalled a club record with their 11th straight victory, Conte is looking, as a journalist pointed out to him during the post-match press conference, like the Armani of English football. In his first season here, Conte, too, is wearing it well.

This win was testimony not just to the brilliance of Eden Hazard and the predatory instincts of Diego Costa but to the unassailability of the 3-4-3 system that fits the players like a glove.

Their organisation was so good, their hunger so in tact, that Palace, who have now lost eight of their last 10 league games and are hovering precariously above the relegation zone, could not get close to them as they tried to chase the game.

Chelsea's remarkable run of victories is starting to make the following pack look rather forlorn. The omens are not good for Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool who will find, when they resume their pursuit on Sunday and Monday, that they are following a trail of scorched earth.


Chelsea were guaranteed to be top at Christmas even before Saturday's win and six of the last seven teams who have found themselves in that position have gone on to win the title that season.

Add to that the fact that Chelsea have won the Premier League title on each of the four previous occasions they've been top of the league at Christmas and things are looking ominous for the rest.

A year to the day since Jose Mourinho left the club for the second time, with Chelsea in disarray, the Blues have rarely been in ruder health. They were not brilliant against Palace. They didn't need to be. But they were still hugely impressive.

Conte has not only organised them beautifully but he has instilled supreme self-confidence in all of them. And he is waging war on complacency. 'In this league,' he said, 'if we'd arrived here today without the right concentration and focus, the will to fight and go into battle with your opponents, we'd have lost this game for sure.'

The players have bought into his methods and his character completely. After Costa established himself on his own as the league's top scorer by grabbing the winner on the stroke of half time, his 13th goal of the season, he ran straight to his manager to celebrate with him.

Chelsea had begun the game playing with the supreme confidence that comes with performing so well and so consistently that even Palace boss Pardew had prefaced the match by saying that Conte's side 'look unbeatable'.

Presumably, he gave his players a rather different message in private but some of them looked as if they had heard what he said and it had stuck with them. Chelsea controlled possession so effortlessly in the opening stages that it was hard to see how Palace would get anywhere near them.

Chelsea struggled to convert their possession into chances but some of it was still beautiful to watch. Midway through the half some superb interplay between Willian and Hazard threatened to put the latter through on goal before his run was unceremoniously blocked by Joel Ward.

It was one of several free kicks in dangerous areas that Chelsea won and then wasted. David Luiz blasted that one wide, Hazard played another one square to N'Golo Kante, who looked so surprised that his response more closely resembled a clearance than a shot.

In fact, the best chance of the opening half an hour fell to Palace. It came from what was almost their sole attack until then. Yohan Cabaye played a cleverly weighted through ball out to Martin Kelly who was overlapping on the right.

His cross found Jason Puncheon 10 yards out but he did not hit the ball cleanly and pulled his shot wide of Thibaut Courtois' right-hand post. After all Chelsea's domination, that was an escape and they had another alarm seven minutes before the interval when Puncheon curled a free kick just over the bar.

But just when it seemed Palace would reach the interval unscathed, they lost concentration. There were two minutes of the half to go when Hazard wriggled away from the attentions of Cabaye and ran back towards his own half to make space for himself.

Even when he fed the ball into the path of Cesar Azpilicueta, there seemed to be little danger but when the defender floated the ball into the area, it caught Scott Dann flat-footed as Costa fixed on it like a laser. Dann could not even muster a jump and Costa rose to nod it over the stranded Wayne Hennessey and into the net.

Chelsea's recent record suggested it would be difficult for Palace to force their way back into the game and a couple of minutes into the second half, Hennessey's hands were stung by a fierce drive from Kante as the league leaders sought to extend their advantage.

Palace found it hard to put Chelsea under renewed pressure and second-half substitute Cesc Fabregas forced another save out of Hennessey after a clever pull-back from Hazard. With 20 minutes to go, the Palace keeper had to fling himself to his right to push out a low shot from Kante that was spearing towards the bottom corner.

Chelsea were playing with the urgency of the team chasing the game and Hennessey was in action again, this time palming away a rising drive from Marcos Alonso. Every Palace foray forward was stifled before it could muster much dangerous intent.

Palace had another escape when a free kick from Alonso crashed off the underside of the bar with Hennessey beaten. Gary Cahill seemed to be winning the race to the rebound until he fell in a heap in the area but the referee waved play on.

Palace had one last chance in the dying minutes when they won a free kick on the edge of the box. Andros Townsend took it and blasted it high into the Holmesdale Road. The drum fell silent.



CRYSTAL PALACE (4-2-3-1): Hennessey 7, Kelly 6 (Fryers 84), Dann 5, Delaney 5, Ward 5, Cabaye 5   (Campbell 79, 5), Ledley 6, McArthur 5, Zaha 5, Benteke 4, Puncheon 6.5 (Townsend 77, 5)

Subs not used: Speroni, Lee, Mutch, Husin

Booked: Ward, Delaney


CHELSEA (3-4-3): Courtois 6, Azpilicueta 7, Luiz 6, Cahill 6, Moses 6.5 (Ivanovic 79, 5), Kante 6, Matic 6.5, Alonso 6.5, Willian 5.5 (Fabregas 64, 6), Costa 7.5(Batshuayi 89, 5), Hazard 8.

Subs not used: Begovic, Zouma, Pedro, Chalobah

Goal: Costa 43

Booked: Costa, Kante, Fabregas


Referee: Jon Moss



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


Sun:


THEY'LL BE MIST Crystal Palace 0 Chelsea 1:

Blues equal 11-game win record, but lose Diego Costa and N’Golo Kante for Boxing Day clash

Star men both picked up their fifth yellow card of the season at a foggy Selhurst Park, meaning they will not travel to Bournemouth for the festive showdown next Monday


BY MIKE MCGRATH AND DAVE FRASER


CHELSEA equalled their record 11th straight Premier League win against Crystal Palace, but were left with a bitter taste in their mouth as Diego Costa and N’Golo Kante were ruled out of their Boxing Day clash through suspension.

Costa was the man to get the game truly underway, nodding home his 13th goal of the season from a pinpoint Cesar Azpilicueta cross on the stroke of half-time.


The Spaniard had only minutes earlier picked up his fifth booking of the season, meaning he misses the Boxing Day clash with Bournemouth.

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

As if that wasn't bad enough, early in the second-half, another key cog - Kante - succumbed to the same fate, being carded and missing the game on the south coast next Monday.


STATS, FACTS, GOALS & LOLS

ANTONIO CONTE is really utilising his squad. Out went midweek matchwinner Cesc Fabregas and back came Eden Hazard.
DAMIEN DELANEY left a late one on Thibaut Courtois and sent him flying in the second half. But the Chelsea keeper was up straight away.
CHELSEA was ruthlessly efficient in the first half. Diego Costa’s goal was their first shot on target.

COSTA will have his feet up on Boxing Day though. His yellow card for a foul on Joe Ledley was his fifth of the season, earning a ban.
JON MOSS is hardly a crowd favourite at Selhurst Park. No big errors from the ref but home fans thought the marginal calls went against them.
CONTE would usually be with his family on a winter break in Italy but this will be his first big test of the Christmas fixtures – and could define the title race.
WILLIAN started two games in a week for the first time this season and looks ahead of Pedro in the pecking order again.

DAVID LUIZ in the middle of a back three is his perfect position as it allows him to mop up loose balls and show his passing range.
ALAN PARDEW is now in the top ten managers in terms of Premier League matches, overtaking Joe Kinnear with 302.
N'GOLO KANTE will also be missing on Boxing Day for Conte after picking up his fifth booking.

Next five fixtures

CHELSEA

Dec 26 - Bournemouth (H) - PL
Dec 31 - Stoke (H) - PL
Jan 4 - Tottenham (A) - PL
Jan 8 - Notts Co/P'Boro (H) - FA
Jan 14 - Leicester (A) - PL

CRYSTAL PALACE: Hennessey 7, Ward 6, Dann 6, Delaney 6 (Fryers 84, 5), Kelly 6, Cabaye 6 (Campbell 79, 6), McArthur 6, Ledley 6, Zaha 6, Puncheon 6 (Townsend 77, 6), Benteke 6.

Subs not used: Speroni, Husin, Mutch, Lee.

Booked: Ward, Delaney.

CHELSEA: Courtois 7, Azpilicueta 7, Luiz 7, Cahill 7, Moses 7 (Ivanovic 79, 6), Kante 7, Matic, Alonso 7, Willian 6 (Fabregas 64, 6), Hazard 8, Costa 7 (Batshuayi 89, 5).

Subs not used: Begovic, Zouma, Chalobah, Pedro.

Goals: Costa (43).

Booked: Costa, Kante.

STAR MAN: EDEN HAZARD (Chelsea)



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


Star:


Crystal Palace 0 Chelsea 1: Brilliant Diego Costa the difference as Blues go nine clear


UNLUCKY for some. Not for Chelsea.

By Tony Stenson at Selhurst Park


They played the numbers game to stay top of the table on the back of a club record of 11 successive wins - thanks to Diego Costa’s 13th goal of the season, with their first effort on target in the first half.

He also collected his first booking since September - he had four previous - and it means he can tuck into Christmas pudding and put his feet up on Boxing Day.

Costa was a powerful figure, always ready to attack and help out in defence as Palace made a decent fist of it.



This wasn’t vintage Chelsea, more a sleeves rolled-up job because Palace refused to be a sacrificial lamb.

In Jason Puncheon they had a willing warrior, but in the end Chelsea’s class held the key.


It’s amazing to think around this time last year, Chelsea lost to Leicester to slip one point above the relegation zone, with Jose Mourinho leaving a few days later.

Now they top the table over Christmas and based on the previous four times this has happened, means they will go on and clinch the title.

Palace manager Pardew thinks so, declaring on Friday ‘they look unbeatable‘.

Now suddenly the record of 14, which Arsenal achieved between February and August in 2002 is in their sights.

Manager Antonio Conte deserves huge credit for the turn around.


Since the little Italian’s switch to a back three at Hull in October, they have been unstoppable, conceding just twice - equalling their best for 10 years.

Palace packed their midfield to stem the tide, cutting Chelsea’s arteries and then exploding themselves, forcing Chelsea defenders to continually pass-back to Courtois.

On one such raid, Jason Puncheon wasted a golden 22nd minute chance to put Palace ahead, when he turned wide Martin Kelly’s cross.

