Over and out: Willian put Chelsea into a 3-0 lead against Stoke with a fantastic curling effort'
Seconds: Frank Lampard saw his penalty saved by Asmir Begovic, but the midfielder tapped in the rebound
Spot kick: Lampard (left) looks relieved after originally missing his penalty''
Stonewall: Stoke's Ryan Shawcross brings down Chelsea's Mohamed Salah for a Chelsea penalty''
Finish: Salah (centre) grabbed his second goal for Chelsea after being handed a rare start by Jose Mourinho
Match facts
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cech 5; Ivanovic 6.5, Cahill 6.5, Terry 6.5, Azpilicueta 6.5; Lampard 7 (Luiz 70), Matic 7; Willian 7.5 (Cole 78), Schurrle 6.5 (Hazard 59, 6), Salah 8; Torres 6.
Subs not used: Oscar, Ba, Schwarzer, Kalas.
Stoke (4-5-1): Begovic 5; Cameron 5 (Wilkinson 46, 4.5), Wilson 5, Shawcross 5, Pieters 5; Odemwingie 6, Whelan, Palacios 6 (Adam 46, 4,5), Nzonzi 6, Arnautovic 6; Crouch 5 (Walters 78).
Subs not used: Muniesa, Guidetti, Etherington, Sorensen.
MOM: Salah
Referee: Lee Probert - 6
*Player ratings by SAMI MOKBEL at Stamford Bridge
As for Stoke, their approach justified the contention that their ways really are changing. Their manager Mark Hughes was displeased with the way things worked out: 'We weren’t able to troublke a very good Chelsea side today’, he said.
'We wanted to make a better fist of it’. Yet no longer were passes launched exclusively high and hopeful. Instead, defenders who once were encouraged to put their foot through the ball now played it out with some care from the back, and they looked a more effective team for it.
True, a fair number of their attacking ideas involved floated offerings towards the head of Peter Crouch, but, until fatigue sapped their creative ambition, they were far from the primitive Stoke of old.
Chelsea’s main creative source – and the player most responsible for guiding them through their early uncertainty --was the lively, resourceful Willian, pushing forward nimbly from midfield. He ran through his repertoire; the feint, the flick, the startling change of pace, But nothing was successfully constructed until the 31st minute when Nemanja Matic made a strong run down the left and selected Mohamed Salah on the far side of the box with his cross. Salah’s response was dramatic, a stunning left foot drive which fairly exploded past Asmir Begovic for the opening goal.
In truth, Chelsea were faintly flattered by the advantage, but it was a score which settled the side, and the balance of the contest tilted firmly in their favour.
In 40 minutes, they seemed to have taken a firm hold on the match, when Branislav Ivanovic met a deep cross.As the header bulged the net, a distant linesman could be seen, waving an offside flag. Replays showed that he was correct, by perhaps a single foot. Mourinho threw a small, predictable touchline tantrum, but he wasn’t really trying too hard.
Thankful: Salah (right) looks to the sky as he celebrates scoring Chelsea's first goal'
Strike: Chelsea winger Willian scores a brilliant goal to put the Blues into a 3-0 lead'
Head and shoulders: Mbuta Nanga'Ona Mdomo wa Peter Crouch (right) easily out-jumps John Terry but misses the ball'Hahahaahaha''sitaki kucheka mie..
Popular: Chelsea players celebrate with Salah after his opening goal'
Stoke brought on Charlie Adam in place of Wilson Palacios, and Andy Wilkinson for Geoff Cameron at the start of the second half.
Adam announced himself with a dubious lunge at Andre Schurrle which brought the Chelsea physio racing from the bench. The tackle went unpunished and Adam seemed relieved.
He was equally relieved some half an hour later, when his high, reckless boot thudded in the chest of the substitute David Luiz, and once again the referee Lee Probert saw nothing worth censuring. Stoke will argue that Adam’s reputation precedes him. The rest of us will recall with a shudder just how he acquired that reputation.
Stoke were still struggling to supplement the efforts of their lone striker Crouch. He worked as hard as ever, chasing endless lost causes, but he was outmuscled and heavily outnumbered by Chelsea’s defenders.
Despite their reconstruction, Stoke have been relying on his efforts for so long, that they are perilously short of a Plan B when the Crouch ploy is unsuccessful.
Unlucky: Branislav Ivanovic (centre) wheels away in celebration, but his header was disallowed'
Sticking the boot in: Frank Lampard goes in for a challenge on Glenn Whelan''
Watching: Chelsea boss Mourinho watches as his team battle against Stoke at Stamford Bridge'
Return: Ashley Cole (centre) came on in the second half after a spell on the sidelines'
Buddies from Brazil: Willian celebrates his goal with fellow Brazilian David Luiz (right) Wacha Mchezo uendeleee'aka Ngoma ya Brazil eindeleee''Mbuta Nanga''
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BY:FLORA LYIMO FASHION POLICE BLOG.
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