Stoke Stopped

A second half double from Willian helped Chelsea to a staggering thirteenth consecutive Premiership win, thereby completing a third perfect month for the Premiership leaders. It is a measure of how far Chelsea have progressed this term that they finally managed to overcome opponents that they failed three times to defeat last season.

Perhaps one of the secrets to their success is the team's knack of winning matches that others would possibly draw. They have sometimes struggled against obdurate opponents, like West Brom, but someone can normally be relied upon to find that moment of quality that breaks the deadlock. Then, when we have a mediocre defensive display, as against Stoke, then our attackers bail us out with a feast of goals. Whether it be many shutouts or lethal finishing when our defence is creaking, Chelsea seem to have all the bases covered. The Premiership is a marathon and not a sprint, but at the halfway point, the Blues seem well placed to take the gold medal. It's going to take an awful collapse or a spectacular sprint finish elsewhere to deny the 2015 champions their fifth Premiership triumph.

Fortunately for Chelsea, Arsenic and Liverfools are liable to drop points here and there, Manchester United (on a tremendous referee-assisted roll at the moment) remain miles behind, while Manchester Mercenaries are erratic. Even their manager is getting very doo-lally too!

Next on the agenda for the Chelsea juggernaut is the small matter of a visit to little old Tottenham. The Spurs must be thirsting for revenge after their recent defeat against us, plus they would dearly like to break our hearts and stop our record-breaking run, just like we ended their Premiership challenge last spring. I fear that this will indeed be the end of Chelsea's jaw-dropping winning sequence. After all, all good things must come to an end, but I would be very glad to be proved wrong. 

CHELSEA 4 Stoke City 2; half time: 1-0

CHELSEA goal scorers: Cahill; Willian (2); Costa

CHELSEA team: Courtois; Azpilicueta; Luiz; Fabregas; Kante; Cahill; Alonso; Moses; Willian; Hazard; Costa. Used substitutes: Matic; Ivanovic; Chalobah

CHELSEA leading scorers:

Costa fourteen goals

Hazard nine goals (including two penalties)

Moses four goals

Pedro four goals

Willian four goals

Batshuayi three goals

Cahill three goals

Fabregas three goals