Stoke vs Chelsea: Post Match

Forget Christmas lunch and presents on Christmas day, all Chelsea wanted on their trip to the Brittania was three points to accumulate the biggest present domestically – the Premier League trophy. Unrelenting and savoury from Chelsea, as they did not seem to let the aura of the Britannia get to them, rather gathering pace away from the likes of Manchester City.

Looking to put the stuffing in Stoke, Chelsea possessed that innate charisma altogether, as the perfectly weighted corner from Cesc Fabregas on the second minute was found by John Terry and prodded in defiantly through the use of his head. An early lead. And a lead almost certainly believed by most to lead to more goals on the grapevine. Surprisingly, Chelsea were not as ruthless as you would expect, spending time musing on the ball but not tearing this Stoke team apart.

It always helps when you have a wall in defence, especially one as strong as Chelsea’s, this wall working perfectly again – Stoke only managing to shoot at goal on two occasions. Illumined of Chelsea’s astuteness in defence was Phil Bardsley mid-way through the first half, recklessly lunging in on Hazard and causing Mourinho to show his disapproval – obviously not happy with the Christmas spirit being displayed. N’zonzi following up with a potentially damaging shot from 20 yards, which took a deflection, but was professionally stopped by Courtois. Finally signs that the Stoke machine were ready to put their foot down. Diego Costa looked to double the lead on the half-an hour mark when he was played through by Matic, all be it that his shot whistled across the goal, a strikers goal he should of really taken, But Chelsea no longer rely on a single striker to do the dirty work, the Chelsea of new have goals coming all across the pitch.

The second half was very sparse in entertaining football, until the introduction of Charlie Adam which led to a sweeping shot going wide of the Chelsea goal from 20 yards, he should of done better, with his dazzling left foot not levering it on target for a potential goal. It was chances like this that Stoke should be taking against a belligerent Chelsea side, Fabregas eventually getting the Christmas party of and running as he picked up the ball from a brilliant Hazard pass before his heavily deflected shot made its way into the goal. Not a thing of beauty, but goals win football matches.

Six minutes of the game left and Chelsea could of scored again with Costa mis-firing for the second time as Begovic saved his shot after being played through by Schurrle.

Not the best win of their season, but having nearly reached the half-way mark of the Premier League season with only one loss to their name – Chelsea couldn’t be happier! Roll on Christmas and New Year, they might just have the biggest present of them all in May.

STAT: Chelsea nearly made twice the number of tackles as Stoke (19) with 37. Matic made the most with nine. Fabregas has 12 assists and two goals in 16 Premier League games.