Match ends, Chelsea 3, Swansea City 1.
ChelseaChelsea3SwanseaSwansea City1
Chelsea stretched their lead at the top of the Premier League table to 11 points after victory over battling Swansea City at Stamford Bridge.
Cesc Fabregas marked his 300th Premier League appearance by firing the Blues ahead, poking the ball through the legs of Jack Cork and into the net.
The hosts were stunned when Swansea equalised from their first serious attempt on target on the stroke of half-time - Fernando Llorente heading in Gylfi Sigurdsson's free-kick.
Fabregas hit the bar before Pedro's curling effort restored the lead and Diego Costa netted the third from close range.
Swansea were denied a penalty when Cesar Azpilicueta handled inside the area at 1-1.
- 'Chelsea will take some stopping now' - 5 Live's Football Daily
- Reaction from Stamford Bridge and Saturday's other Premier League games
- Relive the action from Stamford Bridge
No stopping Chelsea
This was far from straightforward for Antonio Conte's side and had referee Neil Swarbrick awarded Swansea a penalty shortly before Pedro made it 2-1 then the outcome might have been different.
However, in the end Chelsea's sweeping forward play earned them a 10th straight home Premier League win as they took another significant step towards a second title in three seasons.
On a weekend when the first major silverware of the season - the EFL Cup - is handed out at Wembley, the Blues look unstoppable. They have 63 points from 26 games - three more than at the same stage in 2014-15 when last crowned champions of England.
Fabregas could have ended the game with four goals on his return to the side.
The Spain midfielder had a goal-bound shot deflected behind shortly before he opened the scoring, was denied by former Arsenal team-mate Lukasz Fabianski and also rattled the bar.
With former Blues midfielder Frank Lampard watching on, Chelsea turned on the style.
While it required an error from Fabianski to restore the lead, Eden Hazard's exquisite timing and pass for Costa to make it 3-1 was a delight.
Positives in defeat for Swansea
Chelsea were forced to work hard for three points thanks to a well organised and energetic Swansea side and the Swans looked a shadow of the team that was bottom of the Premier League table five weeks ago.
Their four-point safety cushion at the start of the day is down to three, but boss Paul Clement will have been pleased with the way his side frustrated the runaway leaders for long spells.
Llorente's equaliser shook Chelsea who were showing signs of frustration before Pedro made it 2-1.
Swansea's next four games - Burnley (home), Hull City (away), Bournemouth (away) and Middlesbrough (home) - give them a chance to stay clear of the bottom three before they entertain Tottenham on 4 April.
Man of the match - Cesc Fabregas (Chelsea)
'It was a clear handball' - what they said
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte: "We played very well, it was a good performance, and we created many chances to score. We conceded at the end of the first half, after the time was finished, so in this case there was a bit of luck, but we showed great character in the second half.
"We deserved a lot to win the game, now it's important to continue in this way."
Swansea City boss Paul Clement: "Any game we play and don't win we are disappointed. Chelsea are a very good side, they have fantastic quality and that was the difference. We didn't have a lot of chances but we came in at 1-1 for half-time and for long periods we defended really well.
"There was a big moment with the handball, I thought Cesar Azpilicueta handled it at 1-1, it's a clear handball. That gives you a chance to go 2-1 up but three minutes later you're 2-1 down with a soft goal. Based on chances they deserved to win, but there was big moment that didn't go our way, and who knows what might have happened."
MOTD analysis
Former England midfielder Jermaine Jenas: "I don't think Swansea should have had a penalty as the distance from Gylfi Sigurdsson to Cesar Azpilicueta is too close and Azpilicueta's arm is already out. His hand is there because he's trying to stop Sigurdsson's run."
Ex-England captain Alan Shearer: "I think it was a penalty. I think it was a deliberate movement of his hand towards the ball and I think Chelsea got away with one there. It could have been very different if the ref had given it.
"We've seen in recent weeks with Swansea that they made it very difficult for Liverpool at Anfield, they were unlucky to lose at Manchester City. They are very organised. The difference between Liverpool and City with this Chelsea side is the pace with which they go forward. That's why Cesc Fabregas was in the team today. He was brilliant. He's the one that started the goal off.
"It's topical that players are not working for mangers. The irony is last season we were sat here with a large bunch of these same Chelsea players - they weren't working for their manager and we know what happened. It's such a transformation now. We saw how brilliant they were with the ball but look at them now without it. The transformation from then to now is incredible."
