Chelsea’s title charge continued as the league leaders played host to Stoke City in what was a tense game.
The Blues were missing their top striker, Diego Costa who suffered a hamstring injury last time out, but he was fit enough to be named amongst the substitutes while Oscar and Cesar Azpilicueta returned to the starting line up.
The game started brightly for the home side as Loic Remy missed three half chances inside the opening fifteen minutes. The Potters were organised for much of the first half, curtailing Chelsea’s advances. The trio of Eden Hazard, Willian and Oscar were running the rings behind Remy but found it difficult to break a resolute Stoke defence.
With half-time approaching, Chelsea finally got the lead.
Willian played in Fabregas inside the box. The Spaniard attempted to cut back Philip, but was fouled by the German, leaving the referee with no option but to point to the spot.
Up stepped Hazard and he made no mistake from the spot to register his 17th goal of the season.
With the goal coming in the 39th minute, most people thought Chelsea were going to go into the break ahead. However, Charlie Adam didn’t get the memo.
Hazard thought he’d been fouled close to the Stoke danger area, but the referee felt otherwise and let play continue.
From that action, Charlie Adam produced a moment of magic. Sighting Thibaut Courtois way off his line, his shot from 65 yards beat the keeper to draw his team level with about five minutes left in the half.
The second half began with Mourinho introducing Diego Costa in place of Oscar, but the striker barely lasted a quarter as he suffered a recurring hamstring injury. He was replaced by Didier Drogba as Chelsea switched to a 4:4:2 formation.
The home fans were beginning to get nervous as Stoke remained compact and well organised at the back. For Chelsea, Hazard was the man on fire as he constantly skipped past challenges, dribbled and stung the palms of Asmir Begovic.
Chelsea eventually got a breakthrough in the 62nd minute. Willian put pressure on the defence to win the ball after Begovic’s poor throw and he passed the ball to the rushing Hazard. The Belgian ghosted into the Stoke box and when it looked like he was going to pull the trigger, he laid it off for Remy to simply tap home for his fifth league goal of the season.
That was the French man’s last piece of action as he was taken off for Juan Cuadrado.
Stoke almost levelled up for the second time as Steve Nzonzi’s effort beat Courtois but came off the side of the post. And minutes after that, Peter Crouch entered the fray as Hughes’ looked for an equaliser.
In need of a third goal to effectively wrap up the game, Chelsea almost got it. Hazard received a pass from Fabregas, side stepped two defenders and sent in a low cross across the ground, but Begovic produced a double save to deny Cuadrado.
Chelsea eventually held out and got another valuable three point to consolidate on their lead. Jose Mourinho will be happy with the win and Hazard’s man of the match performance, but for Courtois, there’ll be some serious talking to after two high profile mistakes in two consecutive league matches.