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League leaders Chelsea pulled further away from the pack with a 2-1 win over a resolute Stoke City at Stamford Bridge. The Potters seemed to have the Londoners locked down until a moment of disaster at the hour mark by the usually excellent Asmir Begovic handed the Blues the winner and a seven-point lead atop the Premier League table.
Jose Mourinho’s men now need 16 points from the rest of their 8 games to clinch Chelsea’s fourth ever Premier League title. Meanwhile, Stoke seem destined to finish yet another season comfortably in mid-table under Mark Hughes after finishing tenth last season.
Here are the ratings for Saturday’s game at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea
Thibaut Courtois (6.5/10): Had little to do except for the goal and a Steven N’Zonzi effort which thudded back off the post. Many would question his positioning for the Charlie Adam wonder goal, but there really isn’t much to investigate there. Sit back and watch it on re-run at the expense of the Belgian’s misery.
Branislav Ivanovic (7/10): Enjoyed a fairly non-fussed game with Chelsea enjoying the lion’s share of the possession. Not involved going forward as much as we are used to see.
Gary Cahill (7.5/10): Jonathan Walters gave him some food for thought throughout the game. Except for a few cheap fouls, came out on top for most of the night. Impressive dealing with the aerial threat that Stoke posses.
John Terry (7/10): Had quite a comfortable evening with Stoke posing sporadic questions in the final third, and that too without much venom.
Cesar Azpilicueta: Stout at the back as always, but Chelsea fans would surely have loved to have seen more of him going forward.
Nemanja Matic (7/10): What can be said about this man that hasn't already been said this season? Sturdy and commanding as always to provide Chelsea with a springboard to go on the front foot.
Cesc Fabregas (7/10): Not at his complete best as of yet, as was evident by his overplaying of the ball and a few erroneous passes. However, he was pivotal in breaking the deadlock when he out-thought Philipp Wollschied inside the Stoke penalty box.
Willian (8/10): His energy levels seems to have no bounds. Ran all over the pitch, affecting the game in as many ways possible and most of the time in a positive way. Set the tempo going forward for Chelsea alongside Eden Hazard.
Oscar (5.5/10): Missed a glorious opportunity to give the Blues the lead at the half hour mark. Was promptly taken off at half-time after looking out of place for most of the first-half.
Eden Hazard (8.5/10): A bagful of tricks as always, but unlike so many, has the finishing touch as well. So who is the best player in the Premier League right now: Is it the elegant Belgian or the fiery Alexis Sanchez? The debate will continue get stoked with more fuel as Hazard continues to churn such performances.
Loic Remy (7/10): Gave Ryan Shawcross fits with his quick feet and timely movements. Was served the goal on a plate by Eden Hazard but many would say he deserved one for his endeavours.
Substitutes
Diego Costa (NA): This might be the last we see of the big Spaniard this season. Limped of the pitch as the recurrence of the hamstring injury meant that his time on the pitch was restricted to 11 minutes.
Didier Drogba (6.5/10): A good target man to have, who held up the ball well as always. Put in a shift defensively during set-pieces to avert any danger.
Juan Cuadrado (6/10): Unable to make any real impact in his elongated cameo role after he was introduced in the game shortly after the second goal was scored.
Stoke City
Asmir Begovic (6/10): Had an outstanding game both in terms of saves made as well as his presence in the box from aerial crosses until his moment of madness when he served the hosts the second goal on a platter trying to roll the ball out to Steven N’Zonzi.
Geoff Cameron (5/10): Was at the blunt end of all Eden Hazard’s trickery. Ninety minutes of his life that he wouldn’t want to look back on. Sloppy in possession as well.
Ryan Shawcross (6/10): Loic Remy’s movements troubled him early on but he started to get more comfortable as the game wore on. However, he had Begovic to thank for keeping the Potters in the game for majority of the contest.
Philipp Wollscheid (5.5/10): His rash and untimely tackle on Cesc Fabregas lead to the Chelsea opener. Looked very uncomfortable throughout the contest.
March Wilson (6.5/10): Wasn’t given a moment’s peace by the ever exuberant Willian. However, held his own quite well on the left.
Stephen Ireland (5.5/10): Never really able to dictate any telling balls or even the tempo of the game for any prolonged period. Spent most of his time chasing shadows and the ball.
Glen Whelan (6.5/10): Whelan always puts himself about and this evening was no different. Unable to provide much going forward though.
Steven N’Zonzi (7/10): He stands out a mile in terms of players with ability in the Stoke ranks and that showed yet again. Had two good efforts on goal, the second of which had Thibaut Courtois all but beaten only for the ball to hit the upright and go wide.
Charlie Adam (7/10): Scored the goal of the season, if not the last few years. David Beckham’s goal against Wimbledon was deemed the goal of the first decade of the Premier League. Well, let me tell you this. I think this was even more impressive. It was further out and against a much better goalkeeper. It’s one thing to have the audacity to think about hitting it from that distance, quite another to pull it off. Take a bow, Charlie Adam.
Jonathan Walters (5/10): Provided some physicality and some clever runs in the early goings but that was as good as it got from the Irish international as the Chelsea defence comfortably neutralized his threat for the rest of the evening.
Mame Biram Diouf (5/10): While the Stoke midfield struggled to provide any decent service to the Senegalese, he himself was ineffective in creating any channels or getting involved by coming deeper. Subbed off after an ineffective hour of play.
Substitutes
Marko Arnautovic (6/10): Added a little creativity to the Stoke which nearly had none before his introduction. Missed a half-decent chance to grab a late equalizer.
Peter Crouch (6/10): We were treated to the bean pole extravaganza as Mark Hughes’ last throw of the dice. Won his fair share of headers late on as Stoke went route one. However, there was no silver lining to be had at the end of this cloud and was also booked for a rash challenge on Hazard.
Erik Pieters (NA): His 11 minute stint was as ineffective as any English World Cup campaign in recent years.