Another assist for Sigurdsson - the stats
- No player has more assists in the Premier League this season than Gylfi Sigurdsson (nine, level with Kevin de Bruyne).
- Chelsea conceded in consecutive home league games for the first time under Antonio Conte.
- Swansea have conceded 26 goals in their past 10 Premier League away games, an average of 2.6 per game.
- Pedro has been directly involved in 10 goals in his past nine games for Chelsea in all competitions (seven goals, three assists).
- Fernando Llorente has scored nine goals in all competitions this season for Swansea, three with his head, three with his left foot and three with his right.
What's next?
Chelsea have nine days to prepare for their next game away to West Ham United on Monday, 6 March (20:00 GMT). Swansea entertain Burnley on Saturday, 4 March (15:00 GMT).
Line-ups
Chelsea
Formation 3-4-3
- 13Courtois
- 28Azpilicueta
- 30David LuizBooked at 75mins
- 24Cahill
- 15MosesSubstituted forZoumaat 85'minutes
- 7Kanté
- 4Fàbregas
- 3Alonso
- 11PedroSubstituted forMaticat 76'minutes
- 19Diego Costa
- 10E HazardSubstituted forWillianat 85'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Begovic
- 5Zouma
- 14Loftus-Cheek
- 21Matic
- 22Willian
- 23Batshuayi
- 26Terry
Swansea
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Fabianski
- 26NaughtonBooked at 35mins
- 33Fernandez
- 6Mawson
- 16OlssonBooked at 36mins
- 8FerBooked at 80mins
- 24Cork
- 42CarrollSubstituted forJ Ayewat 76'minutes
- 15RoutledgeSubstituted forNarsinghat 81'minutes
- 9Llorente
- 23G Sigurdsson
Substitutes
- 2Amat
- 3J Ayew
- 7Britton
- 10Bastón
- 13Nordfeldt
- 22Rangel
- 28Narsingh
- Referee:
- Neil Swarbrick
- Attendance:
- 41,612
Match Stats
Home TeamChelseaAway TeamSwansea
- Possession
- Home66%
- Away34%
- Shots
- Home16
- Away3
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away2
- Corners
- Home8
- Away1
- Fouls
- Home11
- Away14
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Chelsea 3, Swansea City 1.
Post update
Attempt missed. Cesc Fàbregas (Chelsea) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Willian.
Post update
Foul by N'Golo Kanté (Chelsea).
Post update
Jack Cork (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Alfie Mawson.
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Kurt Zouma (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Fernando Llorente (Swansea City).
Substitution
Substitution, Chelsea. Willian replaces Eden Hazard.
Substitution
Substitution, Chelsea. Kurt Zouma replaces Victor Moses.
Goal!
Goal! Chelsea 3, Swansea City 1. Diego Costa (Chelsea) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Eden Hazard.
Post update
Attempt missed. N'Golo Kanté (Chelsea) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Nemanja Matic.
Substitution
Substitution, Swansea City. Luciano Narsingh replaces Wayne Routledge.
Booking
Leroy Fer (Swansea City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Eden Hazard (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Leroy Fer (Swansea City).
Post update
Foul by Victor Moses (Chelsea).
Post update
Martin Olsson (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt saved. Gylfi Sigurdsson (Swansea City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Substitution
Substitution, Swansea City. Jordan Ayew replaces Tom Carroll.
Comments
Join the conversation
The game I was watching Cesar hand-balled in the area, seen them given. That was at 1:1. It was not an easy win until Diego popped up and smashed home to seal it @84th minute. That's all I was saying. Swansea are no longer the easy targets they were a few months ago, so I give them credit for giving us a game.
Posted by
HesGonnaCostaLot
And you son are exactly what is wrong with Football, this country and the world these days. People like you make me puke, go and be a troll elsewhere!! Not sure why everyone else as to listen to your rather ignorant mumblings! The BBC HYS are worse than Twitter these days, a cesspit of the likes of you. Now get your comments of "our" BBC Mr Hate
No replay of the foul given for Swansea's FK or explanation of why play was halted after the scrabble for the ball in the Swansea box. Swarbrick just waving players away.
Obscurity? What like not having won the Prem League, ever.
Donut.
if chelsea don't win the league, i'll wear my underpants at work
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I wear underpants every day at work, I find it to be more hygienic than not wearing any.
The finishing line is fast approaching ?
Well done on a fantastic 3 points.............
So they got Pogba on a free transfer, did they?
What a hypocritical, jealous moron you are.
Good luck with the rest of the season, your team Liverpool are really going to need it based on their results so far this year.