Diego Costa, praised in recent weeks for calm, was booked for the first time since September for verbals when frustrating crept into his game through lack of opportunities.

Chelsea’s failure to stamp authority on the game, and Palace’s dogged determination left the game in limbo for long periods.


It neither excited or bored, just flowed in a mist-shrouded pitch.

Referee Jon Moss often had to blow for niggling tackles, again slowing down the game.

McArthur headed wide another Kelly five minutes before half time as Palace showed they were up for a fight.

Little was seen of Hazard in the first half, with Palace shackling his usually darting runs.

With his flame doused, Chelsea were forced to find other avenues of attack, but not with much luck until Costa, all calm restored, struck.

He rose superbly to head in Azpilicueta’s perfect cross a minute before half time.

Palace’s response was a long-range effort from Yohan Cabaye just minutes into the second half, which Courtois had to dive full-length to save.

Kante replied for Chelsea with a ferocious 18-yard effort three minutes later that Wayne Hennessey could only palm out.

Gradually, Kante and Matic started winning the midfield and they were helped by Cesc Fabregas coming off the sub’s bench.

Alonso drove into the side-netting as Chelsea moved up gears forcing Hennessey to make saves from Fabregas and Alonso, who also struck the cross bar late in the game with a free kick.

Palace stage a late rally, but Chelsea showed they can also defend and white shirts always swarmed back in numbers to cover.



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



Express:

Crystal Palace 0 - Chelsea 1: Diego Costa header earns 11th straight Premier League win

DIEGO COSTA will get the credit for this one, but all his Chelsea teammates have the look of champions again now alright.

By COLIN MAFHAM


They went nine points clear, overnight at any rate, after an 11th straight win that sent a clear message to would-be title rivals that said: Catch us if you can.

And if this is anything to go by that looks like being a mighty big ask.

Let's face it, they were slow to get going and for the best part of the first half some might have asked what all the fuss was about.

But coach Antonio Conte has found a winning formula that works with a team that is now just three more games away from equalling the Premier League record of 14 consecutive victories which arch rivals Arsenal have held for 14 years.

As he said afterwards: "The run is fantastic. Congratulations to my players, not me, because they deserve this. And I am so pleased for the fans as well because they have been fantastic and have pushed us."


Then, ominously for his rivals, he promised: "We can improve, though."

It might have been different if Palace had taken early chances while Chelsea were taking around 43 minutes to get their table topping act together.

But, as they say, cream always rises to the top and  Costa certainly rose to the occasion then.

Cesar Azpilicueta provided the ammunition and the man rival fans love to hate fired Chelsea in front with the sort of header that puts him head and shoulders above most of his peers.

His 13th goal of the season was anything but unlucky!


The bad luck came earlier with a dubious fifth yellow card of the season which means the Premier League's leading goalscorer will miss Chelsea's game against Bournemouth on Boxing Day.

Palace were out of luck as well just after the break when Thibaut Courtois (squad number 13 by the way) needed two attempts to keep a Cabaye piledriver out.

Credit where credit's due, though, as the fog lifted so did Chelsea's performance.

And to be honest only some dogged defending - by keeper Wayne Hennessey in particular - spared Palace from a bigger beating as Chelsea clicked into gear and started to play like the champions they could well be next May.

The impressive Marcos Alonso hit the bar and N'golo Kante could also have got on the scoresheet if it hadn't been for Hennessey.

There's no doubting either that Hazard and Costa - to name just two - look very different players now to the ones who so noticeably went off the boil during Chelsea's fall from grace under Jose Mourinho last season.



The big difference now is they are all giving 110 per cent for an inspirational manager - and, boy, does it show.

It might have taken them a while to warm up yesterday. But once they did, courtesy of Mr Costa's classy contribution, there was rarely any doubt who was glowing to win.

A disappointed Alan Pardew admitted that Palace had, in the end, been beaten by a better and very good side.

He added: It's a shame because we had some good chances in the first half.

But once we conceded it was very true difficult, and that was as good a defensive display (by Chelsea) as we have seen."


Crystal Palace: Hennessey; Kelly (Fryers 83),Dann, Delaney, Ward;  Cabaye (Campbell 78), Ledley; Zaha, McArthur, Puncheon (Townsend 75); Benteke.

Chelsea: Courtois; Moses (Ivanovic 78), Azpilicueta,  Luiz, Cahill, Alonso; Kante, Matic; Willian (Fabregas 64), Costa (Batshuayi 87), Hazard.

Man Of Match: Diego Costa. Chelsea's matchwinner again. And if he continues like this he will be a title winner as well.

Referee: Jonathan Moss.

Sunderland 1-0

Independent:

Antonio Conte's side maintain winning streak to confirm top spot at Christmas

Sunderland 0 Chelsea 1: Cesc Fabregas' first-half strike proved enough to claim all three points, but the league leaders could and perhaps should have won by more

Martin Hardy at the Stadium of Light

Imperious Chelsea; played 10, won 10, scored 24, conceded 2. Sometimes you just have to doff the cap. Since the start of October, they have become the Premier League untouchables.

The roll continued without any threat at the Stadium of Light. For David Moyes it was about different numbers. Five centre halves, two full backs, one goalkeeper. More or less nil ambition. There was an attempt to stifle Chelsea but it never looked enough, not once Cesc Fabregas had scored a fine goal in the 40th minute, surprisingly his first of the season.

It was enough for a victory far more comfortable than the scoreline might suggest. It was the only number to query on the night. Chelsea were never shot shy, or short of ambition, just lacking an ounce of clinical finishing. It was hard to be too picky.

Victory moved them six points clear of second placed Liverpool and Arsenal. Crystal Palace, Bournemouth and Stoke are up next. There are coat tails for those with title credentials to hold onto. Chelsea are the team to keep up with.

That was something Sunderland never even looked liked they fancied doing.

Marcos Alonso had shot over and Diego Costa had misconnected a volley from a left wing cross from the same player before they had their lead, five minutes before the interval.

David Moyes will have rued poor defending, headers not headed properly from John O’Shea and Billy Jones before the outstanding N’Golo Kante out jumped Jan Kirchhoff to head the ball into the path of Pedro.

Pedro drove and fed Fabregas and from there Sunderland were in serious trouble, outnumbered even with seven defender in their 10 outfield players. Fabregas went wide to Willian, took a return pass and then struck a fine, crisp, right footed finish into the bottom corner of Jordan Pickford’s goal.


It would prove to be the game-winning goal, and there was surprise in that. The Sunderland goal was peppered after the interval. Chelsea, dominant and superior all over the pitch, fluffed their lines only in the home penalty area.

The chances were endless. Three minutes into the second half the tone was set. Victor Moses ran and fired an angle shot that flew over the corner of Pickford’s goal. Willian saw a deflected shot clip the crossbar, Moses was denied, low to Pickford’s left and Costa’s driving run was ended by the Sunderland goalkeeper.

The Chelsea forward was denied when clear though by Lamine Kone, Moses went close, again, and then again, and the watch showed only an hour had been played. The home side had nowhere to play. Willian shot narrowly wide and Kante, the game’s best player burst through, only to shoot straight at Pickford.


Only briefly was there consternation for the visitors, at the start of the second half and then at the death. Jermain Defoe remains a shining light in a poor team. It was his ball, as he ran at a back peddling Chelsea defence in the 47th minute that teed up the overlapping Adnan Januzaj, to his right.

The former Manchester United winger took a touch and then struck a low, right footed shot that Thibaut Courtois did well to save with his outstretched left leg. In the third and final minute of added on time, after a left wing Sunderland corner, Patrick van Aanholt volleyed from the edge of the box and Courtois took off to his right to produce a fine, finger-tip save. It was enough. Chelsea finished as they started. Top. Sunderland did the same, bottom, rock bottom, and more struggle ahead.

‘Ten in a row,’ came the cry from those supporters heading south. It deserved an airing.


Sunderland (5-2-2-1): Pickford; Jones (Love 59), Kone, O’Shea, Djilobodji, Van Aanholt; Denayer, Kirchhoff (Larsson 57); Januzaj, Borini (Khazri 83); Defoe.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Azpilicueta, Luiz, Cahill, Alonso; Kante, Fabregas; Moses (Ivanovic 90), Willian (Chalobah 89), Pedro (Matic 76); Costa.

Referee: N Swarbrick



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



Guardian:

Fàbregas sweeps Chelsea past Sunderland and six points clear at top

Sunderland 0 - 1 Chelsea

Louise Taylor at the Stadium of Light

They say perfection is a flame that many touch but few can hold. If so, Chelsea are showing every indication of possessing sufficient ruthless consistency to achieve it this season, with the latest, fairly compelling, evidence arriving at Sunderland’s expense.

A 10th straight Premier League win left Antonio Conte’s team six points clear at the top of the table on a night when Cesc Fàbregas not only scored the winning goal but, courtesy of a high-calibre central-midfield performance, reminded everyone of his enduring importance in west London.

Starting his third League game of the campaign, Fàbregas also helped keep the home side stuck firmly to the bottom of the division with their horizon looking increasingly bleak. Despite restricting Chelsea to that single goal, Sunderland created precious little of note until stoppage-time when Thibaut Courtois’s brilliant diversion of Patrick van Aanholt’s volley came between Conte and a technical area meltdown.

“I’m pleased for sure,” said Chelsea’s manager. “It’s not easy to win 10 games in a row in this league and we had to fight to win this one. We couldn’t quite kill it and, at the end, Sunderland had a big chance to equalise.”

After joking about his decision in selecting the “very good” Fàbregas, Conte stressed there can be no room for complacency. “Me and my players are doing something important,” he said. “But this league is very tough – the title is between six teams.”


David Moyes has never championed three at the back and points out that serious prizes are rarely won by sides configured with central-defensive trinities. There are exceptions to every rule though and, here, Sunderland’s manager arranged his team in a 3-4-3 formation, mirroring Chelsea’s system.

Maybe the full moon high in the Wearside sky prompted such boldness, perhaps imitation really is the sincerest form of flattery or possibly matching your opponents’ shape is the latest tactical fad. Whatever the reason, John O’Shea mirrored the David Luiz sweeping role as Sunderland started quite securely, if a little cagily, in a new design well suited to Billy Jones and Van Aanholt, their wing-backs. Chelsea enjoyed more possession but they initially struggled to trouble Jordan Pickford.

