Chelsea kept alive their hopes of making the Premier League’s top-four with a battling 1-0 win against relegation-threatened Swansea.
Antonio Conte’s men were ahead in a flash, Eden Hazard cleverly teeing up Cesc Fabregas who curled home delightfully past Lukasz Fabianski in the opening few minutes.
In a rainy South Wales you felt that early goal might see the floodgates open but Swansea weathered the early deluge and really will feel they should have taken something from this game – on a day when the sides below them all picked up points.
Here we rate the Chelsea players:
CHELSEA (3-5-1-1)
Thibaut Courtois – 6: Swansea never seriously threatened Courtois who was well protected. Got his body behind a late Naughton rocket and a Mawson effort from range.
Cesar Azpilicueta – 7: Didn’t put a foot wrong. Reacted cleverly to clear the danger from a dangerous Nathan Dyer delivery. Clipped delivery really should have been buried by Hazard.
Gary Cahill – 5: Made a sloppy pass in the first half that went straight to Clucas and could have put his side in trouble. Slow to close down Andre Ayew’s shot that went inches wide in the second half. Brilliant tackle on Dyer was a little risky in the penalty area.
Antonio Rudiger – 6: Calm and committed, he was in the thick of it when called upon, using his body to block anything and everything.
Victor Moses – 5: Had his hands full with Jordan Ayew and Martin Olsson, who he brought down for a yellow. But was lively in attack, always giving Hazard a wide option.
Cesc Fabregas – 8: Hasn’t been the best season for the Spaniard, but was busy here in both defence and attack and bagged his 50th Premier League goal. Pulled the strings sublimely alongside Hazard.
N’Golo Kante – 7: A typical Kante performance, hustling Swansea’s player and looking to get his side on the front foot at every opportunity. Kept Swansea’s midfield busy.
Tiemoue Bakayoko – 4: His Chelsea career so far was summed up when his poor pass behind Hazard derailed a promising Chelsea counter-attack. Looks clumsy and oafish as he gave the ball away regularly.
Emerson – 6: Always a willing runner but struggled to make an impact, with his distribution below par. His fine second half run yielded a poor attempt on goal.
Eden Hazard – 8: Pass for Fabregas’ goal underlined his enduring brilliance and confirmed his return to form. Everything good his side did went through him.
Olivier Giroud – 3: Struggled to recapture the magic of his Wembley heroics a week ago with a poor performance in the pouring rain. Totally anonymous.
SUBS:
Pedro – 6: Little time to make any impact as he was brought on to rest the rampant Fabregas.
Willian – 6: Thrown on in place of star man Hazard, helped his side home.
Alvaro Morata – 6: A nice turn seconds after coming on ensured he did more in his five minutes than Giroud had done all game.
