Chelsea climbed to the top of the Premier League table this Sunday evening, after a hard fought 1-0 win over Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium.
The Blues were not their effervescent selves during the game, as the effects of an untimely international break seemed to disrupt their rhythm early on. While Chelsea had plenty of possession in the first-half, they were unable to create any clear-cut opportunities, and as a result, it looked set to become a frustrating night for Antonio Conte’s men.
But just four minutes before the interval Diego Costa volleyed home from an Eden Hazard corner – opportunistically latching on to the bouncing ball, before prodding home, to give Chelsea a deserved half-time lead.
Chelsea had numerous opportunities to put the game to rest at the start of the second-half, with a superb Pedro effort the closest Chelsea came to finding that elusive second goal, as he struck the bar following a lovely move. Pedro had previously seen his shot expertly saved by Victor Valdes in the first half and was unlucky not to get on the score sheet.
As Chelsea began to sit deeper, Middlesbrough piled on the pressure, with the tricky Spanish winger Adama Traore causing all sorts of problems down the left-hand side. But Chelsea held on for a sixth successive win, and a sixth successive clean sheet, helping them rise above Liverpool at the top of the league.