Change beckoned when, for once, Diego Costa escaped the attentions of O’Shea, Lamine Koné and the former Chelsea centre-half Papy Djilobodji. Unmarked, the centre-forward connected with a cross from Marcos Alonso, a one-time Sunderland loanee, but failed to get a proper purchase and sliced wide.

It was a warning Sunderland failed to heed as they permitted N’Golo Kanté to seize possession deep in midfield. That interception prefaced Fàbregas and Willian – deputising for the injured Eden Hazard – exchanging passes. By shaping to shoot but, instead, squaring, Willian deceived a backline that proved powerless to prevent Fàbregas sweeping the ball imperiously past Pickford into the bottom right corner from the edge of the area.

Moyes’s gameplan of sitting back and hoping to snatch something on the break shattered instantly and the resultant frustration seemed manifested by swift bookings for Jermain Defoe and O’Shea for fouls on Fàbregas and Costa. Indeed, with a Willian free-kick whizzing fractionally off target half-time could not come quickly enough for the home side.

They emerged apparently galvanised and, almost immediately, nearly scored with their first real chance. Catching Chelsea in momentarily dozy mode, Defoe played in the overlapping Adnan Januzaj whose fine, first-time, shot forced the previously marginalised Courtois into a superb diving save.

Suitably stung, the visiting riposte proved rapid and vicious. Willian delighted in dodging Koné in a manner that made a mockery of the £25m release clause contained in the defender’s contract and his ensuing shot brushed the bar after deflecting off Djilobodji. Pickford barely had time to sigh with relief before ably repelling Costa’s low angled shot.


Victor Moses bewildered Sebastian Larsson before shooting left-footed and narrowly wide in an on-going onslaught also featuring Willian missing the target after collecting David Luiz’s typically elegant pass.

Fàbregas, meanwhile, delighted in showing off his stellar passing range with one particularly exquisite delivery almost prompting a goal for Willian before a volley of his own swerved off target.

Such near misses almost proved extremely costly when, in stoppage time, Van Aanholt unleashed a spectacular volley destined for the top corner until Courtois’s stunning, win-preserving, intervention. “I thought it was in,” said Moyes. “But he made a top save.”


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


Telegraph:

Sunderland 0 Chelsea 1: Cesc Fabregas strikes to keep league leaders in sight of record 14th win in a row

Sam Wallace

In the brave new world of Chelsea 2016, there has rarely been a place for Cesc Fabregas in Antonio Conte’s rebuilt team but the midfielder demonstrated there is still life in this 29-year-old veteran yet with a goal that gives his side their 10th straight Premier League win.

The winning machine ploughs  onward, six points clear of Liverpool in second place and showing no signs of malfunction, even without the injured Eden Hazard.

This was Fabregas’s first league goal of the season in just his third league start of the season, a player who has had to learn the subtleties of Conte’s new 3-4-3 on the job and slotted in perfectly. The Premier League record is 14 wins in a row, achieved by Arsenal in 2002 and Chelsea are now within sight with Saturday’s game at Crystal Palace followed by home matches against Bournemouth and Stoke City before a visit to  Tottenham on Jan 4.

It would be a momentous day indeed if they were to equal the record at White Hart Lane, although there is some way to go yet.

They dominated the game against Sunderland, resilient but limited in a 3-4-3 formation adapted by David Moyes to try to deal with Conte’s new system, one that is causing many opposition managers to rethink their plans.


The Premier League record is 14 wins in a row, achieved by Arsenal in 2002 and Chelsea re now within sight with Saturday’s game in south London followed by home matches against Bournemouth and Stoke City before a visit to the old enemy Tottenham on Jan 4. It would be a momentous day indeed if they were to equal the record at White Hart Lane although there is some way to go.

Unburdened by European football and supremely well-organised, they were made to work hard for their victory. Fabregas’ goal won them the match but it was hard to look beyond another masterful performance in midfield from N’Golo Kante who controlled the game for the away side. Diego Costa was not at his sharpest although he worked hard for a side without Eden Hazard.

Moyes’ players pushed to the end of the match and they created two good chances in the second half for Adnan Januzaj and Fabio Borini, both of which were wasted. The Sunderland manager will take encouragement from the performance of his three-man defence and it took an exceptional late save from Thibaut Courtois to deny Patrick Van Aanholt an equaliser against his former club.

Moyes did what so many Premier League managers feel compelled to do against Chelsea these days and adapted his team’s formation to a 3-4-3 system in order to combat the awkward winning machine that Antonio Conte has created.

It is not that Sunderland did not have the players to do it, in fact Patrick Van Aanholt is quite well adapted to play wing-back on the left-hand side, the problem is more that Chelsea do it better than anyone else. Even so there were times when Sunderland’s determination to close down their opposition and work hard for the ball stood them in good stead, but the quality would tell in the end.

Even so it took a fine save from Thibaut Courtois in the final moments of the game to deny the former Chelsea man Patrick Van Aanholt from pinching a point for the home side.

Conte said afterwards in his solemn style that he hoped his team would “try to arrive at Christmas in an incredible position in the table”.

“I prefer not to look at the table,” he said, “for me and for my players because we are doing something important until now but the league didn’t finish today.” They are guaranteed being top for Christmas a position they have held when winning their four Premier League titles, starting in 2004-05.


The likelihood now is that Fabregas has hit form and claimed an irregular place in the team in sufficient time to rule out the need for a move away in January, as had previously been on the cards. Not so for Oscar, whose £60 million move to Shanghai SIPG in the Chinese Super League is now on with Conte all but confirming  the Brazilian has a deal in place to leave  next month.

The 25-year-old’s situation would be clear “in the next [few] days”, Conte said. “He started the season very well for us. We played 4-3-3 and he played very well and then when I switched to another formation he didn’t play a lot, but I always counted on him because  Oscar is a really good player. He’s young, but sometimes there is a situation that is very difficult to face, but I repeat in the next days it will be clearer .”

As for Sunderland the reality is a budget next month a little more restrictive than the January outlay of Shanghai SIPG. In fact, the new chief executive Martin Bain has said there will be no prospect of investment in the next transfer window.


When it was put to Moyes, he suggested it was not the way the job was sold to him in the summer. “I came with two objectives, first to stay in the Premier League and second to build a club,” he said. “I don’t see that has changed.”

Asked if he was frustrated at the lack of funds, Moyes was straight. “Yes, because I knew I had a short summer and I knew I couldn’t do much business and it was difficult. I did expect to do business in January. That was the understanding and what I had been told.”

There was always a possibility that Moyes’s team would throw at least one punch and in the end it was two, with Courtois also equal to a shot from Adnan Januzaj just after half-time. There was also a superb performance from N’Golo Kanté in midfield who won the ball for Fabregas’ goal and in one burst through midfield was so quick that Fabio Borini could not even foul him.


Moyes did what so many Premier League managers feel compelled to do against Chelsea these days and adapted his team’s formation to give them extra defensive cover, but it was not enough.

Fabregas’s goal represented all that is good about Chelsea at the moment. Diego Costa chased down Jordan Pickford to force the goalkeeper to kick the ball long and when finally it broke in midfield it was the 5ft 6in Kanté who won the header against the 6ft 5in Jan Kirchhoff. From there, Pedro skipped past two challenges on the left side before cutting in and suddenly Sunderland were in trouble.

From Pedro to Fabregas to Willian and back into the path of Fabregas for him to sweep the ball past Pickford with his right foot.

Januzaj’s chance came just after half-time and was missed and then Chelsea should really have put the game away. Papy Djilobodji deflected a Willian shot onto the bar. Lamine Koné used a bicycle kick to clear after Pickford had saved from Costa. All these chances went begging and Sunderland were still hanging on. They had a good opening of their own on 59 minutes when Januzaj cut back to Borini and the former Chelsea man skied his shot.

Courtois’ save at the end was exceptional, but it was in keeping with a Chelsea display that showed how far this team have come.


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

Mail:

Sunderland 0-1 Chelsea: Blues extend winning run to 10 Premier League matches as Cesc Fabregas scores only goal against struggling Black Cats

By Craig Hope for the Daily Mail


What a difference a year makes. What a difference a manager makes. Exactly 12 months ago to the day Chelsea lost at Leicester as their shambolic title defence plunged a new low. It was too much for owner Roman Abramovich and, by the end of week, Jose Mourinho was gone.

Compare that mess to the Chelsea of today - six points clear at the top of the Premier League and guaranteed to be at the summit come Christmas Day, a position from which they have won the title on four previous occasions.

What Mourinho made look difficult, Antonio Conte makes easy. This was a 10th straight victory; five more and they’ll have a new Premier League record, surpassing Arsenal’s run of 2002.



And Conte said: ‘It’s fantastic to win 10 in a row in this league, because it is very tough. You have to fight in every game. Our players deserve this for their commitment and work-rate, every day and in games.

‘But I prefer not to look at the table. The league did not finish today.’

There is a calmness and authority about Conte, much like his side. While Mourinho had lost the dressing-room, the Italian has every one of his players performing at a level unrecognisable from last season.

He even lets them enjoy a post-game beer. And it is fair to say supporters are drunk on their success right now.

Yes, they needed a fine last-minute save from Thibaut Courtois to deny Patrick van Aanholt, but this was impressive.

Cesc Fabregas was one of the players at odds with Mourinho but he was the match-winner here with a first-half strike which oozed class.

‘I’m very happy for Cesc,’ added Conte. ‘He’s a great example for the other players. It’s only his third start but he has shown great commitment.’

For Sunderland and David Moyes, meanwhile, this 11th defeat of the season came the day after an interview in which chief executive Martin Bain revealed the club will not be able to spend its way out of trouble this January.

And the Scot is evidently miffed.

‘I knew I had a short summer and I knew I wouldn’t do much business and that it was going to be really difficult, but I did expect to do some business in January,’ he said.

‘But I won’t be able to. That’s the understanding, that’s what I’ve been told. It’s frustrating.’

Moyes, then, will have to find a solution from within and he might well look to Conte and Chelsea for inspiration.

They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and Moyes, having praised Conte’s use of a three-man defence on the eve of the game, duly mirrored the selection of his opposite number; he must be doing something right, after all. Needless to say, however, Sunderland’s wing-backs were operating more like full-backs.

Three of those selected in Moyes’ new-look formation were former residents of Stamford Bridge. But that Van Aanholt, Fabio Borini and Papy Djilobodji managed just six league appearances between them for the Blues perhaps explains why they are now playing for the division’s bottom club and no longer on the books in West London.

It was easy to see, however, why Marcos Alonso has made the journey in the opposite direction and the Chelsea wing-back - a popular loanee on Wearside three years ago - was again outstanding at both ends of the park.

But Chelsea - minus the injured Eden Hazard, the playmaker responsible for a quarter of his side’s goals this season - struggled for inspiration during the opening exchanges.

They were only snapped from their slumber by a pair of robust home challenges which left Diego Costa and Willian in a heap. Lamine Kone and Jason Denayer were the perpetrators and, while it stirred the home crowd, it also livened the visitors.

Alonso soon escaped down the left and drew back for the unmarked Costa on the penalty spot. Goal, you assumed. But perhaps the Spaniard was still feeling the effects of being flattered by Kone moments earlier, for he sliced horribly wide.

Sunderland did not learn their lesson and again Alonso found space high on the flank and whipped through the six-yard area. This time, however, there were no takers. That three-man defence of Sunderland’s was looking more like a six-man unit as Chelsea exerted their dominance.

David Luiz soon took aim from a 20-yard free-kick and, when it was deflected off Adnan Januzaj in the home wall, goalkeeper Jordan Pickford was handily placed to save with relative ease.

But the young England stopper stood little chance with Chelsea’s breakthrough goal.

It may have looked simple - Fabregas to Willian to Fabregas, goal - but the execution of each pass and the Spaniard’s subsequent finish - a first-time tuck into the bottom corner from 20 yards - was of the highest quality.

By the time the hour-mark arrived Victor Moses had twice drilled inches wide from range and Willian came even closer when striking the crossbar.

This was turning into a shooting session for the league leaders and, with the home supporters somewhat subdued, Willian shaved the base of the post after drifting infield unopposed from the right.

Sunderland pressed late on but Courtois clawed Van Aanholt’s strike from the top corner.

It was a deserved victory for Chelsea and their brilliant manager. A year, it seems, is a long time in football.


Sunderland (5-3-1-1): Pickford 6.5; Jones 6 (Love 59, 5.5), Kone 6, Djilobodji 6.5, O’Shea 6, Van Aanholt 5.5; Januzaj 5, Denayer 5.5, Kirchhoff 5.5 (Larsson 57, 5.5); Borini 5 (Khazri 82); Defoe 6

Subs not used: Mannone, Asoro, Maja, Honeyman

Bookings: Defoe, O’Shea


Chelsea (3-4-3): Courtois 6; Azpilicueta 6.5, Luiz 6.5, Cahill 6.5; Moses 7 (Ivanovic 90), Kante 7, Fabregas 7.5, Alonso 7; Willian 7, Costa 6.5, Pedro 6 (Matic 75)

Subs: Begovic, Zouma, Loftus-Cheek, Batshuayi, Chalobah

Scorer: Fabregas 40

Bookings: Pedro, Moses


Referee: N Swarbrick

Attendance: 41,008

MOTM: Fabregas


 ==============================


Mirror:

Sunderland 0-1 Chelsea: Cesc Fabregas scores to keep Blues at the Premier League summit

The Spaniard netted his first Premier League goal of the season to extend Chelsea's winning run

BY BEN WELCH

Chelsea made it 10 Premier League wins in a row as they ground out a 1-0 win against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

A fine finish from Cesc Fabregas just before half-time ensured the Blues extended their lead at the top of the table.

Antonio Conte's men are now six points clear after capitalising on Arsenal's defeat at Everton last night.

David Moyes set his side up to frustrate with seven defenders in his starting line-up and for 40 minutes Chelsea had no answer.

As half-time approached Sunderland's resistance was broken. The visitors swept upfield and Willian laid the ball into the path of Fabregas who picked his spot with pinpoint precision.

The home side continued to battle in the second half, affording their visitors little space in the final third.


Chelseas couldn't find that precious second as Willian hit the bar and Jordan Pickford stepped up when called upon. In the end, the home side's depleted side didn't have enough quality to trouble Chelsea who showed their title-winning credentials with a hard-fought win.

Sunderland almost nicked a point at the death when Patrick van Aanholt hit a left-foot rocket goalwards, but Thibaut Courtois flung out a hand and denied the Dutchman with a fine save.


Here's five things we learned from Stamford Bridge.


1 Sunderland need to be a bit more adventurous


We appreciate that Chelsea are flying high at the top of the Premier League and Sunderland are rock bottom, but selecting seven defenders in your starting line-up for a home game... seriously? Come on, Dave? Surely you can be a little bit more adventurous?

Self preservation was at the forefront of Moyes' selection as he picked Billy Jones, van Aanholt, Papy Djilobodji, Lamine Kone, John O'Shea, Jason Denayer and Jan Kirchhoff to execute his 'don't cross the halfway line unless you absolutely have to' gameplan.

Sunderland were actually playing a 3-4-3, but you wouldn't have known it as the men in red and white stripes retreated to their defensive barricades in front of Jordan Pickford for 90 mintues.

In fairness to Moyes, it looked to be working as Sunderland frustrated Chelsea for 40 minutes until Fabregas slotted a crisp finish into the bottom corner.

We understand your plight Dave, but seven defenders? Come on, live a little.


2 Cesc has still got it


He might not have been back to his swashbuckling best, but his measured finish to give Chelsea the lead was a timely reminder he's a quality player.

After an impressive first season in west London where he helped Chelsea to their first Premier League title in five years, he stalled last term and has struggled to establish himself in Antonio Conte's 3-4-3 system.

He has been recalled to the side in recent weeks and continues to showcase his defence-shredding skills.

The Spaniard set up Diego Costa goals against Watford and Manchester City and found the net against Sunderland tonight.

In true Fabregas fashion he passed the ball into the bottom left hand corner as Pickford looked on helplessly.


3 Chelsea have strength-in-depth


The Blues missed Eden Hazard, no doubt about that. His explosive bursts and blood twisting runs would have helped them penetrate the red and white brick wall erected in front of Sunderland's 18-yard-box, but his deputy Willian did a fine job in his absence.

The energetic Brazilian unselfishly teed up Fabregas goal when he could have shot himself and he hit the bar in the second half.

If Chelsea are to maintain their title charge they're going to need a member of their squad to come to the fore when called upon.

Willian proved tonight he has the quality to step in to the shoes of Hazard and deliver.


4 Sunderland need to spend in January


Rooted to the bottom of the table with the worst start to a Premier League season in history, Sunderland look doomed - but they're not.

Moyes' team, which has shown promise in recent weeks, are only four points from safety.

With the right investment in January they could bolster their squad and fight their way out of trouble.

Moyes' team selection reflected his lack of options. Veteran goalscorer Jermaine Defoe has plundered eight goals with very little support. If he gets injured they'll be relying on Fabio Borini and Victor Anichebe for goals. Nuff said.


5 Football is just a game


Worrying if your team is going to win three points or not seems pretty trivial when you hear Bradley Lowery's story.

The brave 5-year-old was re-diagnosed with cancer in July and has been given months to live.

Unfazed, he led Sunderland out at the Stadium of Light and stuck a penalty past Chelsea goalkeeper Asmir Begovic during the pre-match warm up to the delight of the fans.

In the fifth minute applause rang around the stadium with both sets of fans showing their support for Bradley.

He has previously led his beloved Sunderland out onto the pitch before, but when he revealed to his parentss that he’d really like to score a goal for Sunderland, Chelsea agreed to help make his dream come true.

There's much to bemoan about the world of football, but when it comes together like this you realise the bond between fans surpasses tribal allegiances. Keep fighting Bradley.



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


Sun:

FAB 'N GRAB Sunderland 0 Chelsea 1

Cesc Fabregas breaks down Black Cats’ overloaded defence to send Blues six points clear at top of the table
Spaniard also helped visitors equal the club's ten-game win record set in Jose Mourinho's reign at Stamford Bridge

BY DAVID COVERDALE AND TOBY GANNON 15th

CESC FABREGAS scored his first Premier League goal since May to extend Chelsea’s lead at the top of the table to six points.

Sunderland lined up with SEVEN defenders in the team.

But David Moyes’ tactics were undone five minutes before half time.

Fabregas played a one-two with Willian, receiving the ball back on the edge of the box and picking out the bottom corner with a curling effort.

Sunderland left it late to press for an equaliser and were only denied by the superb Thibaut Courtois.


The Belgian had a quiet night but was alert and focused in injury time to keep out first Jason Denayer, and then Patrick van Aanholt.

Chelsea now lead second-placed Arsenal by six points, while basement boys Sunderland remain bottom with 11 points.


Sunderland welcomed five-year-old fan Bradley Lowery to join with their warm-up – and even scored past Chelsea stopper Asmir Begovic. He is suffering from neuroblastoma, a rare childhood cancer, and is sadly not expected to stay alive long into 2017.
Oscar was missing from the Chelsea squad. He says he is “90 per cent certain” to move to Chinese Super League side Shanghai SIPG in January.

Antonio Conte has now equalled the Chelsea record of ten wins in a row
Eden Hazard was also out for the first time this season. He picked up a knock against West Brom.
Sunderland’s injury curse has hit again. They have already had more crocks than any other side this season. And against Chelsea they were without Steven Pienaar and Victor Anichebe.
It meant two 17-year-olds, Joel Asoro and Josh Maja, were in their squad against the Blues.
With his limited options, David Moyes sprung a surprise by matching Chelsea’s formation and going with three centre-halves for the first time this season – John O’Shea being recalled.

Thibaut Courtois produced an incredible save at the end of the game to ensure the win
Sunderland had three former Chelsea players in their side. But between them, Patrick van Aanholt, Papy Djilobodji and Fabio Borini only made six league appearances for the Blues.
Jermain Defoe is the only player to have scored against Chelsea with four different Premier League clubs. He scored Sunderland’s third in a 3-2 win here versus the Blues in May.
What a difference a year makes. On this day last year, a defeat away to Leicester left Chelsea just a point above the relegation zone. Now they are six points clear at the top.
Cesc Fabregas scored his first league goal of the season in just his third Prem start this term.


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

Star:

Sunderland 0 Chelsea 1: Fabregas fires Blues to tenth Premier League win in a row

CESC FABREGAS gave Antonio Conte a reminder of his special qualities with his first league goal of the season last night.


By Ian Murtagh

The Spaniard has spent recent weeks warming the bench as his team-mates have reeled off win after win.

Last night he decided it was time to join the party.

Sunderland had proved stubborn opponents, just as Conte predicted, and the Black Cats were five minutes away from going in at half-time level when Fabregas stamped his class on proceedings.

Taking a Pedro ball in his stride, he skipped past Jan Kirchoff and after swapping passes with Willian, stroked a sublime right-foot shot between Jordan Pickford's outstretched hands and left-hand post.

The Premier League's bottom club should have equalised two minutes after the restart when Jermain Defoe fed the overlapping Adnan Januzaj inside the box but the Manchester United loanee's shot was turned behind by Thibaut Courtois.

Moments later, a Willian drive clipped the bar after taking a heavy deflection off former Chelsea defender Papy Djilobodji before Victor Moses tested Pickford.


David Moyes' side had matched Chelsea's 3-4-3 formation but whereas the visitors' wing-backs spent the first period marauding down the flanks, their Black Cats counterparts concentrated on defence.

If the Sunderland gameplan was cautious, it looked effective until Fabregas struck.

While they were prepared to concede territory and possession to the league leaders, Chelsea struggled to get behind them.

And Pickford produced a blinding save to deny Pedro, even though the linesman's flag was already raised with the Spaniard just offside.



Chelsea's first shot on target did not arrive until the 39th minute but David Luiz's 30-yard free-kick brought a regulation save out of Pickford.

Within a minute, though, Conte's men were ahead, thanks to Fabregas' gem.

They were within a whisker of doubling their lead in first-half injury-time when John O'Shea fouled Diego Costa and Willian's free-kick brushed the roof of the net.

Despite being pushed back for long periods, Sunderland did carve out two half-chances of their own.

Defoe released Billy Jones whose cross-shot was just wide, while Januzaj couldn't get enough curl on his 25th-minute effort.


Sunderland opened up after the break although Chelsea had the better chances with Willian again going close.

But it took a stunning injury-time save by Courtois to keep Chelsea's winning run going, diving to his right to push away a piledriver from Patrick van Aanholt.


SUNDERLAND (3-4-3): Pickford; Kone, O'Shea, Djilobodji; Jones, Denayer, Van Aanholt, Kirchhoff; Borini, Januzaj, Defoe. Subs: Mannone, Larsson, Khazri, Love, Asoro, Maja, Honeyman.

CHELSEA (3-4-3): Courtois; Azpilicueta, Luiz, Cahill; Moses, Kante, Fabregas, Alonso; Willian, Costa, Pedro. Subs: Begovic, Ivanovic, Zouma, Matic, Loftus-Cheek, Batshuayi, Chalobah.


Referee: Neil Swarbrick.

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

Express:

Sunderland 0 - Chelsea 1: Fabregas strikes to send Conte's men six points clear

FULL marks to Chelsea – ten out of ten, in fact – as Antonio Conte’s rampant Londoners extended their winning run into double figures to move six points clear at the top.

By NEIL SQUIRES


A precision strike from Cesc Fabregas maintained the force of the blue tide currently engulfing the division and plunged bottom-of-the- table Sunderland into further strife.

If there was one criticism last night it was that Chelsea did not put away Sunderland more emphatically.

Before last night’s game, they had made only nine changes to their starting team in 15 league games.

So the introduction of Willian for the injured Eden Hazard and the rotation of Fabregas back into the side for Nemanja Matic amounted to radical surgery.

It did nothing to affect the smooth flow of a side which arrived on Wearside floating on confidence.


Sunderland, having switched to a back three to ape the Chelsea way, sat back with containment rather than creativity on their minds and allowed the leaders to monopolise the play.

The waiting game meant the passion one expected at The Stadium of Light was strangely absent. It took the flooring of Diego Costa and Willian twice in a few seconds midway through the first half to bring a crowd desperate for something, anything, briefly to life.

Both challenges by Lamine Kone and Jason Denayer were above board although inevitably Costa disagreed.

The latter, involved in a running battle with Sunderland captain John O’Shea, was in full pantomime villain mode, going to ground regularly and appealing more often than a Bangladesh short leg.

The rogue can play though and it was his neat flick through to Pedro which forced a fine save from Jordan Pickford only for the Spaniard to be ruled fractionally offside.

Moments later the Sunderland keeper was called upon to take a deflected free-kick from David Luiz and as the home side continued to chase shadows there was a sense of inevitability about what was coming.

The Chelsea goal when it arrived in the 40th minute was a work of some artistic merit with Fabregas’s astute bent finish after an exchange of passes with Willian leaving Pickford no chance.

It was his first league goal of the season. Jermain Defoe was rendered a spectator up front and his frustration boiled over with a rash tackle on Fabregas which earned him a yellow.

O’Shea followed him after Costa was sent sprawling just outside the area but Willian was unable to engineer enough dip on the free-kick.

Complacency seemed Chelsea’s one issue and a sloppy ball from Luiz allowed Adnan Januzaj an opening for Sunderland early in the second period only for Thibault Courtois to save.


Pickford’s gloves were much the hotter with the Sunderland keeper called upon to thwart Victor Moses and Costa in quick succession after Willian’s deflected shot had hit the bar.

Costa had two penalty claims brushed away as Chelsea’s movement continued to befuddle Sunderland and their unfamiliar defensive system.

Sunderland at least played with more attacking intent after the break but the gulf in class was painfully obvious. With Sunderland losing money, the extent of Ellis Short’s generosity this Christmas looks like being a satsuma and a walnut in David Moyes’s stocking.

Yet it took a superb flying save from Courtois to deny Patrick van Aanholt in injurytime.


SUNDERLAND (3-5-2): Pickford 7; Kone 6, O’Shea 5, Djilobodji 5; Jones 6 (Love 57, 6), Denayer 6, Kirchhoff 4 (Larsson 55, 6), Van Aanholt 5, Janujaz 5; Borini 6 (Khazri 82), Defoe 6. Booked: Defoe, O’Shea, Borini. NEXT UP: Watford (h), Sat PL.

CHELSEA (3-5-2): Courtois 6; Azpilicueta 6, Luiz 6, Cahill 6; Moses 6 (Ivanovic 90), Kante 7, Fabregas 8, Alonso 6 (Matic 70), Pedro 7; Costa 7, Willian 7 (Chalobahat 89). Booked: Pedro, Moses. Goal: Fabregas 40. NEXT UP: Crystal Palace (a), Sat PL.

Referee: N Swarbrick (Lancashire).

West Brom 1-0

Independent:

Chelsea 1 West Bromwich Albion 0

Diego Costa's fine finish breaks down resilient Baggies

Antonio Conte's side picked up their ninth consecutive league win but they were made to work for the three points by the visitors

Jack Pitt-Brooke at Stamford Bridge


It will not be as easy as facing Manchester City every week, but this afternoon at Stamford Bridge Chelsea found a way to extend their Premier League winning run to a remarkable ninth game.

There were 14 minutes left here and Chelsea were just starting to look nervous, held to 0-0 by Tony Pulis’ West Bromwich Albion, who had come to make life as difficult as possible for the league leaders. Then Diego Costa broke the game open with a brilliant solo goal.

That goal won the game, moving Chelsea back to the top of the Premier League, three points ahead of second placed Arsenal. This was certainly not the best that Chelsea have played recently, and might even be their most modest performance of their nine-game run. But teams that win titles need to be able to win games in different ways. Here they relied on a moment of individual brilliance from a player at the top of his game. It is not a bad option for Antonio Conte to have in his locker.


Costa now has 12 goals already this season, making him the top scorer in the Premier League. He is playing at least as well as he was when he arrived two years ago, under Jose Mourinho, and is unrecognisable from the man who spent the summer hoping to get a move back to Atletico Madrid.

His goal was pure Costa. He chased a hopeful forward ball from Cesc Fabregas down the right-hand side and when Gareth McAuley collected it, Costa decided to bully him off the ball. McAuley is not easily bullied and knows how to look after himself. But Costa brushed him aside as if he were a teenager getting to train with the first-team for the afternoon. Then, charging straight at goal, he bent the ball with his left foot away from Ben Foster and into the far top corner of the net. When Costa is at his best, as he is now, he mixes physical aggression with underrated technical class.

Up until that goal, this had felt like an unusually frustrating afternoon for Chelsea. Eight days ago they shredded City on the break, finding Pep Guardiola’s set-up to be perfectly vulnerable to fast counter-attacks. Pulis and Guardiola understand football differently, though, and West Brom made it substantially more difficult for Chelsea than City did.

Pulis played a 4-2-3-1 with his two wingers, Matt Phillips and Chris Brunt, defending as auxiliary full-backs. That stopped Chelsea’s wing-backs from overlapping and all of a sudden Conte’s side had some work to do. Chelsea created almost nothing in the first half despite dominating possession and the best chances, in fact, fell to West Brom on the break. Brunt whipped a 30-yard shot just wide of the far post and Salomon Rondon dragged a shot off target after beating David Luiz down the left.


Luiz was Chelsea’s major goal threat in the first half from free-kicks, which said a lot about Chelsea’s struggles in open play and also about the scrappy standard of the match.  The second half was not very different, and again Chelsea nearly equalised from a Luiz free-kick, which hit Pedro on the foot and skimmed just wide.

Conte knew that he needed something different to change the game, and introduced first Willian and then Fabregas. He even ditched the 3-4-3 for a more conventional 4-2-3-1 to give Fabregas a platform to play his passes and try to unpick the stubborn West Brom defence. Eventually he did get the assist that turned the game, and kept Chelsea’s great run going. Although he did need Costa to do the hard work.

Next up, Sunderland, Crystal Palace, Bournemouth and Stoke City, and the chance for Chelsea to win their 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th consecutive Premier League matches. That would draw them level with Arsenal, who won 13 straight during the 2001-02 season, when they won the title. Who would now bet against Chelsea doing the same?



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



Guardian:


Diego Costa strikes again as Chelsea go top with win over West Brom

Chelsea 1 - 0 West Brom

Dominic Fifield at Stamford Bridge


This was a slog, a result ground out against ruggedly obdurate opposition, but Chelsea may end up gaining more satisfaction from prevailing in those awkward circumstances than from some of the more comfortable strolls they have enjoyed over a nine-match winning streak. The leaders have reimposed their three-point advantage at the top of the division, and ended West Bromwich Albion’s own impressive burst of form in the process. There is something relentless about Antonio Conte’s team at present and, since early October, no one has found a way of checking their progress.


Tony Pulis and his industrious team came agonisingly close. It was only as this game entered its final 15 minutes, with the hosts on their third formation of the afternoon and anxiety mounting in the stands, that West Brom finally cracked. Cesc Fàbregas, flung on in desperation as a central playmaker in the rejigged lineup, lofted a hopeful pass down the right which Gareth McAuley would have expected to repel. He had spent most of the afternoon doing just that, shepherding the ball away to safety with allies forever close by but, on this occasion, he was ambushed by the rampaging Diego Costa.

The forward bustled in, stealing the ball and holding off the centre-half as he attempted to wrest it back, before ripping a glorious shot from a horribly tight angle into the far top corner as Ben Foster edged out to smother. The finish was emphatic, an afternoon’s frustration expunged with one swing of his left boot. “It was a good and maybe fortunate pass, but it was all about Diego for the goal,” said Fàbregas. “He made the pass special, fighting for that ball.” Costa, leaning on his team-mate to interpret, merely warned that there is more to come. That sounded ominous for defenders up and down the division.

Chelsea are growing used to the forward saving the day. It was his bullying of Nicolás Otamendi at the Etihad Stadium last Saturday which drew the league leaders level, his flash of opportunism which had claimed the points at Middlesbrough, and his vicious, curling shot which had so deflated Southampton at St Mary’s. There have been 12 goals already this season; November’s Premier League player of the month, such a snarling presence last season, is now a source of inspiration. He had toiled alone for long periods here against the visitors’ imposing rearguard, with little hint of reward en route, but did not grow frustrated, and even offered only a smirk when team-mates became enraged at West Brom’s perceived timewasting.


The Spain international has not been booked since accruing his fourth caution for dissent in Chelsea’s last league loss, at Arsenal on 24 September. The cardless run, Costa’s best for six years, is as remarkable as his goal tally and at this rate it is feasible he might reach the amnesty on New Year’s Day without incurring a ban. “It’s incredible that, after the Arsenal defeat, Diego had four yellow cards and was on the edge, and he has continued to stay on the edge,” said Conte. “I think he can arrive in January without a yellow card. I hope [he does].

“Look at the image of Diego against Manchester City [when he played peacemaker in the brawl at the end]. I always tell my players to stay focused on the pitch, think about playing football, doing the movement we tried in training sessions. I don’t like provocation, I don’t like bad attitudes, and I’m trying to transfer this to my players. But I’m very lucky because I have players with great behaviour. Diego is enjoying this football. He’s showing his passion in the right way. You ask why it happened in the past, but I don’t know. Now I can only talk about his commitment, his work-rate during the games, and it’s fantastic. I want this from all my players. I try to get all my players to think like this.”

The image of Costa as a role model, or even as a calming influence, may seem incongruous, but he serves to reassure these days.


The bear hug Conte offered the Spain international at the final whistle summed up his significance. This had been such a grind, a test of patience as much as quality, against admirably resolute opponents who flung down a four-man barrier of centre-halves supplemented by workaholic wingers who plugged the full-back areas whenever they were denied the ball. All the areas of the pitch where Chelsea have flourished over the last two months were duly clogged up, with clear-cut opportunities scarce.

The visitors actually created more presentable half-chances, Salomón Rondón skimming a shot wide of the far post after holding off David Luiz, before retreating into their shells after the interval. “We have better players than we showed today because we needed to find a pass to get us further up the pitch,” said Pulis. “I’m disappointed for the players because they put in so much effort and commitment. To be beaten by that one mistake …”

He was actually defeated as much by a flash of brilliance from the Premier League’s striker of the moment. Thanks to Costa, Chelsea travel to Sunderland on Wednesday with their momentum maintained.



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


Telegraph:

Chelsea 1 West Brom 0: Diego Costa scores fine solo effort to deny stubborn Pulis tactics

Matt Law

Diego Costa extended Chelsea’s winning sequence to nine games to send Chelsea back to the top of the Premier League table and, just as significantly, take his own clean run to 10 matches.

The in-form striker scored against West Bromwich Albion with 14 minutes remaining – registering his fifth goal in six games and his 12th in the Premier League this season. Costa also got through another 90 minutes without picking up a yellow card, meaning he has now gone 10 games in all competitions without being booked to avoid suspension.

This is the 28-year-old’s longest run without a yellow card since the 2010/11 season, having last been cautioned against Arsenal on Sept 24, an offence that left him one booking away from suspension.

Costa must now get through ­another four games and the remainder of 2016 without a yellow card to avoid a one-game ban.


“January is arriving, no? It’s ­incredible,” said Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte. “If you think that, after the Arsenal defeat, Diego had four yellow cards and was on the edge, he continued to stay on the edge. It’s incredible. I think he can arrive in January without a yellow card, I hope, but it’s important to continue.”

The way in which Costa bullied Gareth McAuley out of the way for his winning goal showed that the Spain international has lost none of his aggression, but he is channelling it in the right direction. There looked to be little danger when he ran on to a high ball from substitute Cesc Fàbregas down the right, but Costa overpowered McAuley to cut into the penalty area and shoot past goalkeeper Ben Foster.

He has now scored the same amount of Premier League goals as he managed in the whole of last season, but believes he is still not at his peak.


“I am in great form, but not the best,” said Costa. “The best way to attack is to ­defend well, They had a few chances in the beginning, but we are well organised and strong.”

Conte added: “I’m happy for him, I’m happy for the team, for Chelsea and the fans, because he’s showing great passion, Diego. He likes to play football and he’s showing great passion in every game, great commitment, good without or with the ball to help the team. It’s fantastic. It’s important to continue this way, but I’m very happy for him.

“All the players have to improve, not just Diego, Eden [Hazard], Willian or Pedro. All the players can ­improve a lot and only through work every day. For this reason, I’m very satisfied with the commitment from my players. Today wasn’t an easy game, but they showed me great application, great commitment and concentration. For sure this is the right way, but we must continue.”

It was Costa who had called to the Chelsea bench for Fàbregas to be sent on in the 74th minute and it proved to be crucial as the home side had struggled to create chances up to that point.

It took Chelsea 41 minutes to manage their first shot on target, when Foster saved a David Luiz free kick in a first half in which West Brom were the more threatening side.


Despite giving up possession and defending with at least six men ­behind the ball, as wingers Matt Phillips and Chris Brunt dropped deep, West Brom gave the hosts problems on the counter-attack.

Brunt fired a 19th-minute shot just wide and Salómon Rondón was inches away from giving West Brom the lead seven minutes later. The striker overpowered Luiz, who still looked to be suffering from the wild challenge by Manchester City’s Sergio Agüero a week earlier, and ran into the penalty area before sending a low effort just past the far post.

The closest Chelsea had gone to scoring before Costa’s winner was when N’Golo Kanté fired a shot into Pedro and the ball dribbled just wide of Foster’s post.

“We caused them some problems on the break in the first half,” said West Brom manager Tony Pulis. “The goal was disappointing ­because Gareth should have dealt with it, but I have no qualms about how they worked. To get beaten by that one mistake… it was a wonderful goal by Diego Costa, but even so.”



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



Mail:



Chelsea 1-0 West Brom: Diego Costa's thunderbolt strike wins it for Antonio Conte's side as they finally break down dogged West Brom to return to the top of the Premier League table


By MATT BARLOW FOR THE DAILY MAIL


Chelsea might easily have settled for a point. They could have shrugged as though, on this day, it was not to be.

After all, this sequence of victories must end some time and West Bromwich Albion came in good form with confidence and an armour-plated defensive unit.

Yet Chelsea refused to accept anything less than a win. It is a good habit to be in if you have sights on the title. It sends an ominous message and nobody personified this combative, never-say-draw spirit quite like Diego Costa.


Antonio Conte contributed from the touchline when his team needed help. The coach’s substitutions made an impact and he tweaked his tactics, briefly abandoning his beloved back three in search of ways to pierce Albion.

Ultimately, however, it was Costa who made the difference, grabbing the only goal 14 minutes from time to secure a ninth successive win for the Premier League leaders.

Cesc Fabregas supplied the pass but this was not one of his defence-splitters. It was clipped fairly aimlessly into the corner and Gareth McAuley seemed set to tidy it up as he lumbered across from central defence.

Costa pursued McAuley, went shoulder to shoulder, and won the test of strength. Emerging with the ball, he strode towards goal on an angle and with his left boot lashed it past the right ear of Ben Foster. ‘He made the pass special,’ said Fabregas.

It was a 12th goal of the season for Costa and his 49th in 95 games for Chelsea.

Perhaps more remarkable for a player with his storm-tossed reputation is that he has gone 10 games in all competitions without collecting a booking, his longest run for nearly six years. Costa must reach the amnesty at the end of the month without another yellow card to avoid suspension.

‘January is arriving, no?’ said Conte as he crossed his fingers on both hands. ‘I hope.’

No-one personifies the mentality Conte has entrenched in his team better than Costa the warrior.

There was more than a trace of Didier Drogba about the way he led the line against West Brom. He carried the fight, took the knocks, and suffered from the frustration of very little service.

Then he summoned a moment of individual brilliance when required in the 76th minute.

‘Diego shows great passion,’ said Conte. ‘He’s showing great commitment, his work-rate, with or without the ball, to help the team is fantastic and it is important to continue in this way. He is a great striker but all players have to improve.’

Albion had been impressively resilient. Tony Pulis set them up well, as ever, solid in defence, with a tight back four and the widest of five midfielders patrolling up and down the Stamford Bridge pitch like wing backs. It was often a back six, protected by the defensive nous of Claudio Yacob.


For so long the visitors stifled Chelsea as effectively as any team have managed since Conte moved to his new system and triggered this succession of victories.

Eden Hazard and Pedro Rodriguez, so dangerous in recent weeks, found open space severely restricted in the channels where they have been causing so much damage.

When they ran short of ideas, they tried an aerial route, but Costa was crowded out by centre halves who were equally strong in the air.

Conte scrapped his 3-4-3 system midway through the second half. By this time, the visitors had been forced back and were hanging on.Earlier in the game, they flexed out of defence threateningly. Chris Brunt went close and Salomon Rondon gave David Luiz a torrid time in the first half.

Chelsea’s best effort in the first half was a speculative shot from N’Golo Kante which clipped Pedro and flashed by Foster’s goal with the goalkeeper wrong-footed.


Luiz wasted one free-kick, slicing high and wide, then tested Foster with a second. With a third, he forced another save.

