Match ends, Queens Park Rangers 0, Chelsea 1.
QPRQueens Park Rangers0ChelseaChelsea1
- Chelsea have one shot on target
- Blues now seven points clear at top
- QPR have 15 attempts on goal
- Ivanovic hit by crowd missile
Cesc Fabregas struck with three minutes to go as leaders Chelsea ground out a win against QPR at Loftus Road.
The midfielder arrived late into the box and fired home from 16 yards after Eden Hazard and Oscar capitalised on a poor kick out by QPR's Rob Green.
Chelsea had not registered a single shot on target until then but did enough to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League to seven points.
QPR forced saves from Thibaut Courtois but remain two points adrift of safety.
It would not have been undeserved if Chris Ramsey's side had taken all three points - Belgian keeper Courtois denying Charlie Austin and the impressive Matt Phillips twice.
Chelsea's pass completion in this game was 70%, their lowest in a Premier League game this season, and the leaders struggled to deal with some intense Rangers pressing - midfielder Joey Barton catching the eye as he drove the hosts forward at every opportunity.
He, like Austin and Bobby Zamora further forward, made it uncomfortable for Jose Mourinho's men, who looked like going an entire 90 minutes without forcing a save from Green.
But the former England keeper's poor clearance was picked up by Eden Hazard, who combined with Oscar down the left before the playmakers picked out Fabregas. The Spaniard arrived at exactly the right time to steer the ball home.
Chelsea's goal celebrations were marred by home fans throwing missiles, with Branislav Ivanovic being struck by an object which he subsequently handed to referee Andre Marriner.
It spoiled a dramatic end to a contest which saw a well-organised Rangers side once again impress in their battle to remain in the division.
It was not pretty from Chelsea, but it was certainly effective and they went 12 points clear of fourth-placed Manchester City, eight ahead of Manchester United and six in front of Arsenal to edge ever closer to winning their first title since 2010.
QPR boss Chris Ramsey said:
"I am very, very disappointed to lose. Detail kills you and when you have top players like they do, you get done. One shot or two shots and the top players score.
"We have let two or three goals in from the same position in the last few weeks and players haven't been able to concentrate enough.
"We are still in with a fight, everyone is disappointed and I just feel sorry for the crowd. We have ourselves to blame because of our concentration. Our concentration has been appalling. We have let late goals in in most games. The players don't need lifting, they will lift themselves."
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said:
"We need 11 points. It's as simple as that. Our situation is good, but we have big matches to play. I'm not just saying against Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool. Leicester will be a big match, West Brom will be a big match and maybe Sunderland. All of these matches are big matches for everyone, but we're in a countdown and our direct opponents need to win every match.
"It was a big win. It's only the second time we have won in the last minute. We did it against Everton and then against QPR. If the result had been 0-0 I wouldn't have been surprised. We controlled them very well, but they controlled us very well.
"It was a good derby and I enjoyed it. I would love to come back here to play in the Premier League next season."
Line-ups
QPR
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Green
- 14IslaSubstituted forDunneat 90+2'minutes
- 15Onuoha
- 4Caulker
- 6Hill
- 7Phillips
- 8Barton
- 30Guimaraes CordeiroBooked at 78minsSubstituted forKranjcarat 81'minutes
- 20Henry
- 9Austin
- 25ZamoraBooked at 75minsSubstituted forHoilettat 83'minutes
Substitutes
- 12McCarthy
- 19Kranjcar
- 22Dunne
- 23Hoilett
- 34Mitchell
- 39Grego-Cox
- 41Comley
Chelsea
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 13Courtois
- 2Ivanovic
- 24Cahill
- 26Terry
- 28Azpilicueta
- 7Santos do NascimentoSubstituted forOscarat 56'minutes
- 21Matic
- 22WillianSubstituted forJu Cuadradoat 80'minutes
- 4FÃ bregasSubstituted forZoumaat 90+2'minutes
- 10E Hazard
- 11DrogbaBooked at 60mins
Substitutes
- 1Cech
- 3Filipe LuÃs
- 5Zouma
- 8Oscar
- 12Mikel
- 23Ju Cuadrado
- 37Brown
- Referee:
- Andre Marriner
- Attendance:
- 17,939
Match Stats
Home TeamQPRAway TeamChelsea
- Possession
- Home40%
- Away60%
- Shots
- Home15
- Away9
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away1
- Corners
- Home5
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home12
- Away6
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Queens Park Rangers 0, Chelsea 1.
Post update
Didier Drogba (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Steven Caulker (Queens Park Rangers).
Post update
Attempt blocked. Niko Kranjcar (Queens Park Rangers) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Charlie Austin.
Substitution
Substitution, Queens Park Rangers. Richard Dunne replaces Mauricio Isla.
Substitution
Substitution, Chelsea. Kurt Zouma replaces Cesc FÃ bregas.
Goal!
Goal! Queens Park Rangers 0, Chelsea 1. Cesc FÃ bregas (Chelsea) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Eden Hazard.
Post update
Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Nedum Onuoha.
Substitution
Substitution, Queens Park Rangers. Junior Hoilett replaces Bobby Zamora.
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Offside, Queens Park Rangers. Robert Green tries a through ball, but Charlie Austin is caught offside.
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Attempt saved. Charlie Austin (Queens Park Rangers) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
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Attempt blocked. Charlie Austin (Queens Park Rangers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
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Corner, Queens Park Rangers. Conceded by César Azpilicueta.
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Attempt blocked. Matthew Phillips (Queens Park Rangers) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Charlie Austin.
Substitution
Substitution, Queens Park Rangers. Niko Kranjcar replaces Sandro.
Substitution
Substitution, Chelsea. Juan Cuadrado replaces Willian.
Post update
Attempt missed. Eden Hazard (Chelsea) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.
Post update
Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Sandro.
Booking
Sandro (Queens Park Rangers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