The game loosened up as Albion tired in the final 20 minutes, and Fabregas and Willian came off the bench to good effect.

Eventually, Chelsea broke through.

‘The goal was disappointing,’ said Pulis. ‘Gareth should have dealt with it but I’ve no qualms. I’m disappointed for them because they put so much effort in and worked so hard. To get beaten by one mistake, it was a wonderful goal, but even so.’

West Brom’s wait for a first League win at Stamford Bridge since 1978 goes on and Chelsea head north, to Sunderland on Wednesday, in search of a perfect 10.


CHELSEA 3-4-3: Courtois 6; Azpilicueta 6, Luiz 5, Cahill 6.5; Moses 6 (Fabregas 74min 6.5), Kante 7, Matic 6.5, Alonso 6; Pedro 5 (Willian 63, 6), Costa 7.5, Hazard 6 (Ivanovic 79).

SUBS: Begovic, Chalobah, Aina, Batshuayi.

BOOKINGS: Kante, Matic.

MANAGER: Antonio Conte 8.


WEST BROMWICH 4-5-1: Foster 6.5; Dawson 6.5, McAuley 6.5, Evans 7, Nyom 6; Brunt 6.5 (Robson-Kanu 84), Fletcher 6.5, Yacob 6, Morrison 6.5 (Chadli 78), Phillips 6 (McClean 78); Rondon 6.

SUBS: Palmer, Olsson, Gardner, Galloway.

BOOKINGS: Brunt, McAuley, Dawson, Yacob,

MANAGER: Tony Pulis 7.


MOM: Diego Costa.

REFEREE: Mike Dean 6.

ATTENDANCE: 41,622.




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


Mirror:


Chelsea 1-0 West Brom: Diego Costa proves the difference as Blues win ninth successive game - 5 things we learned

Antonio Conte's men weren't at their best at Stamford Bridge, but the Blues striker's unerring finish handed his side another three points


BY NEIL MCLEMAN


Diego Costa finally broke down West Brom's dogged defending to send Chelsea back to the top of the Premier League with their ninth straight win.

The Spanish striker scored his 12th goal of the season after 76 minutes when he robbed Gareth McAuley before smashing his shot into the top corner. Sub Cesc Fabregas, who had only been on the pitch for two minutes, provided the pass forward.


Until then Tony Pulis had been winning his tactical battle with former Italy boss Antonio Conte with the Baggies boss deploying his wide midfielders as extra full-backs in a six-man defence.

It wasn't pretty but it was highly effective as West Brom, who had only 28 per cent of first-half possession, frustrated the home side.

Conte changed back a a back four in the second half when he threw on Willian and then his fellow sub Fabregas played a ball over the top to set up Costa's winner.


Here are five things we learned...


1. Chelsea have a Plan B


With the threat from out wide nullified and the attacking three out-numbered, Chelsea lacked the nous from midfield to break down the West Brom defence.

Nemanja Matic and N'Golo Kante are not that type of player. Cesc Fabregas eventually made the difference when he was introduced after 74 minutes.

Antonio Conte could also have used Andrea Pirlo on the pitch – not the stands at Stamford Bridge



2. Watching Pulis on the touchline more entertaining than watching his team


The press box at Stamford Bridge is just behind the managers' technical areas.

The Welshman was a non-stop bundle of energy, continuing cajoling his own players and criticising the officials. On effort and organisation, the Baggies deserved a point.


3. Winning is a good habit


Chelsea have now racked up nine victories in a row – the most since 2007. And they have now kept eight clean sheets this season, just one less than in the whole of last season. It is a good combination.

Even today, when they were not at their best, Conte willed them on to win.

Away trips to Sunderland and Palace now come before Christmas.



4. West Brom can be best of the rest


Normal service has resumed at the top of the Premier League with the big six.

But the contest for seventh place – and possible Europa League qualification – is as open as ever.

On recent showings, including today, the Baggies are candidates along with Stoke, Watford, Everton and Southampton. They are physically imposing and now have a good bench.


5. David Luiz can be targeted


West Brom defended as a unit then pressed high up the pitch. Centre-forward Salomon Rondon gave the Brazilian a much harder afternoon than Sergio Aguero last weekend – without the retaliation.

The Venezuelan created West Brom's best chance when he robbed David Luiz in the first half before running through on goal.



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



Sun:


COST PRICELESS Chelsea 1 West Brom 0

Sublime, late individual strike from Diego Costa breaks the hearts of brave Baggies at Stamford Bridge

Spanish striker netted his 12th goal of the season as Tony Pulis' men finished 15 minutes short of well-deserved point


BY NEIL ASHTON


IT took a moment of sheer genius from Diego Costa to finally break the hearts of the brave, battling West Brom at Stamford Bridge.

After 75 minutes of wonderful defending, Tony Pulis‘ Baggies finally made a mistake at the back with Costa out-muscling Gareth McAuley before bending the ball beyond the despairing Ben Foster with his left foot from an improbable angle.


Suddenly West Brom needed to go on the attack, however they had nothing left in the tank, with Antonio Conte shoring up his defensive ranks to see out the game.

It wasn't always pretty, but the Blues are back on top of the Premier League table.


FACTS, STATS, GOALS & LOLS

CHELSEA are hoping that an FA commission gives them the benefit of the doubt in the hearing over last week’s bust-up with Manchester City. The Blues have been warned that they face a points deduction after being charged for the fifth time in 19 months. Chelsea claim they acted largely as peacemakers.

FRANK LAMPARD was at the Bridge with his missus Christine Beakley. The former Chelsea midfielder is becoming something of a regular up in the director’s box.

FOR all the love being sprayed around for David Luiz, he still has some big mistakes in him. One of them was the failure to hold off Salomon Rondon when he let the Baggies striker in on goal.

WEST BROM had the first effort on goal when Chris Brunt fired wide of the post. Seconds later he was booked for nailing Diego Costa.

POOR old Eden Hazard is becoming something of a target again. Three minutes after Gareth McAuley was booked for chopping him, the little fella was still limping.

LUIZ had Chelsea’s first big chance of the first half with a 41st minute free kick which Ben Foster down well to save. He had another chance on the hour from similar distance that Foster tipped around the post.

WAS only a matter of time before Antonio Conte sent for Willian. The Chelsea head coach brought the Brazilian on in place of Pedro after 62 minutes to add some punch to Chelsea’s attack.

WHEN that did not work he sent for Cesc Fabregas. The midfielder, right at the heart of last week’s bother with Manchester City, came on for Victor Moses.

THE rewards were quick, with Costa putting Chelsea in front after 76 minutes with a left footed curled effort that beat Foster. Tony Pulis will be furious with Gareth Mcauley for being outmuscled by the Chelsea forward.


CHELSEA: Courtois6, Azpilicueta 7, Luiz 6, Cahill 7, Alonso 6, Moses 6 (Fabregas 74, 6), Kante 7, Matic 7, Pedro 6 (Willian 63, 6), Hazard 7 (Ivanovic 79, 6), Costa 7.

Subs not used: Begovic, Chalobah, Aina, Batshuayi.

Goals: Costa (76).

Booked: Kante.


WEST BROM: Foster, Dawson 7, McAuley 5, Evans 6, Nyom 7, Fletcher 6, Yacob 6, Brunt 6 (Robson-Kanu 84, 5), Morrison 6 (Chadli 78, 5), Phillips 6 (McClean 78, 6), Rondon 6.

Subs not used: Palmer, Olsson, Galloway, Gardner.

Booked: Brunt, McAuley, Dawson, Yacob.


STAR MAN: CESAR AZPILICUETA (Chelsea)



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



Star:


Chelsea 1 West Brom 0: Diego Costa stunner downs brave Baggies

DIEGO COSTA kept his cool in more ways than one to boost Chelsea’s increasing title prospects.

By David Woods


Last season Costa would most probably have reacted badly to the aggressive and physical approach of Tony Pulis’s uncompromising West Brom side.

But not any more with the new, improved chilled-out Costa taking whatever battering the Baggies gave him yesterday - and responding in the best way possible, by scoring the winner in the 76th minute.

This campaign we’re seeing Costa’s mild blend - and it’s proving very hot and tasty for the west Londoners.

There are good as well as bad ways to show your strength on the pitch and the Brazil-born Spain international striker very much did the former for his goal.


A lofted ball forward by substitute Cesc Fabregas into the right wing channel did not appear to present any danger for West Brom as Costa chased it down in company with Gareth McAuley.

But as they wrestled for possession, Costa outmuscled the Irishman and the ball was at his feet. He still had plenty to do as he cut in towards goal with McAuley chasing him.

From an acute angle, and avoiding a desperation lunge from his opponent, he connected superbly with his left foot, sending a rocket of a shot bending around Ben Foster and flashing into the net just underneath the bar.

As clinical a finish as a boss could wish for, it sparked ecstatic celebrations from Antonio Conte - who leapt into a cuddle with his assistants - and a huge smile from owner Roman Abramovich.

Not surprising really as the goal made it nine wins from nine in the Premier League and took the Blues back to the top of the table, where Arsenal had stayed for 21 hours. It also took the 28-year-old into a clear lead in the top flight scoring charts with 12 goals, one ahead of the Gunners’ Alexis Sanchez.

Suddenly the raging bull that has been Costa doesn’t want to trample on opponents any more. He had opportunities to lose his rag, having been tripped and brought down by Chris Brunt - who was booked in the 20th minute.


In the 38th minute he was stopped from getting his head onto an inviting Pedro cross by a typical just-about-legal block by Claudio Yacob. He wasn’t happy but the moan was low-key as was his reaction in the 51st minute to a block from Craig Dawson, who earned the defender a caution.

Nine minutes later, Dawson brought down Costa again with a foul which looked worse than the previous one. Ref Mike Dean did not reach for a card this time and although Costa was not impressed, there was no red mist.

Close to the final whistle, Costa was involved in a tussle for the ball with Jonny Evans. After he strode forward a few steps towards the centreback, but there was no pushing or shoving, just a little pat, although you suspect there might still have been a word or too to suggest he was still no pussycat!

At the final whistle, he was quite restrained again, raising both arms aloft before a round of handshakes and a big hug from Conte.

Whatever the Italian has done to the man he calls a “warrior” it has worked wonders. Costa did not even get seriously involved in the controversial bust-up at Manchester City nine days ago and he has had just four bookings this season, the last one on the first day of October - a run of ten games without a caution, his best effort for around six years.


To be honest, his superb goal was just about the only real highlight of a game which never caught alight. The noon kick-off, and West Brom’s well-organised resistance, led to a uninspired performance from Chelsea and their fans, who got most worked up before the break about Foster taking his time over kicks.

Pulis’s side had precious little possession but up until the goal came as close to scoring as Chelsea, with Chris Brunt shooting just wide an David Louis reverting to type by presenting Solomon Rondon with the ball and the striker dragging his effort just wide of the far post. The Blues’ best effort was a N’Golo Kante drive which hit Pedro and deflected past an upright.

Then Costa produced that one true bit of class to seal the win. It also keeps Chelsea on course for the Premier League record of most successive wins, currently held by Arsenal at 13 in one season or 14 over two.

But Costa insisted such a challenge was not on his mind. “I’m interested to continue in this way, to win for sure, because it’s important to play each game only thinking about winning,” he said.

“To prepare the games, starting with Sunderland away on Wednesday, in the right way to continue to win is what is important. I’m not interested in the record. I’m interested in gaining three points in every game because that means we can stay top of the table and fighting for something important. We’ve only played 15 games and must continue.”

           
   
CHELSEA (3-4-3): Courtois 7; Azpilicueta 7, Luiz 6, Cahill 7; Moses 6 (Fabregas 74), Kante 7, Matic 7, Alonso 6; Pedro 5 (Willian 63, 6), COSTA 8, Hazard 7 (Ivanovic 79).
Subs: Begovic, Batshuayi, Chalobah, Aina.
UP NEXT: Sunderland (a), Premier League, Wednesday.

WEST BROM (4-4-1-1): Foster 6; Dawson 7, McAuley 6, Evans 7, Nyom 7; Brunt 6 (Robson-Kanu 84), Yacob 7, Morrison 6 (Chadli 78), Phillips 7 (McClean 78); Fletcher 6; RONDON 7.
Subs: Palmer, Olsson, Gardner, Galloway.
UP NEXT: Swansea (h), Premier League, Wednesday.

REFEREE: Mike Dean 7


STAR PLAYER: DIEGO COSTA: Cool, calm and collected

STAR SHOCKER: GARETH McAULEY: Punished for one bad mistake



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



Express:


Chelsea 1 - West Brom 0: Diego Costa extends Blues' winning run to go back to the top

DIEGO COSTA has managed to avoid picking up a yellow card for Chelsea for ten weeks – while turning into the deadliest striker in the Premier League.

By TONY BANKS


In the season he first arrived at Chelsea, the fiery Spanish international scored 20 goals as his side stormed to the league title when times were good under Jose Mourinho – but he was also booked eight times.

You cannot take the fight out of Diego, they said, because then you take the effectiveness of his game. But here is a man who has not been booked in the Premier League since September 24 – his longest spell without a yellow card in six years – and is now in the form of his life.

Last week in the win at Manchester City, Costa gave a masterclass in centre-forward play; holding the ball up, laying it off, winning it in the air and scoring the crucial equaliser.

At Stamford Bridge, as his team struggled to overcome a resilient, formidably well-organised West Brom, it was Costa who Chelsea turned to again and he provided again, with a quite brilliant winning goal just 14 minutes from time.

It was a classic strike – the standout moment in a game which turned out, as canny West Brom boss Tony Pulis had intended it to right from the very start, into a grim war of attrition.


It was a goal which was also a tribute to the tactical flexibility of manager Antonio Conte and the vision of substitute Cesc Fabregas.

Aware that time was running out and that Chelsea were running continually into the traps set for them by Albion, Conte changed his much vaunted 3-4-3 formation - and threw Fabregas, a man who has always been able to unlock a defence with a clever pass, into the fray.

Two minutes later, the Spaniard knocked a ball over the top for Costa to chase on the right. Albion defender Gareth McAuley got there first, but failed to control the ball – and Costa simply wrestled it off him.

He had plenty to do from there – with the angle narrow and Ben Foster charging out. But the Chelsea striker simply looked up and bent the ball around the Albion keeper into the far corner. On a grey afternoon it was a brilliant splash of colour.

McAuley slumped to the turf, distraught. It was a hard moment for a player who had been exemplary up until then, as had his team. But you sensed their moment had gone.


For the first time since Chelsea set off on this run, it seemed that a team had worked them out. Tottenham briefly did it two weeks ago but could not see the job through. Albion though did it better and very nearly pulled off a superb result. Perhaps it was the early start, perhaps it was Albion’s relentless pressing. But Chelsea took an age to get going yesterday. In fact, at times it looked as if they might be caught by the old sucker punch.

Salomon Rondon glanced a header straight at Thibaut Courtois, Chris Brunt flashed an effort an inch wide and then Rondon missed the far corner by a whisker as Chelsea dithered.

Chelsea simply could not break down the armour-plated Albion rearguard and they were restricted to a couple of long-range David Luiz free-kicks for the best part of an hour.

But then Conte changed things, as first on came Willian and then Fabregas, as he switched away from the formation which has served Chelsea so well for those 10 weeks, pushing Fabregas into an advanced position behind Costa.

 
The Italian coach is ever willing to switch systems, as he has proved with Juventus and Italy in the past and he did it here again, as within minutes the deadlock was broken.

Pulis, in his trademark baseball cap on the sidelines, seethed with disappointment on the touchline. If anything he had been even more manic in the technical area than Conte yesterday, kicking every ball, calling every decision.

Costa, sweat pouring off him, raised a clench fist to the faithful on the final whistle. The passion is still there alright but now it is just being channelled in the right direction. Which after nine wins in a row now for Chelsea and 12 goals for Costa this season, is why the title is looking an ever more likely possibility.



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



Birmingham Mail:


Chelsea 1 West Brom 0: Report with pictures as Albion suffer narrow defeat

Diego Costa scored the only goal to see off a stubborn West Brom side


BY PAUL SUART


A Diego Costa strike 14 minutes from time ended West Bromwich Albion’s resistance and earned Chelsea a ninth straight win.

The league’s top scorer, who had been quiet by his standards, fired into the top corner after Gareth McAuley dwelt on the ball.


The timing of the goal was cruel, even if Chelsea arguably deserved the points on the balance of play and chances created.

All the talk in the build-up was about Chelsea and their astonishing run of results.

But it was the visitors. in pretty good touch themselves, who made the brighter start at a sun-drenched Stamford Bridge.


Salomon Rondon and Chris Brunt both directed headers at goal from crosses off the right side, although the former’s would not have counted with the offside flag raised.

In form winger Matt Phillips blasted over the bar when the ball sat up nicely just outside the box.

Albion so nearly got the breakthrough their play deserved when Rondon picked David Luiz’s pocket before firing narrowly wide of the far post.



Any team visiting the Bridge needs some good fortune to earn a result.

And Albion were on the right side of lady luck when N’Golo Kante’s shot deflected off Pedro and trickled wide, with Foster helpless.

As the half wore on, Chelsea began to win the ball back quicker and Eden Hazard became more of an influence.


He wriggled free of Craig Dawson and curled an effort that was never troubling Foster.

Luiz’s free kick five minutes before the break was of much more concern.

Dipping and swerving, Foster watched it all the way and caught the ball with Chelsea players lurking for a spill.

That it was Chelsea’s first effort on target spoke volumes for Albion’s work off the ball.


The second half started as the first had, with Chelsea dominating possession and territory, but Albion threatening in the final third.

Brunt swung a cross in from the right, that couldn’t quite find Gareth McAuley who had stayed up from a free-kick.

There was a flurry of yellow cards, one that rules Dawson out of the Swansea match, tackles flew in to keep the hosts at bay.

One indiscretion led to a Luiz free-kick Foster was at full stretch to push wide after it took on nick off the wall.

West Brom continued to pose a threat with Phillips’ in-swinger causing momentary panic inside Chelsea’s six-yard area.


On for Pedro, Willian drilled a shot that Foster would not have reached had it been on target.

Chelsea dd not have to wait much longer for the breakthrough though.

Three minutes in fact, with Costa demonstrating just how ruthless he can be with his one clear chance of the match.

Albion were not finished though.

Dawson thumped a volley over when Chelsea only partially cleared a cross

Marcos Alonso showed the same level of accuracy with an effort in the dying stages.

That Albion made a contest of it throughout, with the home fans, urging referee Mike Dean to blow for full-time, was credit to the way they played.


ANALYSIS

There was no special arrangement for Chelsea.

Albion lined up exactly how they did in their four games.

The big difference was that Phillips played almost as a second full-back to cover off the threat of Victor Moses.

Even Rondon found himself tracking back on occasion to help out his over-worked team mates.

It worked, with the Baggies restricting Chelsea to just one shot on target in the opening period.

Even that was a speculative effort from Luiz’s 30-yard free-kick.


CROWD WATCH

Albion’s 1,500 contingent were in fine voice from the off.

They had plenty to feel optimistic about in the early excanges.

“Darren Fletcher, he’s won more than you,” got an airing, as it tends to against the bigger clubs.

There was a reference to the diverse make-up of the home support.

“Ground full of tourists, you’re just a ground full of tourists,”

And all manner of stick from the home fans for Foster, who was in no rush to take his goal-kicks.


BIGGER PICTURE

The Baggies can take plenty of heart from their performance, even if it led to a first defeat in five.

They sat deeper and deeper, but will feel aggrieved with the way Chelsea scored.

Albion will revert from underdogs to favourites when they host Swansea on Wednesday night.

They’re the kind of games Albion’s season will be defined by and from which they must collect maximum points if they’re serious about the top ten.


Goals: Costa (76) - Chelsea

Bookings: Kante (47, foul), Matic (88, unsporting behaviour) - Chelsea

Brunt (19, foul), McAuley (29, foul), Dawson (foul, 51), Yacob (foul, 56) - Albion

Star man: Jonny Evans


Chelsea: Courtois, Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Cahill (c), Moses (Fabregas, 74), Kante, Matic, Alonso, Pedro (Willian, 63), Diego Costa, Hazard (Ivanovic, 79).

Subs not used: Begovic, Aina, Ivanovic, Chalobah, Batshuayi.


Albion: Foster, Dawson, McAuley, Evans, Nyom, Yacob, Fletcher (c), Brunt (Robson-Kanu, 84), Morrison (Chadli, 77), Phillips (Phillips, 77), Rondon.

Subs not used: Palmer, Olsson, Gardner, Galloway